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Create accountDrive Time
59m
Distance
52.9 mi
85 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
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.
Choteau, MT
Alex Moliski
Great Falls, MT
Tomás Asurmendi
The drive from Choteau, MT to Great Falls, MT covers 52.9 miles and takes about 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on United States Route 89, 1st Road Southeast, First Special Service Force Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.8 miles on United States Route 89. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.38 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
26.4 miles from Choteau, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
The drive from Choteau, MT to Great Falls, MT covers 52.9 miles and takes about 59m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
470 ft
Total Descent
960 ft
Highest Point
4,062 ft
~24.2 mi in
Elevation Range
733 ft
Notable High Points
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 89 / 1st Street Southwest.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 59m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 89 / 1st Street Southwest): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 32.4 miles (US 89; MT 200): Navigation decision point; at 40.2 miles (US 89; MT 200): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Enter roundabout onto US 89 / 1st Street Southwest
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
At end of road, turn left onto US 89; MT 200
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200 toward I 15 South: Great Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit onto I 15 Business toward I 15 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn left onto 4th Street South
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| United States Route 89 | 16.8 mi | 18m |
| 1st Road Southeast | 14.7 mi | 15m |
| First Special Service Force Memorial Highway | 9.5 mi | 8m |
| US 89 | 8.1 mi | 9m |
| Central Avenue West | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Main Avenue South | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 1st Avenue North | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 5th Street North | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Choteau, MT and Great Falls, MT.
Start on US 89
Enter roundabout onto US 89
Continue on US 89
Turn straight onto US 89
Continue on US 89
Continue on US 89
At end of road, turn left onto US 89; MT 200
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
Turn left onto I 15 Business
Continue on I 15 Business
Continue on I 15 Business
Turn right onto I 15 Business
Turn right onto 4th Avenue South
Turn left onto 4th Street South
Arrive at destination
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.
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 52.9 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.4 miles or 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great Falls, MT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Choteau, 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 Choteau, MT
This is one driving day of about 52.9 miles and 59m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.4 mi from Choteau, MT · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 52.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.4 miles from Choteau, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$8.38 one way
$16.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $8.81 | $17.62 |
| premium | $4.53 | $9.43 | $18.86 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.75 | $23.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.55 | $2.54 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.41 | $3.39 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Evening in Choteau on Sunday
Local time
7:32 PM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain
Destination
Evening in Great Falls on Sunday
Local time
7:32 PM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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