Origin
Laurel, MT
Afternoon in Laurel on Saturday
Local time
12:38 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laurel, MT to Great Falls, MT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 1m
Distance
241.3 mi
388 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 48m
★
6 AM
4h 1m
8 AM
4h 27m
10 AM
4h 10m
12 PM
4h 8m
3 PM
4h 11m
5 PM
4h 26m
8 PM
3h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laurel, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Great Falls, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Laurel, MT to Great Falls, MT covers 241.3 miles and takes about 4h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Zoo Drive, South Shiloh Road, Shiloh Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.24 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
120.7 miles from Laurel, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Zoo Drive | — | — |
| South Shiloh Road | — | — |
| Shiloh Road | — | — |
| Rimrock Road | — | — |
| Zimmerman Trail | — | — |
| the route | — | — |
| Iowa Avenue | — | — |
| 6th Street South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Zoo Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurel, MT and Great Falls, MT.
1
Start on South 1st Avenue
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
South 1st Avenue
2
Turn left
9.0 mi
·
10 min
3
Take the exit slight right toward Zoo Drive
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Zoo Drive
4
Turn left onto Zoo Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Zoo Drive
5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South Shiloh Road
13 ft
·
South Shiloh Road
6
Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Shiloh Road
138 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
8
Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Shiloh Road
105 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
10
Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Shiloh Road
174 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
12
Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Shiloh Road
89 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
14
Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Shiloh Road
141 ft
·
2 sec
·
Shiloh Road
16
Exit the roundabout onto Shiloh Road
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Shiloh Road
17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Shiloh Road
108 ft
·
2 sec
·
Shiloh Road
18
Exit the roundabout onto Shiloh Road
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Shiloh Road
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Shiloh Road
128 ft
·
2 sec
·
Shiloh Road
20
Exit the roundabout onto Shiloh Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Shiloh Road
21
Turn right onto Rimrock Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Rimrock Road
22
Turn left onto Zimmerman Trail
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Zimmerman Trail
23
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route
249 ft
·
4 sec
·
the route
24
Exit the roundabout
25 mi
·
28 min
25
Continue on Iowa Avenue
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Iowa Avenue
26
Continue straight
12 mi
·
14 min
27
At the end of the road, turn left
45 mi
·
50 min
28
Turn right
39 mi
·
42 min
29
At the end of the road, turn left
64 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
30
Turn slight right
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
31
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
171 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
32
Exit the roundabout
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
33
Continue straight
23 mi
·
29 min
34
Turn right onto 6th Street South
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
6th Street South
35
Turn left onto 5th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
5th Avenue South
36
Turn right onto 4th Street South
161 ft
·
7 sec
·
4th Street South
37
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 120.7 miles from Laurel, MT, or about 2h into the drive.
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 53 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.7 miles or 2h 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great Falls, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Laurel, 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 Laurel, MT
This is one driving day of about 241.3 miles and 4h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Laurel, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 120.7 miles from Laurel, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.24 one way
$76.48 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
84 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $40.08 | $80.16 |
| premium | $4.53 | $43.04 | $86.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.28 | $106.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.4 | 0 | $25.34 | $11.58 |
| Efficient EV | 60.3 | 0 | $21.11 | $9.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.5 | 1 | $33.78 | $15.44 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Great Falls, MT
Afternoon in Great Falls on Saturday
Local time
12:38 PM
MDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
37°F
Moore, MT
121 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.
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
24 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
4h 1m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
241.3 mi in 4h 1m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Zoo Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 1m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Laurel, MT to Great Falls, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 1m. Total distance: 241.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through MT can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Laurel, MT to Great Falls, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Great Falls, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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