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Create accountDrive Time
4h 2m
Distance
226 mi
364 km
Drive Score
10/10
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.
Bozeman, MT
John De Leon
Fort Benton, MT
Chad Brocker
If you are planning a trip from Bozeman to Fort Benton, expect a 226-mile journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 2 minutes of driving time. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can anticipate a fuel budget of approximately $36, making it a manageable addition to your Montana travel plans. Navigating through the Mountain West, you will transition from Bozeman toward the historic setting of Fort Benton. Because the trip is straightforward, it offers a great balance between road time and time spent at your final stop.
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 miles from Bozeman, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .
This mixed-profile drive utilizes a combination of the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, Highway 287, and 15th Street Northeast to bridge the gap between these two locations. With about 42% of the journey spent on highways, you will encounter varying road conditions throughout the 226-mile trip. You should prepare for a significant 87.6-mile stretch along the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your drive. The character of the road shifts as you transition between these main thoroughfares, requiring you to remain alert as you move from the initial highway segments into the local stretches leading into Fort Benton.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
344 ft
Total Descent
2,520 ft
Highest Point
4,811 ft
Elevation Range
2,176 ft
Notable High Points
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 33.4 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 226 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 33.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.7 miles (US 287 / Highway 287): Lane positioning matters here; at 96.3 miles (I 15; US 287 / First Special Service Force Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward US 287: Helena, Ennis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto US 287 / Highway 287
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 15; US 287 / First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn right onto 12th Street
Navigation decision point
On the drive from Bozeman, MT to Fort Benton, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Ennis along the way.
Ennis
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| First Special Service Force Memorial Highway | 87.6 mi | 1h 24m |
| Highway 287 | 62.2 mi | 1h 10m |
| 15th Street Northeast | 35.8 mi | 38m |
| I 90 Business | 31.8 mi | 32m |
| 3rd Street Northwest | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| MT 386 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Central Avenue West | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| North 7th Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bozeman, MT and Fort Benton, MT.
Start on North Willson Avenue
Turn left onto West Peach Street
Turn right onto I 90 Business
Turn left onto I 90 Business
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 287
Take the exit onto US 287
Merge onto I 15; US 287
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 15 Business
Turn left onto 3rd Street Northwest
Continue on Smelter Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto Old Havre Highway
Turn left onto US 87
Turn right onto MT 386
Continue on MT 386
Turn right onto 12th Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
For a smooth experience, plan your departure with the 4-hour drive time in mind to ensure you arrive at your destination with plenty of daylight left. While the route is manageable in one go, you are allotted one stop, so use it strategically to stretch your legs or check your fuel levels. Since your fuel cost is estimated at $36, consider topping off your tank before leaving Bozeman to avoid any unnecessary stops in more remote sections. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition onto 15th Street Northeast, as local road changes can be easy to miss during the final leg of the trip. The flexibility of this one-day itinerary allows you to pace your travel according to your own schedule.
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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113 miles or 2h 4m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Benton, MT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bozeman, 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 Bozeman, MT
This is one driving day of about 226 miles and 4h 2m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113 mi from Bozeman, MT · 2h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 miles from Bozeman, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before First Special Service Force Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.6 miles.
The final approach into Fort Benton, 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 Fort Benton, MT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$35.81 one way
$71.63 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $37.65 | $75.29 |
| premium | $4.53 | $40.30 | $80.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $50.21 | $100.42 |
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: 79.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.8 | 0 | $23.73 | $10.85 |
| Efficient EV | 56.5 | 0 | $19.78 | $9.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.4 | 1 | $31.64 | $14.46 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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
Evening in Bozeman on Sunday
Local time
5:20 PM
MDT
Current temp
38°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Fort Benton on Sunday
Local time
5:20 PM
MDT
Current temp
29°F
Unavailable
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
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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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