Deer Lodge, MT

Travel Guide
Photo provided by Donnie Sexton
Montana’s second-oldest city is rich with gold-mining and ranching history, its wide sweep of open grasslands speckled with heritage buildings and museums.

Discover Montana’s frontier history in Deer Lodge, located in Powell County. Established by gold miners and cattle ranchers in the late 1800s, Deer Lodge is a cozy city in a broad valley. Its sprawling meadowland is home to Montana’s most extensive range of museums and historical collections, which offer a glimpse of 19th-century life in the state’s northwest. Check out an old prison complex and visit a working cattle ranch of national historical significance.

As you explore the downtown center of Deer Lodge, imagine how it would have appeared as a frontier town in the 1870s. The sweeping meadowlands are sheltered by mountain ranges to the east and west and are ideal for raising cattle. Early pioneers settled ranches here in order to market the livestock to surrounding mining towns and settlers on the Oregon Trail. You can see one of these historic ranches in operation at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, a working cattle ranch dedicated to the legacy of the Western cattle industry.

Learn more about the region’s history at some of Deer Lodge’s museums. The Old Prison Complex is a highlight in Deer Lodge and features eight museums within the former cellblocks. Browse the Frontier Montana Museum, Powell County Museum, and the Montana Auto Museum within this fascinating complex. Kids will enjoy Yesterday’s Playthings, a historical collection of children’s toys and games. Go antiques shopping to find some frontier treasures and head to the local farmers market in Jaycee Park to sample some of the region’s renowned fresh produce.

Outside of the city, you can find out about the region’s silver-mining heritage at the Garnet Ghost Town, a restored boomtown just over an hour’s drive away. Head to Warm Springs Ponds to see man-made waterways that are now a haven for waterfowl and fish.

Deer Lodge is located in mid-western Montana and is an hour’s drive from Helena, the state’s capital city. There is a regional airport in Helena, as well as nearby Butte. Deer Lodge is located just off the Pintlers Scenic Highway, a charming route that passes by several historic settlements within the region’s breathtaking mountain ranges.

Milwaukee Road House  (New) Historic Deer Lodge
Milwaukee Road House (New) Historic Deer Lodge
Deer Lodge
The price is ¥13,827 per night from May 14 to May 15
¥13,827
per night
May 14 - May 15
Stay at this vacation home in Deer Lodge. Enjoy an in-room coffeemaker and air conditioning. Popular attractions Cutler Bros. Productions and Old Montana Prison ...
10/10 Exceptional! (6 reviews)
Awesome
"This is a great property. Each time I have stayed here I felt at home. Thank you Kacie."

Reviewed on May 1, 2024

Milwaukee Road House (New) Historic Deer Lodge
Old Montana Inn
Old Montana Inn
2 out of 5
809 Main St, Deer Lodge, MT
The price is ¥16,919 per night from May 11 to May 12
¥16,919
per night
May 11 - May 12
Stay at this motel in Deer Lodge. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and cable TV channels. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (144 reviews)
Just fine for Deer Lodge Quick Night's Sleep
"We had to roll in late, so we called. The desk person said they taped the key to the outside of the office door. It's Deer Lodge, so I assume that is pretty safe. The inside of the room have been updated and are cute and it was very clean! (that's my biggie!) The outside of the building obviously ..."

Reviewed on May 2, 2024

Old Montana Inn
Cottonwood Creek Getaway
Cottonwood Creek Getaway
Deer Lodge
Stay at this vacation home in Deer Lodge. Enjoy a pool table, patios, and Netflix. Popular attractions Cutler Bros. Productions and Old Montana Prison Museum ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (45 reviews)
Comfortable home
"Nice location, clean and comfortable home."

Reviewed on Feb 4, 2024

Cottonwood Creek Getaway
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Milwaukee Road House  (New) Historic Deer Lodge
Milwaukee Road House (New) Historic Deer Lodge
Deer Lodge
Stay at this vacation home in Deer Lodge. Enjoy an in-room coffeemaker and air conditioning. Popular attractions Cutler Bros. Productions and Old Montana Prison ...
10/10 Exceptional! (6 reviews)
Awesome
"This is a great property. Each time I have stayed here I felt at home. Thank you Kacie."

Reviewed on May 1, 2024

Milwaukee Road House (New) Historic Deer Lodge
Cottonwood Creek Getaway
Cottonwood Creek Getaway
Deer Lodge
Stay at this vacation home in Deer Lodge. Enjoy a pool table, patios, and Netflix. Popular attractions Cutler Bros. Productions and Old Montana Prison Museum ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (45 reviews)
Comfortable home
"Nice location, clean and comfortable home."

Reviewed on Feb 4, 2024

Cottonwood Creek Getaway
Sugar Loaf Lodge & Cabins
Sugar Loaf Lodge & Cabins
2 out of 5
10800 Mill Creek Road, Anaconda, MT
Stay at this cabin in Anaconda. Enjoy free parking, meeting facilities, and a picnic area.
8.8/10 Excellent! (108 reviews)
Rustic but comfortable.
"The cabin is rustic and very comfortable. My only issue was the lack of outlets in the sleeping area. I use a CPAP and was not able to use it at this property. The separate bath house had a strong cat urine smell, but it is in a nature filled area. The beds were very comfortable and the area extremely ..."

Reviewed on Aug 30, 2023

Sugar Loaf Lodge & Cabins
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Deer Lodge

3.8
Guest rating
5 - Excellent
4
" "5 - Excellent 11.428571428571429%
4 - Good
21
" "4 - Good 60%
3 - Okay
8
" "3 - Okay 22.857142857142858%
2 - Disappointing
2
" "2 - Disappointing 5.714285714285714%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Mar 15, 2020

We would stay there again. If our travels take us there.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
Oct 20, 2019

I was only there for a meeting and did no touring.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
Sep 21, 2019

As a small town goes (I grew up in one of the smallest) down town Deer Lodge was cute and people are friendly. Food choices are not abundant but the ones you have are tasty and the small town atmosphere is prevalent people and food are great!

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
Aug 20, 2019

Beautiful small town. Very welcoming.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler
Aug 18, 2019

If you go there, expect everything to close at 4:00.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
May 27, 2019

Clean and friendly town

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