How far is Great Falls, MT from Deer Lodge, MT?

The driving distance from Great Falls, MT to Deer Lodge, MT is about 143.6 miles (231.1 km), with a travel time of about 02h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 101.8 miles (163.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 11m 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
143.59 mi
02h 35m
Flight
101.82 mi
163.86 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
101.82 mi
Kilometers
163.86 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
143.59 mi
Kilometers
231.09 km
Drive Time
02h 35m

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 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Deer Lodge
Tue, Jun 2, 10:23 AM MDT
Return by in Great Falls
Tue, Jun 2, 12:59 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Great Falls
2026-06-02T07:47
Arrive Deer Lodge
Tue, Jun 2, 10:23 AM MDT
Route Timing
02h 35m
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
71.7 mi
01h 17m
To Deer Lodge
71.9 mi
01h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
57°F
Tuesday

Light Rain

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph W
Destination
62°F
Tuesday

Areas Of Fog

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls and Deer Lodge.

  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

    83.7 mi · 1 hr 20 min · First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Custer Avenue

    2062 ft · 54 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto East Custer Avenue

    1818 ft · 43 sec · East Custer Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on West Custer Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · West Custer Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Henderson Street

    1341 ft · 36 sec · Henderson Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Brady Street

    1714 ft · 58 sec · Brady Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Joslyn Street

    2756 ft · 2 min · Joslyn Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Euclid Avenue

    41.5 mi · 46 min · Euclid Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left

    2539 ft · 43 sec

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    802 ft · 14 sec

  17. 17

    Take the ramp straight

    1.4 km · 2 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    8.2 mi · 8 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward I 90 Business: Deer Lodge

    1257 ft · 32 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right

    1.5 mi · 3 min

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Saint Mary's Avenue

    1356 ft · 60 sec · Saint Mary's Avenue

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Saint Mary's Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
83.7 mi · 58%
Euclid Avenue
50.7 mi · 35%
Country Club Boulevard
1.99 mi · 1%
West Custer Avenue
1.59 mi · 1%
10th Avenue South
0.75 mi · 1%
Joslyn Street
0.52 mi
Longest Stretch

First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

83.7 mi · 01h 20m

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 35m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.8 mi
101.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Helena
01h 17m from Great Falls
Leave By
1:18 PM MDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Light Rain leaving Great Falls and Areas Of Fog near Deer Lodge.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Great Falls to Deer Lodge?

The road trip is about 143.6 miles (231.1 km) and usually takes 02h 35m 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 71.7 miles from Great Falls and 71.9 miles from Deer Lodge.

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

The direct path is about 101.8 miles (163.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.8 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 $19.74 one way or $39.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 45.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain around Great Falls and Areas Of Fog near Deer Lodge.

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 Deer Lodge. Straight-line distance: 101.82 mi (163.86 km).

Great Falls

#1 Great Falls

Town in Cascade County, Montana, United States

Population58,353
Coordinates47.5002400, -111.3008100
Altitude1015
CountryUnited States
Deer Lodge

#2 Deer Lodge

City in and the county seat of Powell County, Montana, United States

Population2,805
Coordinates46.3957600, -112.7300400
Altitude1392
CountryUnited States
Start: Great Falls (-111.30081, 47.50024)
End: Deer Lodge (-112.73004, 46.39576)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 231 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 03m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.07 gal
19.18 L · about $19.74
Round trip
$39.48
10.14 gal · 38.36 L
Estimated CO2
45.1 kg one way
Round trip: 90.1 kg / 199 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $19.74 $39.48
Mid-grade $4.23 $21.45 $42.90
Premium $4.55 $23.06 $46.13
Diesel $5.41 $27.44 $54.88

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 · Jun 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Great Falls and Deer Lodge. The current time is 07:47:39.

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.