How far is Boise, ID from Townsend, MT?

The driving distance from Boise, ID to Townsend, MT is about 508.5 miles (818.4 km), with a travel time of about 08h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 295.5 miles (475.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
508.54 mi
08h 52m
Flight
295.46 mi
475.49 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Boise.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
295.46 mi
Kilometers
475.49 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
508.54 mi
Kilometers
818.41 km
Drive Time
08h 52m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 08h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Townsend
Tue, Aug 11, 7:16 PM MDT
Return by in Boise
Wed, Aug 12, 4:08 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Boise
2026-08-11T10:24
Arrive Townsend
Tue, Aug 11, 7:16 PM MDT
Route Timing
08h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:52 PM to 4:22 PM MDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
6:16 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Boise
8:00 PM MDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Blackfoot
ID

City in Bingham County, Idaho, United States

From Boise
254.1 mi
04h 26m
To Townsend
254.5 mi
04h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
96°F
Tuesday

Sunny then Patchy Smoke

Starts
Tue, Aug 11 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph SW
Destination
84°F
Tuesday

Areas Of Smoke then Sunny

Starts
Tue, Aug 11 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
2 to 10 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Boise and Townsend.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Boise and Townsend.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    36 m · 11 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    80 m · 21 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South 6th Street

    849 ft · 39 sec · South 6th Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto West Myrtle Street

    1 km · 1 min · West Myrtle Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto South Broadway Avenue

    2.8 mi · 6 min · South Broadway Avenue

  6. 6

    Take the ramp left toward I 84 East

    2049 ft · 46 sec · Idaho Medal of Honor Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    166.5 mi · 2 hr 36 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    62.7 mi · 59 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Idaho Falls

    3046 ft · 40 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight right

    46.3 mi · 44 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 20 East, I 15: Rigby, West Yellowstone

    1434 ft · 35 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on Rigby Highway

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Rigby Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Idaho Medal of Honor Highway

    15.4 mi · 16 min · Idaho Medal of Honor Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Yellowstone Highway

    17.2 mi · 18 min · Yellowstone Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Idaho Medal of Honor Highway

    58 mi · 1 hr 9 min · Idaho Medal of Honor Highway

  16. 16

    Turn left

    9.1 mi · 12 min

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    8.6 mi · 13 min

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left

    40.3 mi · 45 min

  19. 19

    Turn straight

    137 m · 15 sec

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    76.3 mi · 1 hr 25 min

  21. 21

    Turn right

    34 m · 8 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Boise and Townsend.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
22 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
229 mi · 45%
Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
158 mi · 31%
Idaho Falls
46.9 mi · 9%
Yellowstone Highway
17.2 mi · 3%
Rigby Highway
3.13 mi · 1%
South Broadway Avenue
2.77 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

Continue on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

166 mi · 02h 36m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
08h 52m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
17h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+213 mi
295.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Blackfoot
04h 26m from Boise
Leave By
6:16 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny then Patchy Smoke leaving Boise and Areas Of Smoke then Sunny near Townsend.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Boise to Townsend?

The road trip is about 508.5 miles (818.4 km) and usually takes 08h 52m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Blackfoot is a useful midpoint, sitting about 254.1 miles from Boise and 254.5 miles from Townsend.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 295.5 miles (475.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 213 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $69.88 one way or $139.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 159.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny then Patchy Smoke around Boise and Areas Of Smoke then Sunny near Townsend.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Boise and Townsend. Straight-line distance: 295.46 mi (475.49 km).

Boise

#1 Boise

The capital of Idaho.

Population228,959
Coordinates43.6135000, -116.2034500
Altitude823
CountryUnited States
Townsend

#2 Townsend

City in Montana, USA

Population2,220
Coordinates46.3191000, -111.5208000
Altitude1171
CountryUnited States
Start: Boise (-116.20345, 43.6135)
End: Townsend (-111.5208, 46.3191)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 818 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.95 gal
67.93 L · about $69.88
Round trip
$139.76
35.9 gal · 135.86 L
Estimated CO2
159.5 kg one way
Round trip: 319 kg / 703 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $69.88 $139.76
Mid-grade $4.23 $75.95 $151.89
Premium $4.55 $81.65 $163.31
Diesel $5.41 $97.15 $194.29

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Idaho · Aug 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Boise and Townsend. The current time is 10:24:16.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.