The Montana Department of Commerce is inviting public input on new designs for the “Welcome to Montana” highway signs that welcome travelers at the state borders. Following an update to Montana’s branding earlier this year—which included a fresh logo, color scheme, and imagery—the department aims to align highway signage with the new branding. Governor Greg Gianforte emphasized the importance of these signs in providing a warm welcome to families, friends, and visitors.
Three potential designs are up for public vote, each reflecting elements of Montana’s new brand and unique landscapes. Mitch Staley, the state’s chief marketing officer, explained the options: a 1990s-style license plate line, a design similar to pre-2014 signs, and a new concept featuring iconic mountain and badlands landscapes. “These signs will be as iconic as signs of the past,” Staley told the Daily Montanan.
The Commerce Department’s website is open for voting on the sign designs at visitmt.com/welcome-sign, with polls closing on December 31, 2025. The Montana Department of Transportation plans to install the new signs next spring, contingent on weather and access, as many state border crossings are located on mountain passes.
Existing welcome signs, installed in 2014, feature a range of wildlife such as black bears, pronghorn, and elk, alongside vivid natural landscapes including Glacier National Park, riverscapes, and prairie lands. The updated designs aim to maintain this rich visual tradition while incorporating the state’s new branding elements.
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