Townsend, MT Road Trips
With 4 routes heading out and 2 heading in, Townsend, MT works well as a modest departure point in the Mountain West. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 147-mile quick runs to 229-mile cross-state drives. Routes from Townsend, MT spread mainly east and west, covering a wide geographic range.
Photo: James Mirakian
Trip Routes
6
Longest Drive
235.3 mi
Havre, MT
Quickest Drive
2h 41m
Missoula, MT
Plan Around Townsend, MT
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Townsend, MT is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Townsend, MT
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Townsend, MT
Driving from Townsend, MT
Expect an average of 198 miles and about 3h 33m behind the wheel when leaving Townsend, MT. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 229 miles (4h 25m), while the shortest is just 147 miles.
Popular Destinations
Top road trip destinations from Townsend, MT are Evergreen, MT (228.9 mi, 4h 25m), Lockwood, MT (210.9 mi, 3h 36m), Billings, MT (205.1 mi, 3h 32m), and Missoula, MT (147.2 mi, 2h 41m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
For the average 198-mile drive from Townsend, MT, expect to burn about 7.8 gallons of fuel one way at 25 MPG. Check local pump prices before you go to lock in your budget.
Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring. Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 4 mapped routes leaving Townsend, MT and 2 routes heading into Townsend, MT, covering 6 total connections. Distances range from 147 to 229 miles.
The longest mapped route from Townsend, MT covers 229 miles and takes approximately 4h 25m. Shorter options start at just 147 miles.
The average route from Townsend, MT runs about 198 miles with a drive time of roughly 3h 33m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
The most popular road trip destinations from Townsend, MT include Evergreen, MT, Lockwood, MT, Billings, MT and Missoula, MT. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Townsend, MT by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
2,232
Median Income
$70,774
Median Home Value
$212,800
Median Age
47.6
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Townsend, MT at a Glance
Founded
1883
Elevation
3,842 ft
Area
2 mi²
Notable People from Townsend, MT
A sampling of people born in Townsend, MT.
Patrick Duffy
1949
American actor
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Townsend, MT.
St. Joseph's Catholic Mission Church
historic church in Montana, United States
City data from Wikidata (Q956048), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Townsend, MT
Townsend is a town in Montana. It is the county seat of Broadwater County and about 1,700 people live there. Townsend is at the southern tip of Canyon Ferry Reservoir, a year-round popular spot for boaters and fisherman.
Broadwater County Development Corporation website
1 Broadwater County Museum, 133 N Walnut St, ☏ +1 406-266-5252, [email protected]. May 15-Sep 15: Daily 1-5PM, closed July 4th. free. (updated Dec 2020)
1 Canyon Ferry Lake. This 25 sq mi (65 km2) reservoir is a popular recreation area, and there are multiple recreation sites around the reservoir. In the summer, it offers boating, water skiing, jet skiing, swimming, and fishing. The winter offers ice fishing. (updated Jul 2026) The area around Townsend is popular for hunting, and also offers opportunities to hike, camp, ATV, and snowmobile.
Betsy's Kitchen, 219 Broadway, ☏ +1 406 266-1444. W 11AM-8PM Th-Sa noon-9PM Su noon-7PM. (updated Dec 2020) Full Belli Deli, 209 S Front St, ☏ +1 406 266-5459. Daily 7:30AM-9PM. (updated Dec 2020) Penny's Breakfast Station, 316 N Front St, ☏ +1 406 266-9990. Daily 7AM-2PM. (updated Dec 2020)
1 Canyon Ferry Brewing, 300 Broadway, ☏ +1 406 266-9939, [email protected]. Open daily, M-Th 4-8PM, F Sa Su noon-8PM. Microbrewery with variety of beer choices. (updated Jul 2023)
Mustang Motel, 412 N Front St, ☏ +1 406 266-3491, [email protected]. (updated Dec 2020) The Silos RV Park & Campground (Townsend/Canyon Ferry Lake KOA), 81 Silos Rd, ☏ +1 406 266-3100, toll-free: +1-800-562-5904, [email protected]. (updated Dec 2020)
Townsend is at the intersection of US-12 and US-287, 34 miles southeast of Helena. From Helena, take exit 192 from Interstate 15 in Helena or exit 274 from Interstate 90 near Three Forks.
As a small town, there is no public transportation. It is easy to walk to any location.
Travel tips adapted from Townsend (Montana) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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