Embark on a 299.9-mile journey from Chinook, Montana, to Missoula, Montana, a drive that will take approximately 5 hours and 38 minutes. This single-day trip is designed as a straightforward highway-focused experience, with 87% of the route utilizing major roadways. You can expect a fuel cost of around $48 for this stretch. The drive connects two locations within the Mountain West region, offering a consistent landscape throughout. Given its manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single day of travel.
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
149.9 miles from Chinook, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 89
148.3 mi
2h 47m
US 87
107.3 mi
1h 58m
1st Street West
24.7 mi
28m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9.4 mi
9m
MT 200
4.5 mi
5m
3rd Street Northwest
1.4 mi
1m
Central Avenue West
1.2 mi
1m
Old Havre Highway
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 89
— 148.3 mi, about 2h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chinook, MT and Missoula, MT.
1
Start on Indiana Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Indiana Street
2
Turn left onto US 2
25 mi·28 min·1st Street West
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto US 87
107 mi·1 hr 58 min·US 87
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 87
297 ft·5 sec·15th Street Northeast
5
Turn right onto Old Havre Highway
0.8 mi·1 min·Old Havre Highway
6
Turn right onto Smelter Avenue Northeast
0.5 mi·42 sec·Smelter Avenue Northeast
7
Turn straight onto 3rd Street Northwest
1.4 mi·1 min·3rd Street Northwest
8
Turn right onto I 15 Business
1.2 mi·1 min·Central Avenue West
9
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi·32 sec·I 15 Business
10
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
9.4 mi·9 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
148 mi·2 hr 47 min·US 89; MT 200
Exit 290
12
Keep slight right at fork onto MT 200
4.5 mi·5 min·MT 200
13
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
0.2 mi·26 sec·I 90 Business; US 12
Toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
14
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
206 ft·2 sec·Van Buren Street
15
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
212 ft·3 sec·Van Buren Street
16
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
92 ft·1 sec·Van Buren Street
17
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
0.1 mi·11 sec·Van Buren Street
18
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 12
0.6 mi·55 sec·East Broadway Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto North Higgins Avenue
19 ft·0 sec·North Higgins Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
North Higgins Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 38-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop, you'll have plenty of flexibility to break up the 299.9 miles as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 148.3 miles on US 89, to ensure you have ample gas. The estimated fuel cost of $48 is a helpful budget marker for planning. Given the single-day nature of this trip, you can easily adjust your timing based on road conditions or personal preference.
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 149.9 miles from Chinook, MT, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.3 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 66 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.9 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Missoula, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chinook, 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 Chinook, MT
This is one driving day of about 299.9 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Chinook, 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 US 89 for about 148.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 299.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|US 2 / 1st Street West
Turn left onto US 2 / 1st Street West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
25.1 mi into trip|~29m in|US 87
Turn left onto US 87
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
298.9 mi into trip|~5h 36m in|I 90 Business; US 12
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12 toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
5
299.1 mi into trip|~5h 36m in|I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
299.2 mi into trip|~5h 36m in|I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.52 one way
$95.05 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$49.81
$99.63
premium
$4.53
$53.50
$107.00
diesel
$5.61
$66.21
$132.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90
1
$31.49
$14.40
Efficient EV
75
0
$26.24
$12.00
EV Truck/SUV
120
1
$41.99
$19.19
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Chinook, MT
Night
in Chinook on Saturday
Local time
10:43 PM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Sunny
WNW 9 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Missoula, MT
Night
in Missoula on Saturday
Local time
10:43 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 3 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
3 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
5h 38m 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 route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with the vast majority of your time spent on established roadways. You'll encounter 87% highway travel, meaning you'll experience consistent speeds for much of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 148.3 miles, primarily on US 89. This offers a good balance of steady progress and the ability to cover significant ground without frequent turns. The character of the road remains largely consistent, facilitating a predictable driving experience.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148.3 mi on US 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 89 and US 87. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 2 / 1st Street West.
Driving Effort5/10
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 299.9 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 0.3 miles (US 2 / 1st Street West): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here; at 298.9 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 38m. Total distance: 299.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 148.3 miles on US 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 0.3 miles (US 2 / 1st Street West): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here; at 298.9 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Missoula, MT before the return drive.
