Day Trippin' › Montana › From Whitefish
From Whitefish, the mountain's summer lifts and Big Sky Waterpark are about 15 minutes away, Lake McDonald and Apgar under 40, and Going-to-the-Sun Road's Trail of the Cedars about an hour. The best day trips from Whitefish, by drive time.
41 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
Scenic drive · 1 hr northeast
The famous 50-mile road across the park, climbing to the Continental Divide at Logan Pass between West Glacier and St. Mary.
State park · 26 min south
A forested hill above Kalispell with overlooks of the Flathead Valley, about 7.5 miles of trails and a visitor center.
Town · 37 min southeast
A small arts village where the Swan River meets Flathead Lake, with shops, galleries, dining and summer events.
Viewpoint · 28 min east
A huge concrete dam on the South Fork of the Flathead River near Glacier, with the road across the top open to cars and walkers.
Bike trail · 36 min northeast
A paved, flat path of about two miles linking Apgar Village with the West Glacier entrance and McDonald Creek.
Lake · 37 min northeast
The park's biggest lake, with Apgar Village at its foot offering a beach, boat launch, boat and bike rentals and a visitor center.
State park · 40 min southeast
A Flathead Lake park near Bigfork with rocky cliffs and shoreline, forest trails, swimming and a playground.
State park · 46 min south
A boat-only island in Flathead Lake where a few wild horses, bighorn sheep and other wildlife roam open grassland.
National park · 1 hr 11 min northeast
A million-acre park of glacier-carved peaks, alpine meadows and clear lakes, with more than 700 miles of trails and historic lodges.
Town · 1 hr 11 min south
A lake town at the south end of Flathead Lake, known for cherry orchards, a July cherry festival and lakeside parks.
Museum · 1 hr 13 min south
A huge, quirky collection of American history items spread across dozens of buildings just south of Polson.
Wildlife refuge · 1 hr 33 min south
Wetlands below the Mission Mountains full of geese, herons, eagles and ospreys, with a short trail at the viewing site off Highway 93.
State park · 1 hr 50 min southeast
A lakeside park in the Blackfoot-Clearwater valley south of Seeley Lake, good for a swim, picnic or paddle.
Waterfall · 1 hr 33 min east
A short, easy path in the Two Medicine area to a waterfall that pours out of a hole partway down a cliff.
Museum · 1 hr 31 min east
A museum in Browning showing the arts and history of the Northern Plains tribes, near the east side of Glacier.
State park · 1 hr 58 min southeast
A quiet forested lake park near Seeley Lake with swimming, boating and fishing.
Wildlife refuge · 2 hr 7 min south
A tribally managed range near Moiese with bison, elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep, seen from the Red Sleep and Prairie scenic drives.
Ghost town · 2 hr 43 min southeast
One of Montana's best-preserved ghost towns, a high gold camp of the 1890s with many buildings still standing, east of Missoula.
Hot spring · 2 hr 2 min south
A riverside resort in Paradise with several natural hot pools from 100 to 106 degrees, a cold plunge and family-friendly cooler pools.
Town · 2 hr 21 min south
A university river town on the Clark Fork with a lively downtown, the Riverfront Trail, river floating and hiking right from town.
Family fun · 2 hr 20 min south
A hand-carved carousel in downtown Caras Park next to the Dragon Hollow play area.
Trail · 2 hr 21 min south
A short, steep climb of 13 switchbacks above the University of Montana to the big concrete M and wide views of Missoula.
Waterfall · 2 hr 19 min west
A two-step falls in a deep gorge below the 464-foot-high US 2 bridge at Moyie Springs, one of the tallest bridges in Idaho.
Bike trail · 3 hr southwest
A rail trail of about 30 miles on old railroad grades between Taft and St. Regis, following the St. Regis River.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 59937 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.