Trip from Missoula, MT to Bigfork, MT

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 13m

Distance

99.1 mi

160 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

7 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min

4 AM

2h 4m ★

6 AM

2h 14m

8 AM

2h 32m

10 AM

2h 20m

12 PM

2h 18m

3 PM

2h 21m

5 PM

2h 31m

8 PM

2h 8m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

county seat of Missoula County, Montana, United States

Missoula, MT

Wikimedia Commons

census designated place in Flathead County, Montana, United States

Bigfork, MT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Missoula, MT to Bigfork, MT covers 99.1 miles and takes about 2h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 93, MT 35, Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 58.7 miles on US 93. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.70 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

49.6 miles from Missoula, MT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 93	58.7 mi	1h 11m
MT 35	30.8 mi	49m
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway	8 mi	8m
North Orange Street	0.6 mi	1m
Bridge Street	0.3 mi	1m
West Broadway Street	0.2 mi	<1m
Electric Avenue	0.1 mi	<1m
Bay Drive	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: US 93 — 58.7 mi, about 1h 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Missoula, MT and Bigfork, MT.

Start on North Higgins Avenue

19 ft · 4 sec · North Higgins Avenue

Turn right onto I 90 Bus

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Broadway Street

Turn right onto US 93 Bus

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Orange Street

Enter roundabout onto US 93 Bus

110 ft · 2 sec · North Orange Street

Continue on US 93 Bus

278 ft · 4 sec · North Orange Street

Take the ramp

184 ft · 4 sec

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 22 sec · this road

Merge onto I 90; MT 200

8.0 mi · 8 min · Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway

Take the exit onto US 93; MT 200

0.2 mi · 24 sec · US 93; MT 200

Toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell

Keep slight right at fork onto US 93; MT 200

58 mi · 1 hr 10 min · US 93; MT 200

Toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell

Turn right onto MT 35

31 mi · 49 min · MT 35

Turn sharp right onto Bay Drive

463 ft · 20 sec · Bay Drive

Continue on Bridge Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Bridge Street

Turn right onto Electric Avenue

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Electric Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto Grand Drive

305 ft · 19 sec · Grand Drive

Turn left onto Cascade Avenue

173 ft · 7 sec · Cascade Avenue

Arrive at destination

Cascade Avenue

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 49.6 miles from Missoula, MT, or about 1h into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.7 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 22 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 49.6 miles or 1h in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bigfork, MT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Missoula, MT so your first major turns are already loaded.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Missoula, MT

This is one driving day of about 99.1 miles and 2h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Missoula, MT.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on US 93 for about 58.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ronan, MT

50 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Frenchtown, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ronan, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 49.6 miles from Missoula, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

The Old Post

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Missoula, Montana

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $20 to $30

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+14065404433

Visit website

Pocketstone Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Bigfork, Montana

0.1 mi

Zoo Thai

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Missoula, Montana

0.1 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Bigfork Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Bigfork, Montana

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 99.1

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+14064202238

Visit website

Clyde Coffee

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Missoula, Montana

0.6 mi

HardTail Café

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Missoula, Montana

1.6 mi

The Old Post

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $20 to $30

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+14065404433

Visit website

Pocketstone Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 99.1

Bigfork, Montana

Hours: 7 am–2:30 pm

+14068377223

Visit website

Zoo Thai

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $20 to $30

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 4:30–9 pm

+14065404206

Visit website

The Camino

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $30 to $50

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 3–10 pm

+14063171260

Visit website

The Greek Pastry Shop - #1 GYROS

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+14065436843

Ciao Mambo

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 5–8:30 pm

+14065430377

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Missoula, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18442522083

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Missoula, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Missoula, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 7.1

Missoula, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 7.1

Missoula, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 7.1

Missoula, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Missoula, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Missoula, MT

+14065498382

Visit website

Montana Natural History Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+14063270405

Visit website

Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 49.6

Charlo, Montana

+14067277400

Visit website

Museum of Mountain Flying

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 7.1

Missoula, Montana

+14067213644

Visit website

Good Americano

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+14065292720

Visit website

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 7.1

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+18002255355

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 99 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | I 90 Bus / West Broadway Street

Turn right onto I 90 Bus / West Broadway Street

Navigation decision point

0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 93 Bus / North Orange Street

Enter roundabout onto US 93 Bus / North Orange Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

9 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 93; MT 200

Take the exit onto US 93; MT 200 toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell

9.2 mi into trip | ~11m in | US 93; MT 200

Keep slight right at fork onto US 93; MT 200 toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell

99 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in | Grand Drive

At end of road, turn right onto Grand Drive

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.70 one way

$31.41 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.22	$16.46	$32.92
premium	$4.53	$17.68	$35.36
diesel	$5.61	$21.88	$43.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

7 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Town Pump Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger

Missoula, MT

Tesla

12 DCFC

Best Western Plus Grant Creek Inn - Tesla Supercharger

Missoula, MT

Tesla

6 DCFC

Walmart 3259 (Missoula, MT)

Missoula, MT

Electrify America

4 DCFC

L267 EXPP PL PUBLIC1

Missoula, MT

ChargePoint Network

2 DCFC

L267 EXPP PL PUBLIC2

Missoula, MT

ChargePoint Network

2 DCFC

Missoula Chevrolet

Missoula, MT

EV Connect

1 DCFC

CAMPBELL KIA MTKIA 1 ABB

Missoula, MT

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 3 Tesla: 2 Electrify America: 1 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	29.7	$10.41	$4.76
Efficient EV	24.8	$8.67	$3.96
EV Truck/SUV	39.6	$13.87	$6.34

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Missoula, MT

Afternoon in Missoula on Saturday

Local time

1:58 PM

MDT

Current temp

61°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 0 to 3 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Bigfork, MT

Afternoon in Bigfork on Saturday

Local time

1:58 PM

MDT

Current temp

55°F

Sunny

S 6 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

6 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 13m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a 2h 13m highway drive covering 99.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 93 and MT 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 58.7 miles on US 93.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 93 is the longest continuous segment at about 58.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 93 and MT 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near I 90 Bus / West Broadway Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 13m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (I 90 Bus / West Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (US 93 Bus / North Orange Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9 miles (US 93; MT 200): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 99.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Missoula, MT to Bigfork, MT covers 99.1 miles and takes about 2h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 93, MT 35, Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 49.6 miles from Missoula, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.70 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

This is a straightforward 2h 13m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The route from Missoula, MT to Bigfork, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Missoula, MT or browse trips ending in Bigfork, MT.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MT road trips.

Trip from Missoula, MT to Bigfork, MT

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

The Old Post

Bigfork Coffee House

The Old Post

Pocketstone Cafe

Zoo Thai

The Camino

The Greek Pastry Shop - #1 GYROS

Ciao Mambo

Dinosaur Cafe

Brasserie Porte Rouge

Bigfork Coffee House

Clyde Coffee

HardTail Café

BreatheEV Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

Red E Charging Station

Caras Park

Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana

Dragon Hollow Playground

Montana Natural History Center

Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge

Museum of Mountain Flying

Good Americano

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Missoula, MT

Bigfork, MT

Same local time

6 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 13m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Missoula, MT to Bigfork, MT?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How hard is the drive from Missoula, MT to Bigfork, MT?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Missoula, MT to Bigfork, MT?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Bigfork, MT

More from Missoula, MT

More trips to Bigfork, MT