Understand
[edit]There is no waterfall to see in Great Falls. This refers to other definition of "falls" meaning "rapids." That said, there is a waterfall in Big Falls, about a 20 minute drive to the northeast.
There are two military installations in the city - Malmstrom Air Force Base and Montana Air National Guard. Malmstrom is the city's largest employer.
The Missouri River bisects the town. Crossing the bridge at 15th St takes you to the suburb of Black Eagle.
Get in
[edit]
By plane
[edit]- 1 Great Falls International Airport (GTF IATA). Has non-stop service on Alaska Airlines from Helena and Seattle, Allegiant Air from Las Vegas and Phoenix, Delta from Minneapolis and Salt Lake City, and United to Denver. Frontier Airlines has seasonal service from Denver.
By car
[edit]Interstate 15 goes through the outskirts of Great Falls. Either the Central Ave. exit or the 10th Ave. S exit will go to the center of the city. The road from Helena to Great Falls, hugging the long curves of the Missouri river, is one of the finest stretches of interstate in the country.
By train
[edit]There is an Amtrak station about 90 miles north of Great Falls in the small town of Shelby. The Empire Builder, which runs from Seattle to Chicago makes stops daily. There are rental cars available near the station.
By bus
[edit]Salt Lake Express and Greyhound provide intercity bus service.
- Northern Transit Interlocal. Bus service from Shelby.
Get around
[edit]Montana is huge: most residents think nothing of driving in what most of the world consider long distances, so with that in mind like most of Montana, you're going to need a car. Although Great Falls does have a bus system, it's limited to the city proper. Another option for seeing the area is by bicycle. In an area with so many sparsely traveled roads, there is plenty to be seen on a road bike.
The Historic Trolley[dead link] runs during community and themed events. Tours discontinued in 2022 but the owner is hopeful to resume.
Airport Shuttle Express of Calgary Canada offers year-round charter van service between Great Falls and Calgary, Banff & Lake Louise.
By bus
[edit]Great Falls Transit (☏ +1 406-727-0382) operates bus service in Great Falls. Fare is $1.00. Buy a day pass for $4 for unlimited rides. A pass good for 11 rides is $10. Buy passes from the bus driver or the transit office at https://cmrussell.org/3905[dead link] North Star Blvd.
See
[edit]
- 1 Children's Museum of Montana, 22 Railroad Sq, ☏ +1 406 452-6661. M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM, closed Su. Hands-on exhibits designed for children 12 and under. $10, Seniors/military $7, under 2 free.
- 2 C. M. Russell Museum, 400 13th St N, ☏ +1 406 727-8787. May-Sep daily 10AM-5PM, Oct-Apr Th-M 10AM-5PM. Works by Charles Marion Russell. Western culture, landscape, and wildlife. Adults $16, Seniors (60+) and Veterans $13, Students $5, Age 5 and under free, Active Military and their family members free.
- 3 Great Falls Voyagers, 1015 25th St N, ☏ +1 406 771-1265. See website for home game schedule. Enjoy a minor league baseball game at Centene Stadium.
- 4 Lewis and Clark National Interpretive Center, 4201 Giant Springs Rd, ☏ +1 406 727-8733. Jun-Aug daily 9AM-5PM; Sep-May Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM, closed M. Exhibits focused on the Lewis and Clark Trail. The explorers had unexpected difficulty portaging the falls here. $8 for 16 and older.
- 5 Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, 1400 1st Ave N, ☏ +1 406 727-8255. T 10AM-9PM, W TH F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-3PM, closed Su. Housed in the city's first high school from 1896. Mostly has contemporary art from regional artists. Free.
- 6 Ryan Dam, 160 Ryan Dam Rd, ☏ +1 406 268-2324, [email protected]. May-Sep, open during daylight. Visit Ryan Dam and witness the spectacle of a hydro-electric dam. Hike the trails for alternating beautiful views. Lounge in the shady park and enjoy a picnic with the family. Fully upkept facilities available for parties or gatherings. Keep an eye out for wildlife, there has even been a bear spotted roaming the grounds in 2013. Free.
Do
[edit]- Disc Golf - Great Falls has 3 disc golf courses. CMR is on 17th Ave NW. Warden Park, at 101 13th Ave S, has 18 holes and is on the highest hill in town. West Bank, at 1600 4th St NE, has 9 holes and runs along the river.
- 1 Electric City Water Park, 100 River Dr S, ☏ +1 406 771-1265. Daily Jun-Aug noon-6PM. Waterslide, lazy river, large heated pool, squirt zone.
