This 50.2-mile drive from Three Forks, MT to Cascade, MT takes about 1 hour and 34 minutes and is best suited as a single-day trip. You'll mostly be on local roads like First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, Stockett Road, and Cottonwood Coulee Road, with only a 17% share of highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $8. This route offers a straightforward connection within Montana's Mountain West region. Given its short distance and duration, it's a convenient option for a quick transit between these two locations without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
25.1 miles from Three Forks, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
21.8 mi
20m
Stockett Road
9.5 mi
22m
Cottonwood Coulee Road
8.3 mi
31m
US 87
7.7 mi
13m
Country Club Boulevard
1.3 mi
2m
I 15 BUS
0.7 mi
1m
1st Street Northwest
0.4 mi
<1m
Saint Peter's Mission Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
— 21.8 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Three Forks, MT and Cascade, MT.
1
Start on Cottonwood Coulee Road
8.3 mi·31 min·Cottonwood Coulee Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto MT 227
9.5 mi·22 min·Stockett Road
3
Turn left onto US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
7.7 mi·13 min·US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
4
Continue on I 15 Business; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
1.3 mi·2 min·Country Club Boulevard
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15 BUS
0.7 mi·1 min·I 15 BUS
6
Merge onto I 15
22 mi·20 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 256Toward MT 68: Cascade
8
Turn left onto MT 68
0.3 mi·29 sec·Saint Peter's Mission Road
9
Continue on MT 68
0.4 mi·44 sec·1st Street Northwest
10
Arrive at destination
MT 68
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 50.2-mile distance and 1 hour 34 minute duration, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can easily complete it in a single day, allowing you to depart at your leisure. With an estimated fuel cost of just $8, you won't need to worry much about refueling stops. The longest stretch without a turn is 21.8 miles, so plan for frequent adjustments to your steering. Keep an eye out for local road conditions, as these can vary more than on major highways, especially when traveling outside of peak seasons.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 25.1 miles from Three Forks, MT, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.8 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 11 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.1 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cascade, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Three Forks, MT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Three Forks, MT
This is one driving day of about 50.2 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 11 miles from Three Forks, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway for about 21.8 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.3 and 49.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.3 mi into trip|~31m in|MT 227 / Stockett Road
At end of road, turn right onto MT 227 / Stockett Road
Navigation decision point
3
17.8 mi into trip|~54m in|US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
Turn left onto US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
Navigation decision point
4
26.7 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|I 15 BUS
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15 BUS
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
49.2 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward MT 68: Cascade
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 256
Toward MT 68: Cascade
4
49.5 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|MT 68 / Saint Peter's Mission Road
Turn left onto MT 68 / Saint Peter's Mission Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.95 one way
$15.91 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg18 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$8.34
$16.68
premium
$4.53
$8.95
$17.91
diesel
$5.61
$11.08
$22.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
15.1
0
$5.27
$2.41
Efficient EV
12.6
0
$4.39
$2.01
EV Truck/SUV
20.1
0
$7.03
$3.21
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Three Forks, MT
Late night
in Three Forks on Tuesday
Local time
4:35 AM
MDT
Current temp
26°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cascade, MT
Late night
in Cascade on Tuesday
Local time
4:35 AM
MDT
Current temp
32°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
6 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
1h 34m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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, characterized by its winding nature rather than long, straight stretches. Only 17% of the total mileage involves highway driving, meaning you'll spend most of your time on less-trafficked local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.8 miles on the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before the turns pick up again. The road's personality is that of a regional connector, offering a more intimate driving experience than a major interstate.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.8 mi on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 8.3 miles in near MT 227 / Stockett Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 34m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.3 miles (MT 227 / Stockett Road): Navigation decision point; at 17.8 miles (US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200): Navigation decision point; at 26.7 miles (I 15 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 50.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 21.8 miles on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 8.3 miles (MT 227 / Stockett Road): Navigation decision point; at 17.8 miles (US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200): Navigation decision point; at 26.7 miles (I 15 BUS): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cascade, MT before heading back.
