If you are planning to travel from Evergreen to Three Forks, expect a 246.9-mile journey that typically takes about 5 hours and 20 minutes of driving time. This trip stays entirely within the Mountain West region of Montana, making it a straightforward trek across the state. Because the total duration is manageable, you can easily complete this as a single-day trip without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $39 for fuel to cover the distance. Since the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it is best suited for drivers who prefer a more hands-on, turn-heavy experience over high-speed highway cruising.
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
123.5 miles from Evergreen, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Route 2
80.1 mi
1h 30m
US 89
76.4 mi
1h 26m
United States Route 89
16.8 mi
18m
1st Road Southeast
14.7 mi
15m
MT 206
9.7 mi
12m
Stockett Road
9.5 mi
23m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9.5 mi
8m
Cottonwood Coulee Road
8.3 mi
31m
Longest stretch:
US Route 2
— 80.1 mi, about 1h 30m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~391 veh/hr typical
· worst 507
Quietest
1 AM
~14 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
27.9×
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 Evergreen, MT and Three Forks, MT.
1
Start on US 2
26 ft·3 sec·La Salle Road
2
Turn right onto East Evergreen Drive
1.0 mi·2 min·East Evergreen Drive
3
Turn right onto Helena Flats Road
0.1 mi·21 sec·Helena Flats Road
4
Turn left onto MT 35
1.1 mi·1 min·MT 35
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on MT 35
3.3 mi·4 min·MT 35
6
Turn left onto MT 206
9.7 mi·12 min·MT 206
Use the left lane.
7
At end of road, turn right onto US 2
1.7 mi·2 min·US 2
8
Continue on US 2
80 mi·1 hr 30 min·US Route 2
9
Enter roundabout onto US 2; US 89
24 ft·0 sec·US 2; US 89
10
Continue on US 2; US 89
3.7 mi·6 min·US 2; US 89
11
Turn straight onto US 89
68 mi·1 hr 16 min·US 89
12
Enter roundabout onto US 89
526 ft·19 sec·1st Street Southwest
13
Continue on US 89
107 ft·1 sec·1st Street Southwest
14
Turn straight onto US 89
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Avenue South
15
Continue on US 89
17 mi·18 min·United States Route 89
16
Continue on US 89
15 mi·15 min·1st Road Southeast
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 89; MT 200
7.9 mi·9 min·US 89; MT 200
18
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
0.3 mi·32 sec·US 89; MT 200
Toward I 15 South: Great Falls
19
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
9.5 mi·8 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
20
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi·30 sec·I 15 Business
Toward I 15 Business
21
Turn left onto I 15 Business
1.5 mi·1 min·Central Avenue West
22
Continue on I 15 Business
0.2 mi·17 sec·First Avenue North Bridge
23
Continue on I 15 Business
1.2 mi·2 min·1st Avenue North
24
Turn right onto US 87
0.8 mi·1 min·14th Street North
25
Turn left onto US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
6.2 mi·7 min·10th Avenue South
26
Turn right onto MT 227
9.5 mi·23 min·Stockett Road
27
Turn left onto Cottonwood Coulee Road
4.1 mi·15 min·Cottonwood Coulee Road
28
Continue on Cottonwood Coulee Road
1.8 mi·6 min·Cottonwood Coulee Road
29
Continue on Cottonwood Coulee Road
2.4 mi·9 min·Cottonwood Coulee Road
30
Arrive at destination
Cottonwood Coulee Road
Trip Plan
Since this 246.9-mile route is composed entirely of local roads, you should plan for a flexible schedule that allows for slower speeds than you might find on a typical interstate. Aim to depart early in the day to ensure you have plenty of daylight for navigating the turns, and keep in mind that you have one planned stop available to stretch your legs or refuel. With a fuel cost of $39, it is wise to top off your tank before leaving Evergreen to avoid any stress during the trip. Because the route is turn-heavy, pay close attention to road signage on East Evergreen Drive and Helena Flats Road to ensure you stay on track throughout the drive.
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 123.5 miles from Evergreen, MT, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.1 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 54 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.5 miles or 2h 25m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Three Forks, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Evergreen, 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 Evergreen, MT
This is one driving day of about 246.9 miles and 5h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Evergreen, 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 Route 2 for about 80.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First break
4.2 mi from route
~10 min detour
$10 to $20
Columbia Falls, Montana
+14068972212
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 97.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1 mi into trip|~2m in|Helena Flats Road
Turn right onto Helena Flats Road
Navigation decision point
6
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|MT 35
Turn left onto MT 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
5.6 mi into trip|~8m in|MT 206
Turn left onto MT 206
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
15.3 mi into trip|~20m in|US 2
At end of road, turn right onto US 2
Navigation decision point
4
97.1 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|US 2; US 89
Enter roundabout onto US 2; US 89
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.40 one way
$86.80 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$45.38
$90.77
premium
$4.99
$48.51
$97.01
diesel
$5.35
$52.00
$104.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.1
0
$25.92
$11.85
Efficient EV
61.7
0
$21.60
$9.88
EV Truck/SUV
98.8
1
$34.57
$15.80
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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 May 22, 2026
Origin
Evergreen, MT
Afternoon
in Evergreen on Wednesday
Local time
1:00 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Three Forks, MT
Afternoon
in Three Forks on Wednesday
Local time
1:00 PM
MDT
Current temp
37°F
Partly Cloudy
SSW 8 mph7% 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
2 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
5h 20m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Glacier National Park
National Park
A showcase of melting glaciers, alpine meadows, carved valleys, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a paradise for adventurous visitors seeking a landscape steeped in huma...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
$35
near mile 34.1
Park Closure: Going-to-the-Sun Road Seasonal Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a technical drive that requires your full attention, as the route avoids major interstates entirely with a 0% highway share. You will navigate via East Evergreen Drive, Helena Flats Road, and US 2, which creates a turn-heavy local driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate grind. Because the path relies on these smaller roads, you will experience a much more intimate view of the landscape than you would on a standard highway. Expect a consistent pace as you transition through the local road network, necessitating steady focus behind the wheel for the duration of the 5-hour and 20-minute journey.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.1 mi on US Route 2.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Route 2 and US 89. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Helena Flats Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 20m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Helena Flats Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (MT 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles (MT 206): Lane positioning matters here.
Kalispell is a town in Montana, near Glacier National Park. The name of the town means "flat land above the lake" in Salish, a Native American language. The population is about 23,000 (2016).
The longest stretch is about 80.1 miles on US Route 2. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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.
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 2 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 1 miles (Helena Flats Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (MT 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles (MT 206): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Glacier National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Three Forks, MT before the return drive.
