Origin
Great Falls, MT
Evening in Great Falls on Sunday
Local time
6:28 PM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Great Falls, MT to Fort Benton, MT
Drive Time
49m
Distance
40.8 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Great Falls, MT
Tomás Asurmendi
Fort Benton, MT
Chad Brocker
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Mountain West, the 40.8-mile journey from Great Falls to Fort Benton is an ideal day trip. You can expect to spend about 49 minutes behind the wheel, making it a very manageable drive for a morning or afternoon outing. Budget roughly $6 for fuel to cover the distance, which is quite economical for a trip of this length. Because the duration is under an hour, there is no need to consider an overnight stay; you have plenty of flexibility to explore and return home on your own schedule. Navigating this route involves primarily 15th Street Northeast, MT 386, and 9th Street North. It is a straightforward connection between two Montana locales that works perfectly for travelers seeking a short, efficient transit.
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
20.4 miles from Great Falls, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience on this route. With only 3% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 35.8 miles on 15th Street Northeast, which allows you to settle into a consistent rhythm before the route shifts toward its destination. Because the journey is characterized by its technical, winding nature, stay alert and keep your hands on the wheel. This path offers a more intimate feel of the landscape compared to a monotonous interstate grind, keeping you engaged throughout the entire 49-minute duration.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
15th Street Northeast is the longest continuous segment at about 35.8 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
3,566 ft
3,174 ft
Total Climb
273 ft
Total Descent
428 ft
Highest Point
3,566 ft
~13.6 mi in
Elevation Range
393 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 4th Avenue South.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 49m drive. You will face about 8 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 (4th Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 15 Business / 6th Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
4th Avenue South
Turn right onto 4th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 15 Business / 6th Street South
Turn left onto I 15 Business / 6th Street South
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
1st Avenue North
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
40.2 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
12th Street
Turn right onto 12th Street
Navigation decision point
5
40.7 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 15th Street Northeast | 35.8 mi | 38m |
| MT 386 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 9th Street North | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Old Havre Highway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| 6th Street South | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 12th Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| 1st Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
15th Street Northeast
— 35.8 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls, MT and Fort Benton, MT.
1
Start on 4th Street South
229 ft
·
12 sec
·
4th Street South
2
Turn right onto 4th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
4th Avenue South
3
Turn left onto I 15 Business
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
6th Street South
4
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
1st Avenue North
5
Turn left onto 9th Street North
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
9th Street North
6
Continue on 10th Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
10th Street Northeast
7
Continue on Old Havre Highway
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
Old Havre Highway
8
Turn left onto US 87
36 mi
·
38 min
·
15th Street Northeast
9
Turn right onto MT 386
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
MT 386
10
Continue on MT 386
383 ft
·
13 sec
·
Saint Charles Street
11
Turn right onto 12th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
12th Street
12
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Main Street
13
Turn right
272 ft
·
20 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 40.8-mile trip, you have the advantage of total flexibility regarding your departure time. You will not need to plan for any formal rest stops, as the duration is brief enough to complete in one go. Before you head out, ensure your tank has enough fuel to cover the $6 estimated cost, and check that your tires are ready for a route that relies heavily on local road segments. Given the turn-heavy nature of the drive, consider leaving during daylight hours to ensure you have the best visibility for the various turns along the path. Use the 35.8-mile stretch on 15th Street Northeast as your primary window for steady driving, as the remaining segments will require more frequent adjustments.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 20.4 miles from Great Falls, MT, or about 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.8 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 40.8 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.4 miles or 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Benton, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 40.8 miles and 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Great Falls, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on 15th Street Northeast for about 35.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.4 mi from Great Falls, MT · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.4 miles from Great Falls, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Benton, MT
The final approach into Fort Benton, 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 Fort Benton, MT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.47 one way
$12.93 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $6.80 | $13.59 |
| premium | $4.53 | $7.27 | $14.55 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $9.06 | $18.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.57 | $1.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Fort Benton, MT
Evening in Fort Benton on Sunday
Local time
6:28 PM
MDT
Current temp
29°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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
49m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Great Falls, MT to Fort Benton, MT covers 40.8 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 15th Street Northeast, MT 386, 9th Street North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.4 miles from Great Falls, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.47 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 49m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (4th Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 15 Business / 6th Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
The route from Great Falls, MT to Fort Benton, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 3,174 ft to 3,566 ft elevation with about 273 ft of total climbing.
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