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

The driving distance from Thompson Falls, MT to Great Falls, MT is about 269.1 miles (433 km), with a travel time of about 04h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 188.4 miles (303.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 17m 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
269.08 mi
04h 38m
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 Thompson Falls.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
188.39 mi
Kilometers
303.18 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
269.08 mi
Kilometers
433.05 km
Drive Time
04h 38m

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 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Great Falls
Wed, May 13, 11:19 PM MDT
Return by in Thompson Falls
Thu, May 14, 3:58 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thompson Falls
2026-05-13T18:41
Arrive Great Falls
Wed, May 13, 11:19 PM MDT
Route Timing
04h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:39 AM to 12:39 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
7:42 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Thompson 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 Thompson Falls
133.3 mi
02h 19m
To Great Falls
135.8 mi
02h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
0 to 7 mph SW
Destination
94°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Woodland Street

    143 m · 22 sec · Woodland Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Preston Avenue

    130 m · 19 sec · East Preston Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left

    48 m · 7 sec

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    147 m · 28 sec

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Main Street

    25.6 mi · 38 min · Main Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Montana Highway 200

    31.5 mi · 47 min · Montana Highway 200

  7. 7

    Continue on A Street

    7.5 mi · 11 min · A Street

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    27.3 mi · 32 min

  9. 9

    Continue on West Broadway Street

    925 ft · 24 sec · West Broadway Street

  10. 10

    Continue on West Broadway Street

    733 ft · 18 sec · West Broadway Street

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East: Missoula

    13.4 mi · 15 min

  12. 12

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

    148.5 mi · 2 hr 48 min

  13. 13

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

    1323 ft · 32 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

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

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 15 Business

    1262 ft · 31 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Central Avenue West

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Central Avenue West

  17. 17

    Continue on First Avenue North Bridge

    1055 ft · 18 sec · First Avenue North Bridge

  18. 18

    Continue on 1st Avenue North

    2717 ft · 52 sec · 1st Avenue North

  19. 19

    Turn right onto 5th Street North

    2018 ft · 36 sec · 5th Street North

  20. 20

    Turn right onto 4th Avenue South

    131 m · 24 sec · 4th Avenue South

  21. 21

    Turn left onto 4th Street South

    70 m · 10 sec · 4th Street South

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 4th Street South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Thompson Falls 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
22 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
MT 200 East
148 mi · 55%
A Street
34.8 mi · 13%
Montana Highway 200
31.5 mi · 12%
Main Street
25.6 mi · 10%
I 90 East
13.4 mi · 5%
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9.48 mi · 4%
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 38m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+80.7 mi
188.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Seeley Lake
02h 19m from Thompson Falls
Leave By
7:42 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 269.1 miles (433 km) and usually takes 04h 38m 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 133.3 miles from Thompson Falls and 135.8 miles from Great 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 80.7 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 7:42 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.94 one way or $73.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 84.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Thompson Falls and Mostly Sunny near Great 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 Thompson Falls and Great Falls. Straight-line distance: 188.39 mi (303.18 km).

Thompson Falls

#1 Thompson Falls

Town in Montana, United States

Population1,432
Coordinates47.5948900, -115.3383400
Altitude779
CountryUnited States
Great Falls

#2 Great Falls

Town in Cascade County, Montana, United States

Population58,353
Coordinates47.5002400, -111.3008100
Altitude1015
CountryUnited States
Start: Woodland Street (-115.338092, 47.594829)
End: 4th Street South (-111.300848, 47.50024)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 433 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 22m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.49 gal
35.94 L · about $36.94
Round trip
$73.89
18.98 gal · 71.88 L
Estimated CO2
84.3 kg one way
Round trip: 168.7 kg / 372 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $36.94 $73.89
Mid-grade $4.23 $40.15 $80.30
Premium $4.55 $43.17 $86.34
Diesel $5.41 $51.36 $102.72

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 Thompson Falls and Great Falls. The current time is 18:41:17.

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.