TLDR: The Billings Brew Trail runs through a concentrated downtown loop along Montana Avenue — a party bus or minibus keeps your whole group together, solves the who-stays-sober problem, and unlocks brewery stops outside the walkable core that most groups never reach in a single evening.
Montana Avenue runs through downtown Billings like a beer mile. Five taprooms, a cider mill, and a distillery sit within a few blocks of each other along a tight corridor between 21st and 30th Street. On a Friday evening in summer, street parking disappears by happy hour, the Park Two Garage at 2651 1st Ave N fills steadily, and the group of 20 who arrived in four separate cars is about to discover the fundamental problem with a self-guided brewery tour: someone has to stay sober enough to drive home.
Someone always has to stay sober enough to drive home.
A party bus rental or minibus changes that math completely. Your group boards at one address, works through every stop on your itinerary, and gets dropped back to the hotel or home address when you are done. No one monitors their intake, no one waits in the cold outside Carter's Brewing wondering where the other carpool went, and no one watches their rideshare fare spike past $40 at 11:30 PM because the cars are still parked on 1st Avenue North.
Here is how brewery tours in Billings actually work when a bus is part of the plan.
What the Billings Brew Trail Actually Covers
The official Billings Brew Trail, managed by Visit Billings, spans ten breweries, two distilleries, a cider mill, and a winery — most of them concentrated along Montana Avenue and the surrounding blocks of 1st Avenue North in historic downtown. The trail is entirely self-guided, and Visit Billings offers a free mobile passport delivered via text or email through the Billings Chamber of Commerce that tracks your stops and unlocks visitor discounts at each location.
The core downtown stretch is genuinely walkable in good weather — roughly 1.5 miles end to end. The catch is "good weather." January in Billings averages a high near 34°F, and the walk between Carter's Brewing at 2526 Montana Ave and Thirsty Street at 2123 1st Ave N feels considerably longer when there is a north wind off the Rimrocks.
A party bus keeps your group warm between stops, stages curbside at each taproom entrance, and loads everyone back on your schedule — instead of waiting for stragglers who walked the wrong direction on Montana Avenue.
Several more stops, including Canyon Creek Brewing at 3060 Gabel Rd about ten minutes west of downtown, sit outside the walkable core. The only way to include them in a single evening without fragmenting your group across separate cars is a vehicle making the run for everyone.
Why Rent a Bus for a Billings Brewery Tour
One bus eliminates the three problems that end brewery nights early. The who-stays-sober problem — someone in every carpool cannot drink because someone else needs to get home. The parking problem — the Park Two Garage on 1st Avenue North is the main public option downtown, and it fills.
The regrouping problem — large groups split across several cars lose each other between stops and rarely reunite on schedule.
A Billings pub crawl bus or minibus solves all three with a single booking. It also makes the ride between taprooms part of the experience. Party buses running the Montana Avenue corridor typically come with a built-in bar setup, color-changing LED lighting, and a premium sound system — the energy is already running before your group walks through the first door.
For a Billings bachelorette brewery night, a birthday party bus run through the taprooms, or a corporate group outing where no one wants to be the DD, the difference between a bus and a carpool is not just logistics. It is whether the night actually lands the way you planned it.
The Core Downtown Stops on the Trail
These are the anchor stops most groups build a Billings Brew Trail tour around, with verified addresses and the operational detail that matters for bus logistics at each one:
Montana Brewing Company (113 N Broadway St, Billings, MT 59101) has been running since 1994 — Billings' oldest brewpub — with a full kitchen and dining room in addition to the tap list. If your group wants to eat a real dinner somewhere on the itinerary rather than surviving on pint snacks, this is the natural anchor stop. Open seven days a week until 2:00 AM.
Bus drop-off at the corner of Broadway and 1st Avenue North is clean and straightforward.
Last Chance Pub & Cider Mill (2203 Montana Ave, Billings, MT 59101) anchors the center of the Montana Avenue strip and is one of the few spots on the trail producing house cider alongside a full tap lineup. For mixed groups where not everyone is there for craft beer — and every brewery tour has at least one person in that camp — this stop earns its place on the itinerary. Open Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM.
Asylum Distillery (2223 Montana Ave, Suite 101, Billings, MT 59101) sits right in the Montana Avenue corridor and brings a spirits option to the mix — whisky, vodka, gin, moonshine, and rum with an asylum-themed tasting room atmosphere that stands distinctly apart from the taproom stops. One of the more visually distinct experiences on the whole trail.
Carter's Brewing (2526 Montana Ave, Billings, MT 59101) sits at the eastern end of the Montana Avenue strip, right next to the rail corridor — a taproom with an industrial feel and award-winning beers that have been pouring since 2007. Montana Avenue has open curbside room here for a bus to stage while your group is inside; Carter's is typically the cleanest stop for vehicle logistics on the whole downtown route.
