This page delivers traffic analytics for Missoula County, Montana. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for Missoula County, Montana among 466 road miles divided in 6,980 segments. Our metrics go beyond simple volume counts to provide actionable insights on traffic intensity, congestion, commercial vehicle flow, and network performance with highest possible granularity (average segment length is 353 ft). Whether you are evaluating a new retail location, planning logistics routes, or assessing infrastructure needs, this data helps you move from assumptions to certainty.
Data sourced from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform.
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
7,276
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
9.8%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
35.0 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
16.8%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
42.7 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$75,921
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 7,276 vehicles per day in Missoula County, Montana that results in 2,532,447 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈924 million per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 10 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 35.0 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the Montana state averages: At 7,276 vehicles per day, the average monitored road in Missoula carries 73% more traffic than the state average of 4,202 vehicles per day - a critical factor for logistics and site planning. Network-wide, Missoula accounts for about 8.9% of Montana's statewide total, at 2,532,447 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈924 million per year). Journey times run 3% lower than the state level, at 35.0 minutes on average. The congestion ratio of 16.8% is 37% higher, pointing to more pronounced congestion than the state level - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. Missoula stands out as having the highest traffic volume in Montana - 7,276 vehicles per day. On travel time, Missoula runs longer than 16% of counties in Montana.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis
Highway Traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
13,747
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
12.4%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
33.2 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
23.8%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
44.0 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$76,573
A significant volume of traffic in Missoula County, Montana utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 13,747 vehicles per day, 136% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 5,836 vehicles per day. That average covers 209 highway road miles divided in 1,271 segments (average segment length 867 ft), together carrying 1,541,691 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈563 million per year). No county in Montana moves more traffic on its highways. Trucks constitute 12.4% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on highways (12.4%) is 17% lower than the state average for similar road classifications. This indicates Missoula serves as a primarily local traffic hub. For logistics operators, this validates the importance of local access. Missoula's highway truck share (12.4%) is higher than 26% of counties in Montana. 83% of counties in Montana see fewer highway trucks per day than Missoula's roughly 1,702.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
5,836
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
5.7%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
35.4 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
15.2%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
41.2 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$75,246
The non-highway road network in Missoula County, Montana supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 5,836 vehicles per day, 58% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 13,747 vehicles per day. That average covers 258 non-highway road miles divided in 5,709 segments (average segment length 238 ft), together carrying 990,755 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈362 million per year). Trucks constitute 5.7% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on non-highway roads is 54% lower than on highways. The non-highway congestion ratio of 15.2% is 26% higher than the state level, suggesting slower local mobility than the state average. Overall, average travel time here is longer than 16% of counties in Montana. Trip origins here have higher average income than 85% of counties in Montana. Missoula's median driver age is higher than 4% of counties in Montana.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 8:00 AM–12:00 PM and PM peak 3:00 PM–6:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 79% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 15% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
June–August is the high season, with volumes +20% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -23% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In Missoula County, Montana, the peak hour concentrates about 7% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is pronounced at +20% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
Missoula
Montana
Average
Difference
Traffic
7,276
4,202
+73.1%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
9.8%
11.7%
-16.4%
Truck % (Highway)
12.4%
15.0%
-17.4%
Avg. Travel Time
35.0 min
36.2 min
-3.3%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 7,276 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Yes - Missoula has the highest average traffic volume of any county in Montana, at 7,276 vehicles per day.
The average travel time for drivers is 35.0 minutes, offering a standard metric for commute and delivery route planning.
Drivers on Missoula roads have a median age of 43 years, and the median household income of the neighborhoods trips originate from averages $75,921 - useful context for retail siting and customer profiling.
Traffic volumes are typically 20% higher during June–August. Volumes drop to their lowest levels in January, averaging 5,622 vehicles per day - a 23% decrease from the annual average.
Trucks account for approximately 9.8% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 12.4% on highways.
Approximately 10% of highway traffic and 2% of non-highway traffic consists of vehicles whose trip originates outside Missoula County, Montana. This indicates that a portion of highway traffic is regional pass-through, while local roads are more representative of resident and commuter activity.
Weekday peaks occur between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM in the morning and between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM in the evening - about 79% above the daily average.
Data Sources & Methodology
The data presented on this page is derived from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform, which aggregates and normalizes information from multiple sources, including:
Mobile device location data (anonymized and aggregated)
