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Trip from Hamilton, MT to Kalispell, MT

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 32m

Distance

166.4 mi

268 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 20m ★
6 AM
3h 32m
8 AM
3h 57m
10 AM
3h 41m
12 PM
3h 38m
3 PM
3h 42m
5 PM
3h 56m
8 PM
3h 25m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Hamilton, MT, MT

Hamilton, MT

Russ

seat of Flathead County, Montana, United States

Kalispell, MT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 162-mile drive from Hamilton, Montana, to Kalispell, Montana, will take you approximately 3 hours and 8 minutes. It's a manageable one-day trip with a fuel cost estimated at $26. You'll primarily navigate using North 1st Street, Brooks Street, and South Reserve Street, indicating a more local driving experience rather than a highway cruise. The route is characterized by frequent turns, making it a dynamic journey through the Mountain West region. With only one planned stop and no particularly long stretches of uninterrupted driving, this route offers a flexible and engaging way to travel between these two Montana communities.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

83.2 miles from Hamilton, MT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 93 111 mi 2h 17m
North 1st Street 43.1 mi 55m
South Reserve Street 5.4 mi 9m
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway 4.9 mi 4m
1st Avenue East 0.8 mi 2m
Brooks Street 0.6 mi 1m
I 90 Business 0.3 mi <1m
West Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 93 — 111 mi, about 2h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hamilton, MT and Kalispell, MT.

1

Start on S-531

0.2 mi · 54 sec · West Main Street
2

Turn left onto US 93

43 mi · 55 min · North 1st Street
Use the straight lane.
3

Continue on Brooks Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Brooks Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Turn left onto South Reserve Street

5.4 mi · 9 min · South Reserve Street
Use the straight lane.
5

Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 93

0.3 mi · 44 sec · I 90 Business; US 93
Toward I 90 West, US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell, Coeur D' Alene
6

Merge onto I 90; US 93; MT 200

4.9 mi · 4 min · Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
7

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
8

Keep slight right at fork onto US 93; MT 200

111 mi · 2 hr 17 min · US 93; MT 200
Toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
9

Turn right onto 1st Avenue East

0.8 mi · 2 min · 1st Avenue East
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Turn left onto 3rd Street East

427 ft · 13 sec · 3rd Street East
Use the left lane.
11

Arrive at destination

3rd Street West

Trip Plan

Given the 3-hour, 8-minute duration and 162-mile distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single day trip. Aim to depart Hamilton, MT, in the morning to allow ample time for the numerous turns and local navigation required. With an estimated fuel cost of $26 and only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in your pacing. Keep an eye on your navigation as the 'turn-heavy' nature of the route means you'll be making frequent adjustments. A good tip is to ensure your GPS is up-to-date, as local road configurations can sometimes change.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 83.2 miles from Hamilton, MT, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111 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 37 miles or 47m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 83.2 miles or 1h 48m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 54m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Hamilton, 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 Hamilton, MT

This is one driving day of about 166.4 miles and 3h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Hamilton, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 93 for about 111 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Ronan, MT, MT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ronan, MT

83 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

Orchard Homes, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ronan, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 83.2 miles from Hamilton, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 93 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111 miles.

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

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop

Maria's

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hamilton, Montana

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+14063637710

Chick-fil-A

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Missoula, Montana

0.2 mi

Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Missoula, Montana

0.2 mi

Best coffee break · home stretch

Chi Cafe

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Kalispell, Montana

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 6min to go 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $30 to $40

Hours: 11 am–6 pm

+14064077707

Visit website

Clyde Coffee

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Missoula, Montana

2.6 mi

Treasure State Coffee Co.

