Spanning 323.4 miles across the Mountain West, this trip from Fort Belknap Agency to Missoula takes approximately 5 hours and 44 minutes of drive time. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, it demands more focus than a simple interstate cruise. You should budget about $44 for fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency and current local prices. While the entire journey can be completed in a single day, the winding nature of the path makes it a significant commitment for one sitting. It serves as a practical connection between two distinct points in Montana, offering a localized perspective of the state's geography.
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
162.2 miles from Fort Belknap Agency, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 89
148.3 mi
2h 47m
US 87
107.3 mi
1h 58m
US 2
49.1 mi
56m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9.4 mi
9m
MT 200
4.5 mi
5m
3rd Street Northwest
1.4 mi
1m
Central Avenue West
1.2 mi
1m
Old Havre Highway
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 89
— 148.3 mi, about 2h 47m
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 Fort Belknap Agency, MT and Missoula, MT.
1
Start on 1st Street
0.4 mi·1 min·1st Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 2
49 mi·56 min·US 2
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto US 87
107 mi·1 hr 58 min·US 87
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 87
297 ft·5 sec·15th Street Northeast
5
Turn right onto Old Havre Highway
0.8 mi·1 min·Old Havre Highway
6
Turn right onto Smelter Avenue Northeast
0.5 mi·42 sec·Smelter Avenue Northeast
7
Turn straight onto 3rd Street Northwest
1.4 mi·1 min·3rd Street Northwest
8
Turn right onto I 15 Business
1.2 mi·1 min·Central Avenue West
9
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi·32 sec·I 15 Business
10
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
9.4 mi·9 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
148 mi·2 hr 47 min·US 89; MT 200
Exit 290
12
Keep slight right at fork onto MT 200
4.5 mi·5 min·MT 200
13
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
14
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
206 ft·2 sec·Van Buren Street
15
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
212 ft·3 sec·Van Buren Street
16
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
92 ft·1 sec·Van Buren Street
17
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
0.1 mi·11 sec·Van Buren Street
18
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 12
0.6 mi·55 sec·East Broadway Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto North Higgins Avenue
19 ft·0 sec·North Higgins Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
North Higgins Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, plan to depart early in the day to ensure you have plenty of daylight to navigate the transitions safely. You will only have one planned stop along the way, so pack your essentials and snacks before you leave to avoid unnecessary detours. Given the duration of nearly six hours on local roads, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersection turns that characterize this route. Budgeting $44 for fuel is a good baseline, but keep an eye on your gauge as local road travel can impact consumption differently than steady highway speeds. Prioritize comfort and mental preparedness to manage the constant steering required between Fort Belknap Agency and Missoula.
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 162.2 miles from Fort Belknap Agency, MT, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.3 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 71 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.2 miles or 3h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 59m
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 Fort Belknap 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 Fort Belknap Agency, MT
This is one driving day of about 324.4 miles and 6h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Fort Belknap 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 US 89 for about 148.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 323.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 2
At end of road, turn left onto US 2
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
49.5 mi into trip|~57m in|US 87
Turn left onto US 87
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
323.4 mi into trip|~6h 4m 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
323.6 mi into trip|~6h 4m 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
323.6 mi into trip|~6h 4m 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
$50.56 one way
$101.13 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg114 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$53.30
$106.59
premium
$4.47
$57.14
$114.28
diesel
$4.80
$61.25
$122.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
97.3
1
$34.06
$15.57
Efficient EV
81.1
0
$28.39
$12.98
EV Truck/SUV
129.8
1
$45.42
$20.76
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 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
Fort Belknap Agency, MT
Night
in Fort Belknap Agency on Saturday
Local time
9:01 PM
MDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
ESE 13 to 20 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 17 at 12:23AM MDT until July 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
Missoula, MT
Night
in Missoula on Saturday
Local time
9:01 PM
MDT
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 3 mph57% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 17 at 12:23AM MDT until July 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
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
6h 6m 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?
Expect a hands-on experience behind the wheel, as this route relies entirely on local roads like 15th Street Northeast, Old Havre Highway, and Smelter Avenue Northeast rather than high-speed interstates. With a 0% highway share, you won’t be locking into cruise control for long stretches; in fact, there are no long uninterrupted highway sections to speak of. The profile is strictly turn-heavy, meaning you will be navigating local transitions frequently throughout the 323.4-mile journey. This is a road for drivers who prefer a more engaged, winding pace over the monotony of a straight-line commute.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148.3 mi on US 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 89 and US 87. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 2.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 324.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 2): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.5 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here; at 323.4 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 6m. Total distance: 324.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 148.3 miles on US 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 0.4 miles (US 2): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.5 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here; at 323.4 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 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.
