Source: The Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at The University of Montana (ITRR)

"Nonresident Spring Travelers to Montana: 2001," was prepared from a survey of nonresident visitors to Montana intercepted at gas stations, rest areas and airports in April and May 2001. There were 1,453 initial interviews conducted, with 1,354 visitors accepting a mail-back survey. Of those, 542 returned the completed questionnaire for a 41 percent response rate.

The full report, "Nonresident Spring Travelers to Montana: 2001," is available online at http://www.forestry.umt.edu/itrr. Some of the other interesting facts are:

• Typical nonresident spring visitors spent $95.98 a day, stayed 3.04 nights, had 1.97 people in their travel parties and had household incomes of $40,000 to $60,000.
• The most common primary reason for visiting Montana in the spring was passing through (47 percent), followed by vacation (23 percent), visiting friends and relatives (14 percent) and business (11 percent).
• Only 10 percent of spring visitors to Montana travel with children under 18.
• Spring visitors were most likely to be from Washington (12 percent), followed by Idaho (10 percent), North Dakota (9 percent) and Wisconsin (8 percent). Eighty-one percent had been to Montana in the past, and 87 percent planned to visit again in the next two years.
• Vacationers, those visiting friends and relatives, and those passing through the state tended to travel as couples, while those in Montana on business tended to travel alone.
• The most likely destinations for nonresident spring vacationers were Yellowstone National Park (47 percent), Glacier National Park (47 percent), Little Bighorn Battlefield (34 percent) and the Flathead Lake area (28 percent)
• Eighteen percent of spring visitors flew for part of their trip. Those who drove stayed on the interstates. Interstate 90 between Billings and Bozeman was the most-traveled segment in the state, with 35 percent to 45 percent driving that stretch. Interstate 94 between Billings and Miles City was traveled by 24 percent to 30 percent of visitors. The north-south corridor traveled most was Interstate 15 between Butte and Monida Pass (9 percent to 12 percent). The most-traveled two-lane road was U.S. 89 between Livingston and Gardiner (14 percent).
• Glacier Country Tourism Region accommodated more overnighters (29%) than any other travel region, but visitors stayed overnight in Billings (17%) more than any other community in the state.
• Camping was the most popular activity (48%), followed by visiting historic sites (45%), (33%) hiked and (31%) shopped.
• For those who used available pre-trip planning sources, 39% used the Internet and 23% used auto clubs. Information used while in the state mostly came from service people (30%) and highway signs (28%).
• Visitors were generally satisfied with travel conditions, such as roads and hospitality. Rest areas received the most dissatisfied votes (10 percent).

###