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lakeside, Montana

2.3 mi

Maria's

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Hamilton, Montana

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+14063637710

Chick-fil-A

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour Inexpensiv

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 6:30 am–10 pm

+14063122400

Visit website

Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.2 mi from route $10 to $20

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+14068295190

Visit website

Red Rooster Artisan Bakery

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hamilton, Montana

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+14063811129

Visit website

Coffee Cup Cafe

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hamilton, Montana

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14063633822

Visit website

Hamilton House Pub & Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Victor, Montana

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+14066426644

Laughing Grizzly Restaurant, Bar & Casino

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

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

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 8 am–12 pm

+14069263375

Visit website

Noodle Express

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+14065417333

Visit website

Chi Cafe

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $30 to $40

Kalispell, Montana

Hours: 11 am–6 pm

+14064077707

Visit website

Clyde Coffee

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+14065404481

Visit website

Treasure State Coffee Co.

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Lakeside, Montana

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+14068440705

Visit website

HardTail Café

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+14068303182

Visit website

Lift Coffee Co.

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Lakeside, Montana

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

Mountain Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Somers, Montana

Hours: 7:30 am–3 pm

+14063035157

Visit website

Glen's Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20

Florence, Montana

Hours: 9 am–3 pm

+14062732534

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Missoula, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Missoula, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Kalispell, Montana

+18887584389

Visit website

TurnOnGreen Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Kalispell, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15106572635

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

2.1 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Kalispell, Montana

+14067515050

Visit website

EvGateway Charging Station

1.4 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Hamilton, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19499452000

Visit website

BreatheEV Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Missoula, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18442522083

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Kalispell, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.2 mi from route

Charlo, Montana

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14066443435

Visit website

Claudia Driscoll Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Hamilton, Montana

Hours: 5 am–8 pm

+14063632101

Visit website

Thompson Memorial Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Kalispell, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+14067587718

Visit website

Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Charlo, Montana

+14067277400

Visit website

Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Stevensville, Montana

+14067775552

Visit website

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+18002255355

Visit website

Caras Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+14065434238

Visit website

Montana Natural History Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Missoula, Montana

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+14063270405

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 166.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 93 / North 1st Street

Turn left onto US 93 / North 1st Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
43.9 mi into trip | ~57m in | South Reserve Street

Turn left onto South Reserve Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
49.3 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | I 90 Business; US 93

Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 93 toward I 90 West, US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell, Coeur D' Alene

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 90 West, US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kal...
6
54.7 mi into trip | ~1h 12m 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
6
166.3 mi into trip | ~3h 32m in | 3rd Street East

Turn left onto 3rd Street East

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.37 one way

$52.74 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $27.64 $55.28
premium $4.53 $29.68 $59.37
diesel $5.61 $36.74 $73.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 49.9 0 $17.47 $7.99
Efficient EV 41.6 0 $14.56 $6.66
EV Truck/SUV 66.6 0 $23.30 $10.65

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

19 kg (67% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Hamilton, MT

Late night in Hamilton on Tuesday

Local time

4:12 AM

MDT

Current temp

30°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kalispell, MT

Late night in Kalispell on Tuesday

Local time

4:12 AM

MDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

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

23 degrees warmer at arrival

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

Road read

3h 32m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this 162-mile journey, with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be engaging with local roads for the entire duration, requiring your attention for frequent directional changes. While there isn't a specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the profile suggests a continuous series of turns and local road navigation rather than long, straightaways. The character of the drive is less about high-speed cruising and more about navigating through towns and connecting local routes, offering a hands-on driving experience.

67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111 mi on US 93.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 93 and North 1st Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 93 / North 1st 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 3h 32m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 93 / North 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.9 miles (South Reserve Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.3 miles (I 90 Business; US 93): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Hamilton, MT to Kalispell, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Coeur D' Alene along the way.

Coeur D' Alene

49.3 mi in | ~1h 6m | via I 90 Business; US 93

About the Cities

Arriving in Kalispell, MT

Full guide →

Kalispell is a town in Montana, near Glacier National Park. The name of the town means "flat land above the lake" in Salish, a Native American language. The population is about 23,000 (2016).

Top landmarks

  • • Charles E. Conrad Mansion — mansion in Kalispell, Montana
  • • Fisher House — Historic house in Kalispell, USA
  • • Charles Boles House — single-family detached home in Kalispell, Montana

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 166.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (67%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 111 miles on US 93. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through MT can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 93 / North 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.9 miles (South Reserve Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.3 miles (I 90 Business; US 93): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Kalispell, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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