Livingston, MT to Thompson Falls, MT is 328.1 miles and takes about 6h 4m via I 90 and MT 200, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Montana, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making for a straightforward drive across the state. With only one recommended stop and a duration under seven hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. It's a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
164 miles from Livingston, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
232.8 mi
3h 48m
MT 200
64.7 mi
1h 36m
US 93
27.4 mi
32m
I 90 Business
2.5 mi
4m
East Park Street
0.4 mi
1m
Woodland Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Preston Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 232.8 mi, about 3h 48m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~514 veh/hr typical
· worst 730
Quietest
2 AM
~37 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livingston, MT and Thompson Falls, MT.
1
Start on I 90 Business
0.4 mi·1 min·East Park Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto I 90 Business
2.3 mi·3 min·I 90 Business
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp onto I 90 Business
0.2 mi·28 sec·I 90 Business
4
Merge onto I 90; US 191
111 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 90; US 191
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
122 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
6
Take the exit onto US 93; MT 200
0.2 mi·24 sec·US 93; MT 200
Toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93; MT 200
27 mi·31 min·US 93; MT 200
Toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
8
Turn left onto MT 200
65 mi·1 hr 36 min·MT 200
9
Turn right
505 ft·22 sec
10
Keep slight right at fork
132 ft·5 sec
11
Turn right onto East Preston Avenue
427 ft·23 sec·East Preston Avenue
12
Turn left onto Woodland Street
469 ft·20 sec·Woodland Street
13
Arrive at destination
Woodland Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6h 4m drive, consider leaving Livingston, MT early in the morning. This allows you to cover the 232.8-mile stretch on I 90 before hitting afternoon traffic. With a fuel cost estimated at $55, you should be able to find gas stations along the main highways, but it's always wise to top off your tank before leaving larger towns. Since this is a single-day trip, flexibility is key; however, be mindful of the duration and ensure you have adequate daylight to complete the drive safely. Keep an eye out for signs indicating upcoming services, especially on the longer highway segments.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164 miles from Livingston, MT, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 232.8 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 72 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164 miles or 2h 45m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thompson Falls, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Livingston, 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 Livingston, MT
This is one driving day of about 328.1 miles and 6h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Livingston, 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 I 90 for about 232.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 235.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|I 90 Business
Turn right onto I 90 Business
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in|I 90; US 191
Merge onto I 90; US 191
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
113.9 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 toward I 90 West: Missoula
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
5
235.8 mi into trip|~3h 54m in|US 93; MT 200
Take the exit onto US 93; MT 200 toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
6
235.9 mi into trip|~3h 54m in|US 93; MT 200
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93; MT 200 toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.10 one way
$118.19 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$61.72
$123.44
premium
$5.11
$65.96
$131.91
diesel
$6.18
$79.82
$159.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.4
1
$34.45
$15.75
Efficient EV
82
0
$28.71
$13.12
EV Truck/SUV
131.2
1
$45.93
$21.00
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Livingston, MT
Evening
in Livingston on Monday
Local time
8:58 PM
MDT
Current temp
37°F
Mostly Clear
N 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued October 18 at 11:53AM MDT until October 19 at 12:00PM MDT by NWS Glasgow MT
Destination
Thompson Falls, MT
Evening
in Thompson Falls on Monday
Local time
8:58 PM
MDT
Current temp
34°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued October 18 at 11:53AM MDT until October 19 at 12:00PM MDT by NWS Glasgow 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
3 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
6h 4m 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?
This route is 100% highway driving, meaning you won't encounter any surface roads for the entire 328.1 miles. The longest continuous stretch you'll navigate is 232.8 miles on I 90. You'll experience extended periods of rural cruising, so plan your stops accordingly. The transition from one major highway to the next will be seamless.
100% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 232.8 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and MT 200. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near I 90 Business.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 328.1 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (I 90 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 90; US 191): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.9 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Livingston is a city in the Yellowstone Country of Montana. It is the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Livingston is commonly called "The Gateway City" because it was the original entrance to Yellowstone.
Top landmarks
•The Murray Hotel — historic hotel in Livingston, Montana, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 4m. Total distance: 328.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 4m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 232.8 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Thompson Falls, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 0.4 miles (I 90 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 90; US 191): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.9 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Thompson Falls, MT before the return drive.
