Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Billings, MT to Hamilton, MT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 30m
Distance
330 mi
531 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 18m
★
6 AM
6h 31m
8 AM
6h 55m
10 AM
6h 39m
12 PM
6h 37m
3 PM
6h 40m
5 PM
6h 54m
8 PM
6h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Billings, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Hamilton, MT
Russ
Trip Overview
Billings to Hamilton is 330 miles and takes about 6 hours 30 minutes via I 90 and Skalkaho Highway, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, connecting two points in Montana. Expect a mix of interstate cruising and scenic highway driving, making it a solid choice for a single-day adventure if you're looking for varied landscapes. It's a straightforward route that's easy to navigate for most drivers.
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
165 miles from Billings, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 236.6 mi | 3h 54m |
| Skalkaho Highway | 33.1 mi | 1h 3m |
| Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway | 28.3 mi | 39m |
| Skalkaho Road | 21 mi | 34m |
| US 93 | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| East Commercial Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Montana Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Laurel Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 236.6 mi, about 3h 54m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~791 veh/hr typical · worst 1,001
Quietest
2 AM
~46 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Hamilton, 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
11 mi
·
10 min
·
I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
Toward MT 1: Anaconda, Opportunity, Phillipsburg
13
Continue on MT 1
7.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway
14
Continue on MT 1
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
East Commercial Avenue
15
Turn slight right onto MT 1
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Park Avenue
16
Continue on MT 1
21 mi
·
31 min
·
Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway
17
Turn left onto MT 38
21 mi
·
34 min
·
Skalkaho Road
18
Continue on MT 38
33 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
Skalkaho Highway
19
At end of road, turn right onto US 93
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
US 93
20
Turn left onto S-531
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
West Main Street
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
S-531
Trip Plan
Given the 6.5-hour estimated drive time, leaving Billings in the morning will allow you to reach Hamilton with daylight to spare. You'll have one main highway segment that's over 230 miles, so plan your first stop after that to break up the driving. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from I 90 to the Skalkaho Highway, as services might be more spread out on the latter. The total fuel cost is estimated at $54 for this 330-mile trip.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 165 miles from Billings, MT, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 236.6 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 73 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165 miles or 2h 47m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hamilton, 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 330 miles and 6h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 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 236.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
165 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 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 165 miles from Billings, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 236.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Town Pump Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Anaconda Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Town Pump Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Three Forks Rest Area
0.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 329.7 — 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
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
5
241 mi into trip
|
~4h 3m in
Take the exit toward MT 1: Anaconda, Opportunity, Phillipsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MT 1: Anaconda, Opportunity, Phillipsbur...
6
329.7 mi into trip
|
~6h 29m in
|
S-531 / West Main Street
Turn left onto S-531 / West Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.44 one way
$102.87 round trip
$3.96/gal
25.4 MPG avg
116 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.17 | $54.22 | $108.43 |
| premium | $4.47 | $58.13 | $116.25 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $62.31 | $124.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 99 | 1 | $34.65 | $15.84 |
| Efficient EV | 82.5 | 0 | $28.88 | $13.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 132 | 1 | $46.20 | $21.12 |
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Billings, MT
Late night in Billings on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
97°F
Mostly Sunny
ENE 2 to 10 mph
13% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 17 at 12:23AM MDT until July 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
Hamilton, MT
Late night in Hamilton on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ENE 5 mph
81% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 17 at 12:23AM MDT until July 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
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
3 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
6h 30m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 73% of the 330 miles on highways, with a significant 236.6-mile stretch on I 90. The transition from interstate to surface roads will occur after this long highway segment. Expect a change in driving conditions from high-speed cruising to more winding, potentially slower roads as you leave the interstate.
73% 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: 236.6 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and Skalkaho Highway. 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 Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 30m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 10 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North 23rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 90 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 230.2 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,006 ft
3,410 ft
Total Climb
3,523 ft
Total Descent
3,363 ft
Highest Point
6,006 ft
~306.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,596 ft
Notable High Points
5,721 ft at ~212.1 miles
+367 ft prominence
5,960 ft at ~259.3 miles
+561 ft prominence
6,006 ft at ~306.4 miles
+606 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Billings, MT and Hamilton, MT, road signs point toward Opportunity and Phillipsburg.
Opportunity
241 mi in
|
~4h 3m
Phillipsburg
241 mi in
|
~4h 3m
About the Cities
Starting in Billings, MT
Full guide →Founded 1877
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
Arriving in Hamilton, MT
Full guide →Hamilton is a small city in Northwestern Montana, and is the county seat of Ravalli County. Just under 5,000 people lived there in 2020. It is the central trade area for the many farms, ranches, and orchards in the Bitterroot valley.
Top landmarks
- • Other C. Wamsley House — historic house in Montana, United States
- • E.G. Ellis House — historic house in Hamilton, Montana
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 30m. Total distance: 330 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 30m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 236.6 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Hamilton, MT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 13 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 4 miles (I 90 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 230.2 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hamilton, MT before the return drive.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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