Malta

Malta is a town in Montana. It is part of what is called the HiLine - a term used for the northern part of the state, mainly along Highway 2. The population was 1,900 in 2020.

Understand

Malta is situated in the Montana prairies. Farming and ranching are the main professions.

This is dinosaur country, with some of the most significant dinosaur finds in the world.

Get in

By car

Malta is at the intersection of Highways 2 and 191.

By train

See also: Rail travel in the United States

• 1 Malta Station, 51 S 1st St E. 12:55PM-3:25PM. It has a waiting room, but no staff, ticketing machines, or luggage service available. (updated Oct 2023)
  • Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America. (updated Mar 2022) Route stopping at Malta:
    • Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago.
• 2 Travel Haven, 121 S 2nd St E (at 1st Ave), ☏ +1 406 654-1638. M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa Su closed. Travel agency where Amtrak tickets can be purchased. (updated Dec 2020)

By plane

The nearest commercial airports are in Billings and Great Falls.

Get around

Malta is small enough to walk or bike. Generally people travel by car.

When adventuring outside of town, be sure you plan for fuel and download maps. Wide open country is great to explore, just don't expect to always have service and amenities.

See

• 1 Great Plains Dinosaur Museum, 405 North 1st Ave East (directly on Highway 2 East), ☏ +1 406 654-5300, dinosaur@itstriangle.com. May to October; M-Sa 10AM-5PM; Su 12:30-5PM. Part of the Montana Dinosaur Trail. Includes one of the best preserved dinosaurs ever discovered. Rare fossils including fish and invertebrates, plus Triceratops, Stegosaurus, and other large dinosaurs. Adult $5, 6-12 $3. (updated Aug 2023)
• 2 Phillips County Museum, 431 US Hwy 2 East, ☏ +1 406 654-1037, pcm@itstriangle.com. M-Sa 10AM-5PM; Su 12:30-5PM. Old west exhibits with cowboys and outlaws, Native Americans, and pioneer life. Can tour H.G. Robinson house on request, for an additional $1. Adult $5, ages 4-12 $3. (updated Aug 2023)

Do

This outdoor rich area has guided tours for just about any activity. Try a dinosaur dig, go horseback riding, or hunt gamebirds in this ideal location.

• Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, 194 Bowdoin Auto Tour Rd (from U.S. Highway 2, watch for a brown and white Refuge directional sign just east of Malta on U.S. Highway 2. Turn right after this sign and follow the paved road (old U.S. Highway 2) 6 miles to the Refuge entrance), ☏ +1 406 654-2863, bowdoin@fws.gov. Open sunrise to sunset. Migratory bird refuge. Hiking, bicycling, bird-watching, snow-shoeing, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and hunting (but not fishing) are all possible. Free. (updated Dec 2020)
• Marian Hills Golf Course

Buy

There is an Albertsons grocery store on Hwy 191.

Eat

• 1 Hitchin' Post, 745 N 1st St E, ☏ +1 406 654-1882. 7AM-2PM. Diner with all day breakfast. (updated Aug 2023)
• 2 Stretch's Pizza, 140 S 1st St E (at 2nd Ave), ☏ +1 406 654-1229. 11AM-9PM. Pizza, burgers, salad bar. Has pool table and small video arcade inside. (updated Dec 2020)

Drink

• 1 Stockman Bar and Grill, 64 S 1st St E (at 1st Ave), ☏ +1 406 654-1919, info@stockmanbarandgrill.com. bar 10AM-2AM, kitchen 5AM-10PM. Has a few pool tables inside. (updated Dec 2020)
• 2 Crossroad Coffee and Bistro, 65 S 3rd St E (at 1st Ave), ☏ +1 406 654-1955. M-F 7AM-5:30PM, Su closed. Coffee, soup and sandwiches in an unpretentious setting. (updated Dec 2020)
• 3 Blue Ridge Brewing, 320 S 1st St E (between 3rd Ave and 5th Ave), ☏ +1 406 654-2855. Tu-F 4PM-8PM, Sa M closed. Microbrewery. (updated Dec 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Maltana Motel, 138 S 1st Ave W (at 2nd St), ☏ +1 406 654-2610. Queen size beds, fridge and microwave, free wi-fi (updated Aug 2023)
• 2 Great Northern Hotel, 2 S 1st St E (signs are a large GN), ☏ +1 406 654-2100, gnhotel@itstriangle.com. Steakhouse located within hotel. Underground parking, lodge, and gaming area. (updated Aug 2023)
• 3 Trafton Park Campground (from the only traffic signal in town, at the intersection of Central Ave and US Highway 2, go north), ☏ +1 406 654-1251. This city-owned park has a campground. Play areas and picnic shelters. There are bathrooms and potable water, but no hookups. No reservations. $5. (updated Aug 2023)

Connect

• Philips County Library, 10 S 4th St E (at Central Ave), ☏ +1 406 654-2407. M-Th 10AM-noon, 1PM-6PM; F 10AM-noon, 1-5PM; Sa Su closed. (updated Dec 2020)

Go next

• Nelson Reservoir (17 miles east) is a fantastic fishing spot for walleye, pike, and trout. With a special permit you can also catch paddlefish, or just come and watch the excitement.
• Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs (19 miles east) is the only natural hot spring resort in northern Montana. Pool, hot tub, sauna.
• Zortman (47 miles south) , along with Landusky, is in the Little Rocky Mountains. Here you will find camping, hiking, horseback riding, and gold panning. Zortman has an Amphitheatre for presentations.

Routes through Malta

Spokane ← Havre ←	W  E	→ Glasgow → Minot
Shelby ← Havre ←	W  E	→ Glasgow → Williston
Swift Current ← Val Marie ← becomes ← ←	N  S	→ Lewistown → Big Timber