Where to stay in Custer Country? (Billings, Hardin: hotels, living in, airplane)

[FoggyMoon]

Hi, I'm from South Africa and would like to visit Little Bighorn and the other battlefield areas in June this year. What are the nicest towns in that area, as close to the battlefields as possible? What about the towns of Colstrip, Forsyth and Rosebud?

Are there any nice B & Bs? Who is familiar with 'Lakeview Bed & Breakfast' outside Colstrip?

Would love to get some good advise!

[flyingcat2k]

Originally Posted by FoggyMoon

Hi, I'm from South Africa and would like to visit Little Bighorn and the other battlefield areas in June this year. What are the nicest towns in that area, as close to the battlefields as possible? What about the towns of Colstrip, Forsyth and Rosebud?

Are there any nice B & Bs? Who is familiar with 'Lakeview Bed & Breakfast' outside Colstrip?

Would love to get some good advise!

If you want to visit just Little Bighorn, Billings (which is the city you'll likely fly in to) is about 60 miles away. There's a few B&Bs there but I haven't stayed there. Billings is my hometown.

Forsyth is a nice small town of about 4,000 people. The Yellowstone goes through town and has some pretty decent fishing.

I'm not sure where Rosebud, MT is. There is Rosebud County which Forsyth is the County Seat and Colstrip is located in.

Colstrip is a company town of mostly PPL Montana and Western Energy workers. I haven't been in a very long time but I didn't find Colstrip all that scenic. It is closer to the Battle of the Rosebud than other non-reservation towns in Montana. You could actually stay in Sheridan, WY and be closer to that battlefield than Colstrip.

Outside of Little Bighorn, there isn't a lot of improvements made at any Indian Wars battlefields in Montana or Wyoming. Most have a historical marker and are just fields. It's kind of nice if you have a description of the battle or maps showing where certain armies were. It's not helpful if you don't have that and are driving down county roads. I would recommend using a map rather than GPS simply for the fact that some GPSs aren't that accurate in rural areas. Also, cell phone reception in Eastern Montana off major roads (ie- I-94) can get really spotty. Make sure you gas up before heading out. Gas stations can be as far as 70 miles apart.

[cnamann]

Hardin Montana is only about 17 miles from the battlefield and has many nice hotels and other places to stay. [Mod cut]

[ElkHunter]

If you stay in Sheridan Wyoming, you will be a lot closer then Forsythe or Coalstrip. An added bonus is that just South of Sheridan is the Fedderman Battle Field and also the Wagon Box Battle Field. 15 miles North of Sheridan is the Conner Battle Field. Very nice area.

I do not recommend staying in Hardin. Motel, fast food, and absolutely nothing else for you to do.

The Battle Field is located just South East of Crow Agency Montana on I-90. I would stay in Billings or Sheridan. Almost the same distance either way.

[Timberwolf232]

I have a great story about Custer County... Can't give too many details, but it had to do with a radio tower job, aircraft fuel, the Sheriff at the time, and landing an airplane on the highway... Totally off topic for the thread, but DM me sometime and I'll tell the tale.. There are some good people out that way.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

FoggyMoon, I think it's wonderful that you want to come visit these great places, and it shows a genuine interest in an important part of the history of the American West--but when you asked about visiting the Battlefield last year, you got really good information, especially about where to stay:
//www.city-data.com/forum/monta...l#post13881573
So I assume you never came for a visit, and postponed it to this year? Maybe you're not sure how to access old threads?
Anyway, I hope your trip will become a reality this year.

Besides, it appears from your previous posts that you're from Germany as well as South Africa. Not that you have to commit to one or the other, and you're probably from both places, it's just a bit confusing. I know there's a strong interest in the American West in Germany, but I have no idea if the same thing is the case in South Africa.

[FoggyMoon]

Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast

FoggyMoon, I think it's wonderful that you want to come visit these great places, and it shows a genuine interest in an important part of the history of the American West--but when you asked about visiting the Battlefield last year, you got really good information, especially about where to stay:
//www.city-data.com/forum/monta...l#post13881573
So I assume you never came for a visit, and postponed it to this year? Maybe you're not sure how to access old threads?
Anyway, I hope your trip will become a reality this year.

Besides, it appears from your previous posts that you're from Germany as well as South Africa. Not that you have to commit to one or the other, and you're probably from both places, it's just a bit confusing. I know there's a strong interest in the American West in Germany, but I have no idea if the same thing is the case in South Africa.

Hi there, you have a good memory. Indeed I had to postpone the trip to this year, South Africa is this far away from Montana, a lot of things have to be considered before doing the trip. Sorry for confusing you: I grew up in Germany but I'm living in South Africa for almost 20 years.

Of course there is a strong interest in Germany when it comes to the Wild West, after all, many of the soldiers killed at Little Bighorn where born in Germany! Almost 20% of the entire US population is German-American, real incredible.

In the meantime I have found something very promising, a ranch near Birney, MT - very close to the battlefields. From there I could visit all important places easily. Thanks everyone for the fantastic assistance.