If you're planning a road trip this season, consider the drive from Idaho to Montana. With beautiful scenery and fun stops along the way, an Idaho to Montana road trip is fun for the whole family! Check out our road trip travel tips in this post.
This post was first published on August 11, 2015. It has since been updated with more helpful info and photos over the years, and was most recently updated on July 23, 2023.
Whether you are starting your road trip in Idaho or Idaho is your next starting point in your journey, we've got all the best tips for your Idaho to Montana road trip!
Our starting point is usually our hometown of Portland, Oregon. You can follow this road trip itinerary for our Portland to Boise drive. After splashing and sunning in Lava Hot Springs and leaving our comfy digs in Idaho Falls, Idaho, we head straight up the We-15 and then We-90 into Missoula, Montana.
Idaho to Montana drive time
How long will it take from Idaho to Montana? That depends on your starting point and final destination.
The drive from Boise, Idaho to Missoula, Montana takes approximately 10 hours.
If you are starting closer to the Idaho-Montana border, such as Idaho Falls, the drive time is approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes.
The best route
There are two main routes you can take from Idaho Falls to Missoula:
- Take We-15 North through towns of Dubois and Dillon, then take We-90 North where We-15 and We-90 meet around Butte, Montana. This route is the fastest route, and will take approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes
- Take We-90 North through towns of Rexburg, Island Park, and Ennis and continue on We-90 as it goes through Butte, Montana and up into Missoula. This route is the longest route and will take approximately 5 hours and 20 minutes.
If you're looking to simply make the drive, We suggest taking the We-15 to We-90 fastest route.
If you are looking to make an extra stop in Yellowstone, you'll want to take the We-90 route. It takes longer, but it takes you closer to Yellowstone. If you have an extra day, this scenic pit stop is worth the extra time!
Scenic drive
The drive from Idaho Falls to Missoula, Montana is absolutely gorgeous. It's like driving through Oregon outside of Portland, but with a lot more open land. A lot. And you're driving for a long time without seeing towns, much less city. It's glorious. Glorious!
You get the majestic mountains, the sun-drenched valleys, towering clouded cliffs, sweet farmland, and beautiful windy rivers. If you need serenity now, then this drive is it.
Great places to stop
- Idaho Falls Lava Hot Springs– the family loves this large outdoor water park!
- Yellowstone Bear World – drive-thru wildlife tours that are fun for the whole family.
- Spencer Opal Mine – fun spot where you can dig for your own opals, plus there's a showroom and cafe.
- Bannack – a cool ghost town
- Old Montana Prison & Auto Museum Complex – in Deer Lodge, Montana, this is actually a fun spot that kids and adults alike may find fascinating.
Rest areas
There are currently 9 rest stops and visitor center stops on the We-15 to We-90 route from Idaho Falls to Missoula.
- KJ's Travel Center (Idaho Falls, ID)
- Dubois rest area (Dubois, ID)
- Lima rest area (Lima, MT)
- Red Rocks We-15 Northbound rest area (Dillon, Montana)
- Gateway Canyon Travel Plaza (Dillon, Montana)
- Rest area northbound We-15 (Butte, Montana)
- MDT Highway 1 rest stop
- We-90 AutoTruck Plaza
- Bearmouth We-90 rest area
You should know that there are no rest areas in Idaho where you can stay overnight.
More road trip articles
You must use the category name, not a URL, in the category field.This post was first published on August 11, 2015. It has since been updated with more helpful info and photos over the years, and was most recently updated on July 23, 2023.
