Origin
Chinook, MT
Night in Chinook on Thursday
Local time
9:47 PM
MDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chinook, MT to Great Falls, MT
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
2h 33m
Distance
135.4 mi
218 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 23m
★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chinook, MT
Alex Moliski
Great Falls, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Chinook, MT to Great Falls, MT covers 135.4 miles and takes about 2h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 87, 1st Street West, 9th Street North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 107.3 miles on US 87. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.46 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
67.7 miles from Chinook, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 135.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 33m highway drive covering 135.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 87 and 1st Street West. The longest continuous stretch is about 107.3 miles on US 87.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 87 is the longest continuous segment at about 107.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and 1st Street West. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 2 / 1st Street West.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Chinook, MT to Great Falls, MT is easy. At 2h 33m with 79% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 2 / 1st Street West): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here; at 134.4 miles (2nd Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 2 / 1st Street West
Turn left onto US 2 / 1st Street West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
25.1 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
US 87
Turn left onto US 87
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
134.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
|
2nd Avenue North
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue North
Navigation decision point
4
134.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 32m in
|
5th Street North
Turn left onto 5th Street North
Navigation decision point
5
135.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 33m in
|
4th Street South
Turn left onto 4th Street South
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 87 | 107.3 mi | 1h 58m |
| 1st Street West | 24.7 mi | 28m |
| 9th Street North | 1 mi | 2m |
| Old Havre Highway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| 5th Street North | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Indiana Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| 2nd Avenue North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 10th Street Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 107.3 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chinook, MT and Great Falls, MT.
1
Start on Indiana Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Indiana Street
2
Turn left onto US 2
25 mi
·
28 min
·
1st Street West
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto US 87
107 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
·
US 87
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 87
297 ft
·
5 sec
·
15th Street Northeast
5
Turn right onto Old Havre Highway
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
Old Havre Highway
6
Continue on 10th Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
10th Street Northeast
7
Continue on 9th Street North
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
9th Street North
8
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue North
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
9
Turn left onto 5th Street North
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
5th Street North
10
Turn right onto 4th Avenue South
429 ft
·
24 sec
·
4th Avenue South
11
Turn left onto 4th Street South
229 ft
·
10 sec
·
4th Street South
12
Arrive at destination
4th Street South
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.7 miles from Chinook, MT, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 miles.
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 30 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.7 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great Falls, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chinook, 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 Chinook, MT
This is one driving day of about 135.4 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Chinook, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 87 for about 107.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 67.7 mi from Chinook, MT · 1h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
68 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 67.7 miles from Chinook, 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 107.3 miles.
Arriving in Great Falls, MT
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.46 one way
$42.91 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $22.49 | $44.98 |
| premium | $4.53 | $24.15 | $48.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.89 | $59.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.6 | 0 | $14.22 | $6.50 |
| Efficient EV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.85 | $5.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.2 | 0 | $18.96 | $8.67 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Great Falls, MT
Night in Great Falls on Thursday
Local time
9:47 PM
MDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
27 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 33m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chinook, MT to Great Falls, MT covers 135.4 miles and takes about 2h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 87, 1st Street West, 9th Street North. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.7 miles from Chinook, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.46 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Chinook, MT to Great Falls, MT is easy. At 2h 33m with 79% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 2 / 1st Street West): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here; at 134.4 miles (2nd Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
The route from Chinook, MT to Great Falls, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Great Falls, MT
More from Chinook, MT
More trips to Great Falls, MT
Explore more options from Chinook, MT or browse trips ending in Great Falls, MT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MT road trips.