Terry: Find hotels among cultural history and the Badlands

Explore Terry through its historic routes, Evelyn Cameron’s life’s work, and the nearby Badlands. When looking for a hotel in Terry, you can plan your stay around what interests you most: a museum visit, the Prairie County Fair, or time in nature. Information about opening hours and road access can help you plan these activities in more detail.

Historic routes and getting around

The Yellowstone Trail passes through Terry and runs west from Mildred via Fallon to Miles City. Terry also lies directly on the Lewis & Clark Trail. The Powder River Depot in Terry is a state-protected Montana landmark. For road access, Terry is located at the junction of the old Highways 10 and 253, not far from Interstate 94. Historic routes and road information serve different purposes: the trails place the town within historic travel routes, while the highway junction and interstate show where it sits in the road network.

Cultural history and the museum

The Prairie County Museum and Evelyn Cameron Gallery was founded in 1975 in the historic State Bank of Terry building, dating from 1916. Based in Terry, Evelyn Cameron Heritage, Inc. promotes the life’s work of Evelyn Cameron, an Englishwoman who documented life on the frontier with her camera and daily diary entries. The organization owns more than 900 original historic photographs by Evelyn Cameron depicting the American West, its people, landscapes, and events. Cameron’s documentary work thus brings together photographs and daily written records—two perspectives on life on the frontier.

The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Seasonal hours may change; check the hours before your visit. Visits outside regular opening hours or the season can be arranged by contacting the museum in advance.

The Badlands and their trails

Nearby, the Terry Badlands Wilderness Study Area features colorful, banded cliffs above rolling prairie. Sandstone bridges, pinnacles, mesas, and buttes were formed by wind and water erosion. The area offers opportunities for hiking, backcountry hunting, rock and fossil collecting, and experiencing the Badlands landscape.

The Natural Bridges Trail is within the Wilderness Study Area. The hike to the natural bridges is just over a mile long. Four-wheel drive is required to reach the trailhead via the Calypso Trail. This is a 5.5-mile unpaved road to the area and is impassable when wet. Check road conditions before setting out and take the four-wheel-drive requirement into account when planning.

Plan your trip around the Prairie County Fair

The Prairie County Fair takes place in Terry every year on the first weekend in August. It features exhibits, entertainment, and food. If the fair is a deciding factor in your trip, check the specific event dates when planning.

For an overview of the wider area: Prairie County.