Havre to Forsyth is 300.6 miles and takes about 7h 9m via MT 66 and US 2, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Montana, traversing the Mountain West region from north-central to south-central. The route is mostly highway driving, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. You'll encounter a good balance of open road and the occasional town, with two planned stops to break up the approximately 7-hour drive. Consider this a practical option if you need to cover ground efficiently within the state.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
150.3 miles from Havre, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
8th Avenue East
101 mi
2h 30m
MT 66
50 mi
1h 14m
US 2
45.5 mi
51m
US 87
44.6 mi
1h 3m
US 191
35.8 mi
53m
MT 19
21.5 mi
31m
West Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
1st Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
8th Avenue East
— 101 mi, about 2h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Havre, MT and Forsyth, MT.
1
Start on Montana Avenue
161 ft·11 sec·Montana Avenue
2
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.1 mi·39 sec·5th Street
3
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 2
0.8 mi·1 min·1st Street
5
Continue on US 2
45 mi·51 min·US 2
6
Turn right onto MT 66
50 mi·1 hr 14 min·MT 66
7
Turn right onto US 191
36 mi·53 min·US 191
8
Continue on MT 19
21 mi·31 min·MT 19
9
Continue on US 87
45 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 87
10
Turn left onto US 12
101 mi·2 hr 30 min·8th Avenue East
11
Continue on West Main Street
0.9 mi·1 min·West Main Street
12
Turn left onto North 10th Avenue
151 ft·8 sec·North 10th Avenue
13
Turn right
83 ft·6 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour drive time, leaving Havre in the morning is advisable to ensure you arrive in Forsyth with ample daylight. You have two designated stops, which should help break up the 300.6 miles nicely, but don't feel rushed; the 101-mile stretch on 8th Avenue East means you can find stretches for longer, uninterrupted driving if you prefer. The fuel cost is estimated at $49, so be sure to factor that into your budget and keep an eye on your gauge, especially before heading into longer rural sections. Plan your stops around available services to ensure you have fuel and rest when needed.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150.3 miles from Havre, MT, or about 3h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101 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 66 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.3 miles or 3h 28m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forsyth, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Havre, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Havre, MT
This is one driving day of about 300.6 miles and 7h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Havre, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on 8th Avenue East for about 101 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 300.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|5th Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip|~2m in|US 2 / 1st Street
Turn right onto US 2 / 1st Street
Navigation decision point
4
198.6 mi into trip|~4h 37m in|US 12 / 8th Avenue East
Turn left onto US 12 / 8th Avenue East
Navigation decision point
4
300.6 mi into trip|~7h 9m in|North 10th Avenue
Turn left onto North 10th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
300.6 mi into trip|~7h 9m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.85 one way
$93.71 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$49.39
$98.77
premium
$4.47
$52.95
$105.90
diesel
$4.80
$56.76
$113.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.2
1
$31.56
$14.43
Efficient EV
75.2
0
$26.30
$12.02
EV Truck/SUV
120.2
1
$42.08
$19.24
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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
Havre, MT
Late night
in Havre on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
97°F
Mostly Sunny
ESE 12 to 16 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 2:51PM MDT until July 17 at 3:45PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:16PM MDT until July 17 at 5:15PM MDT by NWS Billings MT
Destination
Forsyth, MT
Late night
in Forsyth on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
98°F
Mostly Sunny
E 13 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 2:51PM MDT until July 17 at 3:45PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:16PM MDT until July 17 at 5:15PM MDT by NWS Billings 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
1 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
7h 9m 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?
With 66% of this route on highways, you'll spend a significant amount of time cruising. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 101 miles on 8th Avenue East, indicating a substantial period of open-road driving. Expect a rural cruising feel for much of the trip, especially as you transition from MT 66 to US 2. The majority of the drive will be on well-maintained roads suited for steady progress.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101 mi on 8th Avenue East.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on 8th Avenue East and MT 66. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 5th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
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 7h 9m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 2 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 198.6 miles (US 12 / 8th Avenue East): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,923 ft2,364 ft
Total Climb
2,616 ft
Total Descent
2,619 ft
Highest Point
3,923 ft
~85.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,559 ft
Notable High Points
3,923 ft at ~85.9 miles+995 ft prominence
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
The longest stretch is about 101 miles on 8th Avenue East. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Forsyth, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 2 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 198.6 miles (US 12 / 8th Avenue East): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Forsyth, MT before the return drive.
