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Polson Montana Map

Explore Polson, Montana, with this interactive street and satellite map.

This page also offers TOPO MAPS — the official USGS topographic sheets — plus USGS aerial imagery, a labelled USNG grid overlay, a distance and bearing tool, and a GPS grid-reference readout. See How to Use This Map below.

Interactive Map of Polson, Montana

How to Use This Polson, Montana Map

This interactive map shows the street layout and satellite imagery for Polson, Montana. Use the Map and Satellite buttons above to switch between street map and aerial imagery views. Use the + and − buttons to zoom in or out, or scroll your mouse wheel while holding the Control key to zoom. On a touchscreen, use a two-finger pinch gesture. Drag the map to pan to any area of Montana or beyond.

Click ⛶ Fullscreen to expand the map to fill your screen. To return to the normal page view, press the Escape key, click the ✕ Exit Fullscreen button that appears above the map, or on a mobile device tap the back button (Android) or the close icon (iOS).

TOPO MAPS — NEW. Click the green 🔍 Search Maps button below the map to open a second map with a Base map row offering three choices. OSM is the standard OpenStreetMap street map. Topo shows the official USGS topographic maps from The National Map — contours, hydrography, land cover and shaded relief, the same mapping used for hiking, hunting and back-country navigation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Finger Lakes. Imagery shows USGS aerial photography, mostly 1-metre NAIP. The search box finds any US town, county or landmark by name, so you are not limited to Polson.

Reading the map like a paper quad. Click Grid to overlay the U.S. National Grid (USNG), labelled along the edges exactly as a printed topographic sheet is — at normal zoom the squares are one kilometre across, so you can read a six-figure grid reference by eye and judge distance directly off the map. Click Measure, then tap two points, to get the distance between them together with the grid bearing in degrees and mils, the true bearing, and the magnetic bearing to set on a compass.

Click 📍 My position to take a single GPS reading from your device. It marks where you are and reports your position as a USNG grid reference as well as plain latitude and longitude — USNG being the format FEMA and US search and rescue teams work from — with a Copy position button so you can paste it straight into a text message. It takes one reading and stops, rather than tracking continuously, to conserve your battery. Note that map tiles need cell coverage, but a GPS reading does not — your coordinates stay correct even where the map itself cannot load.

CityPolson
StateMontana (MT)
CountyLake County
CountryUnited States of America
TimezoneMountain Time (America/Denver)
Latitude47.688222
Longitude-114.140791
Population5,148
Density437.8 /km²
IncorporatedYes
ZIP Code59860
Area Code406
County SeatPolson
School DistrictPolson Elementary School District

About Polson, Montana

Polson is a locality in Lake County, Montana, United States. It has a population of approximately 5,148. The population density is 437.8 people per km². Polson is located at 47.6882°N, 114.1408°W. It observes the Mountain Time (America/Denver) timezone. Polson is an incorporated locality. ZIP code: 59860.

Polson commands a position of singular clarity where the expansive waters of Flathead Lake meet the sweeping horizon of the northern plains. It lies 35.4 miles south-southeast of Kalispell, MT (from Kalispell, MT: bearing 169°T), and is situated 11.7 miles north-northwest of Ronan. Sunlight catches the surface of Flathead Lake, creating a shimmering expanse that holds the reflection of the sky with mirror-like precision. To the east, the rugged silhouette of the Mission Mountains rises sharply against the atmosphere, anchoring the view with a vertical weight that contrasts against the open sky. The nearby Weythman Gulch carves a path through the terrain, illustrating the quiet, persistent work of erosion across the landscape. Even the air here feels sharpened by distance, carrying a crispness that defines the transition between the valley floor and the high, wild country beyond.

Polson emerged as a center for trade and agriculture, drawing its vitality from the fertile lands that surround the basin. The local economy finds its roots in the cultivation of cherries and the steady rhythm of ranching, industries that have defined the livelihood of residents for generations. While the town serves as a hub for regional commerce, the nearby Swan River State Forest provides a vast resource of timber and managed wilderness that influences the local way of life. The proximity of the Flathead River has historically dictated the movement of goods and people, serving as a conduit for the growth that transformed this outpost into a permanent settlement. Economic activities remain closely tied to the land, ensuring that the development of Polson stays in conversation with the natural constraints and possibilities of the region.

