Spanning 350.2 miles across Montana, this trek from Great Falls to West Glendive is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 6 hours and 27 minutes. You will spend the vast majority of your time on US Highway 87 and MT 200 S, making this a highly efficient, highway-focused drive. While it is certainly possible to complete the trip in a single day, be prepared for a significant amount of time behind the wheel. Budgeting approximately $55 for fuel will cover your transit across these Mountain West landscapes. Since the route stays entirely within Montana, you can expect consistent road conditions throughout the drive.
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
175.1 miles from Great Falls, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 87
196.5 mi
3h 34m
US 87
96.6 mi
1h 44m
MT 200 S
43.4 mi
46m
10th Avenue South
5.7 mi
7m
Truck Bypass
2.6 mi
3m
I 94
1.8 mi
1m
Northeast Main Street
1.1 mi
2m
5th Street South
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 87
— 196.5 mi, about 3h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls, MT and West Glendive, 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
Turn straight onto US 191
2.6 mi·3 min·Truck Bypass
11
Continue on 1st Avenue North
0.3 mi·37 sec·1st Avenue North
12
Turn left onto US 87; MT 200
0.4 mi·1 min·East Main Street
13
Continue on US 87; MT 200
1.1 mi·2 min·Northeast Main Street
14
Continue on US 87; MT 200
196 mi·3 hr 34 min·US Highway 87
15
Continue on MT 200 S
43 mi·46 min·MT 200 S
16
Continue on MT 200S
520 ft·14 sec·MT 200S
17
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
18
Merge onto I 94
1.3 mi·1 min·I 94
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward MT 16: Glendive, Sidney
20
Turn left onto MT 16
0.1 mi·18 sec·MT 16
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
22
Merge onto I 94
0.5 mi·27 sec·I 94
23
Arrive at destination
I 94
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour and 27-minute duration, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach West Glendive before dark. Although the route is manageable in one day, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the long 350.2-mile haul. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially before starting that 196.5-mile stretch on US Highway 87, as service stations may be spaced out. Since this trip is essentially a single long leg, use your flexibility to choose a mid-point rest stop that best aligns with your driving pace. Checking your tire pressure before you leave Great Falls is a smart, specific precaution for a drive of this length.
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 175.1 miles from Great Falls, MT, or about 3h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196.5 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 77 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 175.1 miles or 3h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Glendive, 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 350.2 miles and 6h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 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 Highway 87 for about 196.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 349.4 — 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
5
349 mi into trip|~6h 25m in
Take the exit toward MT 16: Glendive, Sidney
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MT 16: Glendive, Sidney
6
349.4 mi into trip|~6h 26m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.58 one way
$109.17 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$57.53
$115.07
premium
$4.47
$61.68
$123.37
diesel
$4.80
$66.12
$132.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.1
1
$36.77
$16.81
Efficient EV
87.6
1
$30.64
$14.01
EV Truck/SUV
140.1
1
$49.03
$22.41
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 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
Great Falls, MT
Night
in Great Falls on Saturday
Local time
10:19 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
SE 1 mph1% 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
West Glendive, MT
Night
in West Glendive on Saturday
Local time
10:19 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NE 5 mph21% 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
5 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 27m 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 dedicated highway experience, as 97% of your travel occurs on main roads designed for steady progress. You will spend a considerable portion of your time on a single, uninterrupted 196.5-mile stretch along US Highway 87, which defines the character of the trip. The road feels expansive and consistent, allowing you to settle into a rhythm as you transition between the regions of Montana. Because the drive is heavily focused on these primary arteries, you won't have to worry about navigating complex local detours or technical turns. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that prioritizes efficiency over winding backroads.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 196.5 mi on US Highway 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 87 and US 87. 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 27m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 10 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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
The longest stretch is about 196.5 miles on US Highway 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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.
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 West Glendive, 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. There are 5 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 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 12.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at West Glendive, MT before the return drive.
