Crow Agency to Missoula is 403 miles and takes about 6h 35m via I 90, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route covers a significant portion of Montana, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that can easily be completed in a single day if you get an early start. Consider this trip if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground across Big Sky Country without complex navigation.
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
201.5 miles from Crow Agency, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
401.6 mi
6h 32m
East Broadway Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Van Buren Street
0.2 mi
<1m
I 90 Business
0.2 mi
<1m
Makawasha Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Higgins Avenue
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 401.6 mi, about 6h 32m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~651 veh/hr typical
· worst 823
Quietest
2 AM
~40 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Crow Agency, MT and Missoula, MT.
1
Start on Makawasha Avenue
321 ft·15 sec·Makawasha Avenue
2
Turn right
0.1 mi·11 sec
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
4
Merge onto I 90; US 87; US 212
56 mi·53 min·I 90; US 87; US 212
5
Continue on I 90; US 212
113 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 90; US 212
6
Continue on I 90; US 89; US 191
7.0 mi·6 min·I 90; US 89; US 191
7
Continue on I 90; US 191
113 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 90; US 191
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
113 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
9
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
10
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
206 ft·2 sec·Van Buren Street
11
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
212 ft·3 sec·Van Buren Street
12
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
92 ft·1 sec·Van Buren Street
13
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
0.1 mi·11 sec·Van Buren Street
14
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 12
0.6 mi·55 sec·East Broadway Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto North Higgins Avenue
19 ft·0 sec·North Higgins Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
North Higgins Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 35m estimated drive time, leaving Crow Agency in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without significant town access is over 400 miles on I 90. Budgeting around $65 for fuel should cover the 403-mile trip. Since this is a single-day drive, you can decide on the fly when and where to take breaks.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 201.5 miles from Crow Agency, MT, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 401.6 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 89 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 201.5 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 37m
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 Crow Agency, 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 Crow Agency, MT
This is one driving day of about 403 miles and 6h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Crow Agency, 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 I 90 for about 401.6 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 0.1 and 402.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
289.4 mi into trip|~4h 46m 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
402 mi into trip|~6h 33m 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
402.2 mi into trip|~6h 33m 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
402.2 mi into trip|~6h 34m 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
$62.81 one way
$125.63 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg141 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$66.21
$132.42
premium
$4.47
$70.99
$141.97
diesel
$4.80
$76.09
$152.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 141 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
120.9
1
$42.32
$19.34
Efficient EV
100.8
1
$35.26
$16.12
EV Truck/SUV
161.2
2
$56.42
$25.79
Gas CO2
141 kg
EV CO2
47 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Crow Agency, MT
Evening
in Crow Agency on Saturday
Local time
7:20 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 7 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 9:14PM MDT until July 16 at 10:15PM MDT by NWS Billings MT
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 9:13PM MDT until July 16 at 9:45PM MDT by NWS Billings MT
Destination
Missoula, MT
Evening
in Missoula on Saturday
Local time
7:20 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly Clear
E 1 to 7 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 9:14PM MDT until July 16 at 10:15PM MDT by NWS Billings MT
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 9:13PM MDT until July 16 at 9:45PM MDT by NWS Billings MT
59°F
Whitehall, MT
202 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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 35m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
This land is a place to honor and reflect on the sacrifices made here on June 25 and 26, 1876, when Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors fought against a deliberate attack by the U.S. Army's 7th Cav...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
$25
Park Closure: The Park is ONLY OPEN Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for virtually the entire 403 miles, with 100% of the drive taking place on major roads like I 90, East Broadway Street, and Van Buren Street. The longest continuous stretch on I 90 spans an impressive 401.6 miles. Expect a rural cruising feel for most of the route, punctuated by the occasional town or exit. You'll transition to surface streets as you approach your destination in Missoula.
100% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 401.6 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and East Broadway Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 35m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 289.4 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 402 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Crow Agency is a town in Southeast Montana. The namesake agency is in the town. The privately-owned town of Garryowen is nearby, as is the site of the Little Bighorn battlefield.
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 401.6 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Missoula, MT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. There are 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 289.4 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 402 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.2 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.
