How far is West Yellowstone, MT from Missoula, MT?

The driving distance from West Yellowstone, MT to Missoula, MT is about 264.4 miles (425.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 206.7 miles (332.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 29m 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
264.42 mi
04h 14m
Flight
206.65 mi
332.57 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from West Yellowstone.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
206.65 mi
Kilometers
332.57 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
264.42 mi
Kilometers
425.54 km
Drive Time
04h 14m

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 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Missoula
Wed, Apr 22, 11:42 PM MDT
Return by in West Yellowstone
Thu, Apr 23, 3:57 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave West Yellowstone
2026-04-22T19:27
Arrive Missoula
Wed, Apr 22, 11:42 PM MDT
Route Timing
04h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:15 AM to 12:15 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
8:30 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in West Yellowstone
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
Whitehall
MT

Town in Jefferson County, Montana

From West Yellowstone
132.2 mi
02h 07m
To Missoula
132.3 mi
02h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
48°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance T-storms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph SSW
Destination
62°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Yellowstone and Missoula.

  1. 1

    Start on Electric Street

    12 m · 6 sec · Electric Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Firehole Avenue

    1182 ft · 48 sec · Firehole Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Canyon Street

    917 ft · 28 sec · Canyon Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Gallatin Road

    8.2 mi · 9 min · Gallatin Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Hebgen Lake Road

    62.7 mi · 1 hr 9 min · Hebgen Lake Road

  6. 6

    Turn straight

    137 m · 15 sec

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    28 mi · 33 min

  8. 8

    Turn left

    14.6 mi · 18 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    638 ft · 17 sec

  10. 10

    Take the ramp left

    1776 ft · 43 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    36.6 mi · 38 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Missoula

    112.5 mi · 1 hr 47 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 12 West, I 90 Business

    1037 ft · 26 sec

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Van Buren Street

    63 m · 3 sec · Van Buren Street

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto Van Buren Street

    65 m · 4 sec · Van Buren Street

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Van Buren Street

    28 m · 1 sec · Van Buren Street

  17. 17

    Exit the roundabout onto Van Buren Street

    583 ft · 11 sec · Van Buren Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto East Broadway Street

    3078 ft · 55 sec · East Broadway Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto North Higgins Avenue

    6 m · 1 sec · North Higgins Avenue

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Higgins Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Hebgen Lake Road
128 mi · 48%
I 90 West
113 mi · 43%
Gallatin Road
8.18 mi · 3%
East Broadway Street
0.58 mi
Firehole Avenue
0.22 mi
Van Buren Street
0.21 mi
Longest Stretch

I 90 West

Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Missoula

113 mi · 01h 47m

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 14m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+57.7 mi
206.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Whitehall
02h 07m from West Yellowstone
Leave By
8:30 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance T-storms leaving West Yellowstone and Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms near Missoula.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from West Yellowstone to Missoula?

The road trip is about 264.4 miles (425.5 km) and usually takes 04h 14m 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?

Whitehall is a useful midpoint, sitting about 132.2 miles from West Yellowstone and 132.3 miles from Missoula.

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

The direct path is about 206.7 miles (332.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 57.7 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 8:30 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.32 one way or $72.64 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 82.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance T-storms around West Yellowstone and Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms near Missoula.

Stop Ideas Near Whitehall

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

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

BUS

Butte, MT

36 mi away
1324 Harrison Avenue
BUS

Bozeman, MT

72 mi away
6505 Jack Rabbit Lane

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between West Yellowstone and Missoula. Straight-line distance: 206.65 mi (332.57 km).

West Yellowstone

#1 West Yellowstone

Town of the United States

Population1,372
Coordinates44.6621500, -111.1041100
Altitude2031
CountryUnited States
Missoula

#2 Missoula

The most populous city in Missoula County, Montana.

Population76,848
Coordinates46.8721500, -113.9940000
Altitude978
CountryUnited States
Start: Electric Street (-111.104187, 44.66215)
End: North Higgins Avenue (-113.994022, 46.872156)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 426 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 46m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.33 gal
35.32 L · about $36.32
Round trip
$72.64
18.66 gal · 70.64 L
Estimated CO2
82.9 kg one way
Round trip: 165.8 kg / 366 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $36.32 $72.64
Mid-grade $4.23 $39.48 $78.95
Premium $4.55 $42.44 $84.88
Diesel $5.41 $50.49 $100.99

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 West Yellowstone and Missoula. The current time is 19:27:48.

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.