Cultural life in Polson flows with the seasonal changes, moving from the quiet introspection of winter to the vibrant activity of harvest. Riverside Park offers a public space where the community gathers to watch the current of the water, providing a focal point for reflection at the edge of the shore. Those seeking the rugged beauty of the terrain often venture toward Mud Creek Falls, where the sudden drop of water breaks the silence of the woods. While the town remains modest in its scale, it has been the home of figures like the writer James Welch, whose work captured the complex realities of life in the American West. Events throughout the year emphasize a connection to the heritage of the Salish and Kootenai people, whose influence remains a vital thread in the identity of Polson.

Nearby Outdoor Places

  • Lions Park (Local Park) — 0.8 mi, 263° W
  • Pomajevich Park (Local Park) — 0.9 mi, 251° W
  • Miracle of America Museum and Pioneer Village (Museum) — 1.3 mi, 115° SE
  • Sports Complex Park (Local Recreation) — 1.5 mi, 270° W
  • Flathead Lake Scenic Overlook (Viewpoint) — 2.0 mi, 125° SE
  • Pablo Wildlife Management Area (State Conservation Area) — 2.7 mi, 180° S
  • Ducharme Fishing Access Site (State Recreation Area) — 2.9 mi, 079° E
  • Flathead Lake Wildlife Habitat Protection Area (State Conservation Area) — 3.3 mi, 080° E
  • Montana State Trust Lands (State Resource Management Area) — 4.4 mi, 102° E
  • Flathead Lake/Finley Point State Park (State Park) — 5.1 mi, 029° NE
  • Mission Mountains Wilderness (Wilderness Area) — 8.1 mi, 096° E · 76k acres
  • Flathead National Forest (National Forest) — 8.2 mi, 075° E · 2.4M acres
  • Flathead Lake/Wild Horse Island State Park (State Park) — 10.2 mi, 346° N
  • Garden of the Rockies Museum (Museum) — 11.1 mi, 171° S
  • Johnson Barn (Historic Ruins) — 11.5 mi, 337° NW
  • Johnson Homestead (Historic Ruins) — 11.5 mi, 337° NW
  • Hogheaven Work (Attraction) — 21.1 mi, 313° NW
  • Bob Marshall Wilderness (Wilderness Area) — 22.5 mi, 080° E · 1.1M acres
  • Big Medicine Hot Springs (Attraction) — 24.9 mi, 258° W
  • Base Camp Bigfork (Attraction) — 25.8 mi, 007° N
  • Statue of the Sacred Heart (Public Artwork) — 25.9 mi, 176° S
  • Bigfork Summer Playhouse (Theatre) — 26.0 mi, 007° N
  • Echo Lake Cosway entrance (Attraction) — 31.1 mi, 009° N
  • Family Life Christian Church Large Wooden Cross (Monument) — 35.7 mi, 344° N
  • Glacier Art Museum (Museum) — 35.9 mi, 347° N
  • Northwest Montana History Museum (Museum) — 36.1 mi, 347° N
  • Memorial Bench (Monument) — 36.9 mi, 348° N
  • Memorial Plaque (Monument) — 36.9 mi, 348° N
  • Wanda Hollensteiner Art Gallery (Gallery) — 38.2 mi, 347° N
  • McClaren Hall (Theatre) — 38.2 mi, 347° N

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About This Polson Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Polson, Montana. Coordinates: 47.688222, -114.140791. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service. Real-time local and world news feeds keep the page current.

Detailed location data for Polson includes the ZIP code (59860), telephone area code (406), county seat of Lake County (Polson), and school district assignment (Polson Elementary School District).

Search Maps opens a second, independent map. It searches OpenStreetMap for any US town, county or landmark by name; offers USGS topographic maps and USGS aerial imagery as base layers; overlays a labelled U.S. National Grid (USNG) so the map can be read like a printed topographic quad; measures distance and grid, true and magnetic bearings between any two points; and takes a single GPS fix reporting your position as a USNG grid reference and as latitude and longitude. Map tiles require cell coverage, but a GPS position does not, so the coordinates remain correct even where the map cannot load.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.

Page generatedSeptember 2026
Location dataSimpleMaps US Cities Database; coordinates matched to USGS GNIS definitive data
Map layersGoogle Maps; © OpenStreetMap contributors; USGS The National Map topographic and aerial imagery (public domain); magnetic declination from NOAA NCEI (World Magnetic Model)
Wikipedia validationArticle content matched to USGS GNIS coordinates via Wikipedia geosearch API.