From Great Falls: 5 hours 15 minutes | 290 miles
From the Piegan/Carway Border Crossing: 3 hours 45 minutes | 200 miles
The roads to Bigfork are as varied as Montana’s landscape. This northern route is for those drawn to the windswept plains against the abrupt rise of the Rocky Mountain Front.
From Great Falls, the drive carries you north on US-89, across prairie where the horizon stretches forever, with scarcely another car in sight. Stop in Choteau, a ranching community and gateway to Montana’s dinosaur country. Grab a cold brew and panini at Copper Creek Coffee, where the drinks will blow your socks off. Back on the open road, don’t miss the Dupuyer Cache just up the road. This provisions stop blends essentials with specialty books, crafts and knitwear.
If you’re arriving from Alberta, your road south on US-89 passes through Babb, where the iconic Two Sisters Café is a culinary landmark. Chef Beth Higgins’ NOLA roots shine in handmade, locally sourced fare – a must-stop.
All roads converge in Browning, the heart of the Blackfeet Nation and gateway to Glacier’s east side. Here you’ll find cultural depth at the Museum of the Plains Indian and the Lodgepole Gallery and Tipi Village, where Native artists share their works. Pro Tip: Don’t miss the Blackfeet Metal Warriors. Created by artist Jay Laber from rusted cars, barbed wire, and mission stones, these figures stand as a cultural landmark outside Browning.
Continue west through East Glacier with a stop at Serrano’s for a Glacier Margarita (designated driver required!) or simply enjoy the unexpectedly great Mexican food. US-2 then crosses Marias Pass tracing the park’s rugged southern edge. The Goat Lick Overlook on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River offers a short loop trail and a chance to spot mountain goats clinging to the sheer cliff before heading to Essex and the storied Izaak Walton Inn, a former railroad hotel and a destination for train buffs.
As you continue through West Glacier abound. Stop by Glacier Raft Co. to book a whitewater rafting adventure, peer over the engineering marvel of Hungry Horse Dam, or get a tilted perspective at the Montana Vortex and House of Mystery. Jump on MT-209 as you catch your first glimpse of the Swan Range, then follow its ridgeline south. From there, MT-35 leads through open farmland before your arrival in Bigfork.
