Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
23m
Distance
15.3 mi
25 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Whitefish, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Kalispell, MT
Wikimedia Commons
This short 15.3-mile drive between Whitefish and Kalispell, Montana, is easily manageable in about 23 minutes, making it perfect for a single day trip. With a very low estimated fuel cost of just $2, this route is budget-friendly. The journey primarily utilizes US 93 North and South, with a segment on Spokane Avenue. Given its brevity, you won't need to split this drive or worry about overnight stays. It's a straightforward connection within the Mountain West region, offering a simple and efficient transit between two Montana locations.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 93 North | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| US 93 South | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Spokane Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Sunset Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| East 2nd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Street West | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Whitefish, MT and Kalispell, MT.
Start on this road
Turn left onto US 93
Turn right onto US 93
Continue on US 93
Continue on US 93
Continue on US 93
Continue on US 93
Turn right onto 3rd Street West
Arrive at destination
3 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 15.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto US 93 / East 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 93 / Spokane Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto 3rd Street West
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.42 one way
$4.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $2.54 | $5.08 |
| premium | $4.53 | $2.73 | $5.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.38 | $6.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.73 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.34 | $0.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Morning in Whitefish on Tuesday
Local time
6:09 AM
MDT
Current temp
53°F
Light Rain Likely
Destination
Morning in Kalispell on Tuesday
Local time
6:09 AM
MDT
Current temp
54°F
Light Rain Likely
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.
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 74% of the route being on major highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.1 miles on US 93 North. While largely on main roads, the transition through Spokane Avenue offers a slight change in pace before returning to highway travel. The overall character is one of efficient, direct travel, characteristic of connecting towns within a mountainous landscape. You'll experience primarily highway driving, designed for quick transit.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 93 North and US 93 South. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 93 / East 2nd Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Whitefish, MT to Kalispell, MT is easy. At 23m with 74% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 93 / East 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 93 / Spokane Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 15.3 miles (3rd Street West): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
238 ft
Total Descent
318 ft
Highest Point
3,233 ft
~5.5 mi in
Elevation Range
278 ft
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 23m. Total distance: 15.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Straightforward navigation.
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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