Montana Borders: States, Map & Complete Guide

US
Researched by USA Symbol Team

Fact-checked • Updated January 11, 2026

Geographic Overview

Montana borders three U.S. states: Idaho to the west, Wyoming to the south, and North Dakota and South Dakota to the east. The state also shares an international border with Canada to the north, touching three Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Montana has one of the longest U.S.-Canada borders of any state.

3
Bordering States
Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan)
International
Landlocked
No Ocean Access
Border Map

Montana Border Map

Map of Montana borders with Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, and three Canadian provinces
Map showing Montana's boundaries with three states and three Canadian provinces.

Border Details

Explore each of Montana's borders in detail. Click any card to learn more.

International Borders with Canada

Montana shares its entire northern border with Canada, touching three Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. This international border runs for about 545 miles along the 49th parallel north, making Montana one of the U.S. states with the longest Canadian borders.

North-West: British Columbia, Canada

British Columbia and Montana are separated by a border located in Montana's northwestern corner. The boundary follows the 49th parallel north latitude and runs through mountainous terrain in the Rocky Mountains.

The Montana-British Columbia border extends for about 65 miles from Idaho in the west to Alberta in the east. The border passes through remote mountain wilderness. Only two Montana counties touch this border: Lincoln and Flathead. The border region includes portions of Glacier National Park on the U.S. side and various parks on the Canadian side.

  • About 65 miles along 49th parallel
  • Rocky Mountain region
  • Montana counties: Lincoln, Flathead

North: Alberta, Canada

Alberta and Montana are separated by a border located on Montana's northern edge. The state line follows the 49th parallel north latitude, creating a straight east-west boundary.

The Montana-Alberta border extends for about 300 miles from British Columbia in the west to Saskatchewan in the east. This is Montana's longest international border section. Montana counties along this border include Flathead, Glacier, Toole, Liberty, Hill, Blaine, and Phillips. The border transitions from mountains in the west to prairie in the east. Major crossing points include Sweetgrass-Coutts and Chief Mountain.

  • About 300 miles along 49th parallel
  • Mountains in west, prairie in east
  • Montana counties: Flathead, Glacier, Toole, Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Phillips

North-East: Saskatchewan, Canada

Saskatchewan and Montana are separated by a border located in Montana's northeastern corner. The boundary follows the 49th parallel north latitude through prairie terrain.

The Montana-Saskatchewan border extends for about 180 miles from Alberta in the west to North Dakota in the east. Montana counties along this border include Phillips, Valley, Daniels, and Sheridan. The border region is characterized by flat prairie and agricultural land. Major crossing points include Port of Raymond and Port of Scobey.

  • About 180 miles along 49th parallel
  • Prairie and agricultural region
  • Montana counties: Phillips, Valley, Daniels, Sheridan

Which States Border Montana?

Montana shares its borders with three U.S. states: Idaho to the west, Wyoming to the south, and North Dakota and South Dakota to the east. All of Montana's state borders are land borders through diverse terrain from mountains to prairies.

West: Idaho (Rocky Mountain Border)

Idaho and Montana are separated by a border located on Montana's western edge. The boundary runs roughly north-south from British Columbia in the north to Wyoming in the south, following the Continental Divide and Bitterroot Range for much of its length.

The Montana-Idaho border extends for about 545 miles, making it Montana's longest state border. The border follows mountain ridges through the Rocky Mountains. Montana counties along this border include Lincoln, Sanders, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, and Beaverhead. The border region is characterized by rugged mountain terrain, dense forests, and wilderness areas.

  • About 545 miles (longest state border)
  • Follows Continental Divide and Bitterroot Range
  • Rocky Mountain terrain

South: Wyoming

Wyoming and Montana are separated by a border located on Montana's southern edge. The state line runs roughly east-west from Idaho in the west to South Dakota in the east.

The Montana-Wyoming border extends for about 390 miles. The border follows mostly straight survey lines, though it follows mountain features in the western section. Montana counties along this border include Beaverhead, Madison, Gallatin, Park, Stillwater, Carbon, Big Horn, Powder River, and Carter. The border passes through Yellowstone National Park in the southwest.

  • About 390 miles east-west
  • Passes through Yellowstone National Park
  • Mountains in west, plains in east

East: North Dakota

North Dakota and Montana are separated by a border located on Montana's eastern edge. The boundary runs roughly north-south from Saskatchewan in the north toward South Dakota in the south.

