Townsend, MT to Evergreen, MT is 228.9 miles and takes about 4h 25m via MT 83, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Mountain West region, making for a straightforward trip across Montana. You'll primarily be on highways, offering a generally efficient drive. With only one recommended stop and a duration under five hours, this trip is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing for a relaxed pace.
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
114.4 miles from Townsend, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MT 83
91.1 mi
1h 43m
South Front Street
33.1 mi
40m
MT 141
32.5 mi
35m
Euclid Avenue
29.8 mi
35m
MT 200
23.8 mi
25m
MT 35
15.9 mi
18m
East Evergreen Drive
1 mi
2m
East Lyndale Avenue
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
MT 83
— 91.1 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Townsend, MT and Evergreen, MT.
1
Start on this road
112 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto US 287
33 mi·40 min·South Front Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn right onto US 12
0.5 mi·1 min·North Montana Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 12
1.0 mi·2 min·East Lyndale Avenue
5
Continue on US 12
30 mi·35 min·Euclid Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto MT 141
32 mi·35 min·MT 141
7
At end of road, turn left onto MT 200
24 mi·25 min·MT 200
8
Turn right onto MT 83
91 mi·1 hr 43 min·MT 83
9
At end of road, turn right onto MT 35
11 mi·13 min·MT 35
10
Continue on MT 35
4.5 mi·5 min·MT 35
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto Helena Flats Road
0.1 mi·19 sec·Helena Flats Road
12
Turn left onto East Evergreen Drive
1.0 mi·2 min·East Evergreen Drive
13
Turn left onto US 2
26 ft·0 sec·La Salle Road
14
Arrive at destination
US 2
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 25m drive time, departing Townsend, MT in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. The route has just one recommended stop, so plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or where MT 83 begins to give way to smaller roads. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 91.1-mile stretch on MT 83, as services may be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost is around $40, so ensure you have enough before setting out from Townsend.
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 114.4 miles from Townsend, MT, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.1 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 50 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.4 miles or 2h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evergreen, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Townsend, 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 Townsend, MT
This is one driving day of about 228.9 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Townsend, 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 83 for about 91.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 211.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 287 / South Front Street
Turn right onto US 287 / South Front Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
33.2 mi into trip|~40m in|US 12 / North Montana Avenue
Turn right onto US 12 / North Montana Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
96.9 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|MT 200
At end of road, turn left onto MT 200
Navigation decision point
4
120.8 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|MT 83
Turn right onto MT 83
Navigation decision point
4
211.9 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|MT 35
At end of road, turn right onto MT 35
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.68 one way
$71.36 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$37.61
$75.21
premium
$4.47
$40.32
$80.64
diesel
$4.80
$43.22
$86.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.7
0
$24.03
$10.99
Efficient EV
57.2
0
$20.03
$9.16
EV Truck/SUV
91.6
1
$32.05
$14.65
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 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 18, 2026
Origin
Townsend, MT
Evening
in Townsend on Saturday
Local time
7:52 PM
MDT
Current temp
91°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 7 mph33% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 11:48AM MDT by NWS Missoula MT
Destination
Evergreen, MT
Evening
in Evergreen on Saturday
Local time
7:52 PM
MDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
S 5 to 8 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 11:48AM MDT by NWS Missoula 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 25m 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?
This drive is mostly highway, with 71% of the 228.9 miles on higher-speed roads like MT 83. You'll experience a significant stretch of 91.1 miles on MT 83 before transitioning to surface streets like South Front Street. Expect a rural cruising feel for much of the trip, with fewer exits and more open road. The latter portion of the drive will involve navigating town roads as you approach your destination.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.1 mi on MT 83.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MT 83 and South Front Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 287 / South Front Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 25m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 287 / South Front Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.2 miles (US 12 / North Montana Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 96.9 miles (MT 200): 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 91.1 miles on MT 83. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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: near the start (US 287 / South Front Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.2 miles (US 12 / North Montana Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 96.9 miles (MT 200): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Evergreen, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
