Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
51.3 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Polson, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Kalispell, MT
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Polson, MT to Kalispell, MT covers 51.3 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 2nd Avenue West, 1st Avenue East, 3rd Street East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50.4 miles on 2nd Avenue West. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.90 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Avenue West | 50.4 mi | 1h 2m |
| 1st Avenue East | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| 3rd Street East | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Street West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between Polson, MT and Kalispell, MT.
Start on S-354
Turn left onto US 93
Turn right onto 1st Avenue East
Turn left onto 3rd Street East
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.7 miles from Polson, 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.
3 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 51.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto US 93 / 2nd Avenue West
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto 1st Avenue East
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto 3rd Street East
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$8.90 one way
$17.79 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.30 | $18.61 |
| premium | $4.95 | $10.00 | $19.99 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $11.31 | $22.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.18 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Polson on Friday
Local time
12:13 AM
MDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny then Patchy Smoke
Destination
Late night in Kalispell on Friday
Local time
12:13 AM
MDT
Current temp
81°F
Patchy Smoke
68°F
Lakeside, MT
26 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
51.3 mi in 1h 5m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 93 / 2nd Avenue West.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Polson, MT to Kalispell, MT is easy. At 1h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 93 / 2nd Avenue West): Navigation decision point; at 50.4 miles (1st Avenue East): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.3 miles (3rd Street East): Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
739 ft
Total Descent
710 ft
Highest Point
3,416 ft
~7.3 mi in
Elevation Range
508 ft
Polson is a town of 5,100 people (2020) in Montana.
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 51.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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