Origin
Cascade, MT
Late night in Cascade on Saturday
Local time
4:27 AM
MDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
50.1 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cascade, MT
JOHN CALLERY
Three Forks, MT
Alex Moliski
The drive from Cascade, MT to Three Forks, MT covers 50.1 miles and takes about 1h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, Stockett Road, Cottonwood Coulee Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22 miles on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.80 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 50.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (3%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 1h 29m drive with frequent turns across 50.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Cascade, MT to Three Forks, MT is easy. At 1h 29m with 3% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (I 15 / First Special Service Force Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 22.9 miles (I 15 BUS): 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.
Take the ramp toward Great Falls
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 15 / First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS toward I 15 Business, US 89 South, MT 200 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto MT 227 / Stockett Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Cottonwood Coulee Road
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| First Special Service Force Memorial Highway | 22 mi | 20m |
| Stockett Road | 9.5 mi | 23m |
| Cottonwood Coulee Road | 8.3 mi | 31m |
| 10th Avenue South | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| Country Club Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| US 87 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street Northwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I 15 BUS | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cascade, MT and Three Forks, MT.
Start on MT 68
Continue on MT 68
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 15
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS
Continue on I 15 Bus; US 89; MT 3; MT 200; I 315
Continue on I 15 Business; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
Continue on US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
Turn right onto MT 227
Turn left onto Cottonwood Coulee Road
Continue on Cottonwood Coulee Road
Continue on Cottonwood Coulee Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25 mi from Cascade, MT · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25 miles from Cascade, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Three Forks, MT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$6.80 one way
$13.61 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $7.59 | $15.19 |
| premium | $4.15 | $8.19 | $16.37 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $7.40 | $14.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.26 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $7.01 | $3.21 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Late night in Cascade on Saturday
Local time
4:27 AM
MDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Three Forks on Saturday
Local time
4:27 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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