The Montana-North Dakota border extends for about 215 miles. The border follows a relatively straight survey line through prairie terrain. Montana counties along this border include Sheridan, Roosevelt, Richland, and Dawson. The border region is characterized by flat to rolling prairie and agricultural land.

  • About 215 miles north-south
  • Straight survey line
  • Prairie and agricultural region

South-East: South Dakota

South Dakota and Montana are separated by a border in Montana's southeastern corner. The boundary runs roughly north-south for a short distance where Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming meet.

The Montana-South Dakota border extends for only about 75 miles, making it Montana's shortest state border. Only two Montana counties touch this border: Carter and Powder River. The border region consists of prairie and badlands terrain.

  • About 75 miles (shortest state border)
  • Southeastern corner only
  • Montana counties: Carter, Powder River

Fourth-Largest State by Area

Montana is the fourth-largest state by total area in the United States, after Alaska, Texas, and California. The state covers approximately 147,000 square miles, giving it extensive borders despite having relatively few neighboring states. Montana's size means its borders span diverse geography—from the Rocky Mountains in the west to the Great Plains in the east, from Canadian prairies in the north to Yellowstone's volcanic plateau in the south. The state's east-west distance is about 630 miles, while its north-south extent is approximately 275 miles.

The 49th Parallel: Montana's Northern Border

Montana's entire northern border follows the 49th parallel north latitude, a line established by the Oregon Treaty of 1846 between the United States and Great Britain (Canada). This creates a perfectly straight 545-mile border with Canada from Idaho to North Dakota. The 49th parallel forms much of the U.S.-Canada border across the western states, and Montana contains one of the longest sections:. This arbitrary line cuts through various geographic features without regard to natural boundaries, separating ecosystems and watersheds. Several communities exist directly on this border, and Glacier National Park in Montana connects with Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta to form the world's first International Peace Park.

Key Facts & Statistics

This table shows every border Montana shares, organized by direction and type.

Neighbor
British Columbia
Direction
North-West
Type
Land
Key Features
65 miles along 49th parallel, Rocky Mountains
Neighbor
Alberta
Direction
North
Type
Land
Key Features
300 miles along 49th parallel
Neighbor
Saskatchewan
Direction
North-East
Type
Land
Key Features
180 miles along 49th parallel
Neighbor
Idaho
Direction
West
Type
Land
Key Features
545 miles (longest), Continental Divide
Neighbor
Wyoming
Direction
South
Type
Land
Key Features
390 miles, includes Yellowstone
Neighbor
North Dakota
Direction
East
Type
Land
Key Features
215 miles, prairie region
Neighbor
South Dakota
Direction
South-East
Type
Land
Key Features
75 miles (shortest)
Montana Border Facts
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Montana borders three U.S. states and three Canadian provinces

Frequently Asked Questions

What borders Montana?
Montana borders three U.S. states and Canada. Idaho borders to the west, Wyoming to the south, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, and Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan) to the north.
What state borders Montana?
Three states border Montana: Idaho (west), Wyoming (south), and North Dakota and South Dakota (east).
What state borders Montana on the west?
Idaho borders Montana on the west, running about 545 miles along the Continental Divide and Bitterroot Range through the Rocky Mountains.
Which state borders Montana to the south?
Wyoming borders Montana to the south, running about 390 miles from Idaho to South Dakota, including a section through Yellowstone National Park.
What borders Montana to the north?
Canada borders Montana to the north through three provinces: British Columbia (northwest), Alberta (north), and Saskatchewan (northeast). The border follows the 49th parallel for about 545 miles.
What country borders Montana?
Canada borders Montana along the entire northern edge through three provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, for a total of about 545 miles.
What Canadian province borders Montana?
Three Canadian provinces border Montana: British Columbia (northwest for about 65 miles), Alberta (north for about 300 miles), and Saskatchewan (northeast for about 180 miles).
How many Canadian provinces border Montana?
Three Canadian provinces border Montana: British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.
What part of Canada borders Montana?
Three Canadian provinces border Montana along the 49th parallel: British Columbia in the northwest, Alberta across most of the northern border, and Saskatchewan in the northeast.

Sources & References

This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.

1
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
https://www.usgs.gov/

Geographic features and boundary data

2
U.S. Census Bureau
https://www.census.gov/

Official state boundary data and geographic information

3
International Boundary Commission
https://www.internationalboundarycommission.org/

Montana-Canada border details and measurements

4
Montana Department of Natural Resources
https://dnrc.mt.gov/

State geographic and border information

Other Montana Symbols