Trip from Kalispell, MT to Glendive, MT

Drive Time

10h 48m

Distance

574.5 mi

925 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$91

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min

4 AM

10h 39m ★

6 AM

10h 49m

8 AM

11h 8m

10 AM

10h 56m

12 PM

10h 54m

3 PM

10h 57m

5 PM

11h 7m

8 PM

10h 43m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Kalispell, MT

James Mirakian

Glendive, MT

Boris Hamer

Trip Overview

Crossing Montana from Kalispell to Glendive is a significant 574.5-mile journey that spans the width of the state. With a drive time of approximately 10 hours and 48 minutes, this trek is best approached as a two-day trip rather than a single-day haul. You will rely primarily on US Highway 87 and US Route 2 to navigate the Mountain West landscape. Budgeting around $91 for fuel is a smart move before you head out. Because the distance is substantial, taking two days ensures you stay alert and enjoy the transition across the state.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

287.2 miles from Kalispell, MT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 30m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a long-distance drive defined by its rural character, with highways accounting for 90% of your travel time. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 196.5 miles on US Highway 87, requiring plenty of focus behind the wheel. The road maintains a steady, consistent pace as you move through Montana, trading the western mountain terrain for the flatter, expansive horizons of the east. It is a drive of endurance rather than technical turns, so be prepared for long, open stretches of pavement.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US Highway 87 is the longest continuous segment at about 196.5 miles.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

4,748 ft 2,077 ft

Total Climb

2,541 ft

Total Descent

3,419 ft

Highest Point

4,748 ft

~95.7 mi in

Elevation Range

2,671 ft

Notable High Points

4,748 ft at ~95.7 miles +751 ft prominence

4,158 ft at ~143.6 miles +124 ft prominence

4,471 ft at ~263.3 miles +437 ft prominence

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 87 and US Route 2. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near 3rd Avenue East.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 574.5 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (3rd Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (2nd Street East): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Woodland Park Drive): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | 3rd Avenue East

Turn left onto 3rd Avenue East

Navigation decision point

0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | 2nd Street East

Turn right onto 2nd Street East

Navigation decision point

0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in | Woodland Park Drive

Turn left onto Woodland Park Drive

Navigation decision point

8.1 mi into trip | ~13m in | MT 206

Turn left onto MT 206

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

17.8 mi into trip | ~25m in | US 2

At end of road, turn right onto US 2

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US Highway 87	196.5 mi	3h 34m
US Route 2	81.3 mi	1h 32m
US 87	79 mi	1h 25m
US 89	76.4 mi	1h 26m
MT 200 S	43.4 mi	46m
10th Avenue South	22.6 mi	25m
United States Route 89	16.8 mi	18m
1st Road Southeast	14.7 mi	15m

Longest stretch: US Highway 87 — 196.5 mi, about 3h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kalispell, MT and Glendive, MT.

Start on 3rd Street West

0.2 mi · 39 sec · 3rd Street West

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto 3rd Avenue East

366 ft · 12 sec · 3rd Avenue East

Turn right onto 2nd Street East

0.2 mi · 33 sec · 2nd Street East

Continue on Conrad Drive

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Conrad Drive

Turn left onto Woodland Park Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Woodland Park Drive

Turn right onto US 2

1.2 mi · 2 min · US Route 2

Turn straight onto MT 35

2.4 mi · 3 min · State Highway 35

Use the right lane.

Continue on MT 35

3.3 mi · 4 min · MT 35

Turn left onto MT 206

9.7 mi · 12 min · MT 206

Use the left lane.

