Drive to Montana (Boise, Pocatello, Idaho Falls: motels, home, safe)
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What is the drive like from Boise to Great Falls, Montana? Thinking of moving out that way and need advice on the trip (year round visits to family in Montana). What are the roads like? Are there plenty of safe places to stop for services along the way?
Thanks.
It's a bit of a haul but it's all freeway so it wouldn't be too bad. Being a freeway, there are services along the way. You would need to take appropriate precautions depending on the time of year. I always take along extra food and water, and blankets/coats if it's winter time. Just to be on the safe side. But again it's all freeway so as long as you time it right weather-wise, it should be a pretty easy drive.
What is the drive like from Boise to Great Falls, Montana? Thinking of moving out that way and need advice on the trip (year round visits to family in Montana). What are the roads like? Are there plenty of safe places to stop for services along the way?
Thanks.
I've done a similar drive many times. The interstate (84/86 to I15) is the easiest way to go and there's plenty of stops and it's well maintained. Weather can still be in a issue as you'll go over a few mtn passes, so plan ahead during the winter months.
The problem is that it's not very direct so expect around 9 hrs +/-
I would like to clarify and say it depends on where you are moving from on whether you would consider there to be "lots" of safe places to stop. If you are on the east coast now, there are places to stop all over the place. For us, "lots" means a rest stop in the middle of nowhere every 50 miles or so, with an occasional small town scattered along the way. There is one place along that drive I think that says "Rest Area next right. Next rest area 91 miles". But there are towns in between. So you might have stretches where you go 50 miles or so without anywhere convenient to stop. But what there is, is all pretty safe.
The route is long, and as another poster said, not very direct. Highest traffic volume will be between Boise and the I-86 cutoff to Salt Lake City. Another traffic bump between Pocatello and Idaho Falls, then it really thins out with very little traffic from Idaho Falls north to Butte. At this juncture I-15 and I-90 share the same freeway for a few miles, then I-15 continues north to Great Falls. Plenty of motels and places to eat, with the exception of between Idaho Falls and Dillon, MT, which probably is the most picturesque segment, especially around the Continental Divide (Montana border) and north. Speed limit is 75 except through Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and Butte. Many, if not most, go 80+ MPH. You likely will not be ticketed if you keep it under 80. Rand McNally clocks the trip at 8 hours, 49 minutes.
Like everyone else has said - the drive is not bad at all and depending on when you travel you can mix up the route a bit by taking the exit in Dubois to SH22 and driving the two lane highway all the way into Mountain Home - I wouldn't go out of my way in the winter, but if you are traveling in the summer it gives you a different perspective on how rural Idaho really is. The interstate speeds are higher, but the distance is also longer so I think the time is almost a wash.
My family travels to several different places in Montana 3-4 times a year - we've passed through Great Falls a couple of times heading to highway 200 from highway 87.
Yes, there are are different routes with different speed limits, but can be interesting. Example: Hwy 26 goes through the Craters of the Moons in central Idaho, which is really interesting if you care to stop.
Another interesting factoid is you will see the Missouri River in Great Falls. Weird to see this river so far west, but it it is east of the continental divide, so the the Missouri is evident as far north as Great Falls, Montana.
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