This 277.3-mile drive from Missoula to Havre, Montana, will take you about 4 hours and 43 minutes of pure driving time. It's a manageable day trip, making it easy to complete in a single day without needing an overnight stop. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $44, which is quite reasonable for the distance covered. As you travel from the Mountain West region of Montana to another part of the Mountain West, you'll experience a route characterized by frequent turns, so be prepared for a more engaging driving experience rather than a straight shot.
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
139.1 miles from Missoula, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MT 200
148.5 mi
2h 48m
15th Street Northeast
107.3 mi
1h 58m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9.5 mi
8m
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
3.9 mi
4m
US 2
3 mi
3m
3rd Street Northwest
1.4 mi
1m
Central Avenue West
1.3 mi
1m
Old Havre Highway
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
MT 200
— 148.5 mi, about 2h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Missoula, MT and Havre, 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
3.9 mi·4 min·Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit onto MT 200
148 mi·2 hr 48 min·MT 200
Toward MT 200 East: Bonner, Great Falls
7
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
0.3 mi·32 sec·US 89; MT 200
Toward I 15 South: Great Falls
8
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
9.5 mi·8 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi·30 sec·I 15 Business
Toward I 15 Business
10
Turn left onto I 15 Business
1.3 mi·1 min·Central Avenue West
11
Turn left onto 3rd Street Northwest
1.4 mi·1 min·3rd Street Northwest
12
Continue on Smelter Avenue Northeast
0.5 mi·45 sec·Smelter Avenue Northeast
13
Turn left onto Old Havre Highway
0.9 mi·1 min·Old Havre Highway
14
Turn left onto US 87
107 mi·1 hr 58 min·15th Street Northeast
15
Turn right onto US 2
3.0 mi·3 min·US 2
16
Turn right onto 1st Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·1st Avenue
17
Turn right onto 5th Street
421 ft·20 sec·5th Street
18
Turn right onto Montana Avenue
161 ft·7 sec·Montana Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Montana Avenue
Trip Plan
Given that this 277.3-mile drive is easily completed in under 5 hours, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Consider an early morning start to maximize daylight and allow ample time for any spontaneous stops. With only one recommended stop on this route and a fuel cost of approximately $44, planning around your fuel gauge is straightforward. Keep an eye on your navigation system, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you'll be making frequent adjustments. A practical tip is to ensure your GPS is updated, as the numerous turns on local roads can be easy to miss if you're not paying close attention.
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 139.1 miles from Missoula, MT, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.5 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 61 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.1 miles or 2h 38m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Havre, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Missoula, MT
This is one driving day of about 278.2 miles and 5h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Missoula, 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 200 for about 148.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 277.7 — 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
5
4.8 mi into trip|~6m in|MT 200
Take the exit onto MT 200 toward MT 200 East: Bonner, Great Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MT 200 East: Bonner, Great Falls
4
153.3 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|US 89; MT 200
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200 toward I 15 South: Great Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 15 South: Great Falls
4
163 mi into trip|~3h 3m in|I 15 Business
Take the exit onto I 15 Business toward I 15 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 15 Business
4
277.7 mi into trip|~5h 11m in|1st Avenue
Turn right onto 1st Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.08 one way
$88.17 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$46.21
$92.42
premium
$4.53
$49.63
$99.25
diesel
$5.61
$61.42
$122.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.3 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
83.5
1
$29.21
$13.35
Efficient EV
69.6
0
$24.34
$11.13
EV Truck/SUV
111.3
1
$38.95
$17.80
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Missoula, MT
Evening
in Missoula on Saturday
Local time
7:30 PM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Havre, MT
Evening
in Havre on Saturday
Local time
7:30 PM
MDT
Current temp
67°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
2 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 13m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, as indicated by the 0% highway share. The entire 277.3 miles will be on local roads, primarily utilizing East Broadway Street, Van Buren Street, and Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway. Since there's no longest uninterrupted stretch mentioned, it suggests you'll be navigating a series of turns and changes in road character throughout the 4-hour and 43-minute journey. This isn't a monotonous highway cruise; rather, it's a route that demands your attention with its winding nature.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148.5 mi on MT 200.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.
This is a straightforward 5h 13m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 4.8 miles (MT 200): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 153.3 miles (US 89; MT 200): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 13m. Total distance: 278.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 148.5 miles on MT 200. 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 0.7 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 4.8 miles (MT 200): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 153.3 miles (US 89; MT 200): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Havre, MT before the return drive.
