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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Ravalli
Skip Ravalli as a destination. Use it as a 30-minute lunch stop on US 93 between Missoula and Kalispell: the Bison Inn is open 8–3, cash only.
Ravalli is a village of under 200 people on US 93 in northwestern Montana. It has one reason to stop — the Bison Inn's bison burgers and huckleberry shakes — and is otherwise a pass-through. The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas and St. Ignatius Mission are nearby but in other towns.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (many places close or reduce hours)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $0–10 (just a meal stop) · Mid $10–25 (meal + gas) · High $25+ (meal + shopping) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, Fire, Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bison burger at Bison Inn | $12–16 |
| Huckleberry shake | $6–8 |
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3.50–4.50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MSO · Missoula Montana Airport
- About 45 min south on US 93
- FCA · Glacier Park International Airport (Kalispell)
- About 1 h 15 min north on US 93
Typical fares
- Missoula → Ravalli (US 93)
- about 45 min, no public transport
- Kalispell → Ravalli (US 93)
- about 1 h 15 min, no public transport
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. US 93 is the main road; MT 200 branches west toward Thompson Falls.
See and do
Known for
- Bison Inn cafe
- Garden of One Thousand Buddhas (in Arlee)
- Jocko River Trout Hatchery (in Arlee)
- St. Ignatius Mission (in St. Ignatius)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Missoula | US 93 south, about 45 min | 45 min |
| Kalispell | US 93 north, about 1 h 15 min | 1 h 15 min |
| Polson | US 93 north, about 15 min | 15 min |
| St. Ignatius | US 93 north, about 15 min | 15 min |
| Arlee | US 93 south, about 10 min | 10 min |
Sleep
- Ravalli
- No hotels in the village; the nearest lodging is in Polson (15 min north) or Missoula (45 min south).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much? | How much?how much |
| Cash only? | Cash only?cash only |
| Where is the restroom? | Where is the restroom?where is the restroom |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Bison Inn is cash only — no cards accepted.
- Bison Inn closes at 3 PM daily; no evening meal options in Ravalli.
- Garden of One Thousand Buddhas is in Arlee, about 10 min south; check opening hours before going.
- St. Ignatius Mission is in St. Ignatius, about 15 min north; verify hours.
Ravalli is very safe. The main risk is driving US 93 at night: watch for deer and elk, especially at dusk.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ravalli yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bison Inn cafe
- Garden of One Thousand Buddhas (in Arlee)
- Jocko River Trout Hatchery (in Arlee)
- St. Ignatius Mission (in St. Ignatius)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — Jocko River Trout Hatchery: myfwp.mt.gov/fwpPub/landsMgmt/siteDetail.action?lmsId=39753949
- Bison Inn Cafe (Facebook): www.facebook.com/Bison-Inn-Cafe-1428660397357945/
- Wikivoyage: Ravalli, revision 5316360 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5316360
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Ravalli
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, Fire, Ambulance911
No public transport in Ravalli; you need a car.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/ravalli). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.