Connecting Missoula to Butte, this 118-mile journey through the Mountain West is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 54 minutes. Because the drive is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to budget roughly $19 for fuel, making it an affordable regional connection within Montana. Navigating the route involves utilizing the Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway, I-115, and East Broadway Street. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, this path provides a reliable link between two prominent Montana cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59 miles from Missoula, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 118 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that balances efficiency with a more involved steering experience. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 115.1 miles. With a highway share of only 2%, this trip feels less like a monotonous interstate grind and more like a focused, regional transit. The road transitions from highway speeds to local navigation as you approach your destination. You will need to stay alert for the technical curves that define the character of this mountain passage.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 7 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 115.1 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
4,044 ft3,209 ft
Total Climb
835 ft
Total Descent
0 ft
Highest Point
4,044 ft
~54.1 mi in
Elevation Range
835 ft
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 Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key points
These 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
3
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|I 90; US 12; MT 200 / Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 90; US 12; MT 200 / Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
116 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|I 115; I 15 Bus; I 90 Bus
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
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward City Center
Main Roads
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
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
— 115.1 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Missoula, MT and Butte, 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
115 mi·1 hr 49 min·Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 115; I 15 Bus; I 90 Bus
2.0 mi·3 min·I 115; I 15 Bus; I 90 Bus
Toward City CenterUse the straight / left lanes.
7
Arrive at destination
West Iron Street
Trip Plan
Since the total duration is under two hours, you have significant flexibility with your departure time, though starting in the morning allows you to maximize your arrival in Butte. There are no planned stops built into this 118-mile stretch, so ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave Missoula to keep your $19 estimated cost on track. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, prioritize keeping your focus on the road rather than planning for mid-trip breaks. Use the short length to your advantage by planning your arrival activities in advance, as you will reach your destination quickly once you head out.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 59 miles from Missoula, MT, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.1 miles.
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 26 miles or 25m 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.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Missoula, MT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Missoula, MT
This is one driving day of about 118 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Missoula, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway for about 115.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59 mi from Missoula, MT
· 56m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.70 one way
$37.40 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$19.60
$39.20
premium
$4.53
$21.05
$42.10
diesel
$5.61
$26.05
$52.11
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, 2026-04-13.
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Missoula, MT
Late night
in Missoula on Saturday
Local time
5:58 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Fog then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
ESE 2 mph72% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Butte, MT
Late night
in Butte on Saturday
Local time
5:58 AM
MDT
Current temp
56°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 1 to 7 mph80% chanceLive forecast
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
8 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 54m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Missoula, MT to Butte, MT covers 118 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway, I 115, East Broadway Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59 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 $18.70 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 Butte, MT is easy. At 1h 54m 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 Butte, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 3,209 ft to 4,044 ft elevation with about 835 ft of total climbing.
