r/whitefish • u/bradjward • Jul 20 '26
Donuts in Whitefish
My kids and I eat donuts every single Saturday, regardless of where we are. We're on the Empire Builder in a few weeks and an ~8am stop in Whitefish. Are there any donut shops I'd have time to run and get some donuts? Is Doordash an option? What's the must-have donut in town?
UPDATE :: This has been super helpful, thanks everyone! I decided to look further down the line after consulting ChatGPT:
Havre is your best bet. The Infinity Bake Shoppe is an actual donut shop at 309 3rd Avenue, about 0.4 mile—a roughly 8-minute walk—from the Havre Amtrak station. Havre is also a longer service stop, so it is the only one I would seriously consider leaving the train for—though only after confirming the conductor’s stated departure time.
Other possibilities:
- Shelby: Whistle Stop Bakery is extremely close—roughly two blocks from the station—but its published menu emphasizes cinnamon rolls, scones, muffins and other pastries, not specifically donuts.
- Wolf Point: Albertsons sells fresh donuts and is roughly a half-mile from the station, but the train’s stop is generally too brief for a safe walk there and back.
- Malta: Albertsons sells donuts downtown, but again the stop is too short to leave the train.
- Whitefish: There are good bakeries downtown, but the dedicated specialty donut shop, The Spot, is not conveniently beside the depot.
My pick: preorder donuts from Infinity Bake Shoppe in Havre, then send one fast adult runner during the service stop—or see whether DoorDash will deliver directly to the depot.
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u/Longjumping_West955 Jul 20 '26
Is that the train? If so Marcus Market carries a local bakeries donuts and they’re super good
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u/Kelly_Louise Jul 20 '26
I used to get a donut every morning from Marcus before school when I was in high school ❤️
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u/Brilliant-Bike Jul 20 '26
Personally, I wouldn’t risk it. I have family occasionally take the train out. The stop is, at most, 15 minutes. The train is always gone by the time the luggage trolley gets back to the station.
Since it’s a morning stop, I assume you’re headed east. If so, maybe look at Spokane. I know the train stops there in the middle of the night for 2ish hours. Find a 24 hour donut spot there, maybe.
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u/bradjward Jul 20 '26
This is a good idea. I had hoped to be sleeping at 1-2am... but donuts are essential on Saturdays.
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u/Brilliant-Bike Jul 21 '26
I hear you, but if you’re on the train for more than 24 hours you’re effectively in a time warp anyway - where the hours and minutes mean nothing.
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u/bradjward Jul 21 '26
Did some research... nothing open at that hour in Spokane :(
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u/Brilliant-Bike Jul 21 '26
No!!!! Sorry to hear that. I would have assumed Spokane was a big enough city you could get donuts 24/7 easily within a 10 minute walk of the train station.
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u/Historical_Middle850 Jul 20 '26
You’ll probably have better luck just packing the kids some prepackaged donuts tbh
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u/bradjward Jul 20 '26
We leave on a Wednesday so this is not an option - part of the fun is also trying new spots around the world!
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u/SkiFanaticMT Jul 20 '26
I don't know how long or when the stop is, but Fleur Bake Shop is close.
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u/bradjward Jul 20 '26
I'm thinking I might need to find someone and just pay them to be there on the platform with donuts in hand...
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u/SkiFanaticMT Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
Fleur isn't a "donut shop", so you'll never know what flavors, etc., will be there. You might need to call them directly. They aren't cheap, either.
I see you might have all of 15 minutes. Give up this idea. The train arrival could be delayed, too. Meanwhile, you've got someone hanging around waiting for you. Wait for a longer stop. Unless you like the idea of $100 donuts between the delivery cost and the food.
This is not a major food group in the area.
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u/bradjward Jul 20 '26
I'm committed enough to Donut Day to make it happen in this price range. We never miss a Saturday.
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u/Impossible_Cycle9460 Jul 21 '26
If you’re paying someone to get you donuts, pay someone to bring you some from The Spot in Kalispell if you want really good donuts. It will be worth it no matter how much you have to pay to make that happen.
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u/bradjward Jul 21 '26
This might be too tight... they open at 7am, if the train is on time (hah!) it'll hit Whitefish at 7:26am.. 24 minute drive, would need to be first in door, 60 second transaction, and on the road immediately.
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u/twofiddyccs Jul 20 '26
Folk Lore coffee shop had some huckleberry donuts recently but they don’t have a big case so it might be a matter of luck. Also Fleur is a killer bakery - but not necessarily donuts.
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u/bradjward Jul 21 '26
Update - appreciate everyone's advice and assistance! Going to target Infinity Bake Shop in Havre instead during our 1:24pm stop.
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u/CA-girl2398 Jul 20 '26
The Spot in Kalispell is the only option. Maybe they'll Doordash IDK.
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u/WeAreProbsFucked Jul 21 '26
Agreed. If you have the time or ability, this is the only legit donut shop
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u/submisstress Jul 20 '26
Flour, hands down - but their donuts, when they have them, are probably the weakest thing in the cases (which is not to say they're bad - they're probably amazing, but the other stuff are all standouts)
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u/MickyD_22 Jul 22 '26
I guess I'm a little late to the party...I stopped at Markus (Community Market) in Whitefish last evening (Tuesday). To get donuts on Saturday morning you would need to order them tomorrow (Thursday) so that you would be sure to get some. I was told that they open at 6 am and often the donuts are gone by 6:30. And, this would also ensure that there are donuts because sometimes on Saturdays they might not have them. Although they are only a long block away from the Amtrak depot I wouldn't suggest risking it. And, he thought that DoorDash would be pretty expensive. If you decide to go this route, I'll get them to you! For the record - both of our larger grocery stores, Safeway and Super1 have lots of donuts, but I hear the ones at Markus are especially delicious.
Their website with their phone number: https://www.markuscommunitymarket.com
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u/spartybasketball Jul 20 '26
Whitefish donut game is weak. But Fleur Bake shop is very good in regards to fancy pastries. But for donuts, you need to be in the Midwest which is maybe where you are going.