How far is Whitefish, MT from Bigfork, MT?

The driving distance from Whitefish, MT to Bigfork, MT is about 35.3 miles (56.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 27 miles (43.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 40m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
35.27 mi
00h 50m
Flight
26.95 mi
43.37 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Whitefish.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
26.95 mi
Kilometers
43.37 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
35.27 mi
Kilometers
56.76 km
Drive Time
00h 50m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bigfork
Sat, Apr 18, 11:46 AM MDT
Return by in Whitefish
Sat, Apr 18, 12:36 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Whitefish
2026-04-18T10:56
Arrive Bigfork
Sat, Apr 18, 11:46 AM MDT
Route Timing
00h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:50 AM to 10:50 AM MDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:50 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Whitefish
9:30 PM MDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Kalispell
MT

City in Flathead County, Montana, United States

From Whitefish
17.6 mi
00h 25m
To Bigfork
17.6 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
54°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph S
Destination
53°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Whitefish and Bigfork.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Whitefish and Bigfork.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    51 m · 18 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East 2nd Street

    536 ft · 24 sec · East 2nd Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Spokane Avenue

    1.7 mi · 4 min · Spokane Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on US 93 South

    3.2 mi · 4 min · US 93 South

  5. 5

    Continue on US 93 North

    6.8 mi · 8 min · US 93 North

  6. 6

    Turn left onto West Reserve Drive

    3.5 mi · 6 min · West Reserve Drive

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Helena Flats Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Helena Flats Road

  8. 8

    Turn left

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    17 mi · 22 min

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Holt Drive

    132 m · 19 sec · Holt Drive

  11. 11

    Continue on Grand Drive

    2344 ft · 2 min · Grand Drive

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Cascade Avenue

    53 m · 8 sec · Cascade Avenue

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cascade Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Whitefish and Bigfork.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
13 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
36.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Helena Flats Road
18.1 mi · 51%
US 93 North
6.84 mi · 19%
West Reserve Drive
3.51 mi · 10%
US 93 South
3.23 mi · 9%
Spokane Avenue
1.75 mi · 5%
Grand Drive
0.44 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Helena Flats Road

Continue straight

17 mi · 00h 22m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 50m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.3 mi
27 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kalispell
00h 25m from Whitefish
Leave By
4:50 PM MDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Whitefish and Mostly Sunny near Bigfork.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Whitefish to Bigfork?

The road trip is about 35.3 miles (56.8 km) and usually takes 00h 50m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Kalispell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 17.6 miles from Whitefish and 17.6 miles from Bigfork.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 27 miles (43.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:50 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.83 one way or $9.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Whitefish and Mostly Sunny near Bigfork.

Stop Ideas Near Kalispell

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Kalispell, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Kalispell.

RAIL

Whitefish station

24 mi away
500 Depot Street
RAIL

West Glacier

42 mi away
Hwy 2 and Going-to-the-Sun Rd.
RAIL

Essex

53 mi away
290 Izaak Walton Inn Rd
RAIL

East Glacier Park

85 mi away
400 Highway 49 North

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Whitefish and Bigfork. Straight-line distance: 26.95 mi (43.37 km).

Whitefish

#1 Whitefish

City in Flathead County, Montana, United States

Population8,713
Coordinates48.4110800, -114.3376300
Altitude923
CountryUnited States
Bigfork

#2 Bigfork

City in Itasca County, Minnesota, United States of America

Population4,270
Coordinates48.0632900, -114.0726100
Altitude908
CountryUnited States
Start: Whitefish (-114.33763, 48.41108)
End: Bigfork (-114.07261, 48.06329)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 57 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.24 gal
4.71 L · about $4.83
Round trip
$9.65
2.48 gal · 9.42 L
Estimated CO2
11 kg one way
Round trip: 22 kg / 49 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $4.83 $9.65
Mid-grade $4.23 $5.25 $10.49
Premium $4.55 $5.64 $11.28
Diesel $5.41 $6.71 $13.42

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Montana · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Whitefish and Bigfork. The current time is 10:56:21.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.