Forsyth, MT to Missoula, MT is 444.2 miles and takes about 7h 25m via I 90 and I 94, with a fuel budget near $71 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, traversing the state of Montana. It's a straightforward, all-highway drive that's perfect for a single-day transit between these two points. Plan for about 7.5 hours of actual driving time, not including any stops.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
222.1 miles from Forsyth, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
348.5 mi
5h 42m
I 94
93.2 mi
1h 37m
Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
East Broadway Street
0.6 mi
<1m
US 12
0.3 mi
<1m
Van Buren Street
0.2 mi
<1m
I 90 Business
0.2 mi
<1m
North 10th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 348.5 mi, about 5h 42m
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 Forsyth, MT and Missoula, MT.
1
Start on this road
83 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto North 10th Avenue
151 ft·8 sec·North 10th Avenue
3
Turn right onto Main Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
4
Turn sharp left onto US 12
0.3 mi·25 sec·US 12
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
6
Merge onto I 94
93 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 94
7
Merge onto I 90; US 87; US 212
2.8 mi·3 min·I 90; US 87; US 212
8
Continue on I 90; US 212
113 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 90; US 212
9
Continue on I 90; US 89; US 191
7.0 mi·6 min·I 90; US 89; US 191
10
Continue on I 90; US 191
113 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 90; US 191
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
113 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
12
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
13
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
206 ft·2 sec·Van Buren Street
14
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
212 ft·3 sec·Van Buren Street
15
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
92 ft·1 sec·Van Buren Street
16
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
0.1 mi·11 sec·Van Buren Street
17
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 12
0.6 mi·55 sec·East Broadway Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto North Higgins Avenue
19 ft·0 sec·North Higgins Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
North Higgins Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 7h 25m estimated drive time, starting early is recommended to maximize daylight. This route is designed for a single day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider a brief stop around the halfway point. With 2 recommended stops, you can easily break up the 444.2 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially since the longest stretch on I 90 is 348.5 miles. The $71 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to top off before embarking on such a long highway segment.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 222.1 miles from Forsyth, MT, or about 3h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 348.5 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 98 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 222.1 miles or 3h 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 6h 27m
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 Forsyth, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Forsyth, MT
This is one driving day of about 444.2 miles and 7h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 98 miles from Forsyth, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 348.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 443.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North 10th Avenue
Turn left onto North 10th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|US 12
Turn sharp left onto US 12
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
330.7 mi into trip|~5h 36m 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
443.2 mi into trip|~7h 23m 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
443.4 mi into trip|~7h 24m 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
$69.24 one way
$138.47 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg155 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$72.98
$145.96
premium
$4.47
$78.24
$156.48
diesel
$4.80
$83.87
$167.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 155.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
133.3
1
$46.64
$21.32
Efficient EV
111.1
1
$38.87
$17.77
EV Truck/SUV
177.7
2
$62.19
$28.43
Gas CO2
155 kg
EV CO2
52 kg (66% 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
Forsyth, MT
Evening
in Forsyth on Saturday
Local time
7:20 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ENE 6 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 6:47PM MDT until July 16 at 7:45PM MDT by NWS Billings MT
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 6:41PM MDT by NWS Missoula MT
Destination
Missoula, MT
Evening
in Missoula on Saturday
Local time
7:20 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
E 1 to 7 mph32% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 6:47PM MDT until July 16 at 7:45PM MDT by NWS Billings MT
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 6:41PM MDT by NWS Missoula MT
59°F
Belgrade, MT
222 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
5 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
7h 25m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a 100% highway drive, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for the entire 444.2 miles. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 348.5 miles, all on I 90. You'll experience consistent rural cruising for the bulk of the trip, with minimal transitions to surface streets.
100% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 348.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 94. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 10th Avenue.
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 7h 25m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 12 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 12): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 330.7 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 348.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 19 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: near the start (North 10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 12): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 330.7 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.8 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.
