Here’s When Montana’s Beautiful Beartooth Highway Opens in 2026

Montana is home to one of the most scenic drives in the country, and it will be open earlier than expected in 2026.

The Beartooth Highway, which connects Red Lodge and Cooke City, is among the most scenic drives in the Northern Rockies, and crews have been hard at work plowing snow in preparation for the summer season ahead.

Here's When You Can Start Driving the Beartooth Highway  in 2026

The Beartooth Highway opens on the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend, and this year, that date is May 22.

According to the Beartooh Highway Facebook page, the projected opening is weather permitting. Mother Nature sometimes has other plans, and Spring weather in Montana can be unpredictable.

Driving the Beartooth Highway is an annual tradition for me, and I always try to plan my drive earlier in the year before the snow melts. It's something you need to do at least once in your life, especially if you live in Montana.

What is the Beartooth Highway?

The Beartooth Highway is a 68-mile stretch of Highway 212 that runs from Red Lodge, Montana, to Cooke City, Montana. It has an elevation of 10,947 feet at the summit. Near the top, drivers encounter snow drifts nearly 30 feet high. There's also a healthy population of mountain goats and other wildlife.

Driving the Beartooth Highways will make you feel like you're on top of the world, and there's nothing else quite like it in Big Sky Country. If you're looking for a great way to spend a summer day, plan a trip, and I promise you won't regret it.