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Fall Road Trips in Montana

Routes

30

Avg Distance

564 mi

Avg Drive

10h 11m

Destinations

19

Montana in the fall means crisp air and fewer crowds for its 30 routes, averaging 570 miles and over 10 hours. Expect high-altitude drives up to 6,028 ft, with excellent EV coverage on some longer hauls. This season offers a chance to see the state's dramatic landscapes painted in autumn colors, often with ample daylight for exploring.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$4.61/gal

Diesel: $6.28/gal

Typical trip cost

$91–$124

One-way, ~564 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~197 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-10-19

Climate through the year: Montana

Montana peaks at around 85°F in Jul and cools to 31°F / 18°F in Dec. Wettest month is Jun at ~2.1 in of rain. Table highlights Fall months.

Month High °F Low °F Rain in Snow in
Jan 32 18 1 9.9
Feb 37 21 0.9 8.5
Mar 48 27 0.9 5
Apr 56 32 1.4 1.3
May 66 40 1.8 0.3
Jun 73 46 2.1 —
Jul 85 52 0.9 —
Aug 84 50 0.8 —
Sep peak 73 42 1 0.1
Oct peak 56 32 1.2 0.9
Nov peak 40 25 1.2 5.4
Dec 31 18 1.1 11.6

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for MT — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Planning Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

We've identified 30 routes in Montana that work well for fall travel, based on drive quality, typical weather conditions, and distance (averaging 564 miles).
Current regular gas averages $4.61/gallon in Montana (week of 2026-10-19). Diesel: $6.28/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $91 and $124. Source: US Energy Information Administration.
Across Sep, Oct, Nov, Montana typically sees daytime highs in the 40–73°F range with about 1.1 in of rain per month on average. Based on NOAA 1991–2020 monthly climate normals.
Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.
Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Fall Routes

Editor's pick

Sidney, MT → Polson, MT

682.9 mi 11h 38m Score: 7/10 ~$124 fuel
5 tricky spots

Covering 683 miles, this option features high-altitude sections and climbs up to 6,096 ft. While EV coverage details aren't provided, it offers a substantial drive through Montana's varied terrain.

Editor's pick

Baker, MT → Whitefish, MT

641.3 mi 12h 18m Score: 6/10 ~$116 fuel
5 tricky spots

This 641-mile drive offers a drive score of 6, with hilly terrain and moderate elevation changes up to 4,544 ft. The inclusion of park access makes it an appealing choice for scenic exploration.

Sidney, MT → Hamilton, MT

600.2 mi 11h 3m Score: 7/10 ~$109 fuel

Through: Opportunity → Phillipsburg

5 tricky spots

Evergreen, MT → Miles City, MT

595.9 mi 10h 26m Score: 8/10 ~$108 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Kalispell, MT → Miles City, MT

594.5 mi 10h 29m Score: 8/10 ~$108 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Miles City, MT → Thompson Falls, MT

588.8 mi 10h 26m Score: 8/10 ~$107 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Eureka, MT → Miles City, MT

586.3 mi 11h 34m Score: 7/10 ~$106 fuel
5 tricky spots

Kalispell, MT → Colstrip, MT

575.9 mi 10h 20m Score: 7/10 ~$104 fuel

Through: Broadus

5 tricky spots

Glendive, MT → Kalispell, MT

575 mi 10h 53m Score: 7/10 ~$104 fuel
5 tricky spots

Evergreen, MT → West Glendive, MT

571.9 mi 10h 42m Score: 7/10 ~$104 fuel
5 tricky spots

Kalispell, MT → Plentywood, MT

569.5 mi 10h 57m Score: 8/10 ~$103 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Lame Deer, MT → Whitefish, MT

568.8 mi 9h 59m Score: 8/10 ~$103 fuel

Through: Garrison

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Plentywood, MT → Evergreen, MT

567.2 mi 10h 55m Score: 8/10 ~$103 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Baker, MT → Missoula, MT

566.5 mi 10h 1m Score: 8/10 ~$103 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Bigfork, MT → Sidney, MT

565.8 mi 10h 52m Score: 9/10 ~$103 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Missoula, MT → Glendive, MT

563.9 mi 9h 22m Score: 9/10 ~$102 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Whitefish, MT → Plentywood, MT

562.9 mi 10h 51m Score: 8/10 ~$102 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Sidney, MT → Evergreen, MT

557.4 mi 10h 43m Score: 8/10 ~$101 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Lame Deer, MT → Kalispell, MT

552.4 mi 9h 39m Score: 8/10 ~$100 fuel

Through: Garrison

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Evergreen, MT → Forsyth, MT

551.9 mi 9h 42m Score: 8/10 ~$100 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Kalispell, MT → Forsyth, MT

550.5 mi 9h 46m Score: 7/10 ~$100 fuel
5 tricky spots

Miles City, MT → Pablo, MT

548.7 mi 9h 20m Score: 8/10 ~$99 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Libby, MT → Lockwood, MT

543.6 mi 9h 41m Score: 7/10 ~$99 fuel
5 tricky spots

Miles City, MT → Ronan, MT

543.6 mi 9h 13m Score: 8/10 ~$99 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Libby, MT → Billings, MT

537.7 mi 9h 37m Score: 7/10 ~$97 fuel
5 tricky spots

Dillon, MT → Sidney, MT

526.2 mi 9h 22m Score: 8/10 ~$95 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Plentywood, MT → Helena, MT

511.5 mi 9h 28m Score: 9/10 ~$93 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Helena, MT → Sidney, MT

509.5 mi 8h 51m Score: 8/10 ~$92 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

Belgrade, MT → Plentywood, MT

506.4 mi 8h 50m Score: 8/10 ~$92 fuel

Through: Sidney

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Seeley Lake, MT → Miles City, MT

502.5 mi 8h 39m Score: 8/10 ~$91 fuel
5 tricky spots High drive quality

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