MODPATH
MODPATH: A free, focused tool for tracing groundwater particles and estimating travel times. Ranked #10 of 11 in Groundwater Modeling Software by our editors (6.3/10); pricing: Free plan; best for particle paths and travel times from flow-model output.
At a glance
- Editor score6.3 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forParticle paths and travel times from flow-model output
- Free planYes
- Paid fromNone
- Flow modeling methodFinite-difference
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Calculates forward and backward particle paths in 3D models
- Computes travel times from simulated groundwater flow
- Free for solo, small, mid-market, and enterprise teams
Where it doesn't
- Requires finite-difference groundwater-flow model output
- Does not simulate groundwater flow on its own
- Does not provide transport modeling
Our verdict on MODPATH
MODPATH is a particle-tracking program for groundwater modelers analyzing flow simulated by MODFLOW. It works with three-dimensional, finite-difference groundwater-flow model output to calculate particle paths and travel times. Forward tracking follows particles from specified starting locations, while backward tracking helps trace where water reaching a location originated. This makes MODPATH suitable for interpreting simulated flow paths, delineating contributing areas, and estimating travel times rather than for building a flow model from the ground up.
The published pricing model is free, with a free plan available across solo, small, mid-market, and enterprise use. Its main capability is focused particle tracking: users can perform both forward and backward analyses and obtain paths and travel-time results from existing flow simulations. That narrow focus can be an advantage when the project already has suitable model output and needs interpretable trajectories without adding a separate commercial license. MODPATH does not include AI features, and its value centers on the particle calculations themselves.
MODPATH fits workflows built around finite-difference groundwater-flow results, using those outputs instead of operating as a standalone groundwater-flow solver. It also stops short of transport modeling, so projects requiring contaminant or solute-transport simulation need another tool alongside it. Choose MODPATH when particle paths, contributing areas, or travel times are the primary analytical needs and a compatible flow model is already available. Choose a broader groundwater-modeling package instead when you need flow simulation, transport processes, or a unified environment for both tasks.
MODPATH pricing
MODPATH fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | None |
| Flow modeling method | Finite-difference |
| Transport modeling | No |
| Surface-water coupling | Not verified |
| Model dimensions | 3d |
| GIS data exchange | Not verified |
| Supported platforms | Not verified |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | usgs.gov |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to MODPATH
- MODFLOW 6A free, open-source model for 3D groundwater flow, transport, and coupled simulations.9.0
- ModelMuseFree Windows GUI for preparing groundwater model inputs, not a simulator itself.8.5
- FREEWATA free, GIS-centered modeling environment spanning groundwater simulation, analysis and planning.8.2
See all MODPATH alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
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