Billings

Understand

Billings has the nickname "Magic City" because the city seemed to appear overnight with rapid growth from the newly built railroad route in the late 1800s. Billings hosts the largest hospitals in a 500-mile radius, as such the medical profession is a major source of employment in the area.

Residents commonly refer to these different sections of town:

• Lockwood (east of I-90 and north of Yellowstone River) — most businesses around Johnson Lane exit on the old highway
• The Heights (northern part of town, past MetraPark) — most businesses on Main St
• Downtown (roughly 26th St. to 30th St. and 1st Ave to 6th Ave) — typical downtown area
• The Rims (sandstone cliffs north of town) — airport, walking/biking trails, a few neighborhoods
• Southside (south of the railroad tracks) - businesses scattered throughout
• Westend (large stretch of town, 1st St N to 32nd St N) — major streets are Grand, Broadwater, Central, and King
• Shiloh Crossing (Zoo Drive Exit to King Ave, along Shiloh Rd) — newest commercial area of town

The outlying towns of Acton, Ballantine, Broadview, Huntley, Pompey's Pillar, Shepherd and Worden have a variety of businesses, though no hotels. Though some people refer to Laurel, about 10 miles west, as a suburb, it is its own separate town with a vibe of its own.

• Visit Billings tourist information.

Get in

There are no passenger rail services to Billings, and despite its location along the river, there are no ferry services to other cities.

By plane

Go Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)

Billings Logan International is the major airport for Eastern Montana, and the busiest airport in the state. Cape Air has services linking the city with Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Sidney, and Wolf Point. It is additionally served by Allegiant, American, Alaska, Delta, Frontier, and United. Denver, Salt Lake City, and Minneapolis are the biggest hubs serving Billings.

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By car

• From the west - Interstate 90 (I-90) connects Billings with Bozeman, Butte, Missoula, Idaho and Washington.
• From the south - I-90 from Wyoming. U.S. 310 also comes north from Lovell, Wyoming.
• From the east - 10 miles east of Billings, I-94 joins I-90 from Miles City, Glendive and North Dakota.
• From the north - U.S. 87 connects Billings with Roundup.

By bus

Get around

• Dalton's Prairie Path Taxi and Shuttle - +1 406-591-2314
• Trailhead Transportation - +1-406-855-0037

Taxis in Billings charge fares based on a pre-set zone arrangement. Uber and Lyft ridesharing services also operate in the city.

Bike trails can be found throughout the city. A map can be found at Billings Trailnet.

Stay safe

Billings is generally a safe city, but crimes do occur. Stay away from portions of the city south of Montana Ave., otherwise known as South Side, at night.

Portions of the city east of N. 27th St., north of Montana Ave. and west of Main St., otherwise known as the North Park area, may not be safe at night. However, the area is mainly residential and offers little for tourists in any case.

Rock slides, sometimes involving big boulders, have happened along the Rims, therefore, it is advisable to keep a reasonable distance between yourself and the edge of the Rims.

Due to swift currents, do not get into the city's canals. People have had to be rescued from the canals.

Road conditions can be treacherous during and after winter snowstorms. The city has a so-called "Slick Streets" policy, meaning if the city's emergency dispatch center receives too many calls on accidents due to snowy or icy road conditions, emergency crews will only respond to accidents involving injuries. The city's media outlets may make an announcement when the Slick Streets policy is in effect.

Go next

• Little Bighorn Battlefield in Crow Agency, 67 miles southeast on I-90.
• Livingston
• You're at the last city of any significant size before rolling out into the vast Eastern Montana prairie. The greatest attraction may be the scenery of the drive to your next destination.