Laurel to Great Falls is 230.2 miles and takes about 4h 24m via US 87, US 12, and US 191, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, moving from one part of Montana to another. It's a mostly highway drive, so expect straightforward travel with minimal detours. If you're looking for a direct connection between these two cities, this route covers it efficiently. Consider it a practical option for getting from point A to point B 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
115.1 miles from Laurel, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
87.5 mi
1h 38m
US 12
45.1 mi
50m
US 191
39.2 mi
42m
MT 3
38 mi
43m
Iowa Avenue
2.5 mi
2m
South Shiloh Road
2.3 mi
3m
Shiloh Road
2 mi
3m
Zimmerman Trail
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 87.5 mi, about 1h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurel, MT and Great Falls, MT.
1
Start on US 310; MT S-532
0.6 mi·55 sec·South 1st Avenue
2
Turn left
9.0 mi·10 min
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward Zoo Drive
4
Turn left onto Zoo Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Zoo Drive
5
Enter roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
12 ft·0 sec·South Shiloh Road
6
Continue on South Shiloh Road
0.3 mi·30 sec·South Shiloh Road
7
Enter roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
136 ft·2 sec·South Shiloh Road
8
Continue on South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi·51 sec·South Shiloh Road
9
Enter roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
104 ft·2 sec·South Shiloh Road
10
Continue on South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi·50 sec·South Shiloh Road
11
Enter roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
173 ft·2 sec·South Shiloh Road
12
Continue on South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi·43 sec·South Shiloh Road
13
Enter roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
90 ft·1 sec·South Shiloh Road
14
Continue on South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi·42 sec·South Shiloh Road
15
Enter roundabout onto Shiloh Road
141 ft·2 sec·Shiloh Road
16
Continue on Shiloh Road
0.5 mi·43 sec·Shiloh Road
17
Enter roundabout onto Shiloh Road
109 ft·1 sec·Shiloh Road
18
Continue on Shiloh Road
0.5 mi·42 sec·Shiloh Road
19
Enter roundabout onto Shiloh Road
127 ft·2 sec·Shiloh Road
20
Continue on Shiloh Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Shiloh Road
21
Turn right onto Rimrock Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Rimrock Road
22
Turn left onto Zimmerman Trail
1.0 mi·1 min·Zimmerman Trail
23
Enter roundabout onto MT 3
251 ft·3 sec·MT 3
24
Continue on MT 3
25 mi·28 min·MT 3
25
Continue on MT-3
2.5 mi·2 min·Iowa Avenue
26
Continue on MT 3
12 mi·14 min·MT 3
27
At end of road, turn left onto US 12; MT 3
45 mi·50 min·US 12; MT 3
28
Turn right onto US 191; MT 3
39 mi·42 min·US 191; MT 3
29
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; MT 3; MT 200
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 87; MT 3; MT 200
30
Turn slight right
0.3 mi·20 sec
31
Enter roundabout
172 ft·2 sec
32
Continue
0.1 mi·7 sec
33
Continue on US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
23 mi·29 min·US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
34
Turn right onto I 15 Business
0.4 mi·38 sec·6th Street South
35
Turn left onto 5th Avenue South
0.2 mi·39 sec·5th Avenue South
36
Turn right onto 4th Street South
162 ft·7 sec·4th Street South
37
Arrive at destination
4th Street South
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 24m driving time, it's best to start your day early to maximize daylight. The 230.2-mile trip can easily be completed in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure. Plan for one stop, perhaps midway, to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, especially considering the longest stretch without exits is 87.5 miles. The estimated fuel cost is around $36, so factor that into your budget. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly as you approach Great Falls, to ensure you have enough for the final leg.
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 115.1 miles from Laurel, MT, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.5 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 51 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.1 miles or 2h 14m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great Falls, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Laurel, 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 Laurel, MT
This is one driving day of about 230.2 miles and 4h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Laurel, 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 87.5 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.6 and 230.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
9.6 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward Zoo Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Zoo Drive
5
11.2 mi into trip|~14m in|South Shiloh Road
Enter roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
57.4 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|US 12; MT 3
At end of road, turn left onto US 12; MT 3
Navigation decision point
5
206.3 mi into trip|~3h 53m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
230.2 mi into trip|~4h 24m in|4th Street South
Turn right onto 4th Street South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.48 one way
$72.96 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$38.24
$76.47
premium
$4.53
$41.06
$82.13
diesel
$5.61
$50.83
$101.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.1
0
$24.17
$11.05
Efficient EV
57.6
0
$20.14
$9.21
EV Truck/SUV
92.1
1
$32.23
$14.73
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 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
Laurel, MT
Late night
in Laurel on Tuesday
Local time
2:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Great Falls, MT
Late night
in Great Falls on Tuesday
Local time
2:48 AM
MDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
23°F
Moore, MT
115 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
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
4h 24m 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?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 91% of the 230.2 miles on high-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 87.5 miles on US 87, offering consistent cruising. Expect rural cruising for the majority of the trip. The transition to non-highway roads will occur late in the drive, closer to your destination.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.5 mi on US 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and US 12. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 9.6 miles in.
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 24m drive. You will face about 20 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 11.2 miles (South Shiloh Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 57.4 miles (US 12; MT 3): Navigation decision point.
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.
The longest stretch is about 87.5 miles on US 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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: at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 11.2 miles (South Shiloh Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 57.4 miles (US 12; MT 3): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Great Falls, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
