Origin
Missoula, MT
Morning in Missoula on Saturday
Local time
7:50 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Missoula, MT to Deer Lodge, MT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
81.2 mi
131 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Missoula, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Deer Lodge, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Missoula to Deer Lodge is 81.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 20 minutes via Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Montana, transitioning from the Mountain West region. Expect a local feel with plenty of turns, making it a more engaging journey than a straight shot. With only one recommended day, you have plenty of flexibility to enjoy the scenery without feeling rushed.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 81.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This is a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for frequent changes in direction rather than a long, straight interstate cruise. You'll spend most of your time on the Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch at 78.3 miles. While the highway share is relatively low at 2 (indicating it's not primarily interstate), the route offers a dynamic driving experience. The local roads mean you'll likely encounter more varied terrain and potentially slower speeds as you navigate.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 78.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Missoula, MT to Deer Lodge, MT is easy. At 1h 20m 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 90 Bus; US 12 Bus / East Broadway Street
Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12 Bus / East Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 90 Business; US 12
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
79.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
I 90 Business
Take the exit onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business: Deer Lodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 Business: Deer Lodge
4
80.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
Saint Mary's Avenue
Turn left onto Saint Mary's Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway | 78.3 mi | 1h 14m |
| I 90 Business | 2 mi | 3m |
| East Broadway Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Saint Mary's Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Van Buren Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Higgins Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
— 78.3 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Missoula, MT and Deer Lodge, MT.
1
Start on North Higgins Avenue
19 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Higgins Avenue
2
Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12 Bus
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
East Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12
435 ft
·
5 sec
·
Van Buren Street
4
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 90 Business; US 12
5
Merge onto I 90; US 12; MT 200
78 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 90 Business
Toward I 90 Business: Deer Lodge
7
Turn right onto I 90 Business
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
I 90 Business
8
Turn left onto Saint Mary's Avenue
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
Saint Mary's Avenue
9
Arrive at destination
Saint Mary's Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.87 one way
$25.73 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $13.49 | $26.98 |
| premium | $4.53 | $14.48 | $28.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.93 | $35.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.53 | $3.90 |
| Efficient EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.10 | $3.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.37 | $5.20 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (64% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Deer Lodge, MT
Morning in Deer Lodge on Saturday
Local time
7:50 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 20m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Missoula, MT to Deer Lodge, MT covers 81.2 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway, I 90 Business, East Broadway Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.6 miles from Missoula, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.87 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Missoula, MT to Deer Lodge, MT is easy. At 1h 20m with 2% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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.
The route from Missoula, MT to Deer Lodge, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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