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Create accountDrive Time
1h 48m
Distance
106.8 mi
172 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
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
Connecting Great Falls to Cut Bank, this 106.8-mile journey takes approximately 1 hour and 48 minutes to complete. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate via the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, the West Roosevelt Highway, and Central Avenue West. Budgeting roughly $17 for fuel should cover your transit across this portion of the Mountain West. Whether you are heading north for business or local travel, the route is efficient and predictable for those familiar with Montana driving.
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
53.4 miles from Great Falls, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience as you transition between these Montana hubs. The route is entirely highway-based, ensuring a consistent pace throughout your trip. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 81.2 miles along the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, which provides the bulk of the driving time. Because the road demands more attention than a straight interstate, you will find it requires active steering rather than passive cruising. Overall, the drive maintains a steady flow while moving you through the inland terrain of the region.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,009 ft
Total Descent
563 ft
Highest Point
3,848 ft
~102.4 mi in
Elevation Range
517 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 5th Avenue South.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Great Falls, MT to Cut Bank, MT is easy. At 1h 48m with 1% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS toward I 15 BUS, US 2: Shelby, Cut Bank
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| First Special Service Force Memorial Highway | 81.2 mi | 1h 16m |
| West Roosevelt Highway | 22.6 mi | 25m |
| Central Avenue West | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| River Drive South | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I 15 BUS | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I 15 Business | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| First Avenue North Bridge | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls, MT and Cut Bank, 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 I 15 BUS
At end of road, turn left onto I 15 BUS; US 2
Arrive at destination
Since this is a quick drive under two hours, you have significant flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to plan for formal stops, as the duration is manageable in a single push. Before you leave Great Falls, ensure your fuel tank is ready, as the $17 estimate is based on current averages and can fluctuate. Pay close attention to the turn-heavy nature of the roads, especially if you are driving during inclement weather or at night. Given the lack of required stops, keep your essentials within reach in the cabin so you can maintain a smooth, non-stop pace to Cut Bank.
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 80 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.4 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cut Bank, 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 106.8 miles and 1h 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.4 mi from Great Falls, MT · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 53.4 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 First Special Service Force Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81.2 miles.
The final approach into Cut Bank, 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 Cut Bank, MT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$16.92 one way
$33.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $17.79 | $35.58 |
| premium | $4.53 | $19.04 | $38.09 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $23.73 | $47.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32 | 0 | $11.21 | $5.13 |
| Efficient EV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.34 | $4.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.95 | $6.84 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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 Great Falls on Sunday
Local time
5:22 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Cut Bank on Sunday
Local time
5:22 PM
MDT
Current temp
34°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
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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