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Trip from Great Falls, MT to East Helena, MT

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 36m

Distance

93.4 mi

150 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 29m ★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States

Great Falls, MT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown East Helena, MT, MT

East Helena, MT

John De Leon

Trip Overview

The drive from Great Falls, MT to East Helena, MT covers 93.4 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, US 12, Country Club Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 85.7 miles on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.80 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

46.7 miles from Great Falls, MT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway 85.7 mi 1h 22m
US 12 2.4 mi 3m
Country Club Boulevard 1.3 mi 2m
Prospect Avenue 1 mi 1m
10th Avenue South 0.7 mi 1m
West Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
I 15 BUS 0.7 mi 1m
5th Street South 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: First Special Service Force Memorial Highway — 85.7 mi, about 1h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls, MT and East Helena, MT.

1

Start on 4th Street South

162 ft · 12 sec · 4th Street South
2

Turn left onto 5th Avenue South

427 ft · 20 sec · 5th Avenue South
3

Turn right onto I 15 Business

0.4 mi · 37 sec · 5th Street South
4

Turn right onto I 15 Business; US 89; MT 3; MT 200

0.7 mi · 1 min · 10th Avenue South
5

Continue on I 15 Business; US 89; MT 3; MT 200

1.3 mi · 2 min · Country Club Boulevard
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 15 BUS

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 15 BUS
7

Merge onto I 15

86 mi · 1 hr 22 min · First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
8

Take the exit onto US 287

0.2 mi · 33 sec · US 287
Exit 192 Toward US 12 South, US 287 South: Townsend, Capitol Area
9

Turn left onto US 12; US 287

1.0 mi · 1 min · Prospect Avenue
10

Continue on US 12; US 287

2.4 mi · 3 min · US 12; US 287
11

Turn left onto Wylie Drive

174 ft · 9 sec · Wylie Drive
Use the left lane.
12

Turn right onto West Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
13

Arrive at destination

East Main Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.7 miles from Great Falls, MT, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.7 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 21 miles or 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 46.7 miles or 48m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Helena, MT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Great Falls, MT so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Great Falls, MT

This is one driving day of about 93.4 miles and 1h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Great Falls, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway for about 85.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Cascade, MT, MT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cascade, MT

47 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Cascade, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cascade, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 46.7 miles from Great Falls, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before First Special Service Force Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 85.7 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Electric City Coffee, Coffee House and Bakery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great Falls, Montana

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+14064524529

Visit website

Paniolo Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great Falls, Montana

0.4 mi

Steve's Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Helena, Montana

0.8 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Crooked Tree Coffee Downtown

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great Falls, Montana

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+14063151221

Visit website

Great Harvest Bread Co.

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great Falls, Montana

0.5 mi

Galaxy Roasting

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

East Helena, Montana

0.3 mi

Electric City Coffee, Coffee House and Bakery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+14064524529

Visit website

Paniolo Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 9 am–2 pm

+14063152565

Visit website

Steve's Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 86.7

Helena, Montana

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+14064445010

Visit website

Luna Coffee Bar

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+14066040101

Visit website

Wheat Montana Great Falls

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+14067717456

Visit website

Brian's Top Notch Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+14067274255

Visit website

Double Barrel Coffee House Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 5:30 am–2 pm

+14063152463

Visit website

Shellie's Country Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 86.7

Helena, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+14064420033

Visit website

Crooked Tree Coffee Downtown

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+14063151221

Visit website

Great Harvest Bread Co.

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

+14064526941

Visit website

Galaxy Roasting

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 93.4

East Helena, Montana

Hours: 7 am–1:30 pm

+14064312630

Visit website

honey hippo. Play Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 9 am–7 pm

+14069520209

Visit website

SheBrews Coffee on Custer

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 86.7

Helena, Montana

Hours: 5 am–7 pm

+14069961015

Visit website

Morning Light Coffee Roasters

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

+14064538443

Visit website

True Brew Espresso

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Great Falls, MT

Hours: 5:30 am–4 pm

+14067703121

Visit website

True Brew Espresso

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 5:30 am–4 pm

+14063152658

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 86.7

Helena, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 86.7

Helena, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Great Falls, Montana

+14069524444

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 86.7

Helena, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

TurnOnGreen Charging Station

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Great Falls, Montana

+15106572635

Visit website

Dearborn Rest Area

0 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.3 mi from route

Duck Pond | Gibson Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 6 am–9:30 pm

+14067711265

Visit website

Haute Hive

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+14069524663

Visit website

Bloom and Bean

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+14063151609

Visit website

Escape the Falls Escape Rooms

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 1–8:30 pm

+14062858410

Visit website

In Cahoots for Tea

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 10 am–4:30 pm

+14064522225

Visit website

ExplorationWorks

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 86.7

Helena, Montana

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14064571800

Visit website

Last Chance Tours

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 86.7

Helena, Montana

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+14064421023

Visit website

Escape Helena

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 86.7

Helena, Montana

Hours: 1–8:30 pm

+14064220321

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 92.6 — 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 | 5th Avenue South

Turn left onto 5th Avenue South

Navigation decision point

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | I 15 Business / 5th Street South

Turn right onto I 15 Business / 5th Street South

Navigation decision point

4
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | I 15 Business; US 89; MT 3; MT 200 / 10th Avenue South

Turn right onto I 15 Business; US 89; MT 3; MT 200 / 10th Avenue South

Navigation decision point

6
88.9 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in | US 287

Take the exit onto US 287 toward US 12 South, US 287 South: Townsend, Capitol Area

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 192 Toward US 12 South, US 287 South: Townsend, Cap...
5
92.6 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in | Wylie Drive

Turn left onto Wylie Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.80 one way

$29.60 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $15.51 $31.03
premium $4.53 $16.66 $33.32
diesel $5.61 $20.62 $41.24

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28 0 $9.81 $4.48
Efficient EV 23.4 0 $8.17 $3.74
EV Truck/SUV 37.4 0 $13.08 $5.98

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Great Falls, MT

Afternoon in Great Falls on Sunday

Local time

3:58 PM

MDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

East Helena, MT

Afternoon in East Helena on Sunday

Local time

3:58 PM

MDT

Current temp

23°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

32°F

Cascade, MT

47 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

45 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

1h 36m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

93.4 mi in 1h 36m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.7 mi on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 5th Avenue South.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 36m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (5th Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 15 Business / 5th Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (I 15 Business; US 89; MT 3; MT 200 / 10th Avenue South): Navigation decision point.

About the Cities

Starting in Great Falls, MT

Full guide →

Great Falls is a city in Central Montana. It is the third most populous city in Montana with approximately 60,000 people. It is the hub for commercial and financial dealings in the center of the state.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 93.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (4%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 85.7 miles on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 4 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. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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 (5th Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 15 Business / 5th Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (I 15 Business; US 89; MT 3; MT 200 / 10th Avenue South): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at East Helena, MT before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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East Helena, MT to Great Falls, MT

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