Great Falls, MT to West Yellowstone, MT is 269.1 miles and takes about 4h 52m via US 287, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you through the Mountain West region, transitioning from generally open country to areas closer to mountainous terrain as you approach your destination. With a relatively short drive time and a manageable fuel cost, this route is a straightforward option for a single-day transit. You'll spend most of your time on main highways, making for a predictable and efficient journey.
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
134.6 miles from Great Falls, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 287
136.5 mi
2h 31m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
85.7 mi
1h 22m
US 12
34.1 mi
40m
Gallatin Road
8.2 mi
9m
Country Club Boulevard
1.3 mi
2m
Prospect Avenue
1 mi
1m
10th Avenue South
0.7 mi
1m
I 15 BUS
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 287
— 136.5 mi, about 2h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls, MT and West Yellowstone, 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 192Toward 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
3.6 mi·5 min·US 12; US 287
11
Continue on US 12; US 287
0.3 mi·26 sec·US 12; US 287
12
Continue on US 12; US 287
30 mi·34 min·US 12; US 287
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 287
2.3 mi·2 min·US 287
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 287
1.2 mi·1 min·US 287
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 287
1.4 mi·1 min·US 287
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 287
68 mi·1 hr 16 min·US 287
Use the straight lane.
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 287
63 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 287
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 191 US 287
8.2 mi·9 min·Gallatin Road
19
Continue on US 191; US 287
0.2 mi·32 sec·North Canyon Street
20
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·45 sec·Firehole Avenue
21
Turn left onto Electric Street
39 ft·1 sec·Electric Street
22
Arrive at destination
Electric Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 52m drive time, leaving Great Falls in the morning will allow you to reach West Yellowstone with plenty of daylight remaining. The longest stretch without a major town is 136.5 miles on US 287, so plan your fuel stops accordingly; while the total fuel cost is estimated at $43, it's always wise to top off before heading into longer, less populated segments. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to make it a quick transit or pause longer if needed. Keep an eye on road conditions, especially as you approach the mountainous areas near West Yellowstone.
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 134.6 miles from Great Falls, MT, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.5 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 59 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.6 miles or 2h 22m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Yellowstone, 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 269.1 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 287 for about 136.5 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 268.9 — 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
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
197.7 mi into trip|~3h 33m in|US 287
At end of road, turn left onto US 287
Navigation decision point
5
260.6 mi into trip|~4h 42m in|US 191 US 287 / Gallatin Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 191 US 287 / Gallatin Road
Navigation decision point
5
268.9 mi into trip|~4h 51m in|US 20 / Firehole Avenue
Turn right onto US 20 / Firehole Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.64 one way
$85.29 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$44.70
$89.40
premium
$4.53
$48.00
$96.01
diesel
$5.61
$59.41
$118.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.7
0
$28.26
$12.92
Efficient EV
67.3
0
$23.55
$10.76
EV Truck/SUV
107.6
1
$37.67
$17.22
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Great Falls, MT
Late night
in Great Falls on Tuesday
Local time
2:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Yellowstone, MT
Late night
in West Yellowstone on Tuesday
Local time
2:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Belgrade, MT
135 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
4h 52m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Yellowstone National Park
National Park
On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal wonders. Today, millions of people come here each year to camp, hike, and enjoy the majesty of the...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
$35
near mile 269.1
Park Closure: Select Roads Open to Regular Vehicles
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 64% of the drive on high-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 136.5 miles on US 287, which offers a consistent cruising experience. The remaining portion will involve lower-speed surface roads as you get closer to West Yellowstone. Expect a rural feel for much of the drive, with fewer exits and more open spaces.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 136.5 mi on US 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 287 and First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 5th Avenue South.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 52m drive. You will face about 10 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 88.9 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 197.7 miles (US 287): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Great Falls, MT to West Yellowstone, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Capitol Area along the way.
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.
West Yellowstone, Montana, is a rustic mountain town nestled between National Forest lands and is the gateway to Yellowstone National Park. It is only a mile from the park entrance, and the town's airport is the closest to the park, and to attractions like Old Faithful.
The longest stretch is about 136.5 miles on US 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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: near the start (5th Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 88.9 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 197.7 miles (US 287): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Yellowstone National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at West Yellowstone, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
