Conrad to Missoula is 202 miles and takes about 3h 40m via US 89 and MT 200, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Montana, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. It's a mostly highway trip that should be straightforward to navigate. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this drive is well-suited for a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
101 miles from Conrad, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 89
147.8 mi
2h 46m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
47.2 mi
44m
MT 200
4.5 mi
5m
South Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
East Broadway Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Van Buren Street
0.2 mi
<1m
I 90 Business
0.2 mi
<1m
North Higgins Avenue
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 89
— 147.8 mi, about 2h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Conrad, MT and Missoula, MT.
1
Start on I 15 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·South Main Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
3
Merge onto I 15
47 mi·44 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 290
5
Merge onto US 89; MT 200
148 mi·2 hr 46 min·US 89; MT 200
6
Keep slight right at fork onto MT 200
4.5 mi·5 min·MT 200
7
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
8
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
206 ft·2 sec·Van Buren Street
9
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
212 ft·3 sec·Van Buren Street
10
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
92 ft·1 sec·Van Buren Street
11
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
0.1 mi·11 sec·Van Buren Street
12
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 12
0.6 mi·55 sec·East Broadway Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto North Higgins Avenue
19 ft·0 sec·North Higgins Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
North Higgins Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 3h 40m drive, leaving Conrad in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Missoula. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with your stop timing. There's one recommended stop, but you can adjust based on your needs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 147.8-mile segment on US 89, as services might be spaced out.
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 101 miles from Conrad, MT, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 147.8 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 44 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 58m
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 Conrad, 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 Conrad, MT
This is one driving day of about 202 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Conrad, 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 147.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 48.4 and 201.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
48.4 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 290
5
201 mi into trip|~3h 39m 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
201.2 mi into trip|~3h 39m 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
201.3 mi into trip|~3h 39m 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
201.4 mi into trip|~3h 39m in|I 90 Bus; US 12 / East Broadway Street
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 12 / East Broadway Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.48 one way
$62.97 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$33.19
$66.37
premium
$4.47
$35.58
$71.16
diesel
$4.80
$38.14
$76.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.6
0
$21.21
$9.70
Efficient EV
50.5
0
$17.68
$8.08
EV Truck/SUV
80.8
1
$28.28
$12.93
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 14, 2026
Origin
Conrad, MT
Late night
in Conrad on Saturday
Local time
5:24 AM
MDT
Current temp
63°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
S 2 to 7 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 13 at 8:11PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 13 at 3:12PM MDT until July 15 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Billings MT
Destination
Missoula, MT
Late night
in Missoula on Saturday
Local time
5:24 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNE 1 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 13 at 8:11PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 13 at 3:12PM MDT until July 15 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Billings MT
53°F
Lincoln, MT
101 mi in
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
1 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
3h 40m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 76% of the 202 miles on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 147.8 miles on US 89. This means you'll experience significant highway cruising before transitioning to other roads. Expect relatively uninterrupted travel for the majority of your trip, with fewer exits and more open road as you cover the distance.
76% 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: 147.8 mi on US 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 89 and First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 48.4 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 40m 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 48.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 201 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 201.2 miles (I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Missoula is a medium size city in Western Montana with a population of about 73,000 (2020). The hub of five valleys in the northwest region of the state, or Glacier Country, the town boasts the University of Montana, the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area, and a multitude of recreational opportunities, along with an active and colorful downtown.
Top landmarks
•Fort Missoula
•Gleim Building — building in Missoula, Montana, US
•Masonic Lodge — Masonic lodge in Missoula, Montanna
The longest stretch is about 147.8 miles on US 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 48.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 201 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 201.2 miles (I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Missoula, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
