Origin
North Browning, MT
Evening in North Browning on Sunday
Local time
7:46 PM
MDT
Current temp
23°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Browning, MT to Missoula, MT
Drive Time
3h 46m
Distance
206.6 mi
332 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 33m
★
6 AM
3h 46m
8 AM
4h 11m
10 AM
3h 55m
12 PM
3h 52m
3 PM
3h 56m
5 PM
4h 10m
8 PM
3h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Missoula, MT
John De Leon
Trip Overview
Spanning 206.6 miles through the Mountain West, this trip from North Browning to Missoula typically takes about 3 hours and 46 minutes of drive time. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, you should plan for a full day of travel to navigate the winding roads safely. Budgeting approximately $28 for fuel will cover your transit across this internal Montana trek. While the journey is manageable within a single day, the local nature of the roads means you should prioritize steady progress over speed. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, knowing that this route avoids major highways allows you to prepare for a more involved driving experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
103.3 miles from North Browning, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a hands-on experience behind the wheel, as this route relies entirely on local roads like Duck Lake Road, Northeast Boundary Street, and East Central Avenue rather than high-speed interstates. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be dealing with monotonous freeway cruising; instead, you will be managing frequent turns and shifting road conditions. The nature of the path means there is no long, uninterrupted stretch, as the longest segment on Duck Lake Road measures 0 miles. This technical, turn-heavy profile requires your full attention throughout the 206.6-mile duration. Prepare for a road environment that demands consistent focus rather than one that allows for cruise control.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Duck Lake Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 46m 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 North Browning, MT to Missoula, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Duck Lake Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Boundary Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Central Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 2 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Route 2 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Broadway Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 90 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Duck Lake Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Browning, MT and Missoula, MT.
1
Start on Meineke Road
328 ft
·
21 sec
·
Meineke Road
2
Turn left onto Duck Lake Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Duck Lake Road
3
Continue on Northeast Boundary Street
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Northeast Boundary Street
4
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Central Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Central Avenue
5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route
246 ft
·
4 sec
·
the route
6
Exit the roundabout
72 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
7
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
1 min
8
At the end of the road, turn left onto Old US 2
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Old US 2
9
Turn right onto US Route 2
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
US Route 2
10
Continue on US 2
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
US 2
11
Turn left
9.7 mi
·
12 min
12
At the end of the road, turn left
45 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
13
At the end of the road, turn left
59 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
14
Continue on West Broadway Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Broadway Street
15
Continue on West Broadway Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
West Broadway Street
16
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East: Missoula
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 90 East: Missoula
17
Take the exit slight right toward Orange Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Orange Street
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Orange Street
95 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Orange Street
19
Exit the roundabout onto North Orange Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Orange Street
20
Turn left onto West Broadway Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Broadway Street
21
Turn left onto North Higgins Avenue
20 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Higgins Avenue
22
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy route without any major highway stretches, leave early in the day to ensure you reach Missoula before dark. You have one designated stop included in your itinerary, which provides a perfect opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel your vehicle. Given the $28 estimated fuel cost, check your levels before leaving North Browning to avoid unnecessary detours in unfamiliar areas. Because the entire 206.6-mile trip consists of local roads, keep a close eye on your navigation to handle the frequent turns successfully. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so adjust your pace to account for the winding path and enjoy the local character of the journey.
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 103.3 miles from North Browning, MT, or about 1h 53m 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 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.3 miles or 1h 53m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Missoula, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Browning, 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 North Browning, MT
This is one driving day of about 206.6 miles and 3h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from North Browning, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 103.3 mi from North Browning, MT · 1h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 103.3 miles from North Browning, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Missoula, MT
The final approach into Missoula, 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 Missoula, MT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.74 one way
$65.48 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $34.41 | $68.83 |
| premium | $4.53 | $36.84 | $73.68 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $45.90 | $91.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62 | 0 | $21.69 | $9.92 |
| Efficient EV | 51.7 | 0 | $18.08 | $8.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.6 | 1 | $28.92 | $13.22 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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
Missoula, MT
Evening in Missoula on Sunday
Local time
7:46 PM
MDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live 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
10 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
3h 46m 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 North Browning, MT to Missoula, MT covers 206.6 miles and takes about 3h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Duck Lake Road, Northeast Boundary Street, East Central Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 103.3 miles from North Browning, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.74 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 46m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from North Browning, MT to Missoula, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from North Browning, MT to Missoula, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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