Missoula, MT to Glendive, MT is 563.9 miles and takes about 9h 22m via I 94, with a fuel budget near $100 and enough daylight to finish in a day.
This is a long-haul drive primarily through Montana's Mountain West region. While you'll spend most of your time on interstates, the Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway offers a brief change of pace. Consider this trip if you're looking for a straightforward route across the state, with a manageable driving time and fuel cost for a two-day trip.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
281.9 miles from Missoula, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
212.2 mi
3h 32m
I 90
123 mi
2h 3m
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
115.1 mi
1h 49m
I 15
110.8 mi
1h 51m
West Towne Street
1.1 mi
2m
East Broadway Street
0.6 mi
<1m
MT 16
0.6 mi
1m
I 90 Business
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 212.2 mi, about 3h 32m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~651 veh/hr typical
· worst 823
Quietest
2 AM
~40 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Missoula, MT and Glendive, MT.
1
Start on North Higgins Avenue
19 ft·7 sec·North Higgins Avenue
2
Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12 Bus
0.6 mi·58 sec·East Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12
435 ft·5 sec·Van Buren Street
4
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
0.2 mi·29 sec·I 90 Business; US 12
5
Merge onto I 90; US 12; MT 200
115 mi·1 hr 49 min·Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90
111 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 15; I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 90; US 89; US 191
6.9 mi·6 min·I 90; US 89; US 191
8
Continue on I 90; US 191
113 mi·1 hr 53 min·I 90; US 191
9
Continue on I 90; US 87; US 212
3.1 mi·3 min·I 90; US 87; US 212
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
212 mi·3 hr 32 min·I 94
Toward I 94 East: Bismark
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward MT 16: Glendive, Sidney
12
Turn right onto MT 16
0.6 mi·1 min·MT 16
13
Turn left onto I 94 Business
1.1 mi·2 min·West Towne Street
14
At end of road, turn left onto I 94 Business
25 ft·0 sec·Merrill Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
I 94 Business
Trip Plan
This 9h 22m drive is best split over two days to avoid fatigue. Plan to leave Missoula in the morning, aiming to cover about half the distance on your first day. With two recommended stops, you'll have opportunities to rest and refuel. Keep an eye on fuel availability, especially as you move into more rural stretches of Montana, and be aware that the longest continuous section on I 94 is over 200 miles, so plan your breaks accordingly.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 281.9 miles from Missoula, MT, or about 4h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 212.2 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 124 miles or 1h 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 281.9 miles or 4h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 281.9 miles or 4h 36m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Glendive, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Missoula, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Missoula, MT
Aim for roughly 282 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Glendive, MT
Aim for roughly 282 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 124 miles from Missoula, MT.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 212.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 562.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|I 90 Business; US 12
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
116 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|I 15; I 90
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
349.8 mi into trip|~5h 45m in|I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94 East: Bismark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 94 East: Bismark
5
562 mi into trip|~9h 18m in
Take the exit toward MT 16: Glendive, Sidney
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MT 16: Glendive, Sidney
4
562.2 mi into trip|~9h 19m in|MT 16
Turn right onto MT 16
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$87.89 one way
$175.79 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg197 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$92.64
$185.29
premium
$4.47
$99.33
$198.65
diesel
$4.80
$106.47
$212.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$88
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$218–$328
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 197.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $59 in charging
· 2 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
169.2
2
$59.21
$27.07
Efficient EV
141
1
$49.34
$22.56
EV Truck/SUV
225.6
2
$78.95
$36.09
Gas CO2
197 kg
EV CO2
66 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 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 Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Missoula, MT
Morning
in Missoula on Saturday
Local time
10:16 AM
MDT
Current temp
95°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ENE 2 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 3:23PM MDT until July 16 at 4:15PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 3:02PM MDT until July 16 at 3:30PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
Glendive, MT
Morning
in Glendive on Saturday
Local time
10:16 AM
MDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
N 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 3:23PM MDT until July 16 at 4:15PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 3:02PM MDT until July 16 at 3:30PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
62°F
Laurel, MT
372 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
9h 22m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 the highway for 79% of this 563.9-mile trip. The longest stretch without a major change in direction is 212.2 miles on I 94. Expect to transition from interstate cruising to more rural surface roads as you approach your destination.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 212.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near I 90 Business; US 12.
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 9h 22m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 10 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 116 miles (I 15; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 349.8 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Missoula is a medium size city in Western Montana with a population of about 73,000 (2020). The hub of five valleys in the northwest region of the state, or Glacier Country, the town boasts the University of Montana, the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area, and a multitude of recreational opportunities, along with an active and colorful downtown.
Top landmarks
•Fort Missoula
•Gleim Building — building in Missoula, Montana, US
•Masonic Lodge — Masonic lodge in Missoula, Montanna
Glendive, is a small town in eastern Montana, with a population 4,900 in 2019, which formed around the Yellowstone River. A part of the Lewis and Clark Trail and the Montana Dinosaur Trail, it is the smallest market in the US to have its own television station.
Top landmarks
•Glendive Dinosaur and Fossil Museum — creationist museum in Glendive, Montana, U.S
•Bell Street Bridge — road bridge in Glendive, United States of America
•Merrill Avenue Historic District — historic district
The longest stretch is about 212.2 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 282 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 21 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 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 Glendive, 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. There are 21 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 0.7 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 116 miles (I 15; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 349.8 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.4 hours each way, a round trip means 18.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Glendive, MT before the return drive.
