Bannack State Park
Bannack State Park
5
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
About
A park with over 60 original structures still standing from the 1800s, including the old hotel, the governor's mansion, the Masonic Hall and the Methodist Church.
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- Michelle T1 contributionEnchantingI took my parents, my sister, my brother and his family, and my 5 children. We had ages from 7-65. Everyone LOVED it. Even my teenagers enjoyed exploring the buildings and they got excited about the history. My 7 year old had so many questions and was shocked to learn that toilets were outside and there was no internet. It was $8 per car and we bought a booklet for $2. It really is a great activity for almost all ages. And affordable, even with so many people (about 14 of us). We will go back! They even have a campground and picnic area. I would give this 10 stars if I could!Visited June 2024Traveled with familyWritten June 24, 2024
- Susan HTacoma, Washington4,117 contributionsVery Cool Ghost Town!This place is really cool! There are a large number of buildings with a guide (included with entry fee) that gives you the history of many of them. You can also walk through many allowing for a much better experience than just looking through windows. Most of the buildings are located along a boardwalk. On site is a visitors’ center with a small store and a ranger to help answer questions. Admission is very reasonable! There are even a few picnic tables just perfect for a picnic lunch.Visited July 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten July 17, 2024
- SandhtourArmidale, Australia43 contributionsOne of the best preserved old west towns anywhereBrilliant place to visit. One of the most authentic preserved ghost towns you’ll find. We are Australians and I am a professional historian. We loved this place and I don’t know if we have anything like this in Australia. It was like walking through history. The buildings are so well cared for and the staff at the front desk are so friendly.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten September 21, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
418 reviews
Excellent
343
Very good
63
Average
11
Poor
0
Terrible
1
John Chaput
Ile-des-Chenes, Canada180 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Great outdoor activity. Was an easy and economical way to learn about the settlement of Montana and the wind west. I recommend the $2 guide book even if you do t read every story, it helps to make the experience authentic and it a great keepsake.
Written July 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stendel
Eastpointe, MI401 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
This is a well preserved western ghost town from the gold rush days. They have a guidebook for $2.00 and is really helpful on your self guided tour of this wonderful ghost town.I really enjoyed the Old Meade Hotel. Walking through it brought you back in time. Up the hill from town is a very old western cemetery ( picket fencing around the individual graves) where most of the people who lived here are buried. This was a wonderful experience. I highly recommend you visit .
Written September 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Squarebutte125
Laurel, MT21 contributions
Aug 2019
If you enjoy history then this is a must stop for you. There is a small store which sells great books. One can walk around town and go into buildings to explore what it was like back in the mid-1800's. It is said to be haunted.
Written July 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Statia D
Portal, AZ450 contributions
Sep 2020
The experience as a whole was wonderful. The state of Montana receives a lot of credit for the rescue of this important mining town, but watch the video on YouTube that explains how the citizens originally raised the money and began the restoration. It is considered to be in a state of "arrested decay." Bannack has a ton of history. The first Hotel in Montana, the first Jail in Montana, and the first capital of Montana. I'm sure there's more, like the first electric dredging barge, who's skeletal remains are still on Grasshopper Creek. Visitors can enter the buildings, where they can observe many original furnishings. What you don't see, let your imagination do the rest. After your self guided tour, relax in one of the two campgrounds. I stayed in the Road Agent Campsite, which is less developed, the way I like it. It was also less crowded. Both campgrounds are on Grasshopper Creek and both are very nice. The Cemetery is on the way into the ghost town, and I believe there is another cemetery on one of the hills nearby. If I had thought to pack in food, I would have stayed another night, but the nearest town is a little drive and so I left in the morning with regrets. I guess I'll just have to go back!
Written September 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tandyjo
Louisville, CO342 contributions
Sep 2021
Happened to visit on a weekend of living history. The volunteers were fantastic bringing history to life and explaining the hardships of the times. Also a Model-T car club visiting driving 100+ miles across Montana on back roads. Very special to share with their commitment.
Written October 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gary S
Boise, ID43 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
What a great ghost town you can actually go into the buildings, most of them anyway. A great way to look into the past. Interesting history I would suggest paying the $2 to get the interpretative brochure it makes the visit way better when you know what you are looking at. It took about an hour to see 75% of the town.
