Billings, MT to East Missoula, MT is 341.7 miles and takes about 5h 39m via I 90, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Montana, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. It's a straightforward, primarily highway drive perfect for a single day. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it an efficient way to cover ground across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
170.8 miles from Billings, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
336.7 mi
5h 28m
Montana Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Laurel Road
1.4 mi
2m
1st Avenue North
0.9 mi
3m
Old Montana 200
0.4 mi
<1m
I 90 Business
0.4 mi
<1m
Randles Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Division Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 336.7 mi, about 5h 28m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~733 veh/hr typical
· worst 972
Quietest
2 AM
~44 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 East Missoula, 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
113 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 90; US 191
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
111 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward East Missoula
13
Turn sharp right onto Old Montana 200
0.4 mi·44 sec·Old Montana 200
14
Turn right onto Randles Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Randles Street
15
Arrive at destination
Randles Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 39m estimated drive time, leaving Billings early in the morning is a good idea to ensure you arrive in East Missoula with plenty of daylight. The route is mostly highway, so you can cover significant distance quickly. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility on when and where you choose to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on I 90 is over 336 miles, and gas stations can be spaced out in rural Montana.
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 170.8 miles from Billings, MT, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 336.7 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 75 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.8 miles or 2h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Missoula, 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 341.7 miles and 5h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 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 336.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 341 — 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
230.2 mi into trip|~3h 53m in|I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 toward I 90 West: Missoula
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
4
341 mi into trip|~5h 37m in
Take the exit toward East Missoula
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward East Missoula
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.55 one way
$123.09 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg120 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$64.28
$128.55
premium
$5.11
$68.69
$137.38
diesel
$6.18
$83.12
$166.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102.5
1
$35.88
$16.40
Efficient EV
85.4
0
$29.90
$13.67
EV Truck/SUV
136.7
1
$47.84
$21.87
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Billings, MT
Afternoon
in Billings on Saturday
Local time
12:56 PM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Partly Cloudy
WSW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued October 16 at 11:59PM MDT until October 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued October 16 at 11:59PM MDT until October 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
East Missoula, MT
Afternoon
in East Missoula on Saturday
Local time
12:56 PM
MDT
Current temp
38°F
Partly Cloudy
ESE 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued October 16 at 11:59PM MDT until October 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued October 16 at 11:59PM MDT until October 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
51°F
Whitehall, MT
171 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
7 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
5h 39m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for 99% of this 341.7-mile route. The vast majority of your time, a stretch of 336.7 miles, will be spent on I 90. Montana Avenue and Laurel Road account for the small portion of surface streets at the beginning of your drive. Expect long stretches of rural cruising with fewer exits as you traverse the state.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 336.7 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 39m drive. You will face about 9 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
The longest stretch is about 336.7 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at East Missoula, MT before the return drive.
