Billings to Great Falls is 218.9 miles and takes about 4h 9m via US 87 and US 12, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Montana, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive, making it a good option for a single-day transit. You'll spend most of your time cruising, with a clear path laid out before you. Plan this drive for a day when you want to cover ground efficiently.
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
109.5 miles from Billings, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
87.5 mi
1h 38m
US 12
45.1 mi
50m
MT 3
41.1 mi
47m
US 191
39.2 mi
42m
Iowa Avenue
2.5 mi
2m
North 27th Street
2.1 mi
3m
6th Street South
0.4 mi
<1m
1st Avenue North
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 87.5 mi, about 1h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Billings, MT and Great Falls, 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
0.3 mi·1 min·1st Avenue North
4
Turn right onto MT 3
2.1 mi·3 min·North 27th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Enter roundabout onto MT 3
236 ft·3 sec·MT 3
6
Continue on MT 3
3.1 mi·3 min·MT 3
7
Enter roundabout onto MT 3
144 ft·2 sec·MT 3
8
Continue on MT 3
25 mi·28 min·MT 3
9
Continue on MT-3
2.5 mi·2 min·Iowa Avenue
10
Continue on MT 3
12 mi·14 min·MT 3
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 12; MT 3
45 mi·50 min·US 12; MT 3
12
Turn right onto US 191; MT 3
39 mi·42 min·US 191; MT 3
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; MT 3; MT 200
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 87; MT 3; MT 200
14
Turn slight right
0.3 mi·20 sec
15
Enter roundabout
172 ft·2 sec
16
Continue
0.1 mi·7 sec
17
Continue on US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
23 mi·29 min·US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
18
Turn right onto I 15 Business
0.4 mi·38 sec·6th Street South
19
Turn left onto 5th Avenue South
0.2 mi·39 sec·5th Avenue South
20
Turn right onto 4th Street South
162 ft·7 sec·4th Street South
21
Arrive at destination
4th Street South
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 9m drive time, leaving Billings in the morning will get you to Great Falls with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a short duration, you have the flexibility to depart when you're ready. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch is 87.5 miles, and fuel services can be spread out in Montana. The estimated fuel cost is $35, so budget accordingly before you set off. A mid-morning departure allows for a relaxed start and an early afternoon arrival.
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 109.5 miles from Billings, MT, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.5 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 48 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.5 miles or 2h 5m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great Falls, 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 218.9 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 US 87 for about 87.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 218.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
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
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|MT 3 / North 27th Street
Turn right onto MT 3 / North 27th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
46.2 mi into trip|~55m in|US 12; MT 3
At end of road, turn left onto US 12; MT 3
Navigation decision point
5
195.1 mi into trip|~3h 38m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
218.9 mi into trip|~4h 9m in|4th Street South
Turn right onto 4th Street South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.12 one way
$68.24 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$35.96
$71.93
premium
$4.47
$38.56
$77.11
diesel
$4.80
$41.33
$82.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.7
0
$22.98
$10.51
Efficient EV
54.7
0
$19.15
$8.76
EV Truck/SUV
87.6
1
$30.65
$14.01
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Billings, MT
Late night
in Billings on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
97°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NNW 6 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 18 at 3:39PM MDT until July 18 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 2:53PM MDT until July 18 at 4:00PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
Great Falls, MT
Late night
in Great Falls on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
98°F
Sunny
SW 6 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 18 at 3:39PM MDT until July 18 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 2:53PM MDT until July 18 at 4:00PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
58°F
Moore, MT
109 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 9m 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?
This route is 97% highway, so expect to be on high-speed roads for the vast majority of your trip. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 87.5 miles on US 87. You'll experience rural cruising for most of this drive. The transition to surface roads, if any, will be minimal and likely only in the immediate approach to your destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.5 mi on US 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and US 12. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 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 4h 9m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (MT 3 / North 27th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 46.2 miles (US 12; MT 3): Navigation decision point.
Billings is the largest city in Montana in Yellowstone County, 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 hosts the largest hospitals in a 500-mile radius, as such the medical profession is a major source of employment in the area. 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
Great Falls is a city in Central Montana. It is the third most populous city in Montana with approximately 60,000 people. It is the hub for commercial and financial dealings in the center of the state.
Top landmarks
•Masonic Temple — masonic temple in Great Falls, United States of America
•Cascade County Courthouse — county courthouse in Great Falls, United States of America
•Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Passenger Depot — railway station in Great Falls, the United States of America
The longest stretch is about 87.5 miles on US 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 0.2 miles (I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (MT 3 / North 27th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 46.2 miles (US 12; MT 3): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Great Falls, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
