Columbia Falls, MT Road Trips
Drivers starting from Columbia Falls, MT have 5 mapped routes to choose from, making it a small but connected base in the Mountain West. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 397 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Columbia Falls, MT head east, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
6
Longest Drive
462.8 mi
Lockwood, MT
Quickest Drive
4h 47m
Havre, MT
Plan Around Columbia Falls, MT
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Columbia Falls, MT is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Columbia Falls, MT
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Columbia Falls, MT
Driving from Columbia Falls, MT
Expect an average of 397 miles and about 7h 4m behind the wheel when leaving Columbia Falls, MT. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 463 miles (8h 7m), while the shortest is just 307 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Columbia Falls, MT include Lockwood, MT (462.8 mi, 8h 7m), Billings, MT (457 mi, 8h 3m), Laurel, MT (442.3 mi, 7h 43m), Lewistown, MT (313.7 mi, 5h 56m), and Belgrade, MT (307.1 mi, 5h 30m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
For the average 397-mile drive from Columbia Falls, MT, expect to burn about 15.6 gallons of fuel one way at 25 MPG. Check local pump prices before you go to lock in your budget.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. These are full-day drives. Start by 7 or 8 AM if you want to arrive at a reasonable hour without rushing.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 5 mapped routes leaving Columbia Falls, MT and 1 routes heading into Columbia Falls, MT, covering 6 total connections. Distances range from 307 to 463 miles.
The longest mapped route from Columbia Falls, MT covers 463 miles and takes approximately 8h 7m. Shorter options start at just 307 miles.
The average route from Columbia Falls, MT runs about 397 miles with a drive time of roughly 7h 4m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
The most popular road trip destinations from Columbia Falls, MT include Lockwood, MT, Billings, MT, Laurel, MT and Lewistown, MT. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Columbia Falls, MT by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
5,531
Median Income
$65,313
Median Home Value
$346,700
Median Age
38.3
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Columbia Falls, MT.
St. Richard's Church
historic church in Montana, United States
City data from Wikidata (Q649200), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Columbia Falls, MT
Columbia Falls is a town in northwest Montana. About 5,300 people lived there in 2020.
In 2020 Columbia Falls was ranked as one of the safest and best places to live in Montana. The town is only 10 miles from Kalispell and 17 miles from Glacier National Park making it incredibly popular for tourism. Summer brings the most people so some businesses will be closed, or have reduced hours, during winter months.
1 Hungry Horse Reservoir and Dam, Flathead National Forest, 1935 Third Ave. E (U.S. 2 about 10 miles southeast of Columbia Falls), ☏ +1 406 758-5204, [email protected]. Dam tours, boating, fishing. Free. (updated Oct 2021) 2 International Larix Arboretum.
1 Amazing Fun Center, west side of Hwy. 2 East at Coram, ☏ +1 406 387-5902. Memorial - Labor Day, open 9:30AM daily. maze, mini-golf, gocarts, bumper boats. (updated Oct 2021) 2 Big Sky Waterpark, 7211 Highway 2 East, ☏ +1 406 892-5026, [email protected]. June-Aug. waterslide, minigolf, rockwall. (updated Oct 2021)
Laurie's Deli, 330 9th Street West, ☏ +1 406 892-2711. Nite Owl & Back Room Cafe, 522 9th St W, ☏ +1 406 892-3131. Three Forks Grille, 729 Nucleus Ave, ☏ +1 406 892-2900, [email protected]. open at 5PM daily. local hand-cut steaks, wild game and fresh seafood
Backslope Brewing, 1107 9th St W (Hwy 2), ☏ +1 406 897-2850, [email protected]. Daily, 11AM-8PM. Micro-brewery and restaurant. (updated Jul 2023)
Bad Rock Bed and Breakfast Inn, 480 Bad Rock Dr, ☏ +1 406 892-2829, [email protected]. 1 Glacier Inn Motel, 1401 2nd Ave E, ☏ +1 406 892-4341. 2 Meadow Lake Resort, 100 St. Andrews Dr, ☏ +1 406 892-8700, [email protected]. Inn, Vacation rentals, 18 hole golf course.
US Route 2 runs through the center of Columbia Falls. It is about 10 miles east of US 93. The nearest commercial airport is | Glacier Park International Airport 8 miles to the south.
Travel tips adapted from Columbia Falls on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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