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Create accountDrive Time
1h 11m
Distance
67.8 mi
109 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
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.
Helena, MT
Paul Campbell
Butte, MT
John De Leon
The drive from Helena, MT to Butte, MT covers 67.8 miles and takes about 1h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, 11th Avenue, South Montana Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.6 miles on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.74 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
33.9 miles from Helena, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 11m drive with frequent turns across 67.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
Total Climb
2,662 ft
Total Descent
1,174 ft
Highest Point
6,328 ft
~56.5 mi in
Elevation Range
2,280 ft
Notable High Points
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 I 15 Business / 11th Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 11m 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 (I 15 Business / 11th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (I 15 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 66.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto I 15 Business / 11th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto I 15 Business toward I 15 South: Butte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward Montana Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto West Iron Street
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| First Special Service Force Memorial Highway | 64.6 mi | 1h 4m |
| 11th Avenue | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| South Montana Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| I 15 Business | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 2nd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Prospect Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cruse Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Helena, MT and Butte, MT.
Start on I 15 Business
Turn left onto I 15 Business
Turn straight onto I 15 Business; US 12
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
Merge onto I 15
Take the exit
Turn right onto South Montana Street
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Turn left onto West Iron Street
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 67.8 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.9 miles or 36m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Butte, MT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Helena, 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 Helena, MT
This is one driving day of about 67.8 miles and 1h 11m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.9 mi from Helena, MT · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 67.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 33.9 miles from Helena, 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 64.6 miles.
The final approach into Butte, 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 Butte, MT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$10.74 one way
$21.49 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $11.29 | $22.59 |
| premium | $4.53 | $12.09 | $24.18 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.06 | $30.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.12 | $3.25 |
| Efficient EV | 17 | 0 | $5.93 | $2.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.49 | $4.34 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Evening in Helena on Sunday
Local time
8:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Evening in Butte on Sunday
Local time
8:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
56°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
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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