Overview
Cut Bank is a small city in northwest Montana. It provides the nearest full-service tourist facilities to the east side of Glacier National Park.
2 sights · 3 things to do · 1 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Cut Bank
27-foot tall talking penguin
Willie DeGroot Gymnasium
Seating 5500 people, Montana's largest high school gymnasium.
Glacier County Museum
Cut Bank Golf and Country Club
Glacier Cinemas
Two screens.
Plan your trip
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- FCA Glacier Park International Airport, Kalispell — 91 mi away. Directions
- GTF Great Falls International Airport, Great Falls — 91 mi away. Directions
- GEG Spokane International Airport, Spokane — 250 mi away (major hub). Directions
Car rental agencies will arrange to meet the train with prior notice.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Glacier County Museum, Glacier Cinemas, Cut Bank Golf and Country Club
- Lunch Village Dining and Lounge
- Afternoon 27-foot tall talking penguin, Willie DeGroot Gymnasium
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Fast food franchises in town include Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Subway, and Taco John's.
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Cut Bank has a population of about 3,000 and is the county seat of Glacier County. Glacier County is home to about half of Glacier National Park, and most of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, though Cut Bank is not on the reservation. Once the "Oil Capital of Montana," oil production has diminished and Cut Bank is now a regional service center for the surrounding area.
Cut Bank gains national attention from time to time by reporting the coldest temperature in the 48 contiguous states. However, being in Montana's "Chinook Zone," it can also report rapid warming in mid-winter accompanied by strong southwest winds.
Local information
Get in
By plane
- Scheduled air service is available at Great Falls (GTF) about 110 miles to the southeast; Lethbridge (YQL) about 90 miles to the north; and at Kalispell (FCA) about 130 miles to the west.
By train
- The Empire Builder operates daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago. The train stops at 10:40AM eastbound to Chicago, and 5:51PM westbound to Seattle.
Car rental agencies will arrange to meet the train with prior notice.
By car
Cut Bank is on US Highway 2 (US-2) which runs east to west across Montana's northern tier.
State Highway 213 (MT-213) north from Cut Bank becomes Alberta 62 at the International border and leads to Magrath and eventually (via Hwy 5) Lethbridge.
From Interstate 15, exits for Cut Bank are 363 (23 miles east) and 379 (28 miles northeast).
By bus
Northern Transit Interlocal (NTI) Bus offers free bus service every Thursday to and from Great Falls and Shelby and service to Kalispell every Tuesday and Wednesday. Call to make arrangements.
Get around
There is no taxi service in Cut Bank.
Car rentals in Cut Bank are more expensive than in Great Falls, the next closest city east of the divide with car rental facilities. Rental cars are available at:
- The GM dealership
- Rent-A-Wreck
The local dealerships do not feature unlimited mileage.
Cut Bank offers the only car dealerships (and their associated services, such as repair and maintenance) adjacent to the east side of Glacier National Park. The next closest are in Conrad, Great Falls, or the Flathead Valley.
See
- Murals throughout the downtown area.
See 27-foot tall talking penguin
See Glacier County Museum
Do
Buy
Shop Northern Village Shopping Center
Has a Ben Franklin, a dollar store, a western wear outlet, Candy Bouquet, a restaurant, and other food outlets.
Eat and drink
Fast food franchises in town include Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Subway, and Taco John's.
Sleep
Stay Glacier Gateway Inn Cut Bank
Go next
- Glacier National Park, 45 minutes west.
Nearby
Shelby
City / town · 7 listings · 23 mi away
Sweet Grass
City / town · 3 listings · 30 mi away
Browning
City / town · 12 listings · 32 mi away
East Glacier
City / town · 13 listings · 43 mi away
St. Mary
City / town · 4 listings · 51 mi away
Babb
City / town · 8 listings · 53 mi away
Choteau
City / town · 14 listings · 57 mi away
Glacier National Park
Park · 36 listings · 67 mi away
My experience
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