How far is Missoula, MT from Lewistown, MT?

The driving distance from Missoula, MT to Lewistown, MT is about 272.3 miles (438.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 215.7 miles (347.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 15m 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
272.34 mi
04h 37m
Flight
215.65 mi
347.05 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Missoula.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
215.65 mi
Kilometers
347.05 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
272.34 mi
Kilometers
438.29 km
Drive Time
04h 37m

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 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lewistown
Wed, Apr 22, 10:17 PM MDT
Return by in Missoula
Thu, Apr 23, 2:55 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Missoula
2026-04-22T17:40
Arrive Lewistown
Wed, Apr 22, 10:17 PM MDT
Route Timing
04h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:38 AM to 12:38 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
7:44 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Missoula
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
Fairfield
MT

Town in Montana, United States

From Missoula
135.4 mi
02h 18m
To Lewistown
137 mi
02h 18m

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
2 to 8 mph W
Destination
71°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 to 17 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Missoula and Lewistown.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Missoula and Lewistown.

  1. 1

    Start on North Higgins Avenue

    6 m · 8 sec · North Higgins Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Broadway Street

    3078 ft · 59 sec · East Broadway Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Van Buren Street

    133 m · 6 sec · Van Buren Street

  4. 4

    Take the exit right

    1216 ft · 30 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway

    3.9 mi · 5 min · Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward MT 200 East: Bonner, Great Falls

    148.5 mi · 2 hr 48 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 15 South: Great Falls

    1323 ft · 32 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

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

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 15 Business

    1262 ft · 31 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Central Avenue West

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Central Avenue West

  11. 11

    Continue on First Avenue North Bridge

    1055 ft · 18 sec · First Avenue North Bridge

  12. 12

    Continue on 1st Avenue North

    1.2 mi · 2 min · 1st Avenue North

  13. 13

    Turn right onto 14th Street North

    1.3 km · 1 min · 14th Street North

  14. 14

    Turn left onto 10th Avenue South

    22.6 mi · 25 min · 10th Avenue South

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    68 m · 3 sec

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout

    1606 ft · 21 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight

    64.3 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    14.7 mi · 16 min

  19. 19

    Continue on US Highway 87

    1.5 mi · 2 min · US Highway 87

  20. 20

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · West Main Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto 6th Avenue South

    121 m · 17 sec · 6th Avenue South

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 6th Avenue South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Missoula and Lewistown.

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
22 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
MT 200 East
148 mi · 55%
10th Avenue South
37.6 mi · 14%
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9.48 mi · 3%
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
3.91 mi · 1%
US Highway 87
1.46 mi · 1%
Central Avenue West
1.46 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

MT 200 East

Take the exit slight right toward MT 200 East: Bonner, Great Falls

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
04h 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+56.6 mi
215.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fairfield
02h 18m from Missoula
Leave By
7:44 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Missoula and Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Lewistown.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Missoula to Lewistown?

The road trip is about 272.3 miles (438.3 km) and usually takes 04h 37m 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?

Fairfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 135.4 miles from Missoula and 137 miles from Lewistown.

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

The direct path is about 215.7 miles (347.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 56.6 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 7:44 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.41 one way or $74.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 85.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms around Missoula and Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Lewistown.

Stop Ideas Near Fairfield

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

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

RAIL

Shelby

99 mi away
230 W Central Avenue
RAIL

Cut Bank

117 mi away
101 BNSF Industrial Site

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Missoula and Lewistown. Straight-line distance: 215.65 mi (347.05 km).

Missoula

#1 Missoula

The most populous city in Missoula County, Montana.

Population76,848
Coordinates46.8721500, -113.9940000
Altitude978
CountryUnited States
Lewistown

#2 Lewistown

City in Montana, United States

Population5,905
Coordinates47.0624700, -109.4282400
Altitude1203
CountryUnited States
Start: North Higgins Avenue (-113.994022, 46.872156)
End: 6th Avenue South (-109.428026, 47.06261)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 438 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 53m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.61 gal
36.38 L · about $37.41
Round trip
$74.82
19.22 gal · 72.76 L
Estimated CO2
85.4 kg one way
Round trip: 170.8 kg / 377 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $37.41 $74.82
Mid-grade $4.23 $40.66 $81.32
Premium $4.55 $43.72 $87.43
Diesel $5.41 $52.01 $104.02

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Missoula and Lewistown. The current time is 17:40:08.

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.