Traveling from Billings to Forsyth covers 100.3 miles of Montana landscape, typically taking about 1 hour and 51 minutes to complete. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily manage it as a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. Your journey will primarily utilize I-94, I-90, and US Highway 87 East. Expect to spend roughly $16 on fuel for the one-way trek. Since both cities are located within the Mountain West, the route offers a consistent regional feel. This drive is ideal if you are looking for a straightforward, highway-focused connection between two Montana hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.2 miles from Billings, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
92.7 mi
1h 39m
I 90
3.1 mi
3m
US Highway 87 East
1.3 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
1st Avenue North
0.7 mi
1m
Montana Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
US 12
0.3 mi
<1m
I 90 Business
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 92.7 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Billings, MT and Forsyth, MT.
1
Start on I 90 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·Montana Avenue
2
Turn left onto I 90 Business
420 ft·8 sec·North 18th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto I 90 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·1st Avenue North
4
Continue on 1st Avenue North
275 ft·8 sec·1st Avenue North
5
Turn right onto I 90 Business; US 87
1.3 mi·1 min·US Highway 87 East
6
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 87
0.3 mi·40 sec·I 90 Business; US 87
7
Continue on I 90; US 87; US 212
3.1 mi·3 min·I 90; US 87; US 212
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·I 94
Toward I 94 East: Bismark
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
10
Turn left onto US 12
0.3 mi·36 sec·US 12
11
Turn sharp right onto West Main Street
0.9 mi·1 min·West Main Street
12
Turn left onto North 10th Avenue
151 ft·8 sec·North 10th Avenue
13
Turn right
83 ft·6 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the manageable duration of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. Since the route is entirely highway-focused with zero planned stops, make sure to fuel up in Billings before you head out to avoid any mid-trip concerns. If you are sensitive to long stints of interstate driving, consider breaking up the 92.7-mile stretch on I-94 by planning a quick rest break at a midway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, though the $16 estimated cost is quite modest for a trip of this length. Traveling during daylight hours will ensure you have the best visibility while navigating the high-speed sections of the interstate.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.2 miles from Billings, MT, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.7 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 22 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.2 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forsyth, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Billings, MT
This is one driving day of about 100.3 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Billings, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 92.7 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 0.5 and 100.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North
At end of road, turn right onto I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
6 mi into trip|~8m in|I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94 East: Bismark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 94 East: Bismark
4
99 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|US 12
Turn left onto US 12
Navigation decision point
5
99.3 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|West Main Street
Turn sharp right onto West Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
100.3 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.89 one way
$31.79 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$16.66
$33.32
premium
$4.53
$17.89
$35.78
diesel
$5.61
$22.14
$44.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.1
0
$10.53
$4.81
Efficient EV
25.1
0
$8.78
$4.01
EV Truck/SUV
40.1
0
$14.04
$6.42
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Billings, MT
Night
in Billings on Saturday
Local time
10:37 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Partly Cloudy
WSW 9 to 13 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Forsyth, MT
Night
in Forsyth on Saturday
Local time
10:37 PM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Chance Rain Showers
W 10 mph38% chanceLive 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
4 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 51m 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?
Expect a fast-paced, highway-heavy experience, as 97% of this route is comprised of major roads. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the interstate, including a significant 92.7-mile uninterrupted stretch along I-94. The road personality is defined by efficiency rather than winding backroads, making it a predictable and steady drive. Because the vast majority of the mileage is on high-speed highways, you can maintain a consistent pace throughout the entire 100.3-mile trip. It is a no-nonsense route designed for getting from point A to point B quickly.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.7 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 51m 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 0.5 miles (I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 99 miles (US 12): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
3,138 ft2,884 ft
Total Climb
81 ft
Total Descent
255 ft
Highest Point
3,138 ft
~4.2 mi in
Elevation Range
255 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 100.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 92.7 miles on I 94. 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: at 0.5 miles (I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 99 miles (US 12): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Forsyth, MT before heading back.
