Butte, MT to Evergreen, MT is 225.8 miles and takes about 4 hours 8 minutes via MT 83 and I-90, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This mostly highway drive stays within the Mountain West region, connecting two points in Montana. It's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day, making it a convenient option for getting between these locations without needing an overnight stay. Expect a consistent pace for most of the drive.
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
112.9 miles from Butte, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MT 83
91.1 mi
1h 43m
I 90
42.6 mi
39m
MT 141
32.5 mi
35m
MT 200
23.8 mi
25m
MT 35
15.9 mi
18m
US 12
12.9 mi
14m
I 15
2.7 mi
2m
West Iron Street
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
MT 83
— 91.1 mi, about 1h 43m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~650 veh/hr typical
· worst 901
Quietest
2 AM
~46 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 90 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Butte, MT and Evergreen, MT.
1
Start on West Iron Street
1.9 mi·3 min·West Iron Street
2
Merge onto I 15; I 90
2.7 mi·2 min·I 15; I 90
3
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
43 mi·39 min·I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
4
Take the exit
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward US 12 East: Helena, Garrison
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 12
13 mi·14 min·US 12
6
Turn sharp left onto MT 141
32 mi·35 min·MT 141
7
At end of road, turn left onto MT 200
24 mi·25 min·MT 200
8
Turn right onto MT 83
91 mi·1 hr 43 min·MT 83
9
At end of road, turn right onto MT 35
11 mi·13 min·MT 35
10
Continue on MT 35
4.5 mi·5 min·MT 35
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto Helena Flats Road
0.1 mi·19 sec·Helena Flats Road
12
Turn left onto East Evergreen Drive
1.0 mi·2 min·East Evergreen Drive
13
Turn left onto US 2
26 ft·0 sec·La Salle Road
14
Arrive at destination
US 2
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, departing Butte in the morning allows ample time to reach Evergreen before evening. The route has only one recommended stop, so consider when you might need to refuel or take a break. With 98% of the drive on highways, you can maintain a steady speed for most of the 225.8 miles. The $31 fuel estimate is based on average prices, so check current rates before you leave. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to leave a bit later if needed.
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 112.9 miles from Butte, MT, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.1 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 50 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.9 miles or 1h 58m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evergreen, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Butte, 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 Butte, MT
This is one driving day of about 225.8 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Butte, 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 83 for about 91.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.6 and 93.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.6 mi into trip|~6m in|I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 toward I 90 West: Missoula
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
5
47.2 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward US 12 East: Helena, Garrison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 East: Helena, Garrison
5
48.4 mi into trip|~48m in|US 12
At end of road, turn right onto US 12
Navigation decision point
5
61.3 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|MT 141
Turn sharp left onto MT 141
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
93.8 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|MT 200
At end of road, turn left onto MT 200
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.67 one way
$81.34 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$42.48
$84.95
premium
$5.11
$45.39
$90.78
diesel
$6.18
$54.93
$109.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.7
0
$23.71
$10.84
Efficient EV
56.5
0
$19.76
$9.03
EV Truck/SUV
90.3
1
$31.61
$14.45
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Butte, MT
Morning
in Butte on Monday
Local time
6:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
34°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Evergreen, MT
Morning
in Evergreen on Monday
Local time
6:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Sunny
E 2 mph0% chanceLive 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
25 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
4h 8m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on highways, with 98% of the route utilizing them. You'll experience a long stretch of 91.1 miles on MT 83, offering a good opportunity for consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will be minimal, occurring very late in the trip. Expect the feel of rural cruising for the majority of your time behind the wheel.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.1 mi on MT 83.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MT 83 and I 90. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in near I 90.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 8m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 47.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.4 miles (US 12): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,535 ft2,924 ft
Total Climb
597 ft
Total Descent
3,209 ft
Highest Point
5,535 ft
Elevation Range
2,612 ft
Notable High Points
4,767 ft at ~64.7 miles+140 ft prominence
4,135 ft at ~145.5 miles+191 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Butte, MT to Evergreen, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Garrison along the way.
Butte in southwest Montana, "The Richest Hill on Earth" from around 1880 to 1920, was the largest and most notorious copper boom town in the American West, home to hundreds of saloons and a famous red-light district. The city still flaunts its legacy of industry, wealth and squalor. As the sign along I-15 states:
"Butte has a most cosmopolitan population derived from the four corners of the world. She was a bold, unashamed, rootin', tootin' hell-roarin' camp in days gone by and still drinks her liquor straight."
Top landmarks
•Dumas Brothel — museum
•Butte-Anaconda Historic District — historic district in Montana, United States
•Matt's Place Drive-In — Baudenkmal und Drive-in-Restaurant in Butte im Silver Bow County, Montana
Kalispell is the largest city in the Flathead Valley of northwest Montana, near Glacier National Park. The name means "flat land above the lake" in Salish, referring to Flathead Lake just to the south, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. The city of about 25,000 people is full of shopping and restaurants.
A number of smaller towns surround Kalispell. This guide also includes additional restaurants and picturesque views in Evergreen, Lakeside, and Somers.
The longest stretch is about 91.1 miles on MT 83. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through MT can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 47.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.4 miles (US 12): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Evergreen, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
