How far is Great Falls, MT from East Missoula, MT?

The driving distance from Great Falls, MT to East Missoula, MT is about 163.9 miles (263.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 131.5 miles (211.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
163.94 mi
03h 07m
Flight
131.53 mi
211.68 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Great Falls.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
131.53 mi
Kilometers
211.68 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
163.94 mi
Kilometers
263.84 km
Drive Time
03h 07m

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 03h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in East Missoula
Sun, Apr 19, 2:14 AM MDT
Return by in Great Falls
Sun, Apr 19, 5:22 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Great Falls
2026-04-18T23:07
Arrive East Missoula
Sun, Apr 19, 2:14 AM MDT
Route Timing
03h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:07 AM to 11:07 AM MDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:46 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Great Falls
9:00 PM MDT
Early departure recommended

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
Dutton
MT

Town of the United States

From Great Falls
81.8 mi
01h 33m
To East Missoula
82.1 mi
01h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
8 to 16 mph SW
Destination
52°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
7 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls and East Missoula.

  1. 1

    Start on 4th Street South

    49 m · 9 sec · 4th Street South

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 5th Avenue South

    862 ft · 40 sec · 5th Avenue South

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto 2nd Street South

    686 ft · 24 sec · 2nd Street South

  4. 4

    Turn left onto 3rd Avenue South

    683 ft · 20 sec · 3rd Avenue South

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right onto River Drive South

    2365 ft · 49 sec · River Drive South

  6. 6

    Turn left onto First Avenue North Bridge

    1148 ft · 27 sec · First Avenue North Bridge

  7. 7

    Continue on Central Avenue West

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Central Avenue West

  8. 8

    Take the exit right

    1311 ft · 32 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

    9.4 mi · 9 min · First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    148.3 mi · 2 hr 48 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward East Missoula

    992 ft · 24 sec

  13. 13

    Turn sharp right onto Old Montana 200

    1973 ft · 44 sec · Old Montana 200

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Randles Street

    572 ft · 25 sec · Randles Street

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Randles Street

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
161 mi · 98%
Central Avenue West
1.6 mi · 1%
River Drive South
0.45 mi
Old Montana 200
0.37 mi
First Avenue North Bridge
0.22 mi
5th Avenue South
0.16 mi
Longest Stretch

First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

Take the exit slight right

148 mi · 02h 48m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 07m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.4 mi
131.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dutton
01h 33m from Great Falls
Leave By
10:46 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Great Falls and Sunny near East Missoula.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Great Falls to East Missoula?

The road trip is about 163.9 miles (263.8 km) and usually takes 03h 07m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Dutton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 81.8 miles from Great Falls and 82.1 miles from East Missoula.

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

The direct path is about 131.5 miles (211.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.4 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 8:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:46 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.54 one way or $45.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Great Falls and Sunny near East Missoula.

Stop Ideas Near Dutton

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Dutton, 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 Dutton.

BUS

Butte, MT

74 mi away
1324 Harrison Avenue
BUS

Missoula, MT

87 mi away
1660 West Broadway Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Great Falls and East Missoula. Straight-line distance: 131.53 mi (211.68 km).

Great Falls

#1 Great Falls

Town in Cascade County, Montana, United States

Population58,353
Coordinates47.5002400, -111.3008100
Altitude1015
CountryUnited States
East Missoula

#2 East Missoula

Census designated place

Population2,157
Coordinates46.8707600, -113.9445500
Altitude995
CountryUnited States
Start: Great Falls (-111.30081, 47.50024)
End: East Missoula (-113.94455, 46.87076)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 264 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.79 gal
21.9 L · about $22.54
Round trip
$45.08
11.58 gal · 43.8 L
Estimated CO2
51.5 kg one way
Round trip: 102.9 kg / 227 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $22.54 $45.08
Mid-grade $4.23 $24.50 $48.99
Premium $4.55 $26.34 $52.68
Diesel $5.41 $31.34 $62.67

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Great Falls and East Missoula. The current time is 23:07:34.

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.