How far is Helena, MT from Forsyth, MT?

The driving distance from Helena, MT to Forsyth, MT is about 339.9 miles (547 km), with a travel time of about 06h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 256.1 miles (412.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 03m 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
339.87 mi
06h 01m
Flight
256.12 mi
412.18 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Helena.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
256.12 mi
Kilometers
412.18 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
339.87 mi
Kilometers
546.96 km
Drive Time
06h 01m

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 06h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Forsyth
Thu, Apr 23, 2:46 AM MDT
Return by in Helena
Thu, Apr 23, 8:48 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Helena
2026-04-22T20:44
Arrive Forsyth
Thu, Apr 23, 2:46 AM MDT
Route Timing
06h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:02 PM to 1:32 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
11:56 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Helena
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
Big Timber
MT

City in and county seat of Sweet Grass County, Montana, United States

From Helena
169.6 mi
03h 00m
To Forsyth
170.3 mi
03h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 16 mph SW
Destination
83°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Helena and Forsyth.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Helena and Forsyth.

  1. 1

    Start on Cruse Avenue

    50 m · 8 sec · Cruse Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 11th Avenue

    1.4 mi · 4 min · 11th Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto Prospect Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Prospect Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    3.6 mi · 5 min

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    1678 ft · 26 sec

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    30.2 mi · 34 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    2.3 mi · 2 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    1.2 mi · 1 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    22.7 mi · 24 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit left toward I 90 East: Billings

    1372 ft · 34 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    180.8 mi · 3 hr 2 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 94 East: Bismark

    92.7 mi · 1 hr 39 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    1341 ft · 38 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left

    1801 ft · 36 sec

  16. 16

    Turn sharp right onto West Main Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · West Main Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto North 10th Avenue

    46 m · 9 sec · North 10th Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right

    25 m · 6 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Helena and Forsyth.

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
19 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90 East
181 mi · 53%
I 94 East
93 mi · 27%
Prospect Avenue
63 mi · 19%
11th Avenue
1.44 mi
West Main Street
0.95 mi
Cruse Avenue
0.03 mi
Longest Stretch

I 90 East

Merge slight left

181 mi · 03h 02m

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
06h 01m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+83.8 mi
256.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Big Timber
03h 00m from Helena
Leave By
11:56 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Helena and Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers near Forsyth.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Helena to Forsyth?

The road trip is about 339.9 miles (547 km) and usually takes 06h 01m 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?

Big Timber is a useful midpoint, sitting about 169.6 miles from Helena and 170.3 miles from Forsyth.

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

The direct path is about 256.1 miles (412.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 83.8 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 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 $46.68 one way or $93.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 106.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms around Helena and Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers near Forsyth.

Stop Ideas Near Big Timber

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

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

BUS

Livingston, MT

49 mi away
1404 East Park Street \r\n
BUS

Bozeman, MT

96 mi away
6505 Jack Rabbit Lane
BUS

Billings, MT

113 mi away
2501 1st Avenue North

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Helena and Forsyth. Straight-line distance: 256.12 mi (412.18 km).

Helena

#1 Helena

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

Population33,737
Coordinates46.5927100, -112.0361100
Altitude1237
CountryUnited States
Forsyth

#2 Forsyth

Rosebud county seat and river town near Yellowstone River

Population1,752
Coordinates46.2663800, -106.6778100
Altitude768
CountryUnited States
Start: Helena (-112.03611, 46.59271)
End: Forsyth (-106.67781, 46.26638)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 547 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.99 gal
45.4 L · about $46.68
Round trip
$93.35
23.98 gal · 90.8 L
Estimated CO2
106.6 kg one way
Round trip: 213.1 kg / 470 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $46.68 $93.35
Mid-grade $4.23 $50.73 $101.46
Premium $4.55 $54.54 $109.09
Diesel $5.41 $64.89 $129.78

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Helena and Forsyth. The current time is 20:44:54.

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.