Manhattan is a small farming town west of Belgrade, about 12 minutes (9 miles) from our homes in Belgrade (approximate, OSRM routing; real times vary with weather, traffic and road work) OSRM.
Plan your visit
- Worth visiting? A short stop rather than a destination, unless the Potato Festival is on.
- How long: An hour or two.
- With kids: the August Potato Festival.
- Combine with: Three Forks and Madison Buffalo Jump.
- Bad-weather option: dinner at Land of Magic Steakhouse.
Things to do in Manhattan
- The lower Gallatin River for fishing and floating.
- Madison Buffalo Jump State Park: a cliff used for bison hunting for roughly 2,000 years (about 500 BC to AD 1750). Montana FWP Wikipedia
- Continue to Three Forks and the Missouri Headwaters.
Suggested itinerary from Belgrade: a short stop
- Belgrade → Manhattan (about 12 min / 9 mi).
- Madison Buffalo Jump State Park (about 32 min / 12 mi from Manhattan).
- Continue to Three Forks (about 24 min / 22 mi from Belgrade) or return.
Seasonal notes: The Potato Festival is in mid-August.
Family tips: the buffalo jump is open and exposed; bring water and sun protection.
Suggested plan, not a tested report. Drive times are approximate OSRM routing estimates (no traffic, construction or winter conditions); allow more time in snow. Check hours and road status before you go.
Where to eat and drink
- Land of Magic Steakhouse: a classic supper club off I-90 near Logan (Manhattan address). site
Map and getting to Manhattan
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Markers are approximate.
Take I-90 west from Belgrade.
Affiliate link: if you rent through GetRentacar we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Manhattan by season
Summer means the Potato Festival and river time. Fall is harvest. Winter is quiet farm country. Spring is planting season.
Annual events
- Manhattan Potato Festival, mid-August (it was Aug 15 in 2026; 2027 date pending confirmation). Visit Montana
A short history of Manhattan
The settlement was called Hamilton in 1865 and Moreland from 1883. It was later renamed Manhattan after a malting company during the valley’s barley boom. Wikipedia
Stay in Belgrade
Make Belgrade your base
Manhattan is one of the closest towns to our homes.
Day trip or overnight? Manhattan is about 12 min / 9 mi from Belgrade (OSRM, approximate; no traffic or winter conditions), a short stop.
We host five whole-home vacation rentals in Belgrade, about 5 minutes from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN): three homes plus a duplex with two private units that can be booked together. Sky (3BR, up to 7 guests), Cozy (3BR, up to 8), Comfy Lodge (up to 6), and the Mountainview duplex: Unit A and Unit B (6 guests each), or the whole duplex for up to 12.
- Sky 3BR Lodge, up to 7 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
- Cozy 3BR Lodge, up to 8 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
- Comfy Lodge House, up to 6 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
- Modern Mountainview A, up to 6 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
- Modern Mountainview B, up to 6 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
- Whole duplex (A + B), up to 12 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
Belgrade works best as a base for day trips around southwest Montana. If you plan several days in a row inside Yellowstone, staying in a gateway town may suit you better; see where to stay near Yellowstone.
Nearby guides
Belgrade · Three Forks · Bozeman · All guides
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Manhattan, Montana?
After a malting company, during the Gallatin Valley’s barley boom.