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Create accountDrive Time
1h 54m
Distance
118 mi
190 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
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.
Missoula, MT
John De Leon
Butte, MT
John De Leon
The drive from Missoula, MT to Butte, MT covers 118 miles and takes about 1h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway, I 115, East Broadway Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 115.1 miles on Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.70 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
59 miles from Missoula, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 54m drive with frequent turns across 118 miles of local and secondary roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
835 ft
Total Descent
0 ft
Highest Point
4,044 ft
~54.1 mi in
Elevation Range
835 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near I 90 Bus; US 12 Bus / East Broadway Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Missoula, MT to Butte, MT is easy. At 1h 54m with 2% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (I 90 Bus; US 12 Bus / East Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): 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 90 Bus; US 12 Bus / East Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Merge onto I 90; US 12; MT 200 / Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
Keep slight left at fork onto I 115; I 15 Bus; I 90 Bus toward City Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway | 115.1 mi | 1h 49m |
| I 115 | 2 mi | 3m |
| East Broadway Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| I 90 Business | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Van Buren Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Higgins Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Iron Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Missoula, MT and Butte, MT.
Start on North Higgins Avenue
Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12 Bus
Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
Merge onto I 90; US 12; MT 200
Keep slight left at fork onto I 115; I 15 Bus; I 90 Bus
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 80 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59 miles or 56m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Butte, MT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Missoula, 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 Missoula, MT
This is one driving day of about 118 miles and 1h 54m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59 mi from Missoula, MT · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 59 miles from Missoula, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 115.1 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.
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.
Regular Gas
$18.70 one way
$37.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $19.66 | $39.31 |
| premium | $4.53 | $21.04 | $42.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $26.22 | $52.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.39 | $5.66 |
| Efficient EV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.33 | $4.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.2 | 0 | $16.52 | $7.55 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 Missoula on Sunday
Local time
7:32 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Fog then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Destination
Evening in Butte on Sunday
Local time
7:32 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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