This tiny Montana town just beat Japan and Italy as the world’s top travel destination

Big Sky Named 2026’s Hottest Spot

A mountain town with a population of 3,500 just outranked some of the most famous destinations on Earth.

Big Sky, Montana topped Expedia’s 2026 Destinations of the Year list, beating Okinawa, Sardinia, and the French Alps. The travel platform tracked a 92% surge in searches, 21% higher than any other place on the list.

With new luxury resorts, the world’s fastest gondola, and Yellowstone less than an hour away, Big Sky is about to have its moment.

Lone Peak Towers Over Everything

The 11,166-foot summit of Lone Peak anchors the entire Big Sky experience. The mountain rises so sharply from the valley floor that it dominates every view in town.

On a clear day, you can see Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming from the top, plus two national parks: Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

Whether you’re skiing, hiking, or just drinking coffee on a deck, Lone Peak is always there, reminding you where you are.

The Biggest Skiing in America

Big Sky Resort now spans 5,850 acres across four connected mountains with a 4,350-foot vertical drop. That makes it the largest ski area in the country by terrain.

The resort averages 400 inches of snow each year and has 300 named runs ranging from gentle groomers to steep chutes off the summit.

Beginners get 2,300 acres of dedicated terrain, while experts can access some of the most aggressive in-bounds skiing anywhere.

The Fastest Gondola on Earth

The new Explorer Gondola opened December 20, 2025, replacing the resort’s last original chairlift from 1973.

Built on next-generation technology, it moves at 7.1 meters per second, making it the fastest 10-person gondola in the world.

The 83 cabins have heated seats and floor-to-ceiling windows. A nine-minute ride takes you from the base to the bowl, where you can connect directly to the Lone Peak Tram.

A Glass Floor at 11,166 Feet

Kircliff opened alongside the gondola as the resort’s new summit experience.

The all-glass observation deck perches over Lone Peak’s edge, giving 360-degree views across mountain ranges in three states.

The floor is transparent, so you can look straight down at the steep terrain below. For the first time, non-skiers can reach the summit in winter by riding the gondola and tram back-to-back.

One&Only Opens First U.S. Resort

One&Only Moonlight Basin welcomed its first guests on November 18, 2025.

The ultra-luxury brand chose Big Sky for its American debut, building 73 rooms and 19 cabins on 240 secluded acres.

A private heated gondola takes guests directly to the ski slopes.

Dining includes a restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Akira Back, a speakeasy-style cocktail bar, and a whiskey cabin tucked in the woods.

Yellowstone Is 50 Minutes Away

Big Sky sits just south of Bozeman along Highway 191, which runs straight to Yellowstone’s West Entrance.

You can leave your hotel in the morning, spend the day watching geysers erupt and bison graze, and be back for dinner.

The proximity makes Big Sky one of the best basecamps for exploring America’s first national park without staying inside the crowded park boundaries.

Summer Rivals Winter Here

When the snow melts, Big Sky transforms into a different kind of playground. Hiking trails wind through wildflower meadows and up into the high alpine.

Mountain bikers ride lift-accessed trails down Lone Peak. Horseback rides take you into the backcountry.

And the resort’s Arnold Palmer-designed golf course sits at 6,500 feet with Lone Peak as the backdrop on nearly every hole.

The Gallatin River Runs Through It

The Gallatin River flows out of Yellowstone and cuts through the canyon just east of town. It’s a blue-ribbon trout stream, which means the fishing is world-class.

Fly fishers wade into cold, clear water surrounded by cliffs and evergreens.

In summer, outfitters run whitewater rafting trips through the rapids, and calmer stretches work for kayaking and tubing.

Empty Slopes in a Crowded World

Big Sky’s biggest selling point might be what it lacks: crowds. While Colorado resorts pack skiers into long lift lines, Big Sky measures success in “acres per skier.”

The terrain is so vast and the crowds so thin that you can ski for an hour without passing another person. Locals joke that if they wait more than two minutes for a lift, something is wrong.

Why 2026 Is the Moment

Big Sky just completed a decade-long, $150 million infrastructure plan that added 20 new lifts and transformed the mountain experience.

One&Only and other luxury properties have raised the bar for lodging. America’s 250th birthday is driving a wave of “patriotic travel” toward domestic destinations.

The secret is out, but the crowds haven’t fully arrived yet. If you want Big Sky before it changes, 2026 is the year.

Visiting Big Sky, Montana

Big Sky sits 45 miles south of Bozeman, about an hour’s drive from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.

The resort operates from late November through mid-April for skiing, with summer activities running mid-June through September.

Lift tickets vary by season, and the new Explorer Gondola and Kircliff observation deck are included with mountain access.

Yellowstone’s West Entrance is 50 minutes south on Highway 191.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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