Little Bighorn River Valley Scenic Drive
Little Bighorn River Valley Scenic Drive
The most scenic way from Billings to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is not the straight shot down I-90. It is the slower, richer Crow Country backroads route that sweeps you through the rolling plains, river valleys, and storied landscapes of the Crow Reservation.
Begin in Billings and head east on I-90 just far enough to catch US-87 South toward Hardin. Before you leave Hardin, consider a quick stop at the Big Horn County Historical Museum, where historic buildings and exhibits tell the story of this region’s frontier days.
From Hardin, turn onto State Highway 313 toward Fort Smith. The road unfurls through wide-open ranchland and the fertile Bighorn River Valley, where cottonwoods shade the banks and fishermen cast lines for trout. On clear days, the Pryor Mountains rise in the distance to the west while the rugged Bighorns loom to the south. If time allows, a short detour to the Afterbay at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area rewards you with striking canyon views and abundant wildlife.
Loop back north on quiet Bighorn County roads toward Crow Agency, where the vast grasslands give way to the hallowed ground of the Little Bighorn Battlefield. Approaching from the south, you will see the landscape open wide, much as it did in 1876, offering a deeper connection to the events that unfolded here.
This route adds a little time, but the payoff is a journey layered with big-sky vistas, winding river views, and a tangible sense of history you simply cannot get from the interstate.