WWingAwayWEEKENDSFly to lunchDestination guide 276
Montana · Couples · Two nights

Red Lodge & the Beartooth Highway

The gateway to America’s most beautiful drive.

Red Lodge is a former coal-mining town of brick storefronts at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains, and it’s the start of the Beartooth Highway, which climbs to nearly 11,000 feet on its way to Yellowstone. Land at Red Lodge Airport above town, stay at the 1893 Pollard Hotel, drive the Beartooth in summer, drink at Red Lodge Ales, visit the rescued animals at the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary, and ski Red Lodge Mountain in winter.

Mountain townScenic driveSkiing
See the weekend itineraryFlight & arrival details
Historic brick storefronts along Broadway in Red Lodge, with mountains behind
Broadway, Red Lodge.
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KRED
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~1554 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~10 hr 34 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rental car

Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.

01 / Aviation & getting around

A mountain airport above town.

KRED, Red Lodge Airport, is a non-towered airport at 5,762 feet with a 4,000-foot runway, a few minutes from downtown.

The FBO

Red Aviation

Red Lodge Airport, Red Lodge, MT

715-781-7054

A short runway at high elevation with mountains nearby; compute performance carefully. Noise abatement: for Runway 16 arrivals, fly downwind over the bluff east of downtown and use a high-angle final when practical. 100LL only. Billings (KBIL), an hour away, has long runways and full services. No live fuel price is shown.

Mountain flying: high density altitude on summer afternoons, strong winds and turbulence over the ridges, afternoon thunderstorms in summer, and winter snow and icing. About 1550 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way with several fuel stops. Plan a week, or overnight on the way out and back.

02 / Where to stay

A historic hotel, a creekside resort or cabins.

Rates and availability need travel dates.

03 / Where to eat

Steaks, margaritas and local beer.

Reserve weekend dinners.

04 / Things to do

The Beartooth and more.

The Beartooth Highway is usually open late May to mid-October.

01

Beartooth Highway

An All-American Road climbing to nearly 11,000 feet.

Visit Red Lodge
05 / What’s happening

Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.

This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.

Concerts, festivals & local happenings

Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.

Browse Red Lodge events
06 / Suggested itinerary

Friday in. Sunday home.

A sample Red Lodge weekend. This is a two-day flight each way; plan a week. No bookings or availability confirmed.

DAY 1

Arrive

  1. Arrival

    Land at KRED, subject to weather, density altitude and your actual flight plan.

  2. Afternoon

    Walk Broadway.

  3. Evening

    Dinner at the Pollard.

DAY 2

Explore

  1. Morning

    Drive the Beartooth Highway.

  2. Afternoon

    Lunch at the top, then back.

  3. Evening

    Red Lodge Ales.

DAY 3

Morning & home

  1. Morning

    The Wildlife Sanctuary.

  2. Before leaving

    Compute takeoff performance and allow time at the FBO.

  3. Fly home

    Mountain winds build by afternoon; leave early.

07 / Good to know

Keep the weekend easy to change.

These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.

Book in this order

Lodging and a car.

Very long flight

About 1,550 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way.

Short runway

4,000 feet at 5,762 feet; use KBIL if needed.

Best seasons

June to September.

Reviewed · Destination 276

Reviewed November 6, 2026.

Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking.

WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.