US Trip Planner

Scenic Drives in Montana

Routes

59

Avg Distance

509 mi

Avg Drive

9h 9m

Destinations

28

These 59 scenic drives in Montana earned a drive score of 7+ out of 10. The average route covers 509 miles through the state's most varied and visually interesting terrain.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$4.41/gal

Diesel: $5.60/gal

Typical trip cost

$61–$118

One-way, ~509 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~178 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-08-31

Climate through the year: Montana

Montana peaks at around 85°F in Jul and cools to 31°F / 18°F in Dec. Wettest month is Jun at ~2.1 in of rain.

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	32	18	1	9.9
Feb	37	21	0.9	8.5
Mar	48	27	0.9	5
Apr	56	32	1.4	1.3
May	66	40	1.8	0.3
Jun	73	46	2.1	—
Jul	85	52	0.9	—
Aug	84	50	0.8	—
Sep	73	42	1	0.1
Oct	56	32	1.2	0.9
Nov	40	25	1.2	5.4
Dec	31	18	1.1	11.6

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for MT — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Planning Tips

Scenic routes often have fewer gas stations and services. Top off your tank before heading into mountainous or rural stretches.
Budget extra time for scenic drives — pulling over for views, photos, and short hikes is half the point.
Check weather conditions for mountain passes and high-elevation stretches, especially in shoulder seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

We rate routes on a 1-10 drive score based on elevation changes, road variety, and terrain diversity. The 59 routes listed here all score 7 or higher.

Current regular gas averages $4.41/gallon in Montana (week of 2026-08-31). Diesel: $5.60/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $61 and $118. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.

Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Top Scenic Routes

Sidney, MT → Polson, MT

682.9 mi 11h 38m Score: 7/10 ~$118 fuel

Sidney, MT → Hamilton, MT

600.2 mi 11h 3m Score: 7/10 ~$104 fuel

Through: Opportunity → Phillipsburg

Evergreen, MT → Miles City, MT

595.9 mi 10h 26m Score: 8/10 ~$104 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Kalispell, MT → Miles City, MT

594.5 mi 10h 29m Score: 8/10 ~$105 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Miles City, MT → Thompson Falls, MT

588.8 mi 10h 26m Score: 8/10 ~$104 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Eureka, MT → Miles City, MT

586.3 mi 11h 34m Score: 7/10 ~$104 fuel

Kalispell, MT → Colstrip, MT

575.9 mi 10h 20m Score: 7/10 ~$102 fuel

Through: Broadus

Glendive, MT → Kalispell, MT

575 mi 10h 53m Score: 7/10 ~$100 fuel

Evergreen, MT → West Glendive, MT

571.9 mi 10h 42m Score: 7/10 ~$99 fuel

Plentywood, MT → Kalispell, MT

569.7 mi 10h 59m Score: 8/10 ~$101 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Lame Deer, MT → Whitefish, MT

568.8 mi 9h 59m Score: 8/10 ~$101 fuel

Through: Garrison

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Plentywood, MT → Evergreen, MT

567.2 mi 10h 55m Score: 8/10 ~$100 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Baker, MT → Missoula, MT

566.5 mi 10h 1m Score: 8/10 ~$100 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Sidney, MT → Bigfork, MT

566.1 mi 10h 55m Score: 8/10 ~$100 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Missoula, MT → Glendive, MT

563.9 mi 9h 22m Score: 9/10 ~$100 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Whitefish, MT → Plentywood, MT

562.9 mi 10h 51m Score: 8/10 ~$100 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Sidney, MT → Evergreen, MT

557.4 mi 10h 43m Score: 8/10 ~$97 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Lame Deer, MT → Kalispell, MT

552.4 mi 9h 39m Score: 8/10 ~$96 fuel

Through: Garrison

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Evergreen, MT → Forsyth, MT

551.9 mi 9h 42m Score: 8/10 ~$96 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Kalispell, MT → Forsyth, MT

550.5 mi 9h 46m Score: 7/10 ~$97 fuel

Miles City, MT → Pablo, MT

548.7 mi 9h 20m Score: 8/10 ~$97 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Libby, MT → Lockwood, MT

543.6 mi 9h 41m Score: 7/10 ~$96 fuel

Miles City, MT → Ronan, MT

543.6 mi 9h 13m Score: 8/10 ~$96 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Libby, MT → Billings, MT

