Laurel, Montana is a pleasant small city on the Yellowstone River with affordable, low‑stress living, local parks and river access—perfect for several-week travel assignments when you want downtime and a friendly community rather than feeling stuck.
Nearby Billings (about 20 miles east) provides major medical centers, restaurants, shopping and nightlife, while Red Lodge (≈50 miles) offers mountain trails, fishing and skiing—so you get small‑town calm with big‑city amenities and alpine escapes within easy reach.