Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
52.9 mi
85 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Choteau, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Great Falls, MT
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a quick transition between Choteau and Great Falls, this 52.9-mile trip is an efficient way to navigate the Mountain West. You can easily complete the drive in about 59 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your journey primarily utilizes US Route 89 and the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, ensuring a straightforward path between these two Montana towns. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, the trip remains very affordable for most travelers. Because the route is short and uncomplicated, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that connects two distinct local hubs without the need for complex logistical planning.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| United States Route 89 | 16.8 mi | 18m |
| 1st Road Southeast | 14.7 mi | 15m |
| First Special Service Force Memorial Highway | 9.5 mi | 8m |
| US 89 | 8.1 mi | 9m |
| Central Avenue West | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Main Avenue South | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 1st Avenue North | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 5th Street North | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Choteau, MT and Great Falls, MT.
Start on US 89
Enter roundabout onto US 89
Continue on US 89
Turn straight onto US 89
Continue on US 89
Continue on US 89
At end of road, turn left onto US 89; MT 200
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
Turn left onto I 15 Business
Continue on I 15 Business
Continue on I 15 Business
Turn right onto I 15 Business
Turn right onto 4th Avenue South
Turn left onto 4th Street South
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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.
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Halfway reset
Meal breakThe midpoint is around 26.4 miles from Choteau, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 52.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Enter roundabout onto US 89 / 1st Street Southwest
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
At end of road, turn left onto US 89; MT 200
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200 toward I 15 South: Great Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit onto I 15 Business toward I 15 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn left onto 4th Street South
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$8.38 one way
$16.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $8.79 | $17.57 |
| premium | $4.53 | $9.44 | $18.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.68 | $23.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.55 | $2.54 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.41 | $3.39 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Choteau on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain
Destination
Morning in Great Falls on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
32°F
Cascade, MT
26 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition through the landscape, with roughly 48% of your journey spent on highways. The road maintains a steady pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 16.8 miles on US Route 89. You will navigate a combination of major thoroughfares like the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway and local connectors such as 1st Road Southeast. Behind the wheel, the route feels balanced, offering enough highway speed to make progress while transitioning smoothly into the road network near Great Falls. There are no mandatory stops required to complete the distance, allowing you to maintain a consistent rhythm throughout the hour-long commute.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 89 / 1st Street Southwest.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 59m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 89 / 1st Street Southwest): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 32.4 miles (US 89; MT 200): Navigation decision point; at 40.2 miles (US 89; MT 200): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
470 ft
Total Descent
960 ft
Highest Point
4,062 ft
~24.2 mi in
Elevation Range
733 ft
Notable High Points
Founded 1883
Great Falls is a city in Central Montana. It is the third most populous city in Montana with approximately 60,000 people. It is the hub for commercial and financial dealings in the center of the state.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 52.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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