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Major city · United States

Cut Bank

Use Cut Bank as a one-night Amtrak or US-2 stop on the east side of Glacier, not a base: the park gate is about 45 min west.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Cut Bank is a town of about 3,000 in Glacier County, on US-2 and the Amtrak Empire Builder line, and it holds the only car dealerships and repair shops next to the east side of Glacier National Park. Downtown is murals and a 27-foot talking penguin; the real reason to stop is a bed, a rental car or a train platform between Browning and Shelby. One night covers it, and only if you are driving or riding the train through.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep
avoid Dec–Feb (cold, wind, ice)
Airports
CTB · GTF · FCA · YQL
Nights
1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Cut Bank911 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Montana road conditions (511)511

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Cut Bank, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$2–4
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$10–16
  • BeerDraught beer in a bar$5–8
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$120
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$120
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$180

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$130 · High US$220

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Amtrak Empire Builder stopDowntown murals and the talking penguinGlacier County MuseumCar rental and repair for the east side of Glacier
Airports
CTB Cut Bank Municipal Airport (No scheduled service; general aviation only.) · GTF Great Falls International (About 177 km (110 mi) southeast; the closest scheduled service with rental cars.) · FCA Kalispell Glacier Park International (About 209 km (130 mi) west.) · YQL Lethbridge, Alberta (About 145 km (90 mi) north, across the border.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    −1°C (30°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    2°C (36°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    7°C (45°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    18°C (64°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    5°C (41°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    0°C (32°F)

Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Dec–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (28°C (82°F)), coolest Jan (−13°C (9°F) low), wettest Jun (10 rain days), driest Feb (5). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Cut Bank: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−1°C (30°F)

−13°C (9°F)

6 rd

Feb

2°C (36°F)

−11°C (12°F)

5 rd

Mar

7°C (45°F)

−6°C (21°F)

6 rd

Apr

13°C (55°F)

−1°C (30°F)

7 rd

May

18°C (64°F)

4°C (39°F)

9 rd

Jun

23°C (73°F)

8°C (46°F)

10 rd

Jul

28°C (82°F)

11°C (52°F)

7 rd

Aug

28°C (82°F)

10°C (50°F)

6 rd

Sep

22°C (72°F)

5°C (41°F)

6 rd

Oct

14°C (57°F)

0°C (32°F)

5 rd

Nov

5°C (41°F)

−7°C (19°F)

6 rd

Dec

0°C (32°F)

−12°C (10°F)

6 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

No taxi service in town. You need a car, a bike or your feet: downtown is about 1 km end to end. Rental cars come from the local dealerships and are pricier than in Great Falls, and they do not include unlimited mileage. Northern Transit Interlocal runs a free bus to Great Falls and Shelby on Thursdays and to Kalispell on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, by arrangement.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Glacier National Park (east side)

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min to St. Mary

Drive US-2 west to Browning, then US-89 north to St. Mary

The reason most people stop here. Go at opening; the Going-to-the-Sun Road gate is the bottleneck.

Browning

go

Door to door: About 35 min

Drive US-2 west, about 30 mi

Blackfeet Reservation town with the Museum of the Plains Indian; pair it with the park drive.

Shelby

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive US-2 east, about 65 mi

Another Amtrak stop and fuel town; only worth it if you are heading east.

Whitefish and Kalispellovernight

Door to door: 2.5–3 h by car

Drive US-2 west via Browning and East Glacier, or take the Tuesday/Wednesday NTI bus

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep in the Flathead Valley instead.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

West Main Street

Motels and the grocery store; walkable to downtown in about 10–15 min.

Railroad Street / station area

Closest to the Amtrak platform; best if you arrive or leave by train.

Downtown Main Street

Murals, the cinema and the western-wear shops; a small cluster of rooms and food.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–180 excl. bed
High
$180+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 1 night × US$120US$120
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$130US$260
Rental car, one day, local dealership1 × US$90 · check; limited mileageUS$90
Fuel, Cut Bank to St. Mary and back1 × US$25 · checkUS$25
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$53
Trip total≈ US$289 per person per day, bed includedUS$578

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax is added at the till. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$2–4
Diner breakfast$10–16
Burger and fries$12–18
Draught beer in a bar$5–8
Gallon of fuelcheck$3–4
Motel room, summer weekendcheck$100–180
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A small, quiet town and generally safe to walk by day. The real risks are winter cold and wind, long empty drives on US-2, wildlife on the road at dawn and dusk, and no taxi if you drink.
  • No taxi and no rideshare to count on: arrange a lift or walk.
  • Rental cars from the local dealerships have limited mileage; ask before you book.
  • Winter brings extreme cold and sudden chinook warm spells with strong southwest winds.
  • Cell coverage is thin outside town; download maps before you drive US-2.
  • Fuel and food gaps on US-2 east of Browning: fill up in Cut Bank.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Montana road conditions (511)
511

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Cut BankCut Bank

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Montana road conditions511

Embassy

No embassies here; the nearest consulates are in Denver or Seattle (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Amtrak Empire Builder, Cut Bank → East Glacier: about $10–20, about 45 min (check)
  • Amtrak Empire Builder, Cut Bank → Shelby: about $10–20, about 35 min (check)
  • Rental car, one day, local dealership: $60–140, limited mileage (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the Amtrak station? — Where is the station?
  • Is there a taxi in town? — Is there a taxi?
  • How far is it to Glacier National Park? — How far to the park?
  • Do you take cards? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the restroom? — Where is the toilet?

No taxi service in Cut Bank; arrange a lift or walk.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Cut Bank. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep · avoid Dec–Feb (cold, wind, ice) · month by month →
  2. 4 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for GTF and FCA: last connections, drive times, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Main Street, the station area, West Main.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Glacier County Museum, Glacier Cinemas, the golf course) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and chinook fixtures so the cold-weather and wind warnings can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources