Where is Polson, Montana, USA?

Written and fact-checked by | Reviewed by WhereIG Editorial Team | Last updated: August 14, 2026, 18:45 ET

Where is Polson Located? - Polson is a city located in the Lake County of Montana, United States. Polson lies between 41.5285757 Degrees North latitudes and 109.4662461 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Polson, Montana

Where is Polson, Montana

Polson Map, Montana, USA

Where is Polson?: The Google Map showing the location of Polson in the U.S. state of Montana.

Where is Polson Located?

Polson is a city located in the Lake County of Montana, United States. Polson lies between 41.5285757 Degrees North latitudes and 109.4662461 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Polson city is 5148 people and the city has a total area of 4.53 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

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Polson, Montana Quick Facts

AttributeDetails
CityPolson
CountyLake County
StateMontana
State CapitalHelena
US RegionWestern United States (Mountain Region)
Latitude47.6935° N
Longitude114.1636° W
Elevation2,930 ft (893 m)
Land Area4.53 sq mi
Water Area0.09 sq mi
Total Area4.62 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)5,148
Population DensityApproximately 1,136 people per sq mi
ZIP Code59860
Area Code406
Time Zone StandardMountain Standard Time (MST, UTC−7)
Time Zone DaylightMountain Daylight Time (MDT, UTC−6)
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code30-58750
Congressional DistrictMontana's At-Large Congressional District

Transportation and Connectivity in Polson

CategoryDetails
Airport NameMissoula Montana Airport
IATA CodeMSO
PortFlathead Lake waterfront access
Major HighwaysU.S. Route 93, Montana Highway 35
Train/Amtrak ServiceNearest Amtrak station in Whitefish
Local Bus/Transit ServiceLake County community transportation services
  • U.S. Route 93 – Main north–south highway connecting Polson with Missoula, Kalispell, and communities throughout western Montana.
  • Montana Highway 35 – Scenic route around the eastern shore of Flathead Lake connecting Polson with Bigfork and the Flathead Valley.

Top Places to Visit in Polson, Montana

Landmark NameType
Flathead LakeNatural Attraction
Polson-Flathead Lake MuseumHistory Museum
Miracle of America MuseumMuseum
Sacajawea ParkWaterfront Park
KwaTaqNuk Resort and CasinoEntertainment Venue
Wild Horse Island State ParkState Park
Flathead RiverRiver Recreation Area
Mission MountainsMountain Recreation Area
National Bison RangeWildlife Area
Ninepipes Museum of Early MontanaHistory Museum

Driving Distances from Polson, Montana to Nearby Cities

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
RonanMontana1520 minutes
KalispellMontana551 hour
MissoulaMontana701 hour 15 minutes
WhitefishMontana751 hour 30 minutes
HamiltonMontana1302 hours 30 minutes
ButteMontana1603 hours
HelenaMontana1703 hours
BozemanMontana2404 hours
Great FallsMontana1903 hours 30 minutes
BillingsMontana3906 hours

Colleges and Universities Near Polson, Montana

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
Salish Kootenai CollegeTribal CollegeCollegeNative American education, environmental science, and workforce programs
Flathead Valley Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeCareer training and transfer programs
The University of MontanaPublicUniversityResearch, arts, business, and environmental studies
Montana State UniversityPublicUniversityEngineering, agriculture, and research
Montana Technological UniversityPublicUniversityEngineering, science, and technology programs
Polson School DistrictPublicK–12 DistrictPrimary and secondary education

Waterbodies in Polson, Montana

Flathead Lake, Flathead River, Swan River, Jette Lake, Pablo Reservoir, and nearby Mission Valley waterways.

Golf Courses Near Polson

Polson Country Club, Mission Bay Golf Course, Eagle Bend Golf Club, Village Greens Golf Club, and Meadow Lake Resort Golf Course.

Polson, Montana — Key Historical Facts

  • Polson was established near the southern end of Flathead Lake and was incorporated as a city in 1910.
  • The community was named after pioneer David Polson, who operated a ranch and ferry service in the area during the late nineteenth century.
  • The construction of the Flathead Irrigation Project helped transform the surrounding valley into an important agricultural region.
  • The area has strong connections to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, whose history and culture are central to the region.
  • Today, Polson is known for its waterfront location, Flathead Lake recreation, farming, tourism, and access to western Montana landscapes.

References

Other Montana Maps & Info

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