ToClearSkies

Live readout · Observed —

Sensitive lungs: skip outdoor workouts

Missoula is breathing 6.6 cigarettes a week

1 cleaner spot within a 3-hour drive How we count it →

As everyday air for years, this means meaningfully more heart, lung and early-death risk.

20.6
PM2.5 µg/m³
72
US AQI
Moderate
Category
3
Cleanest in reach · µg/m³
See the 1 cleaner spot

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

Helena looks like the better move.22% cleaner air with a verified 2 h road trip. Rankings balance cleaner air with trip ease.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Missoula Low smoke · AQI 0–50 Some pollution · AQI 51–100 Unhealthy (sensitive) · AQI 101–150 Unhealthy+ · AQI 151+
Top pick
Seeley Lake
Cel-shaded illustration of Seeley Lake
#1Seeley LakeSome particle pollution · AQI 52Checking road routesaves 3.5 cigs/wk

Montana· PM2.5 9.7 µg/m³

Forested lake-chain village in the Swan Valley, deep in Montana timber country with cabins.

53% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 9.7 µg/m³ here vs 20.6 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9.7/22 × 7 = 3.1 here; 20.6/22 × 7 = 6.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

10.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Missoula right now

53% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 22, 10:27 a.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

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Polson
Cel-shaded illustration of Polson
#2PolsonSome particle pollution · AQI 59Checking road routesaves 2.3 cigs/wk

Montana· PM2.5 13.5 µg/m³

Town at the south end of Flathead Lake, Montana's largest natural lake, with open-water mountain air.

34% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 13.5 µg/m³ here vs 20.6 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 13.5/22 × 7 = 4.3 here; 20.6/22 × 7 = 6.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Missoula right now

34% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 22, 10:27 a.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

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Philipsburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Philipsburg
#3PhilipsburgSome particle pollution · AQI 59Checking road routesaves 2.2 cigs/wk

Montana· PM2.5 13.6 µg/m³

Historic mining town near 5,300 feet in the Sapphire Mountains, remote and cool with a restored Main Street.

34% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 13.6 µg/m³ here vs 20.6 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 13.6/22 × 7 = 4.3 here; 20.6/22 × 7 = 6.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Missoula right now

34% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 22, 10:27 a.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Helena
Cel-shaded illustration of Helena
#4HelenaSome particle pollution · AQI 64~2 h drivesaves 1.4 cigs/wk

Montana· PM2.5 16.1 µg/m³

Montana's capital city set against the foothills of the Rockies, with a broad range of hotels and a separate air reading from the valley towns.

22% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 16.1 µg/m³ here vs 20.6 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 16.1/22 × 7 = 5.1 here; 20.6/22 × 7 = 6.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Missoula right now

22% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Hamilton
Cel-shaded illustration of Hamilton
#5HamiltonSome particle pollution · AQI 74Checking road route

Montana· PM2.5 21.3 µg/m³

Bitterroot Valley town between two mountain ranges, with cooler valley air south of Missoula.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 21.3 µg/m³ here vs 20.6 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 21.3/22 × 7 = 6.8 here; 20.6/22 × 7 = 6.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
3% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Lolo
Cel-shaded illustration of Lolo
#6LoloParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 6.6 cigs/wk

Montana

Montana community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Frenchtown
Cel-shaded illustration of Frenchtown
#7FrenchtownParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 6.6 cigs/wk

Montana

Montana community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Stevensville
Cel-shaded illustration of Stevensville
#8StevensvilleParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 6.6 cigs/wk

Montana

Montana community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Ronan
Cel-shaded illustration of Ronan
#9RonanParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 6.6 cigs/wk

Montana

Montana community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Pablo
Cel-shaded illustration of Pablo
#10PabloParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 6.6 cigs/wk

Montana

Montana community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Deer Lodge
Cel-shaded illustration of Deer Lodge
#11Deer LodgeParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 6.6 cigs/wk

Montana

Montana community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Anaconda
Cel-shaded illustration of Anaconda
#12AnacondaParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 6.6 cigs/wk

Montana

Montana community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Salmon
Cel-shaded illustration of Salmon
#13SalmonSome particle pollution · AQI 55Checking road routesaves 3.1 cigs/wk

Idaho· PM2.5 11 µg/m³

Remote river-valley town in Idaho's wilderness heart, on the Salmon River with dry high-mountain air.

47% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 11 µg/m³ here vs 20.6 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 11/22 × 7 = 3.5 here; 20.6/22 × 7 = 6.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

9.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Missoula right now

47% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Bigfork
Cel-shaded illustration of Bigfork
#14BigforkSome particle pollution · AQI 71~2 h 15 min drive

Montana· PM2.5 19.7 µg/m³

Village on the northeast bay of Flathead Lake, where a huge freshwater lake keeps air moving, with lakeside inns and rentals.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 19.7 µg/m³ here vs 20.6 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 19.7/22 × 7 = 6.3 here; 20.6/22 × 7 = 6.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
4% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Kalispell
Cel-shaded illustration of Kalispell
#15KalispellSome particle pollution · AQI 71Checking road route

Montana· PM2.5 19.7 µg/m³

Flathead Valley city near Glacier National Park, with a broad hotel base and cool mountain-valley air.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 19.7 µg/m³ here vs 20.6 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 19.7/22 × 7 = 6.3 here; 20.6/22 × 7 = 6.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
4% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Columbia Falls
Cel-shaded illustration of Columbia Falls
#16Columbia FallsSome particle pollution · AQI 71Checking road route