Written July 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill v
Box Elder, SD178 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
We are full-time RV’ers and are spending a few days at a local RV park. We decided to do some sight seeing and drove out to Bannack. It’s just right if you are looking for something to kill a couple of hours. The historical old town is in remarkably good shape and it’s easy to take the self-guided tour. Entrance fee is $8.00 per car and $2:00 for the program booklet. I found it an interesting stroll back in time to the gold rush days. The boardwalk makes it easy to walk most of the town and makes it more accessible to wheel chairs and mobility scooters. There also are plenty of old implements on display. I noticed a large area set aside for gold panning… instruction led by a park ranger. There were plenty of kids there that seemed to enjoy doing that. Bring water, hats, or maybe an umbrella along… even in the mid-70’s the heat can be bothersome if you can’t find shade. We were there about an hour and a half. If you hike to some of the outlying areas you could easily double or triple that depending on your level of activity. It was worth a visit, but not much to do but look at well preserved old buildings and such… but then we like that sort of thing.
Written July 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
4mommag
tripadvisor25 contributions
Jun 2022
We wanted to see a true ghost town. This did not disappoint! Only $10 gets your whole car load into the park. A lot of history is told through the old buildings. Nothing fancy but abandoned. If you have allergies, you might want to take some allergy meds before going into the buildings.
Written June 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan H
Tacoma, WA4,117 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
This place is really cool! There are a large number of buildings with a guide (included with entry fee) that gives you the history of many of them. You can also walk through many allowing for a much better experience than just looking through windows. Most of the buildings are located along a boardwalk. On site is a visitors’ center with a small store and a ranger to help answer questions. Admission is very reasonable! There are even a few picnic tables just perfect for a picnic lunch.
Written July 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mcanucm
Butte, MT168 contributions
May 2021 • Family
With the weather being nice and the park reopening this month, we decided to visit today. What a wonderful time and the weather really was wonderful. The park ranger in the Visitor Center was very helpful with explaining a brief history about how Bannack got to be what it was - a gold mining town. Lots of history in the park to see. We’ll definitely be back this summer with other family members.
Written May 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paradise11563892446
Padua, Italy
gent marina
in settembre sarò in montana e mi fermerò a visitare Bannak com'è la strada che da Dillon porta a Bannak grazie
Written July 30, 2023
How are the roads between Bannack and Virgina City?
Written June 23, 2020
Yes, dogs are allowed, as long as they are on a leash.
Written January 28, 2020
No, I cannot get married in Bannack State Park -- I'm already married, and we have laws regarding polygamy here. =`:^p
But I suspect that _you_ can get married there!
Written September 5, 2019
Can we walk our dogs on a leash of course through the ghost town? TYIA
Written June 28, 2019
Yes, we have done it many times. Take poop bags and clean up after your dog
Written June 28, 2019
puzzlepieceone
Rochester, New York
Is there RV parking? Do you walk through the park or drive?
Written June 15, 2019
You walk through. You can park your RV just be aware it's a gravel road and parking area is not huge but has room
Written June 24, 2019
lisa2959
Albrightsville, Pennsylvania
My husband and I are going to the Tetons and staying in Jackson Hole in May.
We are doing a self guided Tour of the Tetons.
But my question (if you can answer).
I do photography and wanted so bad to drive to Bannack for a shoot. I looked it up on maps and the drive is approx. 4 hrs. We have to return to our hotel in Jackson Hole and I was curious about the drive, restaurants, gas stations, etc.
Also, how long (I know depending on the individual) would you say it takes to actually walk around the Bannack buildings.
Trying to keep a time frame in mind being that we have to travel back to Jackson.
Thanks
Lisa
Written April 3, 2018
Hello, I live in Jackson and my daughter attends school in Dillon. Other responder gave you good advice, four hours sounds right, except that Virginia City is not on your way and even Dillon is further than you need to go unless you’re coming from yellowstone. From Jackson, I go over teton pass to Victor and on to Driggs Idaho then to the West of Rexburg where I get on I 15 North. Between there and your exit for bannack, 37 or 34, you’ll find sporadic service areas. You may be relying on convenience store food because in May the very rural restaurants you encounter may be closed for off season. I belong eve we are and returnees in Dell MT at exit 23. But it will be a very long day because, being a photographer, 3-4 hours there will leave you wanting another day. You’ll feel if more acutely if you’re an historian. But it may be a beginning which will bring you back!
Written April 4, 2018
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