Montana · GSA non-standard area · FY2027
Kalispell / Whitefish per diem rates
Federal travelers to Kalispell / Whitefish (GSA area: Flathead) can claim up to $244 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidental expenses in FY2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027). Lodging is seasonal: $126 in the cheapest months (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun) and $244 at the peak (Jul, Aug, Sep). That is $131 above the standard CONUS lodging rate of $113.
Lodging cap by month, FY2027
FY2027 rates by season
Exactly as listed in GSA's FY2027 per diem file. Season dates are inclusive; the lodging cap applies to the night that begins on each date.
| Season | Lodging | M&IE | Max per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 – Jun 30 | $126 | $80 | $206 |
| Jul 1 – Sep 30 | $244 | $80 | $324 |
Meals, incidentals and a worked trip
| Breakfast | $20 |
| Lunch | $22 |
| Dinner | $33 |
| Incidental expenses | $5 |
| M&IE, full day | $80 |
| First and last day of travel (75%) | $60.00 |
GSA's breakdown of the $80 M&IE tier, used to deduct meals provided by the government or included in a registration fee (FTR §301-11.21). Meals on a common carrier and complimentary hotel breakfasts are not deducted. All tiers
Worked example · July
A 4-night trip (5 travel days) in July:
| Lodging, 4 nights × $244 | $976 |
| M&IE, first and last day at 75% (2 × $60.00) | $120.00 |
| M&IE, 3 full days × $80 | $240 |
| Maximum for the trip | $1,336.00 |
Lodging is reimbursed up to the cap for actual cost (taxes are claimed separately on CONUS trips, FTR §301-11.16). The 75% first-and-last-day rule is FTR §301-11.20. Use the trip calculator for your own dates.
History, FY2015 to FY2027
First listed as a non-standard area in FY2020 (the earliest file used here is FY2015).
Kalispell / Whitefish: lodging and M&IE by fiscal year
Each fiscal year runs October to September. Dashed line: the standard CONUS lodging rate.
| Fiscal year | Lodging | M&IE | Max/day | Peak change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2027 | $126 – $244 | $80 | $324 | +5.2% |
| FY2026 | $124 – $232 | $80 | $312 | 0% |
| FY2025 | $124 – $232 | $80 | $312 | −4.5% |
| FY2024 | $132 – $243 | $64 | $307 | 0% |
| FY2023 | $118 – $243 | $64 | $307 | +37.3% |
| FY2022 | $96 – $177 | $64 | $241 | 0% |
| FY2021 | $96 – $177 | $61 | $238 | +7.9% |
| FY2020 | $96 – $164 | $61 | $225 | – |
| FY2019 | Not listed: standard rate $94 / $55 | |||
| FY2018 | Not listed: standard rate $93 / $51 | |||
| FY2017 | Not listed: standard rate $91 / $51 | |||
| FY2016 | Not listed: standard rate $89 / $51 | |||
| FY2015 | Not listed: standard rate $83 / $46 | |||
How it compares
Peak FY2027 lodging cap: Kalispell / Whitefish among all 295 non-standard areas
Rank #37 nationally and #2 of 4 in Montana. All Montana rates · National rankings
Where this rate applies
GSA defines this area as Flathead in Montana. Under GSA's rules a non-standard area includes "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties" (GSA per diem FAQs).
21 ZIP codes map to Kalispell / Whitefish in GSA's FY2027 ZIP code file
59845 59901 59903 59904 59911 59912 59913 59914 59916 59919 59920 59921 59922 59925 59926 59927 59928 59931 59932 59936 59937
Other Montana destinations
| Destination | Peak lodging | M&IE |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sky / West Yellowstone / GardinerGallatin / Park | $326 | $80 |
| MissoulaMissoula | $199 | $74 |
| HelenaLewis and Clark | $140 | $74 |
Questions
- What is the per diem rate for Kalispell in FY2027?
- Lodging up to $244 a night ($126 to $244 depending on season), plus $80 a day for meals and incidental expenses, for travel from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027.
- How much M&IE do I get on the first and last day?
- 75% of the M&IE rate: $60.00 on the day you leave and the day you return (FTR §301-11.20, as published in the eCFR).
- Are hotel taxes included in the lodging rate?
- No. For CONUS travel, lodging taxes on the reimbursable room cost are claimed separately as a miscellaneous expense (FTR §301-11.16(a)).
Source: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), per diem rates and per diem files. Not affiliated with GSA. All sources