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

The driving distance from Laurel, MT to Great Falls, MT is about 241.3 miles (388.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 174.4 miles (280.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 02m 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
241.33 mi
04h 01m
Flight
174.43 mi
280.72 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Laurel.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
174.43 mi
Kilometers
280.72 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
241.33 mi
Kilometers
388.38 km
Drive Time
04h 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 04h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Great Falls
Sat, Apr 18, 8:27 AM MDT
Return by in Laurel
Sat, Apr 18, 12:28 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Laurel
2026-04-18T04:26
Arrive Great Falls
Sat, Apr 18, 8:27 AM MDT
Route Timing
04h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:01 AM to 12:01 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
8:58 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Laurel
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
Judith Gap
MT

City in Wheatland County, Montana, United States

From Laurel
115 mi
02h 00m
To Great Falls
126.4 mi
02h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
9 to 15 mph WSW
Destination
58°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
8 to 16 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South 1st Avenue

    1 km · 56 sec · South 1st Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left

    9 mi · 11 min

  3. 3

    Take the exit slight right toward Zoo Drive

    2043 ft · 50 sec

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Zoo Drive

    1.4 km · 2 min · Zoo Drive

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South Shiloh Road

    4 m · 1 sec · South Shiloh Road

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road

    1552 ft · 31 sec · South Shiloh Road

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Shiloh Road

    42 m · 3 sec · South Shiloh Road

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road

    2553 ft · 51 sec · South Shiloh Road

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Shiloh Road

    32 m · 2 sec · South Shiloh Road

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road

    2534 ft · 51 sec · South Shiloh Road

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Shiloh Road

    53 m · 3 sec · South Shiloh Road

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road

    2573 ft · 43 sec · South Shiloh Road

  13. 13

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Shiloh Road

    27 m · 2 sec · South Shiloh Road

  14. 14

    Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road

    2542 ft · 43 sec · South Shiloh Road

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Shiloh Road

    43 m · 2 sec · Shiloh Road

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout onto Shiloh Road

    2564 ft · 43 sec · Shiloh Road

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Shiloh Road

    33 m · 2 sec · Shiloh Road

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto Shiloh Road

    2545 ft · 43 sec · Shiloh Road

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Shiloh Road

    39 m · 2 sec · Shiloh Road

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto Shiloh Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · Shiloh Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Rimrock Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Rimrock Road

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Zimmerman Trail

    1.6 km · 1 min · Zimmerman Trail

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route

    76 m · 4 sec

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout

    25.5 mi · 29 min

  25. 25

    Continue on Iowa Avenue

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Iowa Avenue

  26. 26

    Continue straight

    12.4 mi · 14 min

  27. 27

    At the end of the road, turn left

    45.1 mi · 51 min

  28. 28

    Turn right

    39.2 mi · 43 min

  29. 29

    At the end of the road, turn left

    64.3 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  30. 30

    Turn slight right

    1588 ft · 21 sec

  31. 31

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    52 m · 2 sec

  32. 32

    Exit the roundabout

    557 ft · 7 sec

  33. 33

    Continue straight

    23.1 mi · 29 min

  34. 34

    Turn right onto 6th Street South

    1989 ft · 39 sec · 6th Street South

  35. 35

    Turn left onto 5th Avenue South

    864 ft · 40 sec · 5th Avenue South

  36. 36

    Turn right onto 4th Street South

    49 m · 7 sec · 4th Street South

  37. 37

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 4th Street South

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
37 steps
31 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
21
0 merges, 21 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Iowa Avenue
38.2 mi · 16%
Zimmerman Trail
26.5 mi · 11%
South Shiloh Road
2.32 mi · 1%
Shiloh Road
2.03 mi · 1%
Zoo Drive
1.23 mi · 1%
Rimrock Road
0.78 mi
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

At the end of the road, turn left

64.3 mi · 01h 10m

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
04h 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+66.9 mi
174.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Judith Gap
02h 00m from Laurel
Leave By
8:58 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Laurel and Sunny near Great Falls.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 241.3 miles (388.4 km) and usually takes 04h 01m 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?

Judith Gap is a useful midpoint, sitting about 115 miles from Laurel and 126.4 miles from Great Falls.

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

The direct path is about 174.4 miles (280.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 66.9 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 8:58 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.17 one way or $66.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 75.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Laurel and Great Falls. Straight-line distance: 174.43 mi (280.72 km).

Laurel

#1 Laurel

City in Yellowstone County, Montana, USA

Population6,715
Coordinates45.6691200, -108.7715300
Altitude1006
CountryUnited States
Great Falls

#2 Great Falls

Town in Cascade County, Montana, United States

Population58,353
Coordinates47.5002400, -111.3008100
Altitude1015
CountryUnited States
Start: South 1st Avenue (-108.771477, 45.669116)
End: 4th Street South (-111.300848, 47.50024)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 388 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.52 gal
32.24 L · about $33.17
Round trip
$66.34
17.04 gal · 64.48 L
Estimated CO2
75.7 kg one way
Round trip: 151.4 kg / 334 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $33.17 $66.34
Mid-grade $4.23 $36.05 $72.10
Premium $4.55 $38.76 $77.51
Diesel $5.41 $46.11 $92.22

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Laurel and Great Falls. The current time is 04:26:18.

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.