The valley that contains Frenchtown was called qua elth — “state of tranquility” — by the Indigenous peoples who lived along the Clark Fork here. The French-Canadian settlers who established themselves in the early 19th century gave the area its modern name.
Today Frenchtown is 16 miles northwest of Missoula on I-90, a community of nearly 2,000 people where the Clark Fork River runs south of the highway and the forested hills rise north. Frenchtown Pond State Park draws nearly 50,000 visitors a year. That’s a lot for a state park most travelers have never heard of.
TL;DR
- Frenchtown (~2,000) is on I-90, 16 miles northwest of Missoula, founded by French-Canadian settlers.
- Frenchtown Pond State Park — a spring-fed 41-acre lake with swimming, fishing, and paddling — draws ~47,000 visitors annually.
- King Ranch Golf Course — 18 holes along the Clark Fork River with mountain scenery.
- Old Bull Brewing — local craft brewery with outdoor seating.
- Best for: I-90 travelers needing a real break, families, and Missoula-area day trippers.
Frenchtown at a Glance
| Population | ~2,000 | | County | Missoula County | | I-90 exit | Exit 89 | | Distance to Missoula | ~16 miles southeast (~20 min) | | Distance to Superior | ~42 miles northwest (~45 min) |
What Makes Frenchtown Different
The French-Canadian heritage runs deeper than the name suggests. Early 19th-century French-Canadian fur traders and settlers established farms in this Clark Fork River corridor, and the community that developed retained that identity. The Milwaukee Railroad later ran through town, and some of the architectural heritage remains.
Frenchtown Pond — technically 41 acres, spring-fed, with maximum depth of only 18 feet — is deceptively popular. The day-use-only park sees nearly 50,000 annual visitors because it delivers exactly what a hot summer afternoon requires: clean, accessible swimming water with good facilities, right off the interstate.
King Ranch Golf Course is the community’s other sleeper attraction — 18 holes along the Clark Fork with mountain scenery that genuinely delivers. Reasonably priced.
Top Things to Do
1. Frenchtown Pond State Park — Day-use-only park with spring-fed swimming lake, fishing dock, trails, playgrounds, and group shelters. Four-season fishing for bass, perch, and hatchery trout. Day use only; no overnight camping.
2. King Ranch Golf Course — 18-hole public course along the Clark Fork River with Clark Fork scenery and Bitterroot Mountain views. Affordable, well-maintained.
3. Old Bull Brewing — Local craft brewery with outdoor seating; one of the better options on the I-90 corridor between Missoula and Superior.
4. Clark Fork River Access — South of Frenchtown, the Clark Fork offers fly fishing access.
5. St. John the Baptist Church (historic) — French-Canadian community church dating to the pioneer era; architectural heritage of the French-Canadian settlement.
6. Day Trip to Missoula (20 min) — Full city, Clark Fork River, University of Montana, farmers market.
7. Day Trip to Quinn’s Hot Springs (45 min via I-90 west) — One of Montana’s best hot spring resorts, in Paradise.
Where to stay: Missoula (20 min) for full hotel selection. Average summer high: 82°F.
FAQ
Is Frenchtown Montana worth visiting?
Worth an I-90 stop for Frenchtown Pond State Park (excellent family swimming spot), King Ranch Golf Course, and Old Bull Brewing. As a day trip from Missoula or a highway break between Missoula and Superior, it delivers.
