Historic Crossings
in Central Montana

Historic Crossings

The Missouri River doesn’t just run through Central Montana. It defines it. Take a drive along the Missouri and uncover unexpected stops along the way. Two river ferries. A defining moment for the Corps of Discovery. A restored mercantile. This trip is about more than the views. It’s the discovery.

125 miles

3 hr 39 mins

Trip Highlights

Great Northern Plains Museum

Frontier life is just the start. See the world-famous Smithsonian Hornaday Bison display, then wander through the Strand Western Art Gallery and exhibits capturing a century of homesteader triumph and hardship.

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Virgelle Mercantile + Virgelle Ferry

Where steamboats once loaded coal, the Virgelle Ferry still crosses the Missouri the old-fashioned way. Drive up, ring the buzzer, and step into another era! Turn the stop into a stay at the restored Virgelle Mercantile, known for its antique shopping.

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Decision Point

One fork. One decision. Two paths. Marias or Missouri? Stand where Lewis & Clark faced a choice that would determine the course of their journey West.

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The Well Bar

Rustic charm, cold drinks, and plenty of Montana character. The Well Bar is the kind of place that makes a small-town stop feel like a tradition.

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Carter Ferry

The second of Montana’s three river ferries, Carter Ferry gives you a front-row seat to the Missouri. Take in the river, the open landscape, and a crossing that’s anything but ordinary.

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Fort Benton

Driven by the fur trade, Montana’s birthplace is exactly as you imagine—historic, timeless, and surrounded by incredible views. Walk the riverfront, explore the old fort, and stay awhile in one of the West’s most storied towns.

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Map Your Route

Start and end your adventure in Fort Benton.

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