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Create accountDrive Time
1h
Distance
52.8 mi
85 km
Drive Score
8/10
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.
Great Falls, MT
Tomás Asurmendi
Choteau, MT
Alex Moliski
The drive from Great Falls, MT to Choteau, MT covers 52.8 miles and takes about 1h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 89, First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, Central Avenue West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40.5 miles on US 89. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.37 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 Great Falls, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
This is a 1h highway drive covering 52.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 89 and First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 40.5 miles on US 89.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
856 ft
Total Descent
365 ft
Highest Point
4,061 ft
~28.6 mi in
Elevation Range
732 ft
Notable High Points
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 89 and First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. 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 1h 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: near the start (5th Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (2nd Street South): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (3rd Avenue South): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto 5th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto 2nd Street South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue South
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto River Drive South
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto US 89 / West Division Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 89 | 40.5 mi | 45m |
| First Special Service Force Memorial Highway | 9.4 mi | 9m |
| Central Avenue West | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| River Drive South | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I 15 Business | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| First Avenue North Bridge | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street South | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls, MT and Choteau, MT.
Start on 4th Street South
Turn right onto 5th Avenue South
At end of road, turn right onto 2nd Street South
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue South
At end of road, turn right onto River Drive South
Turn left onto I 15 Business
Continue on I 15 Business
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
Turn right onto US 89
Enter roundabout onto US 89
Continue on US 89
Turn slight right onto US 89
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 52.8 miles or 1h 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Choteau, 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 52.8 miles and 1h.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.4 mi from Great Falls, 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 52.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.4 miles from Great Falls, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Choteau, 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 Choteau, MT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$8.37 one way
$16.73 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $8.80 | $17.59 |
| premium | $4.53 | $9.41 | $18.83 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.73 | $23.46 |
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 · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.54 | $2.53 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.62 | $2.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.39 | $3.38 |
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
Night in Great Falls on Sunday
Local time
10:02 PM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Night in Choteau on Sunday
Local time
10:02 PM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain
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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