Things to Do in Billings in July
July weather, activities, events & insider tips
High Season · Book Early
July Weather in Billings
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
87°F (30°C)
High Temp
59°F (15°C)
Low Temp
1.2 inches (30 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Afternoon thunderstorms can bring lightning, strong gusts, and occasional hail to the plains and foothills, often building between 2pm and 6pm.
⚠ Beartooth Pass and other high elevations can see sudden cold, fog, or snow squalls even in July, dropping 30-40°F (about 17-22°C) below city temperatures.
⚠ Intense high-altitude and high-plains sun pushes the UV index to 8 or higher, with rapid sunburn risk on exposed trails and mountain pullouts.
Is July Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + July is the one stretch when the Beartooth Highway (US 212) over to Red Lodge is fully open and snow-free, climbing to Beartooth Pass at 10,947 ft (3,337 m). Ice is gone from the switchbacks. Alpine tundra blooms. You can drive from Billings to one of the highest paved roads in the country in under two hours. Miss the May-September window and the pass is simply shut.
- + Long days and warm, mostly dry afternoons make Billings the ideal launchpad for the wider region. The NE entrance to Yellowstone via Red Lodge and Cooke City sits about 130 miles (209 km) south. The Yellowstone River runs cold and floatable right through town. The Rimrocks sandstone cliffs that ring the city stay walkable from dawn well past 9pm in July's late light.
- + This is downtown's liveliest month. The Strawberry Festival packs Montana Avenue on the second Saturday with food stalls and live music. The Alive After 5 concert series runs Thursday evenings on rotating downtown patios. The Big Sky State Games flood the city with amateur athletes mid-month. The bar-and-brewery district along North Broadway hums until late.
- + Outdoor everything is in season at once. Lake Elmo State Park in the Heights opens for swimming. Pictograph Cave State Park's trail is dry and the prehistoric rock paintings are easy to reach. The trout fishing on the Yellowstone and nearby spring creeks is at its summer peak. You will not be choosing between attractions because of weather closures the way you would in April or November.
Considerations
- − July is peak season and prices show it. Billings hotels along the I-90 corridor and around MetraPark fill with Yellowstone-bound road-trippers. Weekend rates run noticeably higher than spring or fall. Book accommodations three to four weeks ahead. Avoid arriving the same weekend as the Big Sky State Games unless you have a room locked in.
- − Afternoon heat and intense sun are real. With highs near 87°F (31°C) and a UV index hitting 8, the open, shadeless Rimrock trails and the Pompeys Pillar climb turn punishing between noon and 4pm. The dry plains air masks how fast you dehydrate and burn.
- − Sudden thunderstorms roll off the plains on roughly a third of July days. They often build in the late afternoon with lightning, gusty wind, and occasional hail. They usually pass within an hour. They can chase you off the Rimrocks or the high stretches of the Beartooth with little warning.
Best Activities in July
Top things to do during your visit
Beartooth Highway Alpine Scenic Drive
July is the only reliable month to drive the full Beartooth Highway, the roughly 68-mile (109 km) run from Red Lodge over Beartooth Pass at 10,947 ft (3,337 m). The tundra is in bloom. Marmots sun themselves on the rocks. You pass turquoise alpine lakes still rimmed with snow even as the valley below bakes. The temperature drops sharply at the top, so a fleece in the car matters even in summer.
Booking Tip: Most travelers self-drive, but guided van tours run in summer and handle the white-knuckle switchbacks for you. Book 7-10 days ahead. Look for licensed, insured operators who include Red Lodge stops. See current options in the booking section below.
Yellowstone National Park Day Trips
Billings is the practical northern base for Yellowstone in July, when every road and entrance inside the park is open. The NE entrance via the Beartooth and Cooke City delivers you straight into the wildlife-rich Lamar Valley, where bison herds and wolf-watchers gather at dawn. July's long daylight lets you make the long round trip and still be back for dinner in town.
Booking Tip: Full-day guided tours from the Billings/Red Lodge area book out fast in July, often 2-3 weeks ahead. Choose operators with small-group vans and naturalist guides for the Lamar Valley wildlife. Current tours appear in the booking widget below.
Yellowstone River Floating and Fly Fishing
By July the Yellowstone has dropped from its snowmelt high and runs clear and floatable as it cuts through Billings. Half-day raft floats and guided fly-fishing trips for trout are at their summer best. The river's cottonwood banks give shade the open prairie lacks. The cool water is a genuine relief when the afternoon hits 87°F (31°C).
