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Create accountDrive Time
4h 28m
Distance
227.8 mi
367 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Great Falls, MT
Tomás Asurmendi
Absarokee, MT
Alex Moliski
The drive from Great Falls, MT to Absarokee, MT covers 227.8 miles and takes about 4h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 87, H Avenue Northwest, US 191 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 81.9 miles on US 87. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.10 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
113.9 miles from Great Falls, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
This is a 4h 28m highway drive covering 227.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 87 and H Avenue Northwest. The longest continuous stretch is about 81.9 miles on US 87.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and H Avenue Northwest. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 5th Avenue South.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 28m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (5th Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 15 Business / 5th Street South): Navigation decision point; at 213.7 miles (MT 78 / East Pike Avenue): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto 5th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto I 15 Business / 5th Street South
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto MT 78 / East Pike Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto MT 78 / Pratten Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto MT 420 / West Grove Street
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 87 | 81.9 mi | 1h 28m |
| H Avenue Northwest | 43.6 mi | 1h 5m |
| US 191 | 39.2 mi | 42m |
| I 90 Business | 37.7 mi | 35m |
| State Highway 78 | 13.5 mi | 16m |
| 10th Avenue South | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Big Timber Loop Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| US 12 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls, MT and Absarokee, MT.
Start on 4th Street South
Turn left onto 5th Avenue South
Turn right onto I 15 Business
Turn left onto I 15 Business; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
Continue on US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
Enter roundabout
Continue
Turn straight onto US 87; MT 3; MT 200
Turn right onto US 191; MT 3
Turn right onto US 12; MT 3
Continue on US 12; US 191
Turn left onto US 191
Turn left onto Boulder Street
Turn slight left onto I 90 Business
Take the ramp onto I 90 Business
Take the exit
Turn right onto MT 78
At end of road, turn right onto MT 78
Turn left onto MT 78
Continue on MT 78
Continue on MT 78
Turn right onto MT 420
Arrive at destination
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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.9 miles or 2h 5m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Absarokee, MT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Great Falls, 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 Great Falls, MT
This is one driving day of about 227.8 miles and 4h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113.9 mi from Great Falls, MT · 2h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 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 113.9 miles from Great Falls, 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 81.9 miles.
The final approach into Absarokee, 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 Absarokee, MT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$36.10 one way
$72.20 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $37.95 | $75.89 |
| premium | $4.53 | $40.62 | $81.24 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $50.61 | $101.22 |
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: 79.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.3 | 0 | $23.92 | $10.93 |
| Efficient EV | 57 | 0 | $19.93 | $9.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 91.1 | 1 | $31.89 | $14.58 |
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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
Afternoon in Great Falls on Sunday
Local time
4:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Absarokee on Sunday
Local time
4:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Partly Cloudy
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
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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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