Missoula to Whitefish via the Bison Range and Flathead Lake
North through the Flathead Reservation to a mission church and a bison range, then around Flathead Lake to Kalispell and Whitefish.
- Distance
- 228 km (142 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 32 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 9
- States
- MT
- Updated
- July 5, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 228 km (142 mi) with 9 stops, from Missoula to Whitefish. About 2 h 32 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Montana
Route description
Leave Missoula north on US-93 and climb over Evaro Hill onto the Flathead Reservation, home of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. After about 65 km, stop at St. Ignatius Mission, with its painted interior and the jagged Mission Mountains behind it. The People’s Center in Pablo, further north, has exhibits on the tribes’ history.
For the Bison Range, turn west at Ravalli onto MT-200 and then MT-212 to Moiese. Red Sleep Mountain Drive is a 30 km gravel loop that climbs over the hills with views of the valley; it is one-way and closed from November to April. Vehicles over 30 ft and trailers are not allowed on it or on the shorter Prairie Drive, which is open all year.
Return to US-93 and drive north to Polson at the south end of Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Take MT-35 along the east shore, a narrow, winding road past cherry orchards and roadside stands in July and August. Several state park units on the lake have campgrounds, but most are small and not suitable for large RVs.
Bigfork is a small village at the north end of the lake, with galleries and a summer theater. Wayfarers State Park is just south of town. From Bigfork, MT-35 continues to Kalispell, where the Conrad Mansion shows how the town’s founder lived. Whitefish is 25 km further north on US-93, and Glacier National Park is 40 km east.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Missoula
MT - 260 km
St. Ignatius Mission
HistorySt. Ignatius, MTAn 1891 brick mission church with 58 interior murals painted by a Jesuit brother, set against the Mission Mountains. It is just off US-93 in the Flathead Reservation town of St. Ignatius; donations welcome.
- 316 km
CSKT Bison Range
NatureMoiese, MTA wildlife refuge run by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, with bison, elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep. Red Sleep Mountain Drive is a steep one-way gravel loop; vehicles over 30 ft and trailers are not allowed on the drives.
- 444 km
Polson
MT - 550 km
Bigfork
MT - 61 km
Wayfarers State Park
NatureBigfork, MTA small state park on the northeast shore of Flathead Lake, with rocky beaches, short forest trails and a view west at sunset. It has a campground and is a short walk from the village of Bigfork.
- 728 km
Kalispell
MT - 81 km
Conrad Mansion Museum
HistoryKalispell, MTA 26-room Norman-style mansion from 1895, built for Kalispell founder Charles Conrad and kept with its original furnishings. Guided tours run from spring to autumn; the museum is a few blocks east of Main Street.
- 929 km
Whitefish
MT
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Missoula → CSKT Bison Range · 47 mi · 0 h 50 minOn the way: St. Ignatius Mission.Overnight nearby, for example: Diamond S RV Park (14 mi).
- Day 2: CSKT Bison Range → Bigfork · 58 mi · 1 h 02 minOn the way: Polson.Overnight nearby, for example: Montana Basecamp (12 mi); Lost Johnny Campground (17 mi).
- Day 3: Bigfork → Whitefish · 37 mi · 0 h 39 minOn the way: Wayfarers State Park, Kalispell, Conrad Mansion Museum.Overnight nearby, for example: Montana Basecamp (18 mi); Kalispell North KOA (5 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. Cold, short days in December–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Missoula to Whitefish via the Bison Range and Flathead Lake?
3-day road trip of about 228 km (142 mi) with 9 stops, from Missoula to Whitefish. About 2 h 32 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Missoula to Whitefish via the Bison Range and Flathead Lake?
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 32 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Missoula to Whitefish via the Bison Range and Flathead Lake start and end?
It starts in Missoula and ends in Whitefish.
Which states does Missoula to Whitefish via the Bison Range and Flathead Lake pass through?
Montana.
Where can you camp along Missoula to Whitefish via the Bison Range and Flathead Lake?
OpenStreetMap lists 52 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Montana Basecamp, Jim & Mary's RV Park and Missoula KOA Holiday.
When is the best time for Missoula to Whitefish via the Bison Range and Flathead Lake?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