At end of road, turn right onto US 2

1.7 mi · 2 min · US 2

Continue on US 2

80 mi · 1 hr 30 min · US Route 2

Enter roundabout onto US 2; US 89

24 ft · 0 sec · US 2; US 89

Continue on US 2; US 89

3.7 mi · 6 min · US 2; US 89

Turn straight onto US 89

68 mi · 1 hr 16 min · US 89

Enter roundabout onto US 89

526 ft · 19 sec · 1st Street Southwest

Continue on US 89

107 ft · 1 sec · 1st Street Southwest

Turn straight onto US 89

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Avenue South

Continue on US 89

17 mi · 18 min · United States Route 89

Continue on US 89

15 mi · 15 min · 1st Road Southeast

At end of road, turn left onto US 89; MT 200

7.9 mi · 9 min · US 89; MT 200

Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200

0.3 mi · 32 sec · US 89; MT 200

Toward I 15 South: Great Falls

Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200

9.5 mi · 8 min · First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

Take the exit onto I 15 Business

0.2 mi · 30 sec · I 15 Business

Toward I 15 Business

Turn left onto I 15 Business

1.5 mi · 1 min · Central Avenue West

Continue on I 15 Business

0.2 mi · 17 sec · First Avenue North Bridge

Continue on I 15 Business

1.2 mi · 2 min · 1st Avenue North

Turn right onto US 87

0.8 mi · 1 min · 14th Street North

Turn left onto US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200

23 mi · 25 min · 10th Avenue South

Enter roundabout

224 ft · 2 sec

Continue

0.3 mi · 20 sec

Turn straight onto US 87; MT 3; MT 200

64 mi · 1 hr 9 min · US 87; MT 3; MT 200

Continue on US 87; US 191; MT 200

15 mi · 15 min · US 87; US 191; MT 200

Turn straight onto US 191

2.6 mi · 3 min · Truck Bypass

Continue on 1st Avenue North

0.3 mi · 37 sec · 1st Avenue North

Turn left onto US 87; MT 200

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Continue on US 87; MT 200

1.1 mi · 2 min · Northeast Main Street

Continue on US 87; MT 200

196 mi · 3 hr 34 min · US Highway 87

Continue on MT 200 S

43 mi · 46 min · MT 200 S

Continue on MT 200S

1.0 mi · 1 min · MT 200S

At end of road, turn left onto I 94 Business

1.9 mi · 4 min · West Towne Street

At end of road, turn left onto I 94 Business

25 ft · 0 sec · Merrill Avenue

Arrive at destination

I 94 Business

Trip Plan

To manage the 574.5-mile distance effectively, plan for at least three dedicated stops to break up the monotony. Leaving early in the morning is essential to avoid finishing your drive in the dark, especially given the lengthy stretches between service points. Since you are looking at nearly 11 hours of seat time, splitting the trip into two days will help you maintain your energy levels. Keep a close watch on your fuel gauge during that 196.5-mile stretch on US Highway 87, as service stations can be sparse in certain sections of the route.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 287.2 miles from Kalispell, MT, or about 5h 30m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196.5 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 126 miles or 2h 30m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 287.2 miles or 5h 30m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 287.2 miles or 5h 30m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 9h 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glendive, MT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Kalispell, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Kalispell, MT

Aim for roughly 287 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Glendive, MT

Aim for roughly 287 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 126 miles from Kalispell, MT.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on US Highway 87 for about 196.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 287.2 mi from Kalispell, MT · 5h 30m into the drive

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

North Browning, MT

190 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Lewistown, MT

379 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Lewistown, MT

Overnight Options

Night 1

Great Falls, MT

287 mi · about 5.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Great Falls, MT after about 287 miles or 5.4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

North Browning, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 126 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lewistown, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 287.2 miles from Kalispell, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US Highway 87 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 196.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 287 miles or 5.4 hours on the road.

Arriving in Glendive, MT

The final approach into Glendive, 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 Glendive, MT.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Glendive, MT with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$91.04 one way

$182.08 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 201 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.23	$95.70	$191.39
premium	$4.53	$102.44	$204.87
diesel	$5.64	$127.63	$255.27

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$91

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$221–$331

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 201 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $60 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	172.4	2	$60.32	$27.58
Efficient EV	143.6	1	$50.27	$22.98
EV Truck/SUV	229.8	2	$80.43	$36.77

Gas CO2

201 kg

EV CO2

67 kg (67% less)

Plan for 2 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Kalispell, MT

Evening in Kalispell on Sunday

Local time

7:37 PM

MDT

Current temp

33°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Glendive, MT

Evening in Glendive on Sunday

Local time

7:37 PM

MDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

27°F

Lewistown, MT

379 mi in

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

5 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

10h 48m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Kalispell, MT to Glendive, MT covers 574.5 miles and takes about 10h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US Highway 87, US Route 2, US 87. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 287 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 287.2 miles from Kalispell, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $91.04 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

The route from Kalispell, MT to Glendive, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Glendive, MT to Kalispell, MT

Plan the drive back the other way.

575 mi 10h 53m

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Trip from Kalispell, MT to Glendive, MT

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

Elevation Profile

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Glendive, MT

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Kalispell, MT

Glendive, MT

Same local time

5 degrees warmer at arrival

10h 48m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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