After a slow start to winter, Montana has been welcoming recent storms that have been dumping snow on its mountains and valleys. Just in time for the new year, Kalispell is well positioned to welcome winter lovers to its mountain town for all kinds of adventures, from hitting the ski slopes to hiking at our backyard state parks.
This winter, there are numerous direct flights to Kalispell from a variety of cities throughout the United States, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Seattle. What does all this mean? It’s easier than ever to plan a winter trip to Kalispell, the hub and heart of northwest Montana.
Winter Direct Flight Options to Kalispell
From LAX, hop on a direct flight with United or Allegiant to Glacier Park International Airport (code: FCA) in Kalispell. United flights start February 14 and will be offered twice a week, while March will bring direct flights three times a week. Allegiant flies twice a week from LAX.
From SFO, United is offering a direct flight now through March (once a week in January and February; twice a week in March).
From Chicago, United flies from ORD weekly through February.
Allegiant also offers regular direct flights to Kalispell from Phoenix/Mesa and Las Vegas.
Daily direct flights are offered from DEN (United), SLC (Delta), MSP (Delta) and SEA (Alaska). Flights from PDX (Alaska) are offered 4 times a week.
Need to know for flights:
- Glacier Park International Airport’s code is FCA.
- Car rentals are available and recommended; rideshares (Uber, etc.) are available, but very limited.
- Kalispell has a variety of accommodations, including hotels, motels and lodges and more; check out your options here. If a cozy stay is on your itinerary, check out our recommendations here.
A Snow-Filled Winter Getaway: Your Montana Itinerary
Day One
Arrive in Kalispell, pick up your rental car and head to downtown and the Discover Kalispell Visitor Information Center (2 South Main Street, Suite 205). Our hands-on staff can talk with you about your interests, provide recommendations just for you and let you know what’s happening in town while you’re here.
After getting the rundown, take a walk on Main Street.
Our downtown has local shops, boutiques, stores, restaurants and more, with many offering made-in-Montana products, carefully curated treasures and cool finds. Peruse outdoor-loving offerings at Western Outdoor, The Toggery, Rocky Mountain Outfitters and Sportsman & Ski Haus.
Dinner: After a stroll and shopping, dive headfirst into Kalispell’s culinary offerings at FreeStone Restaurant. Must-try dishes include tempura sprouts, oysters (trust us on this), yak burger or Flathead Lake trout tacos. Prefer to stay downtown? Reserve one of the outdoor igloos at Bias Brewing.
Day Two
Around here, most locals tend to embrace winter fully and you can find residents out cross-country skiing, sneaking out for powder days on the ski slopes or attending a frosty event.
Breakfast:
Three great places to grab breakfast: Ceres Bakery, Bonjour Bakery and Bistro or Wheat Montana Kalispell. All three have tasty pastries and specialities, as well as handcrafted coffees.
Today is all about downhill skiing and snowboarding. Kalispell has two ski areas within easy reach – Blacktail Mountain Ski Area and Whitefish Mountain Resort. Both have amazing terrain, lodges, ski schools, rentals and food/drinks.
PS: Make the most of your winter visit and book your hotel room through our ski and stay deal: when you stay two nights in a Kalispell hotel, we’ll give you two free lift tickets to Blacktail Mountain. Be sure to book here.
Lunch:
Grab lunch on the ski hill. At Blacktail, you can snag easy grab-and-go items at Mighty Bites Cafeteria or enjoy full-service dining at Muley’s Bar & Grill.
Spend the afternoon relaxing in the lodge, enjoying an adult beverage or making runs at Blacktail, complete with panoramic views of Flathead Lake and the Rocky Mountains.
Dinner:
Enjoy dinner on the way back to Kalispell at Harbor Grille in Lakeside. Or back in town, visit local favorite Moose’s Saloon for the best pizza in Montana (you can’t go wrong with their sausage pizza) or dig into appetite-pleasing entrees at Casa Mexico.
Day Three
Today combines winter offerings, with some indoor favorites.
Breakfast:
Kickstart the last full day of your trip with breakfast at Sykes Diner, Kalispell’s oldest restaurant. The portions are impressive and you’ll see tables of locals connecting over their morning coffee. Fill up on huevos rancheros, corned beef hash and eggs or a hearty omelet.
From downtown, make the 10-minute drive to Lone Pine State Park. Depending on snowfall, you can hike or snowshoe along the park’s 7 miles of trails. Be sure to stop into the visitor center to learn about the area, wildlife and park itself.
Return to the heart of Kalispell and learn more about its history with a visit to one – or all – of its three museums. Start with a docent-led tour at the Conrad Mansion Museum, followed by visiting the Northwest Montana History Museum and Hockaday Museum of Art.
Lunch:
For the best BBQ around, enjoy lunch at DeSoto Grill. Located inside an old Blacksmith shop, DeSoto is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. While you’re here, be sure to try the sweet chili smoked salmon appetizer, followed by peanut butter pie for dessert.
Spend the afternoon in Glacier National Park. Kalispell is an easy 32-mile drive from the park’s west entrance and afternoon is the perfect time to visit, with snow-covered landscapes and sunshine. In the winter, you can drive up the Going-to-the-Sun Road as far as Lake McDonald Lodge; plan to bring snowshoes or cross-country skis to venture even further up the road. Before you leave, be sure to stop and take in the view of Lake McDonald and the Livingston Range from Apgar Village.
Insider tip: Want to spend more time in the park? Book a guided snowshoe trek adventure with Sea Me Paddle.
Enjoy a pre-dinner wine, charcuterie board and tapas at Waters Edge Winery & Bistro.
Dinner:
For dinner, head to Big Mountain Ciderworks for made-right-here cider and tasty menu offerings like burgers, salads and flatbreads, or Mercantile Steak, located in a historic building downtown.
Want to extend your trip? Be sure to add the following activities to your itinerary:
- Guided snowmobile adventure with Swan Mountain Snowmobiling.
- Sleigh ride at Clydesdale Outpost or Bar W Guest Ranch.
- Walk the beach along Flathead Lake at Somers Bay State Park.
- Time your trip to coincide with a winter event.
Want more? Visit discoverkalispell.com or call our office at 406-758-2811.