Fort Benton to Missoula is 205.3 miles and takes about 3h 53m via US 89, US 87, and the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, traversing Montana from start to finish. Given its mostly highway profile, expect a straightforward drive with minimal delays. It's a solid option if you're looking for a direct route across the state, allowing for a full day of travel without feeling rushed.
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
102.6 miles from Fort Benton, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 89
148.3 mi
2h 47m
US 87
35.7 mi
38m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9.4 mi
9m
MT 200
4.5 mi
5m
3rd Street Northwest
1.4 mi
1m
MT 386
1.4 mi
2m
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 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~393 veh/hr typical
· worst 526
Quietest
1 AM
~14 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
28.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Benton, MT and Missoula, MT.
1
Start on this road
79 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right
193 ft·19 sec
3
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·54 sec·Main Street
4
Turn right onto 12th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·12th Street
5
Turn left onto MT 386
383 ft·10 sec·Saint Charles Street
6
Continue on MT 386
1.4 mi·2 min·MT 386
7
Turn left onto US 87
36 mi·38 min·US 87
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 87
297 ft·5 sec·15th Street Northeast
9
Turn right onto Old Havre Highway
0.8 mi·1 min·Old Havre Highway
10
Turn right onto Smelter Avenue Northeast
0.5 mi·42 sec·Smelter Avenue Northeast
11
Turn straight onto 3rd Street Northwest
1.4 mi·1 min·3rd Street Northwest
12
Turn right onto I 15 Business
1.2 mi·1 min·Central Avenue West
13
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi·32 sec·I 15 Business
14
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
9.4 mi·9 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
15
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
148 mi·2 hr 47 min·US 89; MT 200
Exit 290
16
Keep slight right at fork onto MT 200
4.5 mi·5 min·MT 200
17
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
18
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
206 ft·2 sec·Van Buren Street
19
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
212 ft·3 sec·Van Buren Street
20
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
92 ft·1 sec·Van Buren Street
21
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
0.1 mi·11 sec·Van Buren Street
22
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 12
0.6 mi·55 sec·East Broadway Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
23
Turn right onto North Higgins Avenue
19 ft·0 sec·North Higgins Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
North Higgins Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive time under four hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for a leisurely pace. You'll encounter only one suggested stop, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 148.3-mile stretch on US 89, as services may be spaced out. Since it's a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to stop more often if needed, but the direct highway nature means you can also make good time.
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 102.6 miles from Fort Benton, MT, or about 1h 56m 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 45 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.6 miles or 1h 56m 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 11m
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 Benton, 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 Benton, MT
This is one driving day of about 205.3 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Fort Benton, 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 204.5 — 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|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip|~2m in|MT 386 / Saint Charles Street
Turn left onto MT 386 / Saint Charles Street
Navigation decision point
5
2 mi into trip|~5m in|US 87
Turn left onto US 87
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
204.3 mi into trip|~3h 52m 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
204.5 mi into trip|~3h 52m 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
$36.98 one way
$73.96 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$38.62
$77.24
premium
$5.11
$41.27
$82.54
diesel
$6.18
$49.94
$99.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.6
0
$21.56
$9.85
Efficient EV
51.3
0
$17.96
$8.21
EV Truck/SUV
82.1
1
$28.74
$13.14
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Fort Benton, MT
Morning
in Fort Benton on Saturday
Local time
7:49 AM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
SSW 2 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
High Wind Watch
High Wind Watch issued October 15 at 10:57PM MDT until October 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
Missoula, MT
Morning
in Missoula on Saturday
Local time
7:49 AM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny
SE 0 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
High Wind Watch
High Wind Watch issued October 15 at 10:57PM MDT until October 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
45°F
Lincoln, MT
103 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
6 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
3h 53m 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 be on highways for 93% of this 205.3-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on highways is 148.3 miles, primarily on US 89. This means you'll experience a significant amount of rural cruising with fewer exits and services. Expect the transition from highway to surface roads to occur later in the drive, offering a consistent driving experience for most of the trip.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 89 and US 87. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Main Street.
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 53m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (MT 386 / Saint Charles Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here.
Missoula is a medium-sized 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 Recreation 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 148.3 miles on US 89. 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.
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 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (MT 386 / Saint Charles Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Missoula, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
