How far is Great Falls, MT from Butte, MT?

The driving distance from Great Falls, MT to Butte, MT is about 155.2 miles (249.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 118.7 miles (191.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
155.18 mi
02h 36m
Flight
118.75 mi
191.11 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Great Falls.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
118.75 mi
Kilometers
191.11 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
155.18 mi
Kilometers
249.74 km
Drive Time
02h 36m

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 02h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Butte
Thu, Apr 16, 2:41 AM MDT
Return by in Great Falls
Thu, Apr 16, 5:17 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Great Falls
2026-04-16T00:05
Arrive Butte
Thu, Apr 16, 2:41 AM MDT
Route Timing
02h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:36 AM to 12:36 PM MDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:18 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Great Falls
9:30 PM MDT
Morning start is best

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
Helena
MT

State capital of Montana, United States and seat of Lewis and Clark County

From Great Falls
77.5 mi
01h 18m
To Butte
77.7 mi
01h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
38°F
Thursday

Snow Showers Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
15 mph NW
Destination
35°F
Thursday

Snow Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Great Falls and Butte.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls and Butte.

  1. 1

    Start on 4th Street South

    49 m · 12 sec · 4th Street South

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 5th Avenue South

    130 m · 21 sec · 5th Avenue South

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 5th Street South

    1988 ft · 38 sec · 5th Street South

  4. 4

    Turn right onto 10th Avenue South

    1.2 km · 1 min · 10th Avenue South

  5. 5

    Continue on Country Club Boulevard

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Country Club Boulevard

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    1.2 km · 2 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

    150.7 mi · 2 hr 27 min · First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Montana Street

    1321 ft · 34 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto South Montana Street

    2889 ft · 57 sec · South Montana Street

  10. 10

    Turn right onto West 2nd Street

    1173 ft · 38 sec · West 2nd Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    1088 ft · 27 sec · South Main Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto West Iron Street

    21 m · 3 sec · West Iron Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Iron Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Great Falls and Butte.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
13 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
151 mi · 97%
Country Club Boulevard
1.99 mi · 1%
10th Avenue South
0.75 mi
South Montana Street
0.55 mi
5th Street South
0.38 mi
Montana Street
0.25 mi
Longest Stretch

First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

151 mi · 02h 27m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 36m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.5 mi
118.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Helena
01h 18m from Great Falls
Leave By
1:18 PM MDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Snow Showers Likely leaving Great Falls and Snow Showers near Butte.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Great Falls to Butte?

The road trip is about 155.2 miles (249.7 km) and usually takes 02h 36m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Helena is a useful midpoint, sitting about 77.5 miles from Great Falls and 77.7 miles from Butte.

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

The direct path is about 118.7 miles (191.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:18 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.33 one way or $42.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Snow Showers Likely around Great Falls and Snow Showers near Butte.

Stop Ideas Near Helena

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Helena, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Helena.

BUS

Butte, MT

76 mi away
1324 Harrison Avenue
BUS

Bozeman, MT

113 mi away
6505 Jack Rabbit Lane

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Great Falls and Butte. Straight-line distance: 118.75 mi (191.11 km).

Great Falls

#1 Great Falls

Town in Cascade County, Montana, United States

Population58,353
Coordinates47.5002400, -111.3008100
Altitude1015
CountryUnited States
Butte

#2 Butte

Consolidated city-county in Montana, United States

Population34,190
Coordinates46.0038200, -112.5347400
Altitude1688
CountryUnited States
Start: Great Falls (-111.30081, 47.50024)
End: Butte (-112.53474, 46.00382)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 250 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.48 gal
20.73 L · about $21.33
Round trip
$42.67
10.96 gal · 41.46 L
Estimated CO2
48.7 kg one way
Round trip: 97.4 kg / 215 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $21.33 $42.67
Mid-grade $4.23 $23.19 $46.37
Premium $4.55 $24.93 $49.86
Diesel $5.41 $29.66 $59.32

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 Montana · Apr 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Great Falls and Butte. The current time is 00:05:35.

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.