Great Falls, MT to Red Lodge, MT is 261 miles and takes about 5h 11m via US 87, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward drive through Montana. With most of the route on highways, it’s a practical choice if you’re looking for a direct connection between these two cities. Plan for a single day of driving to cover the 261 miles without feeling too rushed.
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
130.5 miles from Great Falls, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
81.9 mi
1h 28m
State Highway 78
45.1 mi
55m
H Avenue Northwest
43.6 mi
1h 5m
US 191
39.2 mi
42m
I 90 Business
37.7 mi
35m
10th Avenue South
5.7 mi
7m
Big Timber Loop Road
1.9 mi
2m
US 12
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 81.9 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls, MT and Red Lodge, 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
Turn right onto US 191; MT 3
39 mi·42 min·US 191; MT 3
10
Turn right onto US 12; MT 3
485 ft·8 sec·US 12; MT 3
11
Continue on US 12; US 191
1.4 mi·2 min·US 12; US 191
12
Turn left onto US 191
44 mi·1 hr 5 min·H Avenue Northwest
13
Turn left onto Boulder Street
0.2 mi·57 sec·Boulder Street
14
Turn slight left onto I 90 Business
1.9 mi·2 min·Big Timber Loop Road
15
Take the ramp onto I 90 Business
38 mi·35 min·I 90 Business
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward MT 78: Columbus
17
Turn right onto MT 78
0.7 mi·1 min·MT 78
18
At end of road, turn right onto MT 78
0.2 mi·44 sec·East Pike Avenue
19
Turn left onto MT 78
0.1 mi·23 sec·Pratten Street
20
Continue on MT 78
14 mi·16 min·State Highway 78
21
Continue on MT 78
0.7 mi·2 min·North Woodard Avenue
22
Continue on MT 78
32 mi·38 min·State Highway 78
23
Continue on MT 78
0.5 mi·1 min·3rd Street
24
Enter roundabout onto North Broadway Avenue
22 ft·0 sec·North Broadway Avenue
25
Continue on North Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North Broadway Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
US 212
Trip Plan
Departing Great Falls in the morning should give you ample time to reach Red Lodge before evening, as the drive is about 5 hours. Since this is a single-day route, you have flexibility with your departure time. The longest stretch without a major change in road is over 80 miles, so consider fueling up before that segment. There's one primary recommended stop, but with only 261 miles, you can easily adjust your timing for breaks as needed. Keep an eye on fuel prices as you plan your $43 budget.
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 130.5 miles from Great Falls, MT, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.9 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 57 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.5 miles or 2h 25m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Red Lodge, 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.
+
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 Great Falls, MT
This is one driving day of about 261 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Great Falls, 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 87 for about 81.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 213.9 — 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
5
213.7 mi into trip|~4h 10m in|MT 78 / East Pike Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto MT 78 / East Pike Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
213.9 mi into trip|~4h 11m in|MT 78 / Pratten Street
Turn left onto MT 78 / Pratten Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.68 one way
$81.36 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$42.88
$85.76
premium
$4.47
$45.97
$91.95
diesel
$4.80
$49.28
$98.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.3
0
$27.41
$12.53
Efficient EV
65.3
0
$22.84
$10.44
EV Truck/SUV
104.4
1
$36.54
$16.70
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Great Falls, MT
Late night
in Great Falls on Sunday
Local time
4:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
S 5 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Red Lodge, MT
Late night
in Red Lodge on Sunday
Local time
4:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
63°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 7 mph16% chanceLive 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
2 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
5h 11m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 spend about 79% of the 261 miles on highways, primarily US 87. The longest continuous stretch on this highway is 81.9 miles. After the highway portion, you'll transition to State Highway 78 and then Avenues Northwest, indicating a shift to more rural or local roads for the final leg. Expect mostly highway cruising with some rural road driving as you approach your destination.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.9 mi on US 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and State Highway 78. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 5th Avenue South.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 11m drive. You will face about 13 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 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.
Top landmarks
•Masonic Temple — masonic temple in Great Falls, United States of America
•Cascade County Courthouse — county courthouse in Great Falls, United States of America
•Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Passenger Depot — railway station in Great Falls, the United States of America
Red Lodge is a town in south central Montana. About 2,200 people live there. It is located in the shadow of no less than 28 different 12,000-foot peaks. This charming town is nestled in the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains and is surrounded by Custer National Forest. The 69-mile Beartooth Scenic Drive has dramatic switchbacks overlooking snow-capped peaks, glaciers, alpine lakes and plateaus and is considered by many to be one of the most scenic roads in the country.
It is conveniently located between the major airport in Billings and the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park at Cooke City.
Top landmarks
•Calvary Episcopal Church — church building in Red Lodge, Montana
The longest stretch is about 81.9 miles on US 87. 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.
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. There are 4 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 (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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Red Lodge, MT before the return drive.
