Origin
Chinook, MT
Late night in Chinook on Wednesday
Local time
3:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chinook, MT to Missoula, MT
Data updated 5 hours ago
Drive Time
5h 38m
Distance
299.9 mi
483 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 25m
★
6 AM
5h 38m
8 AM
6h 5m
10 AM
5h 47m
12 PM
5h 45m
3 PM
5h 49m
5 PM
6h 3m
8 PM
5h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chinook, MT
Alex Moliski
Missoula, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embark on a 299.9-mile journey from Chinook, Montana, to Missoula, Montana, a drive that will take approximately 5 hours and 38 minutes. This single-day trip is designed as a straightforward highway-focused experience, with 87% of the route utilizing major roadways. You can expect a fuel cost of around $48 for this stretch. The drive connects two locations within the Mountain West region, offering a consistent landscape throughout. Given its manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single day of travel.
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
149.9 miles from Chinook, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with the vast majority of your time spent on established roadways. You'll encounter 87% highway travel, meaning you'll experience consistent speeds for much of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 148.3 miles, primarily on US 89. This offers a good balance of steady progress and the ability to cover significant ground without frequent turns. The character of the road remains largely consistent, facilitating a predictable driving experience.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 89 is the longest continuous segment at about 148.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 89 and US 87. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 2 / 1st Street West.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 299.9 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 0.3 miles (US 2 / 1st Street West): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here; at 298.9 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 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.
5
298.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 36m in
|
I 90 Business; US 12
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12 toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
5
299.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 36m in
|
I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
299.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 36m in
|
I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 89 | 148.3 mi | 2h 47m |
| US 87 | 107.3 mi | 1h 58m |
| 1st Street West | 24.7 mi | 28m |
| First Special Service Force Memorial Highway | 9.4 mi | 9m |
| MT 200 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| 3rd Street Northwest | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue West | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Old Havre Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 89
— 148.3 mi, about 2h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chinook, MT and Missoula, 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
·
1 min
·
Old Havre Highway
6
Turn right onto Smelter Avenue Northeast
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Smelter Avenue Northeast
7
Turn straight onto 3rd Street Northwest
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Street Northwest
8
Turn right onto I 15 Business
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue West
9
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 15 Business
10
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
9.4 mi
·
9 min
·
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
148 mi
·
2 hr 47 min
·
US 89; MT 200
Exit 290
12
Keep slight right at fork onto MT 200
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
MT 200
13
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 90 Business; US 12
Toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
14
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
206 ft
·
2 sec
·
Van Buren Street
15
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
212 ft
·
3 sec
·
Van Buren Street
16
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
92 ft
·
1 sec
·
Van Buren Street
17
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Van Buren Street
18
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 12
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Broadway Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto North Higgins Avenue
19 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Higgins Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
North Higgins Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 38-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop, you'll have plenty of flexibility to break up the 299.9 miles as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 148.3 miles on US 89, to ensure you have ample gas. The estimated fuel cost of $48 is a helpful budget marker for planning. Given the single-day nature of this trip, you can easily adjust your timing based on road conditions or personal preference.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 149.9 miles from Chinook, MT, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.3 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.9 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Missoula, 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 299.9 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 89 for about 148.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 149.9 mi from Chinook, MT · 2h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
150 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 149.9 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 89 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 148.3 miles.
Arriving in Missoula, MT
The final approach into Missoula, 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 Missoula, 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
$47.52 one way
$95.05 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
105 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $49.81 | $99.63 |
| premium | $4.53 | $53.50 | $107.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $66.21 | $132.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90 | 1 | $31.49 | $14.40 |
| Efficient EV | 75 | 0 | $26.24 | $12.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120 | 1 | $41.99 | $19.19 |
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Missoula, MT
Late night in Missoula on Wednesday
Local time
3:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°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
26 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
5h 38m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chinook, MT to Missoula, MT covers 299.9 miles and takes about 5h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 89, US 87, 1st Street West. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 149.9 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 $47.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 299.9 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.
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 298.9 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Chinook, MT to Missoula, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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