Montana Is So Big It Can Swallow Five States

If you’ve ever felt like driving across Montana takes forever, that’s because… it does. Our state covers more than 147,000 square miles, making it the fourth-largest state in the entire country. Only Alaska, Texas, and California are bigger. And here’s a fun fact: we’re the largest landlocked state in America. No coastline, no problem. We’ve got plenty of space to make up for it.

How Big Is Montana? Try Five States Big

People from back East don’t always get just how big Montana really is. So let’s put it into perspective. Our state is big enough to fit New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, combined. All five of them. So the next time someone asks how far you live from somewhere, you might want to ask if they’re ready for a 12 hour drive before you answer.

Montana Is Bigger Than Entire Countries

Montana isn’t just big by U.S. standards, we stack up globally too. We’re bigger than the entire United Kingdom. Bigger than Germany. Even bigger than Japan. That’s a lot of room for cattle, mountains, and elbow space.

READ MORE: Is It Legal to Drive With a Cracked Windshield in Montana?

Driving Across Montana? Pack Snacks and Coffee

From the eastern border to the western border, you’re looking at about 630 miles. Going north to south is around 255 miles. Translation: if you’re planning to drive across the state in one go, you’re either very brave or very caffeinated.

Montana Packs Every Landscape Into One State

Our size isn’t just about bragging rights, it’s part of what makes Montana so special. We’ve got towering Rocky Mountain ranges in the west, endless rolling plains in the east, and just about every kind of landscape in between. It’s like someone took a handful of national parks and sprinkled them across one state.

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One State, Seven Neighbors Including Canada

We don’t just border other states, we border three Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan) plus Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Basically, if Montana were a person, we’d be the friendly giant shaking hands with half the continent.