02 Mar How to get to Fort Benton: Your Guide to Arriving by Car, Plane, or Train

Nestled along the banks of the Missouri River in Montana lies the charming and historic town of Fort Benton. Known for its rich history, stunning landscapes, and outdoor recreational opportunities, Fort Benton is a destination worth exploring. If you’re planning a trip to this hidden gem, here’s how you can get there:

How to get to Fort Benton: Your Guide to Arriving by Car, Plane, or Train

Fort Benton by Car

Driving to Fort Benton is a scenic adventure in itself, offering breathtaking views of the Montana countryside. There are a few routes you can take depending on your starting point:

From Great Falls, Montana (quick route): Take Interstate 15 North to U.S. Highway 87 North. Follow U.S. Highway 87 North for approximately 40 miles until you reach Fort Benton. The drive takes about an hour and offers a great scenic river lookout about 2 miles from Fort Benton. Take your time and enjoy the wide-open skies.

From Great Falls, Montana (scenic route): Take US 89 out of town for about 6 miles before turning left onto Highwood RD. Stay on Highwood Road until you get to Fort Benton at about 51 miles and a little over an hour. This is what we consider the scenic route as it winds you under the Highwood Mountains. Take your time and enjoy the view.

From Glasgow (East): If you’re driving from the east, you’ll likely be on U.S. Highway 2 West. From Glasgow, Montana, take U.S. Highway 2 West to Havre. In Havre, switch to U.S. Highway 87 South and continue until you reach Fort Benton.

From Billings (South): There are a couple options to take heading north from Billings. However, all options have limited cell phone service and take you on smaller Montana highways. We suggest using both having physical maps and using your phone. From Billings it is 225 miles and takes an average of 3.5 hours. Follow Us 87 North until you reach MT 81 west in Furgus County. From there follow MT 81 west and MT 80 North until you reach Fort Benton.

Fort Benton By Plane

For those traveling from farther away, the nearest major airport is Great Falls International Airport (GTF), located approximately 45 miles south of Fort Benton. From the airport, you can rent a car, Missouri River Outfitters can shuttle you, or you can try to find an Uber to Fort Benton.

Airlines serving Great Falls MT: The two most common carriers to Great Falls MT are Delta and United Airlines. Although they don’t fly as often, Alaska and Allegiant also have flights into Great Falls MT.

Cost of an Uber or Shuttle: The cost of an Uber can be $100-$150 each way. While the cost of a van shuttle provided by MRO is $125 each way. Please note, if we are picking you up we can lower the cost by picking up other parties at the same time. If you are coming in for a guided tour, chances are, others are flying in as well.

Fort Benton by Train

Taking the train to Fort Benton isn’t a direct option, as Fort Benton doesn’t have a train station. However, you can take an Amtrak train to Havre, Montana, which is about 90 miles away. From Havre, Missouri River Outfitters can pick you up and bring you to Fort Benton for $150 each way.