Kalispell, Montana
The Flathead Valley’s hub, about 33 miles from Glacier National Park’s West Entrance.
Photo: Kalispell looking toward Glacier: photo by User: Dan Petesch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized. All photo credits.
Last updated: October 2026
Part of our Montana towns guide. Heading to the park? See the Glacier trip planner.
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Kalispell is the county seat of Flathead County (Montana Association of Counties) and the commercial center of the Flathead Valley in northwest Montana. The town sits at about 2,950 feet. The National Park Service puts West Glacier, the park’s west-side gateway, about 33 miles from Kalispell (NPS Glacier Directions), and Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) is about 9 road miles north of downtown. Yellowstone is a different story: its Montana entrances are roughly 370–385 road miles away, a full day’s drive.
This page covers the quick facts people search for, then getting here, things to do, weather and costs. For the full money picture, see Cost of Living in Kalispell & the Flathead Valley.
Kalispell quick facts
| Fact | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| County | Flathead County (county seat) | USGS GNIS (feature 785622); Montana Association of Counties |
| Elevation | About 2,950 ft at the town’s official map point | USGS Elevation Point Query Service at the GNIS point |
| Population | 31,851 (July 1, 2025 estimate); 24,558 at the 2020 Census | Census QuickFacts |
| Nearest commercial airport | Glacier Park International Airport (FCA). About 9 road miles / 16 min from downtown (route estimate) | FCA; OSRM route estimate |
| Nearest Glacier entrance | West Entrance (West Glacier), about 33 miles | NPS Glacier Directions |
| Highways | U.S. 2 and U.S. 93 | MDT 511 |
Drive times from Kalispell to Glacier and Yellowstone
These are routing estimates from downtown Kalispell in clear conditions, with no stops and no entrance lines. Winter weather, construction and wildlife on the road add time.
| From downtown Kalispell to | Road miles | Approx. drive time | Season note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier West Entrance (West Glacier) | ~32 mi | ~45 min | West side; Going-to-the-Sun Road alpine section is seasonal | OSRM estimate; NPS lists about 33 miles (NPS Glacier Directions) |
| Glacier St. Mary Entrance (east side) | ~117 mi | ~2 hr 30 min | Router’s route goes around the park on U.S. 2; when Going-to-the-Sun Road is open, you can also cross the park | OSRM estimate; NPS Glacier Directions |
| Yellowstone West Entrance (West Yellowstone) | ~371 mi | ~6 hr 50 min | Closed to regular cars in winter | OSRM estimate; NPS Park Roads |
| Yellowstone North Entrance (Gardiner) | ~384 mi | ~6 hr 55 min | Open to cars year-round | OSRM estimate; NPS Park Roads |
| Whitefish | ~15 mi | ~20 min | U.S. 93 north | OSRM estimate |
| Columbia Falls | ~15 mi | ~25 min | U.S. 2 northeast | OSRM estimate |
| Bigfork | ~19 mi | ~30 min | Northeast shore of Flathead Lake | OSRM estimate |
| Polson | ~52 mi | ~1 hr 10 min | South end of Flathead Lake | OSRM estimate |
| Missoula | ~122 mi | ~2 hr 35 min | U.S. 93 south | OSRM estimate |
Estimates come from the public OSRM router using OpenStreetMap geocodes for each town, checked October 29, 2026. Treat every figure as approximate.
For park timing and reservations, see Best Time to Visit Glacier. If you’d rather not drive the park yourself, there’s a guided west-side Glacier driving tour from West Glacier in summer; it does not drive Going-to-the-Sun Road. For Yellowstone, start with Yellowstone from Montana.
Getting to Kalispell
Fly. FCA is north of town off U.S. 2. NPS describes it as about 30 miles west of Glacier’s West Entrance (NPS Glacier Directions). The airport’s homepage lists direct flights on Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Sun Country and United. Its non-seasonal routes include Seattle, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Denver, Las Vegas and Phoenix (Mesa), and many more cities are served seasonally (FCA). Routes change, so check the airport’s site before booking.
Rent a car. The airport says four rental companies (Avis, Budget, Hertz, and National/Alamo) have counters inside the terminal next to baggage claim, and three more are off-site with shuttles (FCA Ground Transportation). If you’re driving on to the park, compare rental cars at Glacier Park International Airport (FCA). In winter, check road conditions on MDT 511 before you drive.
Ground options. The same page lists Uber and Lyft, local shuttle and taxi companies, and a limousine service, and notes that several hotels run airport shuttles you arrange directly (FCA Ground Transportation).
Train. Kalispell has no Amtrak station. The Empire Builder stops at Whitefish, about 15 road miles north (see our Whitefish guide), and at West Glacier year-round, per NPS (NPS Glacier Directions).
Things to do in and near Kalispell
- Glacier National Park. The West Entrance is about 33 miles away (NPS). Start with the Glacier trip planner.
- Lone Pine State Park. Montana FWP says the park is 5 miles southwest of Kalispell, covers 279 acres, and has 7.5 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and horseback riding. Its overlooks take in the Flathead Valley, and the visitor center is open year-round (Montana FWP).
- Conrad Mansion Museum. The 1895 home of the Charles Conrad family, at 330 Woodland Avenue, open for house tours and garden visits (Conrad Mansion). Check its site for tour dates.
- Flathead Lake. Bigfork is about 19 road miles away on the northeast shore and Polson about 52 at the south end. See our Polson page.
- Skiing. Whitefish Mountain Resort sits above Whitefish and lists 3,000 acres; Blacktail Mountain is near Lakeside. Compare them in Montana Ski Resorts Compared.
