Connecting Great Falls to Lewistown is a straightforward 105.4-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 48 minutes of driving time. Because this trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have specific plans in the destination city. You can expect to spend approximately $17 on fuel for the one-way trip, making it a budget-friendly option for exploring the Mountain West. Navigating out of Great Falls involves local corridors like 5th Avenue South, 5th Street South, and 10th Avenue South before you settle into the drive. Since both cities are located within the same region, you will experience a consistent cultural and geographic atmosphere throughout the entire duration of your travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.8 miles from Great Falls, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
96.6 mi
1h 44m
10th Avenue South
5.7 mi
7m
US Highway 87
1.5 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.8 mi
2m
5th Street South
0.4 mi
<1m
5th Avenue South
<0.1 mi
<1m
6th Avenue South
<0.1 mi
<1m
4th Street South
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 96.6 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls, MT and Lewistown, 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·35 sec·5th Street South
4
Turn left onto I 15 Business; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
5.7 mi·7 min·10th Avenue South
5
Continue on US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
18 mi·18 min·US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
6
Enter roundabout
224 ft·2 sec
7
Continue
0.3 mi·20 sec
8
Turn straight onto US 87; MT 3; MT 200
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 87; MT 3; MT 200
9
Continue on US 87; US 191; MT 200
15 mi·15 min·US 87; US 191; MT 200
10
Continue on US 87; MT 200
1.5 mi·1 min·US Highway 87
11
Continue on US 87; MT 200
0.8 mi·2 min·West Main Street
12
Turn right onto 6th Avenue South
395 ft·17 sec·6th Avenue South
13
Arrive at destination
6th Avenue South
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 48 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. Since there are no designated stops on this 105.4-mile route, make sure to fuel up before leaving Great Falls to ensure you have the full $17 worth of gas ready for the trek. If you are prone to fatigue on winding roads, consider stretching your legs before you depart, as the turn-heavy nature of the drive makes mid-route stops less convenient. Keep your eyes on your navigation as you exit the local streets of Great Falls, as the transition to the regional road network requires careful attention to signage. Leveraging the short distance allows you to easily fit this trip into a morning or afternoon window without feeling rushed.
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 52.8 miles from Great Falls, MT, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.6 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 23 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.8 miles or 59m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewistown, 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 105.5 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Great Falls, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 87 for about 96.6 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
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 105.4 — 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|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
23.8 mi into trip|~28m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
105.4 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|6th Avenue South
Turn right onto 6th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.72 one way
$33.44 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$17.52
$35.05
premium
$4.53
$18.82
$37.64
diesel
$5.61
$23.29
$46.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.7
0
$11.08
$5.06
Efficient EV
26.4
0
$9.23
$4.22
EV Truck/SUV
42.2
0
$14.77
$6.75
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
Late night
in Great Falls on Sunday
Local time
5:28 AM
MDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lewistown, MT
Late night
in Lewistown on Sunday
Local time
5:28 AM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live 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
28 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 58m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating local roads that demand more attention than a standard high-speed corridor. Without the relief of long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the road keeps you engaged with its technical profile from start to finish. The character of the drive remains consistent as you transition between these two Mountain West locations, requiring you to stay alert through the various turns. It is a practical route for drivers who prefer active steering over the repetitive nature of major interstates.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 96.6 mi on US 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and 10th Avenue South. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 5th Avenue South.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Great Falls, MT to Lewistown, MT is easy. At 1h 58m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 23.8 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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.
The longest stretch is about 96.6 miles on US 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 23.8 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lewistown, MT before heading back.
