Origin
Sidney, MT
Evening in Sidney on Wednesday
Local time
6:00 PM
MDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sidney, MT to Great Falls, MT
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 9m
Distance
376.1 mi
605 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$60
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 57m
★
6 AM
6h 10m
8 AM
6h 36m
10 AM
6h 19m
12 PM
6h 16m
3 PM
6h 20m
5 PM
6h 34m
8 PM
6h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sidney, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Great Falls, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sidney, MT to Great Falls, MT covers 376.1 miles and takes about 6h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on the route, 1st Avenue North, Truck Bypass for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $59.60 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
188.1 miles from Sidney, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 5m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 9m drive with frequent turns across 376.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
the route 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
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 9m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sidney, MT to Great Falls, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| the route | — | — |
| 1st Avenue North | — | — |
| Truck Bypass | — | — |
| Highway 87 | — | — |
| 6th Street South | — | — |
| 5th Avenue South | — | — |
| 4th Street South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
the route
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sidney, MT and Great Falls, MT.
1
Start on North Central Avenue
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Central Avenue
2
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
135 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
3
Exit the roundabout
49 mi
·
55 min
4
Take the exit right
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
5
Merge slight left
1.4 mi
·
1 min
6
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
7
Turn right
218 mi
·
3 hr 58 min
8
Continue straight
23 mi
·
26 min
9
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
1st Avenue North
10
Continue on Truck Bypass
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Truck Bypass
11
Continue on US Highway 87
15 mi
·
15 min
·
US Highway 87
12
Continue straight
64 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
13
Turn slight right
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
171 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
15
Exit the roundabout
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
16
Continue straight
23 mi
·
29 min
17
Turn right onto 6th Street South
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
6th Street South
18
Turn left onto 5th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
5th Avenue South
19
Turn right onto 4th Street South
161 ft
·
7 sec
·
4th Street South
20
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 188.1 miles from Sidney, MT, or about 3h 5m 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 83 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188.1 miles or 3h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 10m
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 Sidney, 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 Sidney, MT
This is one driving day of about 376.1 miles and 6h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Sidney, 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 188.1 mi from Sidney, MT · 3h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
188 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 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 188.1 miles from Sidney, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Great Falls, MT
The final approach into Great Falls, 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 Great Falls, 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
$59.60 one way
$119.20 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
132 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $62.47 | $124.94 |
| premium | $4.53 | $67.09 | $134.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $83.04 | $166.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 112.8 | 1 | $39.49 | $18.05 |
| Efficient EV | 94 | 1 | $32.91 | $15.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 150.4 | 1 | $52.65 | $24.07 |
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Evening in Great Falls on Wednesday
Local time
6:00 PM
MDT
Current temp
68°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
2 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
6h 9m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Sidney, MT to Great Falls, MT covers 376.1 miles and takes about 6h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are the route, 1st Avenue North, Truck Bypass. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 188.1 miles from Sidney, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $59.60 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 9m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sidney, MT to Great Falls, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sidney, MT to Great Falls, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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