- 2 Giant Springs State Park, 4803 Giant Springs Rd., ☏ +1 406 727-1212. Daily 8AM-sunset. One of the largest naturally occurring springs in the world. Located on the banks of the Missouri River adjacent to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Giant Springs State Park is a popular local destination, especially in the hot summer months. Walk the river paths along the shore of the Missouri to a superb view of Rainbow Dam. Visit the fish hatchery and feed the trout and watch the feeding frenzy that ensues as soon as the food hits the water. While you're there, don't forget to slake that thirst with a bottle of the spring water. $8/vehicle, free for Montana residents.
- 3 Gibson Park, 400 Park Dr N, ☏ +1 406 771-1265. Daily sunrise-sunset. Large city park with walking trails, playground, duck park, summer concerts. Ice skating in winter. Adjacent to Riverside Park, Gibson Flower Gardens, and dog park. Free.
- 4 Great Falls Americans, 4001 29th St SW, ☏ +1 406 252-4930. See website for current season schedule. Enjoy an ice-hockey game at the Great Falls Ice Plex. The Americans play in the North American Tier III hockey league.
- 5 Hi-Line Climbing Center, 608 1st Ave S, ☏ +1 406 315-1613. M-Sa noon-9PM, Su noon-7PM. Climbing gym. Un-roped climbing on walls shorter than 15 foot. Adult $15, student/military $13, age 6-18 $12, up to 5 $7; $5 shoe rental.
- River's Edge Trail, along banks of Missouri River, [email protected]. Daily sunrise-sunset. Nearly 60 mile stretch along the Missouri River, mostly paved. This will take you past the 5 hydroelectric dams, historic downtown, river canyons, and reservoirs. Website has trail map if you are looking to go to a particular section of town. Otherwise just find the river and start walking, biking, rollerblading, or dog walking. Free.
Buy
[edit]There are two Albertsons grocery store locations.
- Downtown Great Falls, around Central Ave and 1st Ave S, ☏ +1 406 453-6151. Variety of local stores, entertainment, restaurants and coffee shops.
- 1 Holiday Village Mall, 1200 10th Avenue South, ☏ +1 406 727-2089. M-Sa 11AM-7PM, Su noon-6PM. Standard mall stores.
Eat
[edit]You can find pretty much any fast food places/chains (McDonald's, Burger King, Applebees, etc.) you're looking either for on 10th Ave South, the Northwest Bypass, or Smelter Ave. The exit signs on I-15 will indicate which exit you should take if that's what you're looking for.
For those looking for something different than the same old fare here are a few local restaurant suggestions:
- Bar S, 5100 North Star Blvd, ☏ +1 406 761-9550. Simple decor, mind-blowing prime rib. If you're lucky, the waitress will show you a picture of the 6'6" gentleman who orders the "Double Bar-S cut," Which if the picture tells the story, stands about four full inches tall. $20-50.
- Taco Treat/Amigo Lounge, 1200 7th Street S. A good Mexican place if you're looking for that option in Great Falls. Keep in mind you're in Montana, so if you're looking for fully authentic Mexican food, you might want to wait until you get home. What you will get is outsanding American syle Mexican food with a local twist. The food is satisfying, the portions large, and the prices good. What more could you ask for?
- The MacKenzie River Pizza Company. A franchise restaurant with locations all around Montana. The Great Falls location is next to the Missouri River, and it's very child-friendly. Specializes in gourmet pizzas, but does have more conventional options for those with unadventrous pallets or small children. Be wanrned, this restaurant is extremely popular and gets crowded quickly most every night. So if it looks packed, it is, but there's a reason for that. Don't worry about a wait, service is quick and friendly and you shouldn't have to wait that long to be seated.
- Borries, 1800 Smelter Ave NE, Black Eagle, ☏ +1 406 761-0300. Located in the adjoining town of Black Eagle, Borries has been a Great Falls Establishment since 1938. Probably the best Italian food in town, although there aren't all that many options on the menu Italian wise. Fantastic steaks, Tuesday is Prime Rib Night (Get an early reservation or it will be gone), and quite arguably some of the best Minestrone in existence. A local favorite, definitely one of the higher end restaurants in Great Falls, so be prepared, it gets crowded and service can be a bit slow on especially busy nights. Don't let that scare you away, absolutely fantastic food.
- Montana Sub Shop, 701 9th St S (take the 10th Ave South Exit, follow 10th Ave South to 9th St S, make a left onto 9th St S, Montana Sub Shop is three blocks down on the right), ☏ +1 406 454-0651. This little locally-owned sandwich shop is known for its large portions, high-quality ingredients, and just plain old awesome subs. Quick, friendly service even when it's busy; there isn't a large dining area so it can get a little crowded. Even if you're just passing through Great Falls around lunch time, definitely one of your best healthy grab and go options. $.
