Getting Around, Helena Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Helena, Montana - MT, USA)



The city of Helena resides on the western side of Montana and is well connected to the rest of the state by a fairly comprehensive network of highways, interstates and public transport. The I-15 travels in a north to south direction and crosses the border into Canada, with Lethbridge being approximately 260 miles / 418 km away and directly to the north.

Visitors often opt for a rental car as their mode of transport, while those on a budget prefer to rely upon the buses operated by the Helena Area Transit Service. Bus tokens and daily passes are available for purchase at the HATS office and provide discounts for frequent travelers. If you are paying the bus driver in cash, you should note that change is not available and you will therefore need to bring the correct fare with you.

For longer distances, you can travel by air-conditioned buses and coaches, although there are currently no passenger trains available. For short journeys, taxis are a popular choice and regularly ply the route between downtown Helena and its regional airport.


Helena Regional Airport (HLN) / Arriving by Air

Address: 2850 Skyway Drive, Helena, Montana (MT), 59602, USA
Tel: +1 406 442 2821
Just a short drive away from the city center, via North Montana Avenue, Cedar Street and Washington Street, Helena Regional Airport is to be found some 3 miles / 5 km to the east of the city center. Roughly 100,000 passengers fly in and out of Helena's airport each year, with the principal destinations including Denver, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and Seattle. Alaska Airlines, Delta Connection and United Express are all based here, while when it comes to ground transport, you can choose between taxis (arranged by using the free courtesy telephone), a shuttle service to hotels and car rental (Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz and National).

Car Rental

Hiring yourself a car offers an easy way to travel outside of the city. The I-90 links Missoula to the west. If you drive a little further westwards, you will cross the state border into Idaho, reaching the Old Mission State Park and the small city of Coeur d'Alene (roughly 270 miles / 435 km to the northwest).

Of course, a hire car is perfect for short distances as well and ideal if you simply wish to travel between attractions, shopping centers and nearby parks, such as the Helena National Forest to the north. Paid parking spaces in Helena are at their most plentiful along Cruse Avenue, North Jackson Street and South Park Avenue. Parking meters are never far from hand and by purchasing Helena Parking Commission (HPC) 'Goldie Coins', you can save yourself 20 percent on parking fees.

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Buses

Tel: +1 406 447 8080
Public transport is managed by the Helena Area Transit Service (HATS), which is based at 1415 North Montana Avenue and was officially established in the late 1970s. HATS provides a number of different buses and bus routes. Hourly 'Curb-to-Curb' buses start their journey early in the morning, at 06:30, and finish at the end of the working day, at 17:30. Further services include the 'Check Point' buses and the 'East Valley' buses, the latter of which offers a cheap way to travel around the East Valley area, Eastgate and East Helena, stopping at the Capital Hill Mall shopping complex, Eagles Manor, Ramey Park, St. Peter's Hospital and the Walmart supermarket.

If you wish to travel further afield by bus transport, then Rimrock Trailways coaches are available at the Transit Center. These long-distance buses connect destinations such as Basin (just under one hour), Billings (just under five hours), Bozeman (two hours), Butte (one hour and 30 minutes), Cascade (one hour and 15 minutes), Great Falls (one hour and 45 minutes), Missoula (two hours and 15 minutes) and Wolf Creek (50 minutes).

Trains

The Montana Rail Link railroad heads through Helena, on its way to Bozeman and Livingston. However, this is a freight-only transport service and there are currently no Amtrak trains in operation along this route. When trains are passing through the city, drivers of cars will find that they have to stop at Level Crossings along intersecting roads such as North Benton Avenue, North Main Street, National Avenue, North Montana Avenue, North Roberts Street.

Taxis

Capitol Taxis (tel: +1 406 449 5525) are one of the biggest and most established cab companies based in Helena and provide an extremely convenient way to travel two and from Helena's airport. If you pick the right driver, you may even be able to enjoy a history lesson along the way.