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Trip from Stevensville, MT to Great Falls, MT

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 46m

Distance

194.9 mi

314 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 34m ★
6 AM
3h 47m
8 AM
4h 12m
10 AM
3h 55m
12 PM
3h 53m
3 PM
3h 57m
5 PM
4h 11m
8 PM
3h 39m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Stevensville, MT, MT

Stevensville, MT

John De Leon

city in and county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States

Great Falls, MT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Stevensville, MT to Great Falls, MT covers 194.9 miles and takes about 3h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on MT 200, US 93, First Special Service Force Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 148.5 miles on MT 200. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.88 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

97.5 miles from Stevensville, MT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 46m. Total distance: 194.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 46m highway drive covering 194.9 miles, with most of the trip on MT 200 and US 93. The longest continuous stretch is about 148.5 miles on MT 200.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MT 200 is the longest continuous segment at about 148.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MT 200 and US 93. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near S-269 / Main Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 194.9 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (S-269 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 93): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 miles (US 12 / South 6th Street East): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | S-269 / Main Street

Turn right onto S-269 / Main Street

Navigation decision point

6
1.5 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 93

Turn right onto US 93

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
28.6 mi into trip | ~37m in | US 12 / South 6th Street East

Turn right onto US 12 / South 6th Street East

Navigation decision point

5
33.8 mi into trip | ~44m in | MT 200

Take the exit onto MT 200 toward MT 200 East: Bonner, Great Falls

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward MT 200 East: Bonner, Great Falls
5
194.9 mi into trip | ~3h 46m in | 4th Street South

Turn left onto 4th Street South

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
MT 200 148.5 mi 2h 48m
US 93 23.7 mi 29m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway 9.5 mi 8m
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway 3.9 mi 4m
Brooks Street 3.3 mi 4m
Central Avenue West 1.5 mi 1m
Stevi Cutoff Road 1.2 mi 2m
1st Avenue North 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: MT 200 — 148.5 mi, about 2h 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Stevensville, MT and Great Falls, MT.

1

Start on East 3rd Street

78 ft · 5 sec · East 3rd Street
2

Turn right onto S-269

0.2 mi · 42 sec · Main Street
3

Continue on S-269

1.2 mi · 2 min · Stevi Cutoff Road
4

Turn right onto US 93

24 mi · 29 min · US 93
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on Brooks Street

3.3 mi · 4 min · Brooks Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Continue on US 12

356 ft · 16 sec · South Higgins Avenue
Use the left lane.
7

Turn right onto US 12

0.4 mi · 36 sec · South 6th Street East
8

Turn left onto Arthur Avenue

0.2 mi · 13 sec · Arthur Avenue
9

Continue on US 12

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Madison Street
10

Take the exit onto US 12

0.2 mi · 26 sec · US 12
11

Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12

435 ft · 5 sec · Van Buren Street
12

Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12

0.2 mi · 29 sec · I 90 Business; US 12
13

Merge onto I 90; US 12; MT 200

3.9 mi · 4 min · Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
14

Take the exit onto MT 200

148 mi · 2 hr 48 min · MT 200
Toward MT 200 East: Bonner, Great Falls
15

Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200

0.3 mi · 32 sec · US 89; MT 200
Toward I 15 South: Great Falls
16

Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200

9.5 mi · 8 min · First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
17

Take the exit onto I 15 Business

0.2 mi · 30 sec · I 15 Business
Toward I 15 Business
18

Turn left onto I 15 Business

1.5 mi · 1 min · Central Avenue West
19

Continue on I 15 Business

0.2 mi · 17 sec · First Avenue North Bridge
20

Continue on I 15 Business

0.5 mi · 51 sec · 1st Avenue North
21

Turn right onto I 15 Business

0.4 mi · 36 sec · 5th Street North
22

Turn right onto 4th Avenue South

429 ft · 24 sec · 4th Avenue South
23

Turn left onto 4th Street South

229 ft · 10 sec · 4th Street South
24

Arrive at destination

4th Street South

Trip Plan

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 97.5 miles from Stevensville, MT, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.5 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 43 miles or 54m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 97.5 miles or 1h 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 3h 6m

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 Stevensville, 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 Stevensville, MT

This is one driving day of about 194.9 miles and 3h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Stevensville, 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.
The longest stretch is on MT 200 for about 148.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 97.5 mi from Stevensville, MT · 1h 56m into the drive

Downtown Seeley Lake, MT, MT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Seeley Lake, MT

97 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

East Missoula, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Seeley Lake, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 97.5 miles from Stevensville, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before MT 200 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 148.5 miles.

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.

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.88 one way

$61.77 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 68 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $32.37 $64.75
premium $4.53 $34.77 $69.53
diesel $5.61 $43.03 $86.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 68.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 58.5 0 $20.46 $9.36
Efficient EV 48.7 0 $17.05 $7.80
EV Truck/SUV 78 0 $27.29 $12.47

Gas CO2

68 kg

EV CO2

23 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 14, 2026

Origin

Stevensville, MT

Afternoon in Stevensville on Thursday

Local time

1:35 PM

MDT

Current temp

36°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Great Falls, MT

Afternoon in Great Falls on Thursday

Local time

1:35 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

32 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 Stevensville, MT to Great Falls, MT covers 194.9 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 MT 200, US 93, First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 97.5 miles from Stevensville, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.88 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 194.9 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (S-269 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 93): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 miles (US 12 / South 6th Street East): Navigation decision point.
The route from Stevensville, MT to Great Falls, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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