Angry Hank's Microbrewery (20 N 30th St, Billings, MT 59101) sits one block off Montana Avenue on a shorter commercial street. For minibuses and mid-size party buses, curbside staging on N 30th Street works fine. For larger vehicles, Montana Avenue one block over handles the wait and the group walks a short distance to load.
One of the most-requested stops on Billings brewery group tours consistently.
Thirsty Street Brewing (2123 1st Ave N, Billings, MT 59101) runs a lively taproom with a patio, a stage for live music on weekends, and regular trivia nights. This is the natural long stop if your group wants to catch a set before moving on — budget 45 to 60 minutes here, not 20. On summer weekends, the patio fills early.
Adding Canyon Creek for the Full Trail
Canyon Creek Brewing (3060 Gabel Rd, Billings, MT 59102) sits about three miles west of the Montana Avenue corridor — roughly ten minutes by charter bus, an impractical walk, and a car trip that immediately brings the designated driver problem back the moment someone suggests it. On a bus, it is just another stop. Canyon Creek was Billings' first purpose-built brewery-and-taproom, with a large lot that accommodates oversized vehicles without the tight downtown street constraints.
Open daily, with weekend hours starting at noon.
Groups wanting to also work in a winery experience alongside the brewery and distillery stops can build a combined Billings winery tour and pub crawl itinerary — a natural fit for mixed groups where the evening benefits from a different kind of stop mid-route. Just add the time into your total hours when you request estimates.
The Park Two Garage at 2651 1st Ave N is the main public parking anchor for the downtown brewery strip — free on evenings and weekends, one block north of Montana Avenue. If part of your group is driving in separately and meeting the bus, this is the clearest consolidation point. Everyone loads here, and no one worries about where the cars are for the rest of the evening.
What Size Bus Fits Your Group
Billings brewery tours run in a few consistent sizes. The right vehicle depends on your headcount and whether you want the full party bus experience or a cleaner shuttle-style run.
| Group Size | Vehicle | Best For | Key Amenities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–15 people | 15–35 passenger minibus | Corporate groups, mixed-age outings, clean shuttle format | Powerful climate control, plush reclining seats, overhead storage |
| 15–25 people | 20- or 25-passenger party bus | Bachelorette tours, birthday brewery nights, friend groups | Built-in bar, color-changing LED lighting, premium Bluetooth sound, flat-panel TVs |
| 25–40 people | 30- or 40-passenger party bus | Large pub crawls, company outings, wedding party pre-events | Full-length bar setup, LED lighting, sound system, wraparound perimeter seating |
| 40–56 people | 40–56 passenger charter bus | Very large groups, full-trail runs including off-route stops | Reclining seats, climate control, overhead storage, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restroom, undercarriage bays |
For a bachelorette brewery night or birthday party bus run through the taprooms, the 20- to 25-passenger party bus is almost always the right call — the amenities match the occasion, and the group size fits the vehicle without paying for seats that stay empty. For a Billings corporate group that wants a clean, straightforward ride between stops rather than the LED-and-bar setup, a 15-to-35 passenger minibus keeps things comfortable without the party bus format. A full 40-to-56 passenger charter bus is the right pick for very large groups or a full-trail run that includes Canyon Creek, Asylum Distillery, and a winery stop all in one evening.
ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the booking network — note that need when you submit your estimate request.
Best Times to Run a Billings Brewery Tour
Summer (June through August) is peak season on the Billings Brew Trail. Patio hours open at Thirsty Street, live music runs on weekend nights, and the weather makes the connector walks between downtown stops pleasant enough that your group will actually want to spend time outside. Alive After 5 evenings — held in downtown Billings through the summer — bring extra foot traffic to Montana Avenue on event nights.
Plan for 10 to 15 additional minutes of buffer on the bus approach during those evenings.
Friday and Saturday nights from June through September are the most requested dates for Billings brewery bus tours. Request estimates at least three to four weeks out for summer weekend dates. For bachelorette weekends or groups of 20 or more during peak season, six weeks gives you the best vehicle selection and the most options.
Winter tours are genuinely popular — the warmth of a party bus between stops is a real selling point when the temperature drops below 20°F on Montana Avenue — and January through March typically has more availability and can work in your group's favor on cost.
