Stretching 107.4 miles across the Mountain West, this trip from Thompson Falls to Kalispell is a straightforward journey typically requiring about 2 hours and 33 minutes of travel time. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. You can expect to spend roughly $17 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your Montana travels. The drive primarily utilizes MT 28 and US 93, moving you efficiently between these two regional hubs. Whether you are commuting or exploring, the simplicity of the route allows for a stress-free transition through the local landscape.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
53.7 miles from Thompson Falls, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MT 28
46.7 mi
1h 9m
US 93
33.9 mi
42m
Main Street
25.6 mi
38m
1st Avenue East
0.8 mi
2m
Woodland Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
3rd Street East
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Preston Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
3rd Street West
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
MT 28
— 46.7 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thompson Falls, MT and Kalispell, MT.
1
Start on Woodland Street
469 ft·21 sec·Woodland Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto East Preston Avenue
427 ft·19 sec·East Preston Avenue
3
Turn left
156 ft·7 sec
4
Continue on this road
481 ft·27 sec·this road
5
Turn left onto MT 200
26 mi·38 min·Main Street
6
Turn left onto MT 28
47 mi·1 hr 9 min·MT 28
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 93
34 mi·42 min·US 93
8
Turn right onto 1st Avenue East
0.8 mi·2 min·1st Avenue East
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto 3rd Street East
427 ft·13 sec·3rd Street East
Use the left lane.
10
Arrive at destination
3rd Street West
Trip Plan
For the best experience, plan for a one-stop itinerary to break up the 2-hour and 33-minute duration. While the drive is short enough to tackle in one go, building in a brief rest allows you to stay sharp, especially when navigating the transition onto US 93. Since this is a highway-focused route, check your fuel levels before leaving Thompson Falls to ensure you stay within your $17 budget and avoid unnecessary stops. Keep a close eye on your mileage during the 46.7-mile stretch on MT 28, as this is where you will spend the bulk of your time behind the wheel. Given the route's flexibility, you have the advantage of choosing a departure time that avoids peak traffic near Kalispell.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 53.7 miles from Thompson Falls, MT, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.7 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 24 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.7 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kalispell, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Thompson Falls, 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 Thompson Falls, MT
This is one driving day of about 107.4 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Thompson Falls, 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 28 for about 46.7 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 107.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Preston Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto East Preston Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|MT 200 / Main Street
Turn left onto MT 200 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
72.6 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|US 93
At end of road, turn left onto US 93
Navigation decision point
5
106.5 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|1st Avenue East
Turn right onto 1st Avenue East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
107.3 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|3rd Street East
Turn left onto 3rd Street East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.02 one way
$34.04 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$17.84
$35.68
premium
$4.53
$19.16
$38.32
diesel
$5.61
$23.71
$47.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.2
0
$11.28
$5.16
Efficient EV
26.9
0
$9.40
$4.30
EV Truck/SUV
43
0
$15.04
$6.87
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 12, 2026
Origin
Thompson Falls, MT
Late night
in Thompson Falls on Sunday
Local time
1:50 AM
MDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kalispell, MT
Late night
in Kalispell on Sunday
Local time
1:50 AM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SSE 1 mph16% chanceLive 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
27 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
2h 33m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 highway-focused drive balances efficiency with a steady rhythm, featuring a 75% highway share that keeps you moving toward your destination. You will navigate a variety of road types, transitioning between the open stretches of MT 28 and the connectivity of US 93. Be prepared for a significant push on MT 28, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip at 46.7 miles. As you progress, the road character shifts from regional corridors to the more bustling infrastructure approaching Kalispell. It is a practical driving experience that favors steady momentum over technical or winding backroads.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.7 mi on MT 28.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MT 28 and US 93. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Preston Avenue.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Thompson Falls, MT to Kalispell, MT is easy. At 2h 33m with 75% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Preston Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (MT 200 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 72.6 miles (US 93): Navigation decision point.
Kalispell is a town in Montana, near Glacier National Park. The name of the town means "flat land above the lake" in Salish, a Native American language. The population is about 23,000 (2016).
The longest stretch is about 46.7 miles on MT 28. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (East Preston Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (MT 200 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 72.6 miles (US 93): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kalispell, MT before heading back.