537.7 mi 9h 37m Score: 7/10 ~$95 fuel

Miles City, MT → Whitefish, MT

535.5 mi 10h 39m Score: 8/10 ~$95 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Dillon, MT → Sidney, MT

526.2 mi 9h 22m Score: 8/10 ~$91 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Plentywood, MT → Helena, MT

511.5 mi 9h 28m Score: 9/10 ~$91 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Helena, MT → Sidney, MT

509.5 mi 8h 51m Score: 8/10 ~$90 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Belgrade, MT → Plentywood, MT

506.4 mi 8h 50m Score: 8/10 ~$90 fuel

Through: Sidney

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Seeley Lake, MT → Miles City, MT

502.5 mi 8h 39m Score: 8/10 ~$89 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Hardin, MT → Evergreen, MT

498.4 mi 8h 39m Score: 8/10 ~$86 fuel

Through: Garrison

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Sidney, MT → Butte, MT

496.7 mi 8h 23m Score: 8/10 ~$86 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Miles City, MT → Missoula, MT

488.2 mi 8h 8m Score: 8/10 ~$85 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Missoula, MT → Wolf Point, MT

485.4 mi 9h 8m Score: 9/10 ~$84 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Lockwood, MT → Whitefish, MT

471.5 mi 8h 18m Score: 7/10 ~$82 fuel

Through: Garrison

Livingston, MT → Plentywood, MT

470.3 mi 8h 14m Score: 8/10 ~$82 fuel

Through: Sidney

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Evergreen, MT → Wolf Point, MT

466.2 mi 8h 57m Score: 9/10 ~$81 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Billings, MT → Whitefish, MT

465.9 mi 8h 14m Score: 7/10 ~$81 fuel

Through: Garrison

Columbia Falls, MT → Lockwood, MT

462.8 mi 8h 7m Score: 8/10 ~$80 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Whitefish, MT → Wolf Point, MT

462.1 mi 8h 56m Score: 9/10 ~$80 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Helena, MT → Glendive, MT

459.7 mi 7h 56m Score: 8/10 ~$80 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Columbia Falls, MT → Billings, MT

457 mi 8h 3m Score: 8/10 ~$81 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Evergreen, MT → Lockwood, MT

456.9 mi 7h 59m Score: 8/10 ~$80 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Red Lodge, MT → Kalispell, MT

456.7 mi 8h 10m Score: 7/10 ~$62 fuel

Through: Garrison

Billings, MT → Evergreen, MT

451.4 mi 7h 55m Score: 8/10 ~$61 fuel

Through: Garrison

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Billings, MT → Kalispell, MT

449.6 mi 7h 54m Score: 8/10 ~$78 fuel

Through: Garrison

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Billings, MT → Lakeside, MT

449.6 mi 7h 48m Score: 8/10 ~$78 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Somers, MT → Lockwood, MT

447.2 mi 7h 48m Score: 8/10 ~$79 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Forsyth, MT → Missoula, MT

444.2 mi 7h 25m Score: 8/10 ~$79 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Miles City, MT → North Browning, MT

442.7 mi 8h 45m Score: 8/10 ~$78 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Columbia Falls, MT → Laurel, MT

442.3 mi 7h 43m Score: 8/10 ~$77 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Browning, MT → Miles City, MT

441.6 mi 8h 42m Score: 7/10 ~$78 fuel

Somers, MT → Billings, MT

441.4 mi 7h 44m Score: 8/10 ~$77 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Miles City, MT → South Browning, MT

441.4 mi 8h 43m Score: 8/10 ~$78 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Miles City, MT → Lincoln, MT

440.2 mi 7h 43m Score: 8/10 ~$77 fuel

Through: Ennis

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Lockwood, MT → Bigfork, MT

436.9 mi 7h 38m Score: 8/10 ~$76 fuel

Through: Garrison

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Evergreen, MT → Laurel, MT

436.3 mi 7h 35m Score: 8/10 ~$76 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Billings, MT → Bigfork, MT

431.3 mi 7h 35m Score: 8/10 ~$75 fuel

Through: Garrison

5 tricky spots High drive quality

Sidney, MT → Belgrade, MT

422.4 mi 7h 10m Score: 8/10 ~$73 fuel

5 tricky spots High drive quality

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Montana Trips