Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 24m
Distance
224.6 mi
362 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Great Falls, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Kalispell, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Great Falls, MT to Kalispell, MT is 224.6 miles and takes about 4h 24m via US 2, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day drive stays within the Mountain West region, taking you across Montana. Given its highway-focused profile and manageable duration, it's a straightforward trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently. You can expect a relatively quick journey, making it ideal if you're aiming to reach your destination without a lengthy stopover.
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
112.3 miles from Great Falls, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 2 | 77.9 mi | 1h 29m |
| United States Highway 89 | 49.2 mi | 53m |
| US 89 | 40.5 mi | 45m |
| 13th Lane Northwest | 12.9 mi | 15m |
| MT 206 | 9.7 mi | 12m |
| First Special Service Force Memorial Highway | 9.4 mi | 9m |
| US Route 2 | 8.7 mi | 12m |
| Main Avenue North | 6 mi | 8m |
Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls, MT and Kalispell, 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
Continue on US 89
Continue on US 89
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 89
Enter roundabout onto US 2
Continue on US 2
Turn right
At end of road, turn left onto Old US 2
Turn right onto US 2
Continue on US 2
Turn left onto MT 206
At end of road, turn right onto MT 35
Continue on US 2
Turn left onto Woodland Park Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Conrad Drive
Continue on 2nd Street East
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue East
Turn right onto 3rd Street East
Arrive at destination
With a total drive time of around 4 hours and 24 minutes, this is a trip best suited for a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow ample time for the drive and any unexpected delays. The longest stretch without a planned stop is nearly 78 miles, so ensure your fuel tank is sufficiently full before embarking on those longer segments. Considering the fuel cost is estimated at $36, it's a budget-friendly option. For a route of this length, flexibility is key; you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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 49 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.3 miles or 2h 8m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kalispell, 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 224.6 miles and 4h 24m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 112.3 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 2 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 224.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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 MT 206
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Woodland Park Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto 3rd Street East
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$35.59 one way
$71.18 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $37.31 | $74.61 |
| premium | $4.53 | $40.07 | $80.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.59 | $99.18 |
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: 78.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
6 DC fast chargers · Coverage: good
Great Falls Hampton Inn - Tesla Supercharger
Great Falls, MT
8 DCFC
Conoco Gas Station - Tesla Supercharger
Kalispell, MT
8 DCFC
Kalispell Ford - Front Lot - 2000 Rose Crossing
Kalispell, MT
7 DCFC
Great Falls Subaru
Great Falls, MT
2 DCFC
CLARK HYUNDAI SERVICECUSTOMER
Kalispell, MT
1 DCFC
CLARK HYUNDAI SALES CUSTOMER
Kalispell, MT
1 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.4 | 0 | $23.58 | $10.78 |
| Efficient EV | 56.2 | 0 | $19.65 | $8.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.8 | 1 | $31.44 | $14.37 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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 Saturday
Local time
12:40 PM
MDT
Current temp
60°F
Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Kalispell on Saturday
Local time
12:40 PM
MDT
Current temp
56°F
Sunny
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Park
A showcase of melting glaciers, alpine meadows, carved valleys, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a paradise for adventurous visitors seeking a landscape steeped in huma...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 86% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 77.9 miles on US 2, offering extended periods of consistent travel. The character of the road is largely that of a steady highway, allowing for a good pace. While mostly highway, the journey transitions between different sections of US 2 and United States Highway 89, providing some variation in the driving experience as you progress toward Kalispell.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 2 and United States Highway 89. 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
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 24m drive. You will face about 20 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 206.8 miles (MT 206): Lane positioning matters here.
Kalispell is a town in Montana, near Glacier National Park. The name of the town means "flat land above the lake" in Salish, a Native American language. The population is about 23,000 (2016).
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 24m. Total distance: 224.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Great Falls, MT or browse trips ending in Kalispell, MT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MT road trips.
