Kalispell to Anaconda is 211.6 miles and takes about 4h 3m via MT 83, State Highway 141, and I 90, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Montana's Mountain West region, offering a straightforward drive. Most of the route is on highways, making for efficient travel between these two points. It's a good option if you're looking for a direct connection with minimal fuss.
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
105.8 miles from Kalispell, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MT 83
91.1 mi
1h 43m
State Highway 141
32.5 mi
35m
I 90
24.7 mi
23m
MT 200
23.8 mi
25m
US 12
12.9 mi
14m
MT 82
6.9 mi
8m
US 93 South
6.3 mi
8m
MT 48
6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
MT 83
— 91.1 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kalispell, MT and Anaconda, MT.
1
Start on 3rd Street West
427 ft·15 sec·3rd Street West
2
Turn right onto 1st Avenue East
0.8 mi·2 min·1st Avenue East
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto US 93
2.7 mi·4 min·US 93 South
4
Turn left onto Snowline Lane
1.0 mi·3 min·Snowline Lane
5
Turn right onto Demersville Road
0.2 mi·58 sec·Demersville Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto Rocky Cliff Drive
292 ft·19 sec·Rocky Cliff Drive
7
Turn left onto US 93
3.6 mi·4 min·US 93 South
8
Turn left onto MT 82
6.9 mi·8 min·MT 82
9
Turn right onto MT 35
0.3 mi·36 sec·MT 35
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto MT 83
91 mi·1 hr 43 min·MT 83
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto MT 200
24 mi·25 min·MT 200
12
Turn right onto MT 141
32 mi·35 min·State Highway 141
13
Turn sharp right onto US 12
13 mi·14 min·US 12
14
Turn left
0.5 mi·42 sec
15
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·13 sec·this road
16
Take the ramp
0.9 mi·1 min
17
Merge onto I 90
25 mi·23 min·I 90
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward Warm Springs, Anaconda
19
Turn right onto MT 48
148 ft·5 sec·Gas City Road
20
Turn left onto MT 48
0.8 mi·1 min·Frontage Road
21
Turn right onto MT 48
6.0 mi·8 min·MT 48
22
Turn right onto MT 1
1.6 mi·1 min·Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway
23
Continue on MT 1
0.7 mi·1 min·East Commercial Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
MT 1
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Aim to depart in the morning to have plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without significant services could be up to 91.1 miles on MT 83. Budget around $34 for fuel to cover the 211.6 miles.
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 105.8 miles from Kalispell, MT, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.1 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 47 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.8 miles or 2h 7m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anaconda, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kalispell, 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 Kalispell, MT
This is one driving day of about 211.6 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Kalispell, 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 MT 83 for about 91.1 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 163 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|1st Avenue East
Turn right onto 1st Avenue East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
4.8 mi into trip|~11m in|Rocky Cliff Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Rocky Cliff Drive
Navigation decision point
6
15.3 mi into trip|~24m in|MT 35
Turn right onto MT 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
15.6 mi into trip|~25m in|MT 83
Turn left onto MT 83
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
163 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|US 12
Turn sharp right onto US 12
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.98 one way
$65.96 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$34.76
$69.53
premium
$4.47
$37.27
$74.54
diesel
$4.80
$39.95
$79.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.5
0
$22.22
$10.16
Efficient EV
52.9
0
$18.52
$8.46
EV Truck/SUV
84.6
1
$29.62
$13.54
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Kalispell, MT
Late night
in Kalispell on Sunday
Local time
12:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
91°F
Patchy Smoke
WSW 8 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 5:50PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:49PM MDT until July 18 at 6:30PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
Anaconda, MT
Late night
in Anaconda on Sunday
Local time
12:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
89°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 9 mph37% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 5:50PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:49PM MDT until July 18 at 6:30PM 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
2 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 3m 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 be on highways for about 97% of this 211.6-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 91.1 miles on MT 83. Expect mostly highway cruising, with State Highway 141 and I 90 forming the bulk of your route. Surface roads are minimal, so plan for consistent speed limits for most of the drive.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.1 mi on MT 83.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MT 83 and State Highway 141. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 1st Avenue East.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 3m drive. You will face about 19 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (1st Avenue East): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (Rocky Cliff Drive): Navigation decision point; at 15.3 miles (MT 35): Lane positioning matters here.
Kalispell is a town in Montana, near Glacier National Park. The name of the town means "flat land above the lake" in Salish, a Native American language. The population is about 23,000 (2016).
Top landmarks
•Charles E. Conrad Mansion — mansion in Kalispell, Montana
•Fisher House — Historic house in Kalispell, USA
•Charles Boles House — single-family detached home in Kalispell, Montana
Anaconda is a city in southwestern Montana. In the 2020 census, the population was 9,400. It is located in a valley of the Deer Lodge National Forest, giving impressive views and plenty of nearby outdoor activities.
Top landmarks
•Anaconda Smelter Stack — smoke stack at Anaconda, Montana, USA
•Butte-Anaconda Historic District — historic district in Montana, United States
•Ancient Order of Hibernians Hall — former building in Anaconda, Montana, USA
The longest stretch is about 91.1 miles on MT 83. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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: at 0.1 miles (1st Avenue East): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (Rocky Cliff Drive): Navigation decision point; at 15.3 miles (MT 35): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Anaconda, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
