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Create accountDrive Time
4h 31m
Distance
227.8 mi
367 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Absarokee, MT
Alex Moliski
Great Falls, MT
Tomás Asurmendi
The drive from Absarokee, MT to Great Falls, MT covers 227.8 miles and takes about 4h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 87, East 1st Avenue, US 191 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87.5 miles on US 87. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.10 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
113.9 miles from Absarokee, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .
This is a 4h 31m highway drive covering 227.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 87 and East 1st Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 87.5 miles on US 87.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
Total Climb
1,247 ft
Total Descent
316 ft
Highest Point
5,023 ft
~75.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,247 ft
Notable High Points
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and East 1st Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MT 78 / North Woodard Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 31m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MT 78 / North Woodard Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles (MT 78 / East Pike Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 52.7 miles (I 90 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto MT 78 / North Woodard Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto MT 78 / East Pike Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto I 90 Business toward US 191, I 90 Business: Big Timber, Harlowton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn right onto 4th Street South
Navigation decision point
On the drive from Absarokee, MT to Great Falls, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Harlowton along the way.
Harlowton
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 87 | 87.5 mi | 1h 38m |
| East 1st Avenue | 43.6 mi | 1h 5m |
| US 191 | 39.2 mi | 42m |
| I 90 | 37.5 mi | 35m |
| State Highway 78 | 13.5 mi | 16m |
| Big Timber Loop Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| North 9th Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| 3rd Street Northeast | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Absarokee, MT and Great Falls, MT.
Start on MT 420
Turn left onto MT 78
Continue on MT 78
Continue on MT 78
Turn right onto MT 78
Turn left onto MT 78
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
Turn right onto I 90 Business
Turn slight right onto Boulder Street
Turn right onto US 191
Turn right onto US 12; US 191
Continue on US 12; US 191
Turn left onto US 191; MT 3
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; MT 3; MT 200
Turn slight right
Enter roundabout
Continue
Continue on US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
Turn right onto I 15 Business
Turn left onto 5th Avenue South
Turn right onto 4th Street South
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.9 miles or 2h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great Falls, MT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Absarokee, MT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Absarokee, MT
This is one driving day of about 227.8 miles and 4h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113.9 mi from Absarokee, MT · 2h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 113.9 miles from Absarokee, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 87 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.5 miles.
The final approach into Great Falls, MT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Great Falls, MT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$36.10 one way
$72.20 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $37.95 | $75.89 |
| premium | $4.53 | $40.62 | $81.24 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $50.61 | $101.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.3 | 0 | $23.92 | $10.93 |
| Efficient EV | 57 | 0 | $19.93 | $9.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 91.1 | 1 | $31.89 | $14.58 |
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Absarokee on Sunday
Local time
4:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Great Falls on Sunday
Local time
4:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Partly Cloudy
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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