McCone County is one of Montana’s emptiest — fewer than 1,700 people across 2,643 square miles of rolling eastern Montana rangeland. Circle sits at its center, the county seat, a community of about 600 people surrounded by cattle ranches, fossil-bearing badlands, and the eastern arm of Fort Peck Reservoir.
The town got its name from the C-circle brand of the Continental Land and Cattle Company — the cattle operation that shaped this corner of Montana before the homesteaders arrived.
TL;DR
- Circle (~600) is the county seat of McCone County on MT-200, between Glendive (90 miles east) and Miles City (95 miles south).
- McCone County Museum houses local dinosaur fossils and pioneer history.
- Gateway to Hell Creek formation country and the eastern arm of Fort Peck Reservoir.
- Best for: Montana Dinosaur Trail visitors, Fort Peck Reservoir fishing, remote eastern Montana travel, and Jordan connection.
Circle at a Glance
| Population (2020) | ~600 |
|---|---|
| County | McCone County (county seat) |
| Region | East-Central Montana |
| Distance to Glendive | ~90 miles east (~1.5 hours on MT-200) |
| Distance to Miles City | ~95 miles south (~1.5 hours) |
| Distance to Jordan | ~60 miles north (~1 hour) |
| MT-200 position | Between Lewistown and Glendive |
| Best for | McCone County Museum, Fort Peck Reservoir, Jordan/Hell Creek gateway |
What Makes Circle Different
The name “Circle” is a direct reference to the cattle era that defined this landscape. The Continental Land and Cattle Company’s C-circle brand was one of the most prominent in McCone County, and as a service town grew around the railroad, it took on the brand’s identity.
What makes Circle interesting for travelers is its geographic position — it’s roughly equidistant from three significant eastern Montana destinations: Jordan (60 miles north, the Hell Creek T. rex country), Glendive (90 miles east, Makoshika State Park), and Glasgow (80 miles north, Fort Peck Dam).
Circle also sits in the Hell Creek Formation geologically — the same Cretaceous sedimentary layer that has produced significant dinosaur fossils throughout eastern Montana.
Fort Peck Reservoir’s eastern arm is accessible from the Circle area via county roads — remote camping and fishing in classic Missouri River Breaks country.
The Top 10 Things to Do
1. McCone County Museum
The regional history museum in Circle covering the cattle era, homesteading, the Northern Pacific Railroad, Indigenous history, and fossil discoveries from the surrounding Hell Creek country.
2. Fort Peck Reservoir Eastern Access
The eastern sections of Fort Peck Reservoir are accessible from county roads north of Circle — remote walleye, northern pike, and lake trout fishing in classic Missouri Breaks terrain.
3. Hell Creek Formation Drives
The badlands north of Circle toward Jordan have produced significant dinosaur fossils. Drive MT-200 north and explore county roads into the breaks country — excellent geology viewing.
4. Day Trip to Jordan (60 min north)
The most remote county seat in the lower 48; Garfield County Museum with Hell Creek dinosaur fossils; Hell Creek State Park on Fort Peck Reservoir. See Jordan guide.
5. Day Trip to Glasgow & Fort Peck Dam (80 min north)
Fort Peck Dam, WPA-era Fort Peck Theatre, Fort Peck Reservoir. See Glasgow guide.
6. Day Trip to Glendive & Makoshika (90 min east)
Montana’s largest state park, dinosaur fossils. See Glendive guide.
7. Prairie Stargazing
McCone County has negligible light pollution — outstanding dark skies across the entire county.
8. Wildlife Watching in the Breaks
The Missouri River Breaks country north of Circle hosts elk, deer, antelope, and prairie birds in significant numbers. Dawn and dusk drives on county roads are productive.
9. Circle Golf Course
A 9-hole community course — affordable, quiet prairie golf.
10. Eastern Montana MT-200 Scenic Drive
MT-200 between Lewistown and Glendive passes through classic central and eastern Montana ranch country. Circle is the midpoint service stop.
Where to Stay
| Hotel | Vibe | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traveler’s Inn | Local, basic | $85–130 | Most travelers |
| Wooden Nickel Hotel | Budget | $75–110 | Budget |
| Jordan area camping (60 min north) | Primitive | Free | Self-sufficient |
Where to Eat
- Wooden Nickel Restaurant — Circle’s main dining option
- Circle Bar — bar food
- Local café — limited but functional
Getting There
MT-200. From Glendive: 90 miles west. From Miles City: 95 miles north via MT-13. From Jordan: 60 miles south via MT-200.
When to Visit
Summer (June–August): Full museum access, Fort Peck Reservoir recreation season.
Fall (September–October): Hunting season (significant deer and antelope populations), Fort Peck Reservoir walleye peak.
Year-round: Circle functions as a working ranch service town in all seasons.
Personal Tips
Jordan is the primary reason to drive through Circle. The most remote county seat in the lower 48 is 60 miles north — Hell Creek fossil country and Fort Peck Reservoir badlands in extraordinary combination.
The MT-200 corridor is scenic. This highway between Lewistown and Glendive passes through some of Montana’s most genuinely remote terrain. Drive it slowly.
Stock up in Circle before going north toward Jordan. Jordan’s services are very limited; Circle is the last reliable stop.
Quick Facts
| Founded | 1916 (railroad) | | Named for | C-circle cattle brand, Continental Land & Cattle Co. | | McCone County population | ~1,700 (entire county) | | Average summer high | 87°F | | Average winter low | -1°F |
Conclusion
Circle is a working ranch community in one of Montana’s emptiest counties — not a destination in itself, but a genuine service stop in the middle of extraordinary territory. The McCone County Museum, Fort Peck Reservoir access, and position as the gateway to Jordan (Hell Creek country) make it worth understanding as part of a broader eastern Montana itinerary.
Have a Circle question? Drop it in the comments — I read every one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Circle Montana worth visiting?
Worth a stop as the gateway to Jordan and Hell Creek country (60 miles north) and Fort Peck Reservoir (accessible from county roads). The McCone County Museum covers the cattle and homestead history of McCone County. As a MT-200 service stop between Lewistown and Glendive, it’s the main community in one of Montana’s most genuinely remote corridors.
How far is Circle from Jordan Montana?
Circle is approximately 60 miles south of Jordan on MT-200 — about a 1-hour drive. Jordan is often called the most remote county seat in the lower 48. See Jordan guide.
How far is Circle from Glendive?
Circle is approximately 90 miles west of Glendive on MT-200 — about a 1.5-hour drive through eastern Montana ranch country.
