Billings to Butte is 226.4 miles and takes about 3h 50m via I 90, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, connecting two points in Montana. It's a straightforward, mostly highway trip, making it a solid choice for a single-day excursion. You'll find it efficient for getting from point A to point B without much 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
113.2 miles from Billings, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
220.9 mi
3h 38m
Montana Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Laurel Road
1.4 mi
2m
1st Avenue North
0.9 mi
3m
South Montana Street
0.5 mi
<1m
I 90 Business
0.4 mi
<1m
West 2nd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
South Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 220.9 mi, about 3h 38m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~812 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,081
Quietest
2 AM
~47 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Billings, MT and Butte, MT.
1
Start on I 90 Business
0.1 mi·25 sec·Montana Avenue
2
Turn left onto North 23rd Street
372 ft·21 sec·North 23rd Street
3
Turn left onto I 90 Business
0.9 mi·3 min·1st Avenue North
4
Turn left onto I 90 Business
447 ft·9 sec·Division Street
5
Continue on I 90 Business
1.3 mi·1 min·Montana Avenue
6
Continue on I 90 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·Laurel Road
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90 Business
0.4 mi·47 sec·I 90 Business
Toward Butte, I 90 West
8
Merge onto I 90; US 212
105 mi·1 hr 43 min·I 90; US 212
9
Continue on I 90; US 89; US 191
7.0 mi·6 min·I 90; US 89; US 191
10
Continue on I 90; US 191
108 mi·1 hr 48 min·I 90; US 191
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward Montana Street
12
Turn right onto South Montana Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·South Montana Street
13
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·West 2nd Street
14
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·South Main Street
15
Turn left onto West Iron Street
70 ft·3 sec·West Iron Street
16
Arrive at destination
West Iron Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 3h 50m duration, you have flexibility with your departure time. Aiming to leave Billings in the morning will allow ample daylight to reach Butte comfortably. With only one planned stop and a fuel cost around $31, you can easily manage this trip without extensive planning. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get closer to Butte, as services can be spread out on this stretch of I 90.
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 113.2 miles from Billings, MT, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 220.9 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 50 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.2 miles or 1h 55m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Butte, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Billings, 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 Billings, MT
This is one driving day of about 226.4 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Billings, 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 220.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 226.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North 23rd Street
Turn left onto North 23rd Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North
Turn left onto I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North
Navigation decision point
6
4 mi into trip|~8m in|I 90 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90 Business toward Butte, I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Butte, I 90 West
5
226.2 mi into trip|~3h 49m in|South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
226.4 mi into trip|~3h 50m in|West Iron Street
Turn left onto West Iron Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.78 one way
$81.56 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$42.59
$85.18
premium
$5.11
$45.51
$91.02
diesel
$6.18
$55.08
$110.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.9
0
$23.77
$10.87
Efficient EV
56.6
0
$19.81
$9.06
EV Truck/SUV
90.6
1
$31.70
$14.49
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Billings, MT
Morning
in Billings on Monday
Local time
6:56 AM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued October 18 at 11:53AM MDT until October 19 at 12:00PM MDT by NWS Glasgow MT
Destination
Butte, MT
Morning
in Butte on Monday
Local time
6:56 AM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Mostly Clear
SE 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued October 18 at 11:53AM MDT until October 19 at 12:00PM MDT by NWS Glasgow MT
54°F
Livingston, MT
113 mi in
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
1 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 50m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 route is primarily highway driving, with 98% of the 226.4 miles on interstates and main roads. You'll experience one long stretch of 220.9 miles on I 90. The transition to surface roads, Montana Avenue and Laurel Road, happens near the end of your trip. Expect mostly rural cruising with occasional urban merging as you approach your destination.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 220.9 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and Montana Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North 23rd 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 50m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North 23rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 90 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Billings is the largest city in Montana, with an estimated 110,000 people (2019). As a destination, Billings does a significant amount of convention business and is also the host to various regional events such as music festivals, athletic contests, rodeos, and outdoor activities. Billings is also a frequent overnight or meal stop for westbound visitors to Yellowstone National Park, as it is the last major city for visitors going to the park via the Beartooth Highway.
Top landmarks
•Masonic Temple — building in Billings, Montana
•United States Post Office and Courthouse–Billings — post office in Billings, United States of America
•Northern Hotel — historic hotel in Billings, Montana, United States
Butte in southwest Montana, "The Richest Hill on Earth" from around 1880 to 1920, was the largest and most notorious copper boom town in the American West, home to hundreds of saloons and a famous red-light district. The city still flaunts its legacy of industry, wealth and squalor. As the sign along I-15 states:
"Butte has a most cosmopolitan population derived from the four corners of the world. She was a bold, unashamed, rootin', tootin' hell-roarin' camp in days gone by and still drinks her liquor straight."
Top landmarks
•Dumas Brothel — museum
•Butte-Anaconda Historic District — historic district in Montana, United States
•Matt's Place Drive-In — Baudenkmal und Drive-in-Restaurant in Butte im Silver Bow County, Montana
The longest stretch is about 220.9 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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: at 0.1 miles (North 23rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 90 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Butte, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