Illustrative Planning Costs
The following are illustrative planning examples only — not quotes, not current market rates, and not guaranteed pricing. Actual costs depend on your vehicle, total hours, and date:
- A 15-to-35-passenger minibus for a 4-hour downtown loop: roughly $125–$200/hour as an illustrative planning example
- A 20- to 25-passenger party bus for a bachelorette or birthday brewery run: roughly $175–$300/hour as an illustrative planning example
- A 30- to 40-passenger party bus for a large group pub crawl: roughly $250–$400/hour as an illustrative planning example
- A 40-to-56-passenger charter bus for a full-trail evening: roughly $150–$300/hour as an illustrative planning example
Split across 20 people, a 4-hour party bus rental at the mid range of those estimates works out to roughly $35–$60 per person for the entire evening — without the surge rideshare home, without anyone drawing straws to stay sober, and without the parking scramble. For current, all-inclusive pricing on your specific date and group size, compare Billings party bus prices through this site or call 406-506-6140 any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a bus actually stage at each brewery stop while the group is inside?
Yes. Montana Avenue has curbside clearance at most stops for a minibus or mid-size party bus to stage while your group is inside. Carter's Brewing and Last Chance Pub both sit on open sections of Montana Avenue with clean curbside access.
For Angry Hank's on N 30th Street, larger vehicles typically stage on Montana Avenue one block over and the group walks a short distance to load. The booking company confirms the exact staging approach for your vehicle size and itinerary when you finalize the run.
How many breweries can a group realistically visit in one evening?
Four to five stops in four hours is a comfortable pace — roughly 30 to 45 minutes per taproom for a pint, a flight, and some time to settle in. Trying to hit eight stops in the same window means five-minute visits, which defeats the purpose. Build one longer stop into the itinerary — Thirsty Street on a live music night, or dinner at Montana Brewing Company — and keep the total count at five or under for an evening that actually feels good.
If you want to add Canyon Creek out on Gabel Road, plan for a five-hour tour minimum so the drive does not compress the taproom time.
Do we need reservations at the breweries?
Most Billings taprooms operate walk-in. Carter's Brewing, Last Chance, Angry Hank's, Asylum Distillery, and Thirsty Street all handle walk-in groups without advance booking. For groups of 15 or more arriving together, a courtesy call to each stop a day ahead is the smart move on Friday and Saturday evenings — not required, but appreciated.
Montana Brewing Company has a full dining room; for groups planning dinner here, reserving a table in advance avoids a wait on peak nights.
Can we mix winery and distillery stops into the same brewery tour route?
Yes. The Billings Brew Trail includes distilleries and a winery alongside the breweries, and a bus itinerary can include any combination of stops you plan. Asylum Distillery sits right on Montana Avenue and slots in naturally between taproom stops.
For groups wanting to add a winery visit on the same evening, just build the extra drive time and stop length into your total hours when you request estimates. A combined brewery, distillery, and winery run typically takes five to six hours for a group covering all the major stops.
Is a party bus or a charter bus better for a Billings brewery tour?
It comes down to what your group wants between stops. A party bus brings the built-in bar, LED lighting, and sound system — the celebration runs all evening, not just inside the taprooms. A charter bus or minibus is more straightforward: comfortable seats, strong climate control, and efficient loading and unloading at each stop.
For bachelorette groups, birthday pub crawls, and groups where the ride is part of the event, a party bus is usually the right call. For corporate outings or mixed-age groups more focused on the taprooms themselves, a minibus fits better and keeps the atmosphere easy for everyone.
How far in advance should we book a brewery tour bus in Billings?
For summer weekend dates (Friday and Saturday, June through August), request estimates at least three to four weeks out. Bachelorette weekends and large groups during peak season should aim for six weeks or more for the best vehicle selection. Winter tours have more scheduling flexibility — two to three weeks of lead time is usually enough outside the holiday period.
The larger the group, the earlier you should move — 40-passenger party buses and full charter buses fill faster than smaller vehicles on popular dates.
Can we start and end the tour at our hotel in Billings?
Yes. Door-to-door pickup and drop-off is standard. Your group loads at the hotel, home address, or any agreed meeting point — the Park Two Garage at 2651 1st Ave N is a common consolidation spot for groups with members coming from different locations — runs the full itinerary, and gets dropped at the same address at the end of the evening.
No one has to arrange a ride back, and no one has to remember where the cars are parked.
Request Estimates for Your Billings Brewery Tour Bus
The Montana Avenue corridor is one of the better pub crawl setups in the Northern Rockies — tight enough that you can cover the whole trail in a single evening, varied enough that a night moving between Montana Brewing Company, Asylum Distillery, Last Chance, Carter's, Angry Hank's, and Thirsty Street never feels repetitive. A party bus or charter bus makes it possible to do that with a group of any size, with everyone staying together from the first stop to the last, and no one left running logistics when they would rather be ordering a second round.
Whether you are planning a Billings bachelorette brewery night, a birthday party bus run through the taprooms, a Billings corporate event outing, or a large group that wants to cover the full Billings Brew Trail in one go, compare vehicle options and request estimates through this site. Call 406-506-6140 any time — or use the quote tool to see vehicles and all-inclusive rates for your specific date in under 30 seconds.
