Montana Per Diem Allowance

Calculate Montana’s per diem rate based on GSA guidelines to simplify your business travels.

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From the bustling tech and business scenes in Bozeman and Missoula to the year-round tourism that powers its economy, Montana presents a unique landscape for business travel. For any organization with employees traveling across Montana, a clear understanding of per diem rates is essential for managing costs and ensuring compliance.

Per diem, a daily allowance for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses, is the standard method for handling travel reimbursements. This guide offers a comprehensive look at the federal per diem rates for Montana, clarifies important state laws, and shows how you can automate the entire process.

Montana Per Diem Rate

Per diem rates for official travel in Montana are set by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). These federal rates are mandatory for federal employees and serve as a common benchmark for private sector companies looking to create an IRS-compliant reimbursement policy.

For Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025), key rates are broken down as follows:

Major Tourist Destinations

Montana's world-renowned national park gateways and resort areas have some of the highest and most seasonally-variable Non-Standard Area (NSA) rates.

  • Big Sky / West Yellowstone (Gallatin & Park Counties):
    • M&IE: $80 per day
    • Lodging: Seasonal, with a peak summer rate of $310 per night (June-Sep) and a rate of $176 per night for all other months.
  • Kalispell / Whitefish (Flathead County):
    • M&IE: $80 per day
    • Lodging: Seasonal, with a peak summer rate of $232 per night (July-Sep) and a rate of $124 per night for all other months.

The first and last day of travel for these locations, the M&IE rate is $60.00.

Business and Government Centers

  • Missoula (Missoula County):
    • M&IE: $74 per day
    • Lodging: Seasonal, with a rate of $195 per night (June-Sep) and $130 per night for all other months.
  • Helena (Lewis and Clark County):
    • M&IE: $74 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $132 per night.

The first and last day of travel for these locations, the M&IE rate is $55.50.

Standard CONUS Rate

For any county in Montana not specifically listed by the GSA—including major cities like Billings (Yellowstone County) and Bozeman (Gallatin County, outside of the Big Sky NSA)—the standard CONUS rate applies. For FY 2025, this rate is $178 ($110 for lodging and $68 for M&IE).

Montana Per Diem Rate Calculator

Find the exact per diem allowance for your business trip to Montana with our easy-to-use calculator. Select the fiscal year, choose your destination, and input your travel dates. The tool will instantly provide the correct lodging and M&IE rates based on the official GSA schedule.

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Your per diem allowance

Dates
Lodging (L)
Meals & Incidentals (M&IE)
Total (L + M&IE)
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Lodging (L)
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Meals & Incidentals (M&IE)
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Total (L + M&IE)
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*For the first and last day of travel, M&lE spend is limited to 75% of its normal, daily allowance.

Montana GSA Lodging Rates

Financial year
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County
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Montana Meals and Incidental Rates

Financial year
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County
Daily M&IE Total
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Some Important Montana Per Diem Laws

While private companies often follow federal GSA rates, it's important to understand that Montana has its own specific travel policy for state employees.

  • Reimbursement As A Matter of Policy: Montana law does not have a statute requiring private employers to reimburse employees for business travel expenses. This makes having a clear, written, and consistently enforced company travel policy crucial for setting expectations and avoiding potential disputes.
  • Montana's State Employee Travel Policy: The state has a detailed travel policy governed by Montana Code Annotated (MCA) 2-18-501. This policy sets specific reimbursement rates for its public employees, such as individual meal allowances and lodging caps, which are distinct from the GSA's combined M&IE system.

Montana Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

It's crucial to distinguish between the federal GSA system and Montana's state policy, as they apply to different groups and have different rules.

Primary Applicability

  • Federal Law (GSA): Mandatory for U.S. federal government employees traveling in Montana. It is also the most common standard used by private businesses for an IRS-compliant accountable plan.
  • State of Montana Policy: Applies only to Montana state government employees and does not govern private sector businesses.

Rate Setting and Usage

  • Federal Law (GSA): Sets combined M&IE rates and lodging rates that often have significant seasonal variances in tourist areas.
  • State of Montana Policy: Sets its own specific, individual meal reimbursement amounts and separate lodging caps for its employees.

Legal Focus

  • Federal Law (GSA): Designed to create a uniform system for federal travel that reflects market-rate costs across the country.
  • State of Montana Policy: Aims to manage the state's budget and create a standard, auditable reimbursement process for its public employees.

How Fyle Can Automate Per Diem and Expense Tracking

Managing travel expenses in a state as vast as Montana, with its dramatic seasonal rate shifts, requires a smart and adaptable system. Fyle's expense management platform is designed to handle this complexity, ensuring your business stays compliant and efficient, no matter the season or location.

Here’s how Fyle helps you master Montana travel expenses:

  • Automated Seasonal Rate Adjustments: Fyle’s policy engine can be configured to automatically apply the correct seasonal lodging rates for tourist hotspots like Big Sky and Kalispell, ensuring 100% accuracy without manual lookups.
  • Real-Time Expense Capture From Anywhere: Whether your team is in a remote worksite or a downtown office, they can report expenses instantly. A quick photo of a receipt from Fyle’s mobile app or a forwarded email creates a verifiable expense entry on the spot.
  • Effortless Mileage Tracking For A Big State: For employees driving long distances between cities, Fyle’s Google Maps-powered mileage tracker makes logging trips simple and accurate, eliminating the need for manual logs and ensuring fair reimbursement.
  • Complete Visibility Into Travel Spending: Get a clear, real-time view of your travel costs with Fyle's powerful analytics dashboard. Track spending by project, team, or location to make smarter budgeting decisions and control costs effectively.
  • Seamless Integration With Your Accounting System: Fyle connects directly with leading accounting software like NetSuite, QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage Intacct. All approved expense data flows straight to your general ledger, saving time and eliminating manual errors.

With Fyle, you can manage your Montana travel expenses with confidence, providing a modern, hassle-free experience for your employees while maintaining perfect financial control.

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The content on this page is for informational use. As legal standards and per diem rates are subject to change, users should verify current details with official GSA or government resources. This information does not serve as financial or legal counsel.