Origin
Lewistown, MT
Afternoon in Lewistown on Sunday
Local time
4:02 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lewistown, MT to Missoula, MT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 7m
Distance
271.5 mi
437 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 54m
★
6 AM
5h 8m
8 AM
5h 35m
10 AM
5h 17m
12 PM
5h 15m
3 PM
5h 19m
5 PM
5h 34m
8 PM
5h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lewistown, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Missoula, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lewistown, MT to Missoula, MT covers 271.5 miles and takes about 5h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 89, US 87, US Highway 87 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 148.3 miles on US 89. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.02 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
135.8 miles from Lewistown, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 89 | 148.3 mi | 2h 47m |
| US 87 | 83.6 mi | 1h 30m |
| US Highway 87 | 16.1 mi | 17m |
| First Special Service Force Memorial Highway | 9.4 mi | 9m |
| MT 200 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| 2nd Avenue North | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| Central Avenue West | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| 57th Street South | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 89
— 148.3 mi, about 2h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lewistown, MT and Missoula, MT.
1
Start on 6th Avenue South
395 ft
·
22 sec
·
6th Avenue South
2
Turn left onto US 87; MT 200
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on US 87; MT 200
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
US Highway 87
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; US 191; MT 200
15 mi
·
15 min
·
US Highway 87
5
Continue on US 87; MT 3; MT 200
64 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
US 87; MT 3; MT 200
6
Turn slight right
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
7
Enter roundabout
172 ft
·
2 sec
8
Continue
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
9
Continue on US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
19 mi
·
20 min
·
US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
10
Turn right onto US 87 Bypass
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
57th Street South
11
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
2nd Avenue North
12
At end of road, turn left onto I 15 Business
240 ft
·
4 sec
·
Park Drive North
13
Turn right onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
1st Avenue North
14
Continue on I 15 Business
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
First Avenue North Bridge
15
Continue on I 15 Business
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue West
16
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 15 Business
17
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
9.4 mi
·
9 min
·
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
18
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
148 mi
·
2 hr 47 min
·
US 89; MT 200
Exit 290
19
Keep slight right at fork onto MT 200
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
MT 200
20
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 90 Business; US 12
Toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
21
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
206 ft
·
2 sec
·
Van Buren Street
22
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
212 ft
·
3 sec
·
Van Buren Street
23
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
92 ft
·
1 sec
·
Van Buren Street
24
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Van Buren Street
25
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 12
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Broadway Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
26
Turn right onto North Higgins Avenue
19 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Higgins Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
North Higgins Avenue
Trip Plan
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 135.8 miles from Lewistown, MT, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.3 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 60 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.8 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Missoula, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lewistown, 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 Lewistown, MT
This is one driving day of about 271.5 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Lewistown, 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 89 for about 148.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
136 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 135.8 miles from Lewistown, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 89 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 148.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 81.6 and 270.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
81.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
106.3 mi into trip
|
~2h in
|
I 15 Business / Park Drive North
At end of road, turn left onto I 15 Business / Park Drive North
Navigation decision point
5
270.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 6m in
|
I 90 Business; US 12
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12 toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
5
270.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 6m in
|
I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
270.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 6m in
|
I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.02 one way
$86.05 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
95 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $45.10 | $90.19 |
| premium | $4.53 | $48.43 | $96.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $59.94 | $119.89 |
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: 95 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.5 | 1 | $28.51 | $13.03 |
| Efficient EV | 67.9 | 0 | $23.76 | $10.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 108.6 | 1 | $38.01 | $17.38 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Missoula, MT
Afternoon in Missoula on Sunday
Local time
4:02 PM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
25 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
5h 7m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
271.5 mi in 5h 7m, mostly highway — 148.3 mi of that is on US 89.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148.3 mi on US 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 89 and US 87. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 81.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 7m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 81.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 106.3 miles (I 15 Business / Park Drive North): Navigation decision point; at 270.6 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,319 ft
3,209 ft
Total Climb
2,363 ft
Total Descent
3,097 ft
Highest Point
5,319 ft
~174.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,110 ft
Notable High Points
4,282 ft at ~58.2 miles
+8 ft prominence
5,319 ft at ~174.6 miles
+777 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 271.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 148.3 miles on US 89. 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.
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. 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: at 81.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 106.3 miles (I 15 Business / Park Drive North): Navigation decision point; at 270.6 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Missoula, MT before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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