- Cattleman's Cut Supper Club, 1400 Market Pl Dr, ☏ +1 406 452-0702. Cattleman's cut is pretty unapologetic for what it is. As you pull into the gravel parking lot full of pick up trucks and approach a building that looks more like a prefabricated barn as opposed to what it is, a local favorite and one of the best restaurants in the city, you may be wondering what you're getting yourself into. Take a second and remind yourself that you're in Great Falls, Montana. Cattleman's Cut is a restaurant where you go for a good steak. An extensive selection of cuts of beef, all cooked to order, a fairly extensive selection of seafood (remember the being in Great Falls Montana thing, though), and probably the best salad bar in the city await you. Call ahead, it really doesn't matter what day of the week it is, this place gets packed.
- Howard's Pizza, multiple locations in Great falls. Specializes in thin-crust pizza. A local favorite.
Drink
[edit]As is common with most cities in Montana, Montanans love to whet their whistles after a long hard day of work; if you're not within walking distance of a bar in Great Falls you're probably not within the city limits. If you're looking to get your drink on you have pretty wide assortment of options. From dance clubs to hole-in-the-wall dive bars there is something to suit almost anyone's taste, heck most of the gas stations in Great Falls have casinos attached to them for your drinking/gambling pleasure while you fill 'er up.
Great Falls is not that populous, but it is fairly spread out, so depending on which part of the city you're in you're probably close to one of the main drags and its plethora of drinking venues. 10th Ave South has the most bars by a long shot; it is the main street in the city and stretches on for about 8 miles with dry stretches few and far between. You'll also find plenty of bars on Central Avenue and its surrounding streets in the downtown area of Great Falls. Smelter Avenue/The Northwest Bypass possesses many options for those visiting the Northern portion of Great Falls. For those located out towards Malmstrom Air Force Base 57th St, River Road, and the Eastern End of 10th Avenue South provide your best options to find some libations with friends. Suffice it to say, no matter where you are in Great Falls a frosty cold one is never far away.
- The Beacon Ice House, 1349 13th Avenue Southwest, ☏ +1 406 727-1449. Out of the way, but worth the trouble of finding. Has theme nights most nights of the week with a live DJ, pool, firendly staff, and cheap booze.
- The Classic 50s Card Room and Casino, 1800 14th Street Southwest, ☏ +1 406 453-0136. Whether you feel like playing pool or trying your hand at some Texas-Hold-Em, the Classic 50s has a little bit of something for everyone. It also has the good fortune of housing one of the locally popular Howard's Pizza locations so you can get your grub on while you ponder your hand.
- Club Cigar. Although not as famous as the Sip N Dip lounge, Club Cigar is one of the best bars in Great Falls. Friendly people, Karaoke on Wednesday nights, Open Mic night on Tuesday, and Pabst on tap. You can count on Club Cigar to be crowded almost every night of the week.
- The Do Bar, 1800 3rd St NW #1919, ☏ +1 406 727-0388. Daily 10AM-2AM. Fun little bar with pool, shuffle board, and great prices on drinks. Fun, friendly, and attentive staff.
- The Halftime Sports Bar, 1101 Northwest Byp, ☏ +1 406 727-8053. The Halftime is the largest sports bar on the Northwest Bypass near the edge of the city. The Halftime is the place to be if you're looking to grab a drink and watch the game in good company. Also serves tradition pub fare.
- The Hi-Ho Tavern, 2600 10th Avenue South, ☏ +1 406 761-6183. Popular with the college crowd, mostly due to its close proximity to two of the universities located in Great Falls. Classified as a hole in the wall, the Hi-Ho has pool, internet juke box, and an eclectic mix of micro brews and college affordable domestics on tap. Fun place to go, listen to some good music and challenge new friends to pool.
- 1 Sip n Dip, 17 7th St S, ☏ +1 406 454-2141. 11AM-around midnight. World Famous. Must-do stop at the Tiki-themed bar in downtown Great Falls located in the O'Haire Motor Inn. Get a fish bowl, check out the underwater Mermaid, and designate a driver!
- The Stadium Sports Bar & Casino, 1121 5th Street South, ☏ +1 406-640-4676. Very sports-oriented.
- Steinhaus, 711 1st Avenue North (in Downtown Great Falls), ☏ +1 406 727-8183. Fireplace, pool tables, and 21 different micro-brews on tap.
Microbreweries
[edit]- 2 Annie's Tap House, 112 Central Ave, ☏ +1 406 315-3185, [email protected]. M-Th noon-9PM, F Sa noon-11PM. Featuring craft beers made in Montana. Also wine, ciders and seltzers.
