Origin
Big Timber, MT
Night in Big Timber on Saturday
Local time
10:37 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Big Timber, MT to Billings, MT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
81.4 mi
131 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Big Timber, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Billings, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 81.3 miles of Montana’s Mountain West, this trip from Big Timber to Billings is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 17 minutes. Because the duration is quite short, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly option for your itinerary. You will navigate primarily via East 1st Avenue, Big Timber Loop Road, and MT 3 rather than relying on major interstates. It is an ideal route if you prefer local roads over high-speed travel, offering a practical way to connect these two Montana communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 Business | 76.7 mi | 1h 19m |
| Big Timber Loop Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Montana Avenue | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| East 1st Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| McLeod Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90 Business
— 76.7 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Timber, MT and Billings, MT.
1
Start on McLeod Street
16 ft
·
6 sec
·
McLeod Street
2
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 191
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
East 1st Avenue
3
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90 Business
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Big Timber Loop Road
4
Take the ramp onto I 90 Business
75 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
I 90 Business
5
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 90 Business
Toward I 90 Business: West Billings
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
I 90 Business
Toward I 90 Business: City Center
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Montana Avenue
8
Continue on I 90 Business
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Montana Avenue
9
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.7 miles from Big Timber, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 Business if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 79.2 — 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
|
I 90 Business; US 191 / East 1st Avenue
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 191 / East 1st Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 90 Business / Big Timber Loop Road
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90 Business / Big Timber Loop Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
77.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
I 90 Business
Take the exit onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business: West Billings
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 Business: West Billings
5
77.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
I 90 Business
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business: City Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 Business: City Center
4
79.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.90 one way
$25.80 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $13.52 | $27.04 |
| premium | $4.53 | $14.52 | $29.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.97 | $35.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.55 | $3.91 |
| Efficient EV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.12 | $3.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.40 | $5.21 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Billings, MT
Night in Billings on Saturday
Local time
10:37 PM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Columbus, MT
41 mi in
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
30 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 29m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this entire route consists of local roads with 0% highway share. You won't encounter any long, uninterrupted stretches, as the road requires your full attention throughout the 81.3-mile distance. Navigating via East 1st Avenue and MT 3 means you should be prepared for more frequent adjustments behind the wheel compared to a standard highway haul. The character of the drive is defined by its regional, local feel, ensuring you stay engaged with the road from start to finish. It is a practical alternative for drivers who want to avoid the pressures of high-speed traffic.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.7 mi on I 90 Business.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 Business and Big Timber Loop Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near I 90 Business; US 191 / East 1st Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 29m 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 (I 90 Business; US 191 / East 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 90 Business / Big Timber Loop Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 77.1 miles (I 90 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
4,091 ft
3,209 ft
Total Climb
0 ft
Total Descent
882 ft
Highest Point
4,091 ft
Elevation Range
882 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 81.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.7 miles on I 90 Business. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 (I 90 Business; US 191 / East 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 90 Business / Big Timber Loop Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 77.1 miles (I 90 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Billings, MT before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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