Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

State: Montana. Type: National Park Service unit in Big Horn County, on the Crow Indian Reservation in southeastern Montana. Preserves the site of the June 25-26, 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn ("Custer's Last Stand"), fought between the US 7th Cavalry under Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and combined Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho forces led by Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and Chief Gall. Site includes Last Stand Hill, the Indian Memorial, and Custer National Cemetery. The park is cashless -- no cash accepted, card or electronic payment only.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument preserves the rolling grasslands of southeastern Montana where, on June 25-26, 1876, the US 7th Cavalry Regiment under Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer was defeated by a large combined force of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors led by Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and Chief Gall. Known popularly as "Custer's Last Stand" and, among the Plains tribes involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, the fight was the most significant engagement of the Great Sioux War of 1876 and remains one of the best-known clashes of the American Indian Wars. Today the National Park Service manages the battlefield, located within the Crow Indian Reservation near Crow Agency, as a memorial to those who fought on both sides, with white marble markers scattered across the hills showing where soldiers and warriors fell, an Indian Memorial honoring the Native American forces, and the adjoining Custer National Cemetery.

The monument sits within the Crow Indian Reservation in Big Horn County, southeastern Montana, near the community of Crow Agency (about 3 miles away) and the town of Hardin (about 15 miles north). It is reached via Interstate 90 exit 510, then Route 212 to the park's Battlefield Tour Road. Billings, Montana's largest city, is roughly 65 miles northwest; Sheridan, Wyoming is about 70 miles south.

Southeastern Montana has a semi-arid continental climate, with hot summers (commonly in the 90s Fahrenheit) and cold winters that can bring subzero temperatures and wind. The battlefield's high-plains setting is exposed, so summer visitors should prepare for strong sun and heat with little shade, while winter visitors should expect cold and possible snow. Check the NOAA forecast before visiting, since the park notes weather can be extreme in either direction.

Late spring through early fall (May-September) offers the most comfortable weather and the fullest schedule of ranger and interpretive programs, with an anniversary commemoration held around June 25. Summer is also the hottest and busiest period, so early-morning visits can help avoid both heat and crowds. Winter access is more limited, with shorter operating hours (roughly 8 a.m.-4 p.m.) from Labor Day to Memorial Day.

On June 25-26, 1876, roughly 700 soldiers of the US 7th Cavalry Regiment, led by Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, engaged a large encampment of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho people along the Little Bighorn River, led by Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and Chief Gall. The battle ended in a decisive victory for the Native American forces: Custer and roughly 268 of his men were killed, while Native American losses are estimated at roughly 31 to as many as 100 killed, depending on the source. The defeat, part of the broader Great Sioux War of 1876, shocked the American public and became one of the most mythologized events of the Indian Wars, popularly remembered as "Custer's Last Stand" and, among the Plains tribes involved, as the Battle of the Greasy Grass. The site was preserved as a national cemetery and later a national monument; in recent decades the National Park Service has worked to present the perspectives of both the US military and the Native American nations involved, adding the Indian Memorial to honor the warriors who fought to defend their way of life.

The main activity is driving or walking the roughly 4.5-mile, one-way tour road connecting the battlefield's key sites, including Last Stand Hill, the Reno-Benteen Entrenchment area, and the Deep Ravine Trail. Ranger-led interpretive talks and, seasonally, paid guided tours add context to the self-guided drive. The visitor center/contact station has a bookstore and exhibits, and Custer National Cemetery, adjoining the battlefield, is open for walking and reflection.

Last Stand Hill marks where Custer and part of his command made their final stand, marked by white marble markers across the surrounding hillsides. The Indian Memorial honors the Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors who fought at the battle. Custer National Cemetery, adjoining the battlefield, contains graves of US soldiers from multiple conflicts. The Reno-Benteen Entrenchment Trail, a few miles from the main visitor area, marks where a separate detachment of the 7th Cavalry held out during the battle.

The battlefield is reached via Interstate 90 exit 510, then east on Route 212 to the park entrance. The nearest airport with substantial commercial service is Billings Logan International Airport, about 65 miles northwest; from there, a rental car is the practical way to reach the monument, since there is no scheduled public transit to the site.

As of research, summer hours (starting around May 22, through Labor Day) run 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. for the entrance gate, visitor center and cemetery, with the tour road and trails open until 5 p.m. (arrive by 4 p.m. to drive the full 9-mile round-trip tour road). Winter hours (Labor Day to Memorial Day) are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. for the gate, visitor center and cemetery, with the tour road and trails closing at 3:30 p.m. No park access is permitted outside posted hours. Confirm current hours on nps.gov/libi before visiting.

As of research, entrance fees were $25 per private vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, and $15 per person entering on foot or bicycle (age 16 and up; under 16 free); commercial-vehicle rates also apply. America the Beautiful annual and other federal passes are accepted. The park does not accept cash -- only card or electronic payment. Confirm current fees on nps.gov/libi before visiting.

Most visitors budget one to two hours for the self-guided tour road and main overlooks; those adding a ranger talk, the Reno-Benteen Trail, or a full guided tour should plan for two to three hours or more.

Hardin, about 15 miles north, has a small selection of chain and independent motels and is the closest town with a meaningful lodging base. Billings, roughly 65 miles northwest, offers a much wider range of hotel chains for visitors who prefer a larger city with more amenities.

Dining options are limited immediately around the battlefield; Crow Agency and Hardin have a small number of casual, local restaurants and fast-food options. Billings, about 65 miles away, offers a considerably broader range of dining choices for visitors combining the battlefield with a stay in the larger city.

The Crow Indian Reservation, surrounding the monument, offers cultural and historical context for the battle's Native American participants. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area lies to the south, and Pompeys Pillar National Monument, along the Lewis and Clark Trail, sits between the battlefield and Billings. Billings itself, the region's largest city, offers additional museums and attractions.

Billings Logan International Airport, about 65 miles northwest, is the nearest airport with substantial commercial air service. There is no passenger rail or regular bus service directly to the monument, so a personal or rental vehicle is effectively required to reach the site from I-90.

The battlefield sits on open, exposed high plains with little shade, so summer visitors should carry water and sun protection; check weather before visiting, since conditions can turn extreme in either heat or cold. Rattlesnakes are present in the area, so stay on marked trails and watch your footing off the paved tour road. The park does not accept cash, so bring a card or electronic payment method. For any emergency, dial 911; the park's main contact number is 406-924-9167.

Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses) and water are essential in the warmer months given the exposed, treeless terrain. A card or other electronic payment method is necessary, since the park does not accept cash. Comfortable walking shoes help for the Deep Ravine and Reno-Benteen trails, and a light jacket is worth carrying, since plains weather can shift quickly.

Arrive well before the posted closing time if you plan to drive the full 9-mile round-trip tour road, since the park recommends being on-site by 4 p.m. in summer to complete the drive before the roads close. Checking the seasonal schedule for ranger talks and paid guided tours ahead of a visit can add helpful context beyond the self-guided drive. Because dining and lodging options are limited immediately around the site, many visitors base themselves in Billings or Hardin and treat the battlefield as a half-day stop.

Dial 911 for any emergency. The park's general visitor information line, per its official site, is 406-924-9167.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (National Park Service) - https://www.nps.gov/libi/index.htm

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.