Booking Tip: Book guided float or fishing trips 10-14 days ahead in peak summer. Confirm the outfitter is licensed and carries proper insurance. Morning launches beat the afternoon thunderstorm window. See the booking section for current trips.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument History Tour
About 28 miles (45 km) northeast of Billings, Pompeys Pillar carries the only physical evidence of the Lewis and Clark expedition still visible on the trail: William Clark's signature, carved into the sandstone in 1806. A boardwalk staircase climbs the rock for sweeping Yellowstone Valley views. July's warmth and dry trails make the open climb comfortable if you go early before the sun is overhead.
Booking Tip: Half-day guided history excursions pair the Pillar with riverside Lewis and Clark sites. Book a few days ahead. Pick operators that include the interpretive center. Current options are in the booking widget below.
Red Lodge Mountain Town Getaway
An hour southwest of Billings, about 60 miles (97 km), Red Lodge sits at the foot of the Beartooths and comes fully alive in July. Its historic Broadway is lined with summer-only shops and patios. The wildflower hiking just outside town peaks this month. It makes the natural overnight or lunch stop on a Beartooth loop. Mountain afternoons run cooler than the city, often by 10°F (about 6°C).
Booking Tip: Guided day trips combine Red Lodge with the Beartooth drive. Reserve 7-10 days ahead in July. Favor operators that build in time to walk the historic main street. See current tours in the booking section below.
Rimrocks and Pictograph Cave Outdoor Walks
The Rimrocks, the sandstone bluffs rising roughly 500 ft (150 m) above Billings, give the city its skyline and its best short hikes. Swords Park trail along the rim is at its driest and most walkable in July. Pair it with Pictograph Cave State Park, about 7 miles (11 km) southeast, where ochre rock paintings left by people thousands of years ago sit under a sandstone overhang. Both are golden-hour magic in summer's late light.
Booking Tip: These are largely self-guided, but local sightseeing and history tours bundle the Rimrocks with downtown landmarks. Go early or after 6pm to dodge midday heat and afternoon storms. Current guided options show in the booking widget below.
Where to Stay in Billings in July
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for July travellers.
July Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Mid July
Strawberry Festival
Downtown Billings closes Montana Avenue for a one-day street fair built around fresh strawberries: shortcake stands, regional food vendors, craft booths, and live music. Arrive before 10am for parking near the historic depot and to beat both the crowds and the midday heat. It is the most local-feeling day on the summer calendar.
Mid July
Big Sky State Games
Montana's Olympic-style amateur sports festival is headquartered in Billings, drawing thousands of athletes across dozens of sports to venues all over the city. Even if you are not competing, the opening ceremony and the buzz around town are worth catching, just plan for fuller hotels and busier restaurants that week.
Late July
Alive After 5
A free Thursday-evening summer concert series that rotates among downtown Billings patios, breweries, and plazas. Locals treat it as the week's social anchor, drifting between live music and the bar district along North Broadway. Show up around 5pm, follow the crowd, and you have an instant introduction to the city's nightlife.
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View Billings Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Drive the Beartooth Highway south to north, leaving Billings early so you crest Beartooth Pass before the late-morning tour traffic and the afternoon storm build-up. The light is better and the pullouts are empty at 8am.
For breakfast before a big drive, locals point newcomers to Stella's Kitchen and Bakery downtown for cinnamon rolls the size of a dinner plate, a Billings institution that long predates the food-truck era. The Rex, in its historic downtown building, is the go-to for a proper sit-down dinner.
The Rimrocks at sunset are the free show every local takes visitors to: head to the airport-side overlooks on the north rim around 8:30pm in July, when the late sun turns the sandstone copper and the whole valley glows.
Yellowstone's NE entrance via Red Lodge and Cooke City is the smart play from Billings in July, the Lamar Valley wildlife is unbeatable and the gateway is far less jammed than the West and South entrances that road-trippers default to.
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming the Beartooth Highway is always open and tackling it without a warm layer. The pass holds snowbanks and bites cold even in July, and storms can close the high stretches with no notice.
Underestimating the sun and the dry air, then bonking on the shadeless Rimrock or Pompeys Pillar climbs at midday without enough water. The heat sneaks up because the air does not feel as muggy as the numbers suggest.
Treating Billings as just an overnight gas-and-sleep stop on the way to Yellowstone, then missing that the city is the regional hub for floating the Yellowstone River, downtown summer events, and the best northern route into the park.
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Top-rated things to do in Billings this July
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