Montana· PM2.5 19.7 µg/m³

Gateway town to Glacier National Park's west entrance, with cool valley air below the high peaks.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 19.7 µg/m³ here vs 20.6 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 19.7/22 × 7 = 6.3 here; 20.6/22 × 7 = 6.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
4% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Whitefish
Cel-shaded illustration of Whitefish
#17WhitefishSome particle pollution · AQI 71~2 h 50 min drive

Montana· PM2.5 19.7 µg/m³

Resort town near Glacier National Park in northwest Montana, a cool mountain base with a walkable core and abundant lodging.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 19.7 µg/m³ here vs 20.6 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 19.7/22 × 7 = 6.3 here; 20.6/22 × 7 = 6.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
4% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
West Yellowstone
Cel-shaded illustration of West Yellowstone
#18West YellowstoneLow smoke · AQI 17~4 h 35 min drivesaves 5.6 cigs/wk

Montana· PM2.5 3 µg/m³

Park-gateway town near 6,700 feet at Yellowstone's west entrance, high and dry on the Continental Divide, with plentiful motels.

85% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3 µg/m³ here vs 20.6 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 20.6/22 × 7 = 6.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

17.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Missoula right now

85% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Driggs
Cel-shaded illustration of Driggs
#19DriggsLow smoke · AQI 24Checking road routesaves 5.2 cigs/wk

Idaho· PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³

Teton Valley town on Idaho's quieter side of the range, near 6,200 feet with dry high-valley air.

79% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.3 µg/m³ here vs 20.6 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.3/22 × 7 = 1.4 here; 20.6/22 × 7 = 6.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

16.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Missoula right now

79% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 22, 10:27 a.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Afton
Cel-shaded illustration of Afton
#20AftonLow smoke · AQI 24Checking road routesaves 5.2 cigs/wk

Wyoming· PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³

Star Valley town near 6,200 feet on Wyoming's western edge, with dry high-mountain-valley air.

79% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.3 µg/m³ here vs 20.6 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.3/22 × 7 = 1.4 here; 20.6/22 × 7 = 6.6 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

16.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Missoula right now

79% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 22, 10:27 a.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Last scan Jul 22, 10:27 a.m. EDT · 34 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

All 54 Canadian cities →
TorontoMontréalVancouverCalgaryEdmontonOttawaWinnipegQuébec CityHamiltonKitchener-WaterlooLondonHalifaxVictoriaWindsorOshawaSaskatoonReginaSt. CatharinesKelownaBarrieSherbrookeGuelphAbbotsfordKingstonGreater SudburySaguenayTrois-RivièresMonctonSaint JohnSt. John'sThunder BayPeterboroughLethbridgeNanaimoKamloopsMississaugaBramptonSault Ste. MarieNorth BayWhitehorsePrince GeorgeFort McMurrayMedicine HatFrederictonYellowknifeChilliwackBellevilleBrantfordSurreyLavalMarkhamVaughanBurnabyRichmond
All 145 U.S. cities →
New York CityLos AngelesChicagoHoustonPhoenixPhiladelphiaSan AntonioSan DiegoDallasFort WorthJacksonvilleAustinSan JoseCharlotteColumbusIndianapolisSan FranciscoSeattleDenverWashington, D.C.NashvilleOklahoma CityBostonPortlandLas VegasDetroitMemphisLouisvilleBaltimoreMilwaukeeAlbuquerqueTucsonFresnoSacramentoAtlantaKansas CityColorado SpringsOmahaRaleighMiamiVirginia BeachMinneapolisTulsaTampaWichitaClevelandNew OrleansPittsburghCincinnatiSt. LouisOrlandoBuffaloSalt Lake CityRichmondBirminghamCharlestonProvidenceHartfordGrand RapidsEugeneBoiseSpokaneBillingsBozemanRenoBakersfieldStocktonModestoRiversideSan BernardinoChicoReddingSalemMedfordBendYakimaAnchorageEl PasoAmarilloLubbockLittle RockBaton RougeShreveportJacksonMobileMontgomeryKnoxvilleLexingtonDaytonToledoAkronFort WayneDes MoinesMadisonGreen BayFargoSioux FallsRapid CityAlbanyRochesterSyracuseWorcesterSpringfieldAllentownHarrisburgNorfolkGreensboroWinston-SalemDurhamColumbiaGreenvilleAugustaTallahasseeSarasotaFort MyersSt. PetersburgSpringfieldBoulderFort CollinsProvoOgdenHonoluluCorpus ChristiBellinghamTacomaOlympiaYumaErieScrantonYoungstownCantonPeoriaRockfordTopekaPensacolaLafayetteBeaumontWacoMcAllenLaredoMesaArlingtonAuroraAnaheimHenderson

What this means · Missoula

Oof.

6.6cigarettes

per week, if this air holds

Act two · The scale

Where today lands

From a crisp horizon to smoke you can taste — here’s your reading on it.

20.6 µg/m³
CrispSome smokeHeavy smoke

Act three · The ladder

What each rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural air. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Exceptionally clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good, not pristine. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy for sensitive. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Unhealthy. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · The fine print

The receipts

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 20.6 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 20.6/22 × 7 = 6.6 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →