Name: Hire Car
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Exploring Billings by Hire Car

Billings is known as the “Gateway to Yellowstone National Park,” located in close proximity to it.

There are also some very good universities there, and Billings is not exactly ranked last economically either, due to its commercial and processing industries, as well as its three petroleum refineries.

The laid-back atmosphere is what makes Montana’s largest city so appealing. Here, you can stroll through the historic downtown and enjoy a cool drink at a café.

Or you can hop in a hire car and explore the charming destinations in the surrounding countryside. We’ve put together a few tips for renting and traveling.

Taking over the hire car

Since international airports are far away, many travelers reach the city through Billings National Airport. You will find numerous hire car agencies right by the terminal. Before you book your hire car, just make sure your rental company is also located there so you don’t have to take a taxi to your hire car.

Choosing the right hire car

Do as the Americans do and choose as large a car as possible. This will allow you to cover the often long distances in the country in comfort.

Hire car prices

It’s not entirely cheap to take a hire car in Billings. You can often get particularly attractive deals if you book well in advance of your trip and use our handy price comparison tool.

hire car price comparison Billings

Insuring the car properly

Even if you can assume that the traffic flows quite calmly in the tranquil Billings, an accident can happen quickly with a foreign hire car. Protect yourself and book a car with comprehensive insurance without deductible. With liability insurance, you should find out how high the sum insured is. It should be at least one million euros.

Because an accident with injured people or a pile-up quickly drives the costs to dizzying heights. If your rental company’s coverage seems too low, you can add further protection with a traveler’s policy. Talk to your insurance company and make sure the policy is valid in the US.

age limit

You must be 21 years old to hire car from virtually all rental companies in Billings. Higher vehicle categories are often only available to drivers 25 and older.

In addition, drivers younger than 25 pay an additional fee at most rental agencies. Check with your hire car company for terms and conditions before booking the car.

Accessories

You must always order accessories such as child seats or navigation equipment separately from your hire car company. Make a reservation well in advance to ensure that the desired items are available on the day you pick up your vehicle.

Free kilometers

In Land of Opportunity, the miles on your hire car should also be unlimited so you can explore as much as possible.

Tank control

In Billings, it is customary to pick up your hire car with a full tank of gas and return it with a full tank of gas. Make sure your rental company adheres to this fair solution as well.

Bail

Rental companies that actually charge the deposit for your hire car to your credit card are happy to take their time returning the money.

It’s better to rent from a rental company that just blocks the deposit. And make sure your credit line is sufficient to cover deposit and possibly hotel and restaurant bills.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Most customers are completely satisfied with hire car in Billings. However, when handing over your car, you should still inspect it carefully and have any defects such as dents or scratches noted in writing in an error log.

Keep the document safe so that you are not held responsible for any damage caused by one of the previous tenants when you return the vehicle.

Safety Hire Car

Unusually, you can expect to receive a roadworthy hire car in Billings. However, there can always be exceptions, so for your safety, test all of your vehicle’s lights before your first trip.

Be sure to check your turn signals and brake lights, too. And do a little brake test while still in your hire car’s parking lot.

Sights in Billings

Yellowstone Art Museum: Major Works of Art
Your sightseeing could begin at the Yellowstone Art Museum. There you will find an extensive collection of the works of artist and writer Will James.

Western Heritage Museum: Journey to the Wild West
At the Western Heritage Museum, you can then admire art from the Wild West era.

Pictograph Cave State Park: Ancient Cave Paintings
Six miles southeast of town, you’ll find Pictograph Cave State Park. Here you can view ancient cave paintings. The oldest are over 3,500 years old. Afterwards, you still have the opportunity to stroll through the old town of Billings and stock up on pretty souvenirs in the many small shops.

Find a good restaurant

Visit The Burgers Dive. Here you can get excellent burgers at moderate prices.

Find a good hotel

The Historic Northern Hotel is one of the best establishments in the city. The hotel was opened as early as 1904. Today, it offers stylishly furnished rooms with good comfort. All rooms are equipped with a safe and a flat-screen TV. You can enjoy excellent dining at the TEN restaurant.

A worthwhile destination in the area

Yellowstone National Park: Pure Nature
Direct the hire car to Yellowstone National Park. It was founded in 1872 and is therefore considered the oldest national park in the world. You will need just under four hours for the 396 kilometres. An impressive number of different animals populate the park. With a little luck you can see bison, black bears, cougars or even grizzly bears. The hiking trails stretch over a length of 2,000 kilometers. In winter, you can also explore the park by snowmobile.

Bozeman: Hot Springs
Bozeman is also a worthwhile destination for the hire car trip. There you will find a vibrant town with interesting museums, chic boutiques and cool restaurants. To get to the town, which is 231 kilometres away, you will need about two hours. Start your city walk at the Museum of the Rockies. In the natural history museum, you can admire various dinosaur exhibits, for example, and you can also see old Native American art. The American Computer Museum is also worth a visit. Especially the games of the first computer generation captivate the guests.

After a strenuous sightseeing tour, you have the opportunity to relax in the Bozeman Hot Springs. The water temperature is up to 41° Celsius. There is also a sauna. Here you can have a great rest and think about which destination around Billings you want to go to next with the hire car.

Suggestion for a trip by hire car

A trip by hire car could take you to Helena first. You’ll be there in about three and a half hours. Only about 30,000 people inhabit Montana’s tranquil capital. Visit the Cathedral of St. Helena. It was built between 1908 and 1914 and impresses with its mix of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles.

You can admire modern works of art from Montana after going to church if you direct your steps to the Holter Museum of Art. Afterwards, the State Capitol, which was built in 1902 in the neoclassical architectural style, is still worth a visit. Visitors are particularly captivated by the magnificent paintings inside. Before you leave for your next destination in your hire car, you can take an extended hike in the beautifully landscaped Mt. Helena City Park.

Missoula is the name of the next stop on your journey. You will reach the town in about two hours. In Mossoula, a well-kept college town awaits you, almost reminiscent of a town in good old England thanks to extensive green spaces and historic buildings downtown. Artists from the region exhibit their work at the Missoula Art Museum. Fishing enthusiasts can steer the hire car to Rock Creek, located 34 kilometers east of the city. There, if you’re lucky, you can pull a magnificent trout or two out of the water while fly fishing.

Polson: Discovering the “Wonders of America”
Before heading back to Billings in your hire car, it’s worth stopping in Polson on Flathead Lake, which you can reach in about an hour and a half by hire car. In Polson begins a hiking trail of about three kilometers, which leads you to the Miracle of America Museum. There you will find many exhibits that make up America, including a giant stuffed buffalo.

Postpone your long return trip to Billings until the next day and take a room at the Kwataqnuk Resort. A cozy hotel with an indoor pool and comfortable rooms awaits, as well as a casino where you can boost your travel funds in the evening. The next day, you’ll have about a six-hour drive ahead of you until you can drop off the hire car in Billings and plan your next travels by hire car.

conclusion

You should have a little time on your hands if you choose charming Billings as your base for a trip in a hire car.

But in return, you can expect car rides through beautiful countryside that will take you to numerous delightful destinations. Our handy price comparison will make it easy for you to find a suitable car at great rates.

Hire car Billings