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

The driving distance from Great Falls, MT to Thompson Falls, MT is about 266.6 miles (429 km), with a travel time of about 05h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 188.4 miles (303.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 54m 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
266.58 mi
05h 27m
Flight
188.39 mi
303.18 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
188.39 mi
Kilometers
303.18 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
266.58 mi
Kilometers
429.02 km
Drive Time
05h 27m

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 05h 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Thompson Falls
Thu, May 14, 1:08 AM MDT
Return by in Great Falls
Thu, May 14, 6:36 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Great Falls
2026-05-13T19:41
Arrive Thompson Falls
Thu, May 14, 1:08 AM MDT
Route Timing
05h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:27 AM to 1:27 PM MDT

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

Leave by
6:06 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
Seeley Lake
MT

Census designated place in Montana, USA

From Great Falls
133 mi
02h 43m
To Thompson Falls
133.5 mi
02h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
94°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph SSW
Destination
80°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
0 to 7 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    13.8 mi · 16 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell

    1009 ft · 25 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell

    27.2 mi · 32 min

  14. 14

    Turn left

    64.7 mi · 1 hr 36 min

  15. 15

    Turn right

    154 m · 22 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right

    40 m · 6 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto East Preston Avenue

    130 m · 23 sec · East Preston Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Woodland Street

    143 m · 21 sec · Woodland Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Woodland Street

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
172 mi · 64%
US 93 North
27.4 mi · 10%
Central Avenue West
1.6 mi · 1%
River Drive South
0.45 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
05h 27m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+78.2 mi
188.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Seeley Lake
02h 43m from Great Falls
Leave By
6:06 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Great Falls and Mostly Sunny near Thompson Falls.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 266.6 miles (429 km) and usually takes 05h 27m 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?

Seeley Lake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 133 miles from Great Falls and 133.5 miles from Thompson Falls.

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

The direct path is about 188.4 miles (303.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 78.2 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 6:06 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.63 one way or $73.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 83.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Great Falls and Mostly Sunny near Thompson Falls.

Stop Ideas Near Seeley Lake

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

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

BUS

Missoula, MT

53 mi away
1660 West Broadway Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Great Falls and Thompson Falls. Straight-line distance: 188.39 mi (303.18 km).

Great Falls

#1 Great Falls

Town in Cascade County, Montana, United States

Population58,353
Coordinates47.5002400, -111.3008100
Altitude1015
CountryUnited States
Thompson Falls

#2 Thompson Falls

Town in Montana, United States

Population1,432
Coordinates47.5948900, -115.3383400
Altitude779
CountryUnited States
Start: Great Falls (-111.30081, 47.50024)
End: Thompson Falls (-115.33834, 47.59489)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 429 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.41 gal
35.61 L · about $36.63
Round trip
$73.27
18.82 gal · 71.22 L
Estimated CO2
83.6 kg one way
Round trip: 167.3 kg / 369 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $36.63 $73.27
Mid-grade $4.23 $39.81 $79.63
Premium $4.55 $42.81 $85.61
Diesel $5.41 $50.93 $101.85

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 · May 14, 2026

There is no time difference between Great Falls and Thompson Falls. The current time is 19:41:31.

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.