Anaconda, MT to Laurel, MT is 234.2 miles and takes about 3h 53m via I 90, I 15, and Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward journey across Montana. It's designed as a single-day trip, perfect for those looking to cover ground efficiently. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a practical choice for reaching your destination with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
117.1 miles from Anaconda, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
114.2 mi
1h 50m
I 15
110.8 mi
1h 51m
Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway
6.9 mi
7m
East Park Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
US 310
0.6 mi
<1m
Ash Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Commercial Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
South 1st Avenue
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 114.2 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anaconda, MT and Laurel, MT.
1
Start on MT 1
107 ft·7 sec·East Commercial Avenue
2
Turn left onto Ash Street
383 ft·22 sec·Ash Street
3
Turn left onto MT 1
0.7 mi·1 min·East Park Avenue
4
Continue on MT 1
6.9 mi·7 min·Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·59 sec
6
Merge onto I 90
13 mi·12 min·I 90
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90
111 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 15; I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 90; US 89; US 191
6.9 mi·6 min·I 90; US 89; US 191
9
Continue on I 90; US 191
94 mi·1 hr 31 min·I 90; US 191
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 212, US 310: Laurel, Red Lodge
11
Turn right onto US 310; MT S-532
0.6 mi·58 sec·US 310; MT S-532
12
Arrive at destination
US 310; MT S-532
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 53m duration and 234.2-mile distance, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Plan to leave Anaconda, MT in the morning to give yourself ample time. With a fuel cost estimated at $37, ensure your tank is full before departing, as the longest stretch without a significant break is over 114 miles. While there's only one recommended stop, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach Laurel, MT, to avoid any last-minute detours.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 117.1 miles from Anaconda, MT, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 52 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.1 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laurel, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anaconda, MT so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anaconda, MT
This is one driving day of about 234.2 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Anaconda, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 114.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 233.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Ash Street
Turn left onto Ash Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|MT 1 / East Park Avenue
Turn left onto MT 1 / East Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
7.7 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
21.7 mi into trip|~22m in|I 15; I 90
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
233.4 mi into trip|~3h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 212, US 310: Laurel, Red Lodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 212, US 310: Laurel, Red Lodge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.11 one way
$74.22 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$38.90
$77.80
premium
$4.53
$41.78
$83.56
diesel
$5.61
$51.71
$103.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.3
0
$24.59
$11.24
Efficient EV
58.6
0
$20.49
$9.37
EV Truck/SUV
93.7
1
$32.79
$14.99
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Anaconda, MT
Night
in Anaconda on Saturday
Local time
10:38 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Laurel, MT
Night
in Laurel on Saturday
Local time
10:38 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 53m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is largely a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey on interstates. You'll experience a significant stretch of 114.2 miles on I 90 without needing to exit, allowing for consistent speed. While the Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway is mentioned, the bulk of your time will be on faster roadways. Expect a driving experience characterized by smooth, uninterrupted travel for most of the 3h 53m duration.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 114.2 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 15. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Ash Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 53m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ash Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MT 1 / East Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 53m. Total distance: 234.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 114.2 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through MT can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ash Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MT 1 / East Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Laurel, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
