Adventure
Lewis and Clark
Expedition in Montana
Follow the path of the Corps of Discovery through Montana’s open landscapes, historic landmarks, river corridors, museums, monuments, and preserved expedition sites.
Experience Style
Historic, scenic, educational, cultural, and custom-guided
Best For
History lovers, road trippers, families, educators, museum visitors, and western heritage travelers
Location
Western Montana, Glacier Country, Missouri River country, and historic Lewis and Clark sites across the state
Custom Options
Historic routes, museums, monuments, river stops, markers, scenic drives, and custom cultural itineraries may be available
Tour Overview
A Historic Journey Through Montana
The Lewis and Clark Expedition played a pivotal role in shaping American history, especially in Montana. In 1804, the Corps of Discovery set out to explore the territories west of the Mississippi River, traveling through rugged landscapes, river corridors, mountain passes, and homelands rich with Indigenous history.
Montana offers travelers the chance to follow portions of the same journey taken by Captains Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and the Corps of Discovery more than two centuries ago. From Western Montana’s Glacier Country to the Missouri River and preserved historic sites across the state, the route connects visitors to one of the most important exploration stories in American history.
Today, museums, monuments, historic markers, preserved campsites, and scenic routes help bring the expedition to life for modern travelers.
American History
Experience places tied to one of the most significant exploration journeys in the American West.
Montana Landscapes
Travel through wide-open country, river valleys, mountain scenery, and historic routes once crossed by the Corps.
Museums & Markers
Visit exhibits, monuments, interpretive sites, and historic markers that help explain the expedition.
Custom Route Planning
Build a Lewis and Clark-focused itinerary around your travel route, interests, time, and preferred stops.
What to Expect
A Lewis and Clark Trail experience in Montana is part scenic road trip, part history lesson, and part step back in time. The vast, open landscapes make it easy to imagine early explorers moving through unfamiliar territory, navigating rivers, meeting local communities, and recording the geography, wildlife, and cultures they encountered.
The expedition’s Montana route was especially challenging as the Corps traveled along the Missouri River, from its confluence with the Yellowstone River in the east toward its headwaters in the west. On their return journey in 1806, the group divided within Montana’s borders, expanding the scope of their exploration and adding new geographic and cultural observations.
Many of the places Lewis and Clark charted, camped, and traveled through are still accessible today, giving visitors a meaningful way to connect with the expedition’s legacy.
Missouri River History
Explore the river corridor that played a major role in the expedition’s movement across the state.
Historic Trail Routes
Follow portions of the routes traveled by Lewis, Clark, and the Corps of Discovery through Montana.
Museums & Exhibits
Visit museums and interpretive centers with collections, stories, maps, and expedition artifacts.
Monuments & Markers
Stop at historic markers and preserved sites that commemorate the expedition and its impact.
Western Montana Sites
Trace historic landmarks throughout Western Montana and Glacier Country connected to the journey.
Custom History Tours
Add Lewis and Clark history to a broader Montana road trip, river experience, or cultural itinerary.
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