For Lewis & Clark Travelers
Fort Benton sits along the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail and offers visitors a chance to experience one of the most significant stretches of the Corps of Discovery’s journey. Here, the Missouri River, the surrounding landscape, and several important historic sites help bring the expedition’s story to life.
Whether you’re following the trail across the country or simply interested in American history, Fort Benton makes an excellent base for exploring Lewis & Clark’s Montana story.
Start at the Memorial
Begin your visit at Montana’s Lewis & Clark Memorial. The sculpture commemorates the Corps of Discovery’s journey through the region and serves as an introduction to the challenges and decisions that lay ahead for the expedition.
From there, spend some time along the Levee Walk, where interpretive signs help connect visitors to the landscape Lewis & Clark would have recognized more than two centuries ago.
Visit Decision Point
A short drive from Fort Benton brings you to Decision Point, one of the most important locations on the entire Lewis & Clark Trail.
Here, the Corps encountered a critical choice: which branch of the Missouri River was the true Missouri? The decision they made would determine the course of their journey west.
Standing above the river today, it’s easy to appreciate both the beauty of the landscape and the uncertainty faced by the expedition.
“I had myself almost come to the conclusion that the north fork was the shortest way to the Columbia.”
— Meriwether Lewis, June 13, 1805
Explore the Missouri River Breaks
Continue your journey at the Missouri River Breaks Interpretive Center, where exhibits provide context about the landscape, wildlife, and cultures encountered by Lewis & Clark.
The center offers an excellent overview of the Upper Missouri River and the remarkable country the Corps traveled through.
Experience the River
The Missouri River remains one of the best ways to connect with the Lewis & Clark story.
Whether you take a short float, visit a river access site, or simply spend time along the levee, you’ll be experiencing the same river corridor that guided the Corps of Discovery westward.
Decision Point
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
Follow the Story Further
Lewis & Clark is just one chapter in Fort Benton’s history. Many visitors who come for the expedition’s story discover connections to the fur trade, steamboat era, Native American history, and the settlement of Montana.
Allow yourself time to explore beyond the trail—you may discover a few unexpected stories along the way.
Historic Old Fort Benton
Museum of the Upper Missouri