- Hot springs. See the Montana hot springs guide for developed soaks around the state.
Weather at a glance
NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for the Kalispell Glacier Airport station (monthly, annual):
| Month | Avg. high | Avg. low | Avg. snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F | 16°F | 13.9 in |
| April | 55°F | 31°F | 1.2 in |
| July | 82°F | 48°F | 0 |
| October | 54°F | 29°F | 1.1 in |
| December | 31°F | 17°F | 15.9 in |
Annual precipitation is about 16.8 inches (rain plus melted snow), and annual snowfall is about 54 inches, more than Missoula’s 43 and well under Bozeman’s roughly 91. Month guides: Montana in December and Montana in January.
Living in Kalispell: people and costs
Kalispell has grown fast. The Census Bureau estimates 31,851 residents for July 2025, up from 24,558 at the 2020 Census, a 27.0% rise from the 2020 estimates base (Census QuickFacts).
| ACS 2020–2024 | Kalispell | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median value, owner-occupied home | $428,000 | Census QuickFacts |
| Median gross rent | $1,078 | Same |
| Median household income | $63,415 | Same |
ACS figures are five-year averages and run behind the market. Zillow’s typical home value in Kalispell was about $556,000 in September 2026, compared with about $870,000 in Whitefish (Cost of Living in Kalispell & the Flathead, from Zillow Research). That guide also covers rents, Flathead Electric rates, city water and sewer, and property tax. Moving from out of state? Start with the Moving to Montana checklist.
Where to stay
Kalispell is a practical base for the west side of Glacier, with the airport close by and more chain hotels than the park-edge towns. Compare hotels in Kalispell on Expedia. If you’d rather wake up next to the park, compare hotels in West Glacier on Expedia, or look at Flathead Lake vacation rentals on Vrbo. Our Where to Stay Near Glacier guide compares the options. Lodging in Montana pays the 8% state lodging tax (MT DOR). Kalispell itself isn’t one of the resort-tax towns; Whitefish and Columbia Falls are (Does Montana have sales tax?).
Nearby towns
- Whitefish, about 15 road miles north. Lake, ski mountain and Amtrak depot in one small town.
- Polson, about 52 road miles south, at the south end of Flathead Lake.
- Missoula, about 122 road miles south. Western Montana’s river city and home of the University of Montana.
- See all Montana towns
Frequently asked questions
What county is Kalispell, Montana in?
Flathead County. Kalispell is the county seat (USGS GNIS; Montana Association of Counties).
What is the elevation of Kalispell, MT?
About 2,950 feet at the town’s official USGS map point (USGS Elevation Point Query Service). Nearby Lone Pine State Park climbs from 2,959 to 3,644 feet (Montana FWP).
What is the closest airport to Kalispell?
Glacier Park International Airport (FCA), about 9 road miles, or roughly 16 minutes, north of downtown (FCA; OSRM route estimate).
How far is Kalispell from Glacier National Park?
About 33 miles to West Glacier and the West Entrance, per NPS, or roughly 45 minutes by car (NPS Glacier Directions; OSRM route estimate). The east-side St. Mary Entrance is about 117 road miles, roughly 2 hours 30 minutes, going around the park on U.S. 2.
How far is Kalispell from Yellowstone?
About 371 road miles, roughly 6 hours 50 minutes, to the West Entrance at West Yellowstone, which is closed to regular cars in winter. The North Entrance at Gardiner, open to cars all year, is about 384 miles, roughly 6 hours 55 minutes (OSRM route estimates; NPS Park Roads).
Does Kalispell have a train station?
No. The nearest Amtrak stops are Whitefish and West Glacier on the Empire Builder line (NPS Glacier Directions).
Sources
- Montana Association of Counties, county seats: https://www.mtcounties.org/about-counties/county-seats/
- USGS GNIS Domestic Names, Montana (feature 785622): https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/GeographicNames/DomesticNames/DomesticNames_MT_Text.zip
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service: https://epqs.nationalmap.gov/v1/docs
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Vintage 2025 estimates; 2020 Census; ACS 2020–2024): https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bozemancitymontana,missoulacitymontana,kalispellcitymontana,whitefishcitymontana,billingscitymontana,helenacitymontana/PST045225
- Glacier Park International Airport: https://iflyglacier.com/ ; https://iflyglacier.com/ground-transportation/
- NPS Glacier Directions: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/directions.htm ; NPS Yellowstone Park Roads: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm
- Montana FWP, Lone Pine State Park: https://fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/lone-pine
- Conrad Mansion Museum: https://www.conradmansion.com/
- Whitefish Mountain Resort: https://skiwhitefish.com/mountain-stats
- NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals, station USC00244558 (Kalispell Glacier AP)
- Montana Department of Revenue, lodging facility tax: https://revenue.mt.gov/taxes/miscellaneous/lodging-facility
- Zillow Research data: https://www.zillow.com/research/data/
- Drive times: OSRM public router with OpenStreetMap/Nominatim geocodes (research/kalispell/osrm_kalispell.json), Oct. 29, 2026
Cole Bennett edits MontanaHelp, a research-driven guide to moving to and living in Montana. Articles cite official and public sources and are updated as rules and data change. AI tools help research and draft them; a person runs the editorial process and spot-checks one article per batch before it’s published.
AI tools helped research and draft this article. A person runs MontanaHelp’s editorial process and spot-checks one article per batch before it’s published.
This page is general information, not financial, tax, safety or legal advice. Confirm road status, hours and fees with the linked official sources.