- 3 Black Eagle Brewery, 1602 25th Ave NE (in Black Eagle, across the bridge), ☏ +1 406 770-3443, [email protected]. M-Th 2-8PM, F Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-8PM. 5 flagship beers. Food available from attached Pit Stop.
- 4 Mighty Mo Brewing, 412 Central Ave, ☏ +1 406 952-0342, [email protected]. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F-Sa 11AM-11PM. Craft beers with 7 flagship plus rotators. Pizza and nightly specials.
Sleep
[edit]- Heritage Inn, 1700 Fox Farm Rd, ☏ +1 406 761-1900, toll-free: +1-800-548-8256, fax: +1 406 761-0136.
- Wingate by Wyndham Great Falls, 1000 9th Avenue South, ☏ +1 406 454-3000, fax: +1 406 454-3000.
- Holiday Inn, 1100 5th St S, ☏ +1 406 727-7200.
- Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 1625 Market Pl Dr, ☏ +1 406-453-4000.
- Best Western Plus Riverfront Hotel And Suites, 600 River Drive South, ☏ +1 406 761-2600, fax: +1 406 761-2267. The hotel has an indoor pool and hot tub, both open 24 hours. There's a small "business center" with high-speed Internet, available for free. It's a very short walk to the MacKenzie River Pizza Company, Applebee's, and the Children's Museum of Montana. There are riverside rooms available for about $10 more. The city's well-managed riverside paths run right behind the hotel. Very friendly management!
- Motel 6, 2 Treasure State Dr, ☏ +1 406 453-1602, fax: +1 406 727-3234.
Stay safe
[edit]Great Falls has one of the highest crime rates in America, compared to its size. That doesn't mean it's unsafe for visitors, but lockup your valuables, and keep them out of sight.
Winter snow can come in quickly. Keep a snow brush in the car.
Connect
[edit]As a larger town, most coffee shops offer free wi-fi.
- Chamber of Commerce, 100 1st Ave North, ☏ +1 406 761-4434.
Go next
[edit]- Glacier National Park - Widely considered one of the most beautiful areas in the world. It's approximately 3 hours northwest of Great Falls. Glacier is at the very least an absolute must do day trip. See incredible mountain peaks, dramatic valleys carved by glaciers, isolated alpine lakes, raging waterfalls, active glaciers, and more wild life than you ever imagined. Camp at one of the many campgrounds and spend some time just soaking in the natural beauty of one of North America's Crown Jewels.
- Yellowstone National Park and Grand Tetons National Park - Approximately 4½ hours south on US 89, Yellowstone is the most famous national park in the US. See thermodynamics at work in nature! Visit Old Faithful, hike to breath taking Yellowstone Falls, see wolves, bear, and bison in their natural habitat, see the spectacular vistas of the Grand Tetons. Yellowstone pretty much explains itself. While it would be a difficult day trip, there's doubt that anyone would only want to spend a single day in one of the most incredible places in the world. Warning, Yellowstone gets incredibly crowded during the summer months as it is a world wide tourist destination.
- Fort Benton - Approximately 45 miles north of Great Falls on Highway 87. A Nationally Registered Historic Landmark. Fort Benton's claim to fame is that it was as far west as Steam Ships could go on the Missouri River and thus became a vitally important to the expansion of the United States into the western territories. Once gold was discovered in Montana, Fort Benton became a primary destination for goldminers as they expanded into the western US and Canada in search of gold. Visit the still intact actual Fort. Walk along the levee and see an actual steam-ship. Visit the museums and learn about the history of one of the Wild West's Wildest towns.
- The Highwood Mountains - From Great Falls, go east on US 89 6 miles, east 13 miles on MT-228, 16 miles east on County Road 121, then 2 miles east on Forest Road 8840. The latter are dirt & gravel. Want to get out of the city and into the Montana wilderness? The Highwood Mountains are a mountain range located approximately 40 miles from Great Falls. Get out, hike some trails, camp out at Thain Creek Campground and get away from it all. Always remember safety, know where you're going, let people know where you're going, dress appropriately, take plenty of food and water as you can become isolated, never leave food out in the open as you may attract wild life, if you're staying over night make sure to take shelter with you, and take a sleeping bag as it can get chilly at night, especially in the spring and fall. Camping in the winter in Montana is not recommended for the inexperienced as conditions can become extremely harsh.
| Routes through Great Falls |
| Lethbridge ← Shelby ← | N  S
|
→ Wolf Creek → Helena |
| Havre ← Fort Benton ← | NE  SE
|
→ Lewistown → Billings |
| Fort Macleod ← Sun River ← | N  S
|
→ White Sulphur Springs → Livingston |
| END ← | NW  SE
|
→ Harlowton → Billings |
| Missoula ← Sun River ← | W  E
|
→ Lewistown → Sidney |