The Best Burgers in Montana (2026)

The best burgers in Montana are spread across the state, so plan them around a road trip. The Burger Dive in Billings and Wally & Buck in Missoula are the two names national lists keep picking. Nap's Grill in Hamilton, Mark's In & Out in Livingston and Parkers in Drummond are the small-town stops Montanans rave about.

Below is our roundup, grouped by region. Each spot appeared in 2025-2026 coverage from local media or national food sites. Montana distances are long and some places are seasonal, so check hours before you drive.

What makes a Montana burger

Montana doesn't have one signature burger style the way New Mexico or Oklahoma does. What it has is ranch country beef, small-town diners and drive-ins that have been flipping patties for decades, and a newer group of chef-driven burger bars in its college and tourist towns. Expect:

• Big, hand-formed patties: thick burgers are the norm in bars and grills. Our guide to grilling burgers shows how to get the same results at home.
• Huckleberries and other local touches: some kitchens use huckleberry, the state's favorite wild berry, in burger sauces and toppings.
• Seasonal drive-ins: some classic stands close for the winter, so summer is prime burger season.

For background on the regional styles you'll find elsewhere, see American burger styles explained.

Billings and eastern Montana

• The Burger Dive: owner Brad Halsten's burger bar has been serving Billings for about 15 years. Mashed named its I'm Your Huckleberry burger the best burger in Montana in 2025, and The Daily Meal has named it the state's best too. The original is downtown on North 27th Street, and a second, larger location opened in 2025 at the West Park Promenade on Grand Avenue.

Missoula and western Montana

• Wally & Buck, Missoula: in 2025, Only In Your State named its Wally Burger the best burger in Montana in a 50-state search. It's a casual burger restaurant, and a good meal after a day on the river or a Griz game.
• Nap's Grill, Hamilton: in the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula. It was the most-mentioned spot in a 2026 poll of Montana radio listeners, has won local and statewide best burger awards, and was Tasting Table's 2025 pick for the best burger in the state. It's worth the detour if you're exploring the Bitterroot.
• Parkers, Drummond: a classic stop off I-90 between Missoula and Butte. It's known for a huge burger menu, around 135 options by one count, and for using locally sourced, grass-fed beef.

Bozeman and Livingston

• Backcountry Burger Bar, Bozeman: a Bozeman local favorite. It's a good pick for creative burgers after a day at Bridger Bowl or in Hyalite Canyon.
• Mark's In & Out, Livingston: a seasonal drive-in that's been serving burgers since 1954. It's open spring through fall, and the lines can be long on summer evenings. It's a natural stop on the way to or from Yellowstone.

Great Falls

• Roadhouse Diner: Foodie.com picked this Great Falls diner as Montana's best burger joint in a 2026 roundup of all 50 states. It's a useful stop if you're driving between Helena and Glacier National Park.

Butte: not a burger, but a must

• Pork Chop John's: Butte's famous pork chop sandwich isn't a burger, but it belongs on any Montana sandwich road trip. A pork chop is pounded thin, breaded, deep-fried and served on a bun with mustard, onion and pickle. Pork Chop John's dates its Uptown Butte shop to the early 1930s, and local accounts credit the sandwich itself to the 1920s.

How to plan a Montana burger road trip

1. Follow I-90. Missoula, Drummond, Butte, Bozeman, Livingston and Billings all sit on or near the interstate, so one west-to-east drive covers most of this list.
2. Go in summer. Mark's In & Out is seasonal, and small-town hours are longest from late spring to early fall.
3. Detour south from Missoula. Hamilton is about an hour down the Bitterroot Valley, and Nap's Grill makes the drive worth it.
4. Pace yourself. If you plan more than one stop in a day, order singles or share a burger.
5. Keep going west. Our Boise burger guide covers the next big burger city over the Idaho line.

Make a Montana-style burger at home

Montana burgers are about big patties and good beef. Our BBQ bacon burger recipe is a good ranch-style starting point. Use a sweet-tart sauce or berry jam as a nod to huckleberry burgers, and see our best burger toppings guide for other ideas. Thick patties take longer to cook through, so use a thermometer. Cook ground beef to 160°F for USDA-recommended doneness; our burger temperature guide covers the details.

Know a Montana burger we're missing? Suggest a spot, or browse more guides on our best burgers hub.

FAQ

Where is the best burger in Montana?

There's no single answer, but the names that come up most in recent lists are The Burger Dive in Billings, Wally & Buck in Missoula and Nap's Grill in Hamilton.

Is Mark's In & Out open all year?

No. The Livingston drive-in is seasonal and opens from spring through fall. Check its current season dates before you go.

What food is Butte, Montana known for?

The deep-fried pork chop sandwich. Pork Chop John's in Uptown Butte is the best-known place to try one.

Where should I eat a burger near Yellowstone?

Coming from the north, stop at Mark's In & Out in Livingston or Backcountry Burger Bar in Bozeman. Both are on the main routes to the park's northern entrances.