Access to Yellowstone and snow-capped mountain views in Red Lodge
Red Lodge is known as the gateway to Yellowstone National Park, along the scenic Beartooth Highway, and serves as both a pit-stop for west-bound travelers and a year-round mountain escape for full-time residents. Views of the snow-capped Beartooth Mountains serve as the daily backdrop in Red Lodge, with local businesses selling artwork, outdoor gear, and western fare along Broadway Avenue. “We get a lot of visitors in the summer on their way to the national parks or the Beartooth Mountains,” says Makenzie Ellinger, an administrative assistant with PureWest Real Estate Red Lodge who has lived in the area for her whole life. “A lot of people move here to be closer to the mountains and the outdoor recreation that comes with it."
Walkable streets and mid-century and early 1900s architecture
The area’s ranch-style homes, craftsman-style bungalows and log cabins were built throughout the early-to-mid 20th century, with brand new, modern traditional builds sprinkled throughout. Homes sit on quiet, walkable streets lined with well-maintained sidewalks, and lots range from 5,000 square feet to half an acre. Houses range from $475,000 to $900,000, with prices increasing with square footage and modern updates.
The gateway to Yellowstone and the Beartooth Highway
The Beartooth Highway offers panoramic views of snow-topped peaks, lakes and woodlands for around 65 miles to Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance. One of the most visited National Parks, Yellowstone is known for its diverse wildlife, hiking and volcanic activity. The highway is also lined with popular nearby hiking trails, from Basin Lakes to Silver Run. The Red Lodge Mountain ski area has dozens of slopes and runs, from green to double black diamond. In the summer, the area is popular among mountain bikers and disc golfers. Rock Creek runs just east of downtown Red Lodge and is a popular fly-fishing area for brown and rainbow trout. Lions Park has a large playground, picnic tables and facilities for soccer, basketball, volleyball and horseshoe. In the winter, the soccer field is converted into an ice rink.
In the winter, Red Lodge is known to get high levels of snow. “If you move here, you have to have four-wheel drive,” Ellinger says. “We’re pretty used to the snow here, so it’s typically business as usual apart from a couple bigger storms every year. Then we hunker down. It’s not unusual to get 5 feet of snow during a big storm.”
Dual enrollment at Red Lodge High School
Most families are served by Mountain View Elementary School, which earns a B-minus overall grade from Niche. The B-rated Roosevelt Middle School has a variety of elective course offerings, including media production, industrial arts and agriculture. Red Lodge High School has an A-minus rating and partners with Montana State University for its dual enrollment courses. The Red Lodge Carnegie Library hosts a number of community programs, including chess club, story times and interactive story walks.
Local businesses on Broadway Avenue
Broadway Avenue runs through the center of town and serves as the local shopping and dining hub. Coffee Factory Roasters offers breakfast sandwiches, espresso, tea and pastries. Foster & Logan’s Pub and Grill is known for its burgers and tacos, with a variety of Montana-brewed craft beers on tap. Red Box Car lies on the south side of town, and patrons can order burgers, wraps and ice cream from the walk-up window before enjoying a meal on a shaded picnic table. Broadway Avenue is also home to art galleries, antique shops and hotels. The Beartooth Market is the local grocery store, with larger supermarkets and big-box options around 60 miles northeast in Billings. “Most people will use the market for day-to-day needs and will take a trip to Billings every two weeks to stock up at Walmart or Costco,” Ellinger says. “In the winter, it’s more like once a month.”
Driving to Billings or Yellowstone on U.S. 212
U.S. Route 212 becomes the scenic Beartooth Highway just south of town and can take drivers to Yellowstone and Billings. The Billings-Logan International Airport is around 62 miles northeast.
Written By
Jillian Pillow
