Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
46.5 mi
75 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Billings, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Hardin, MT
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a quick transit through Montana’s Mountain West, the 46.5-mile journey from Billings to Hardin is a straightforward commute. You can easily complete this drive in roughly 49 minutes, making it a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, it is an economical choice for travelers moving between these two regional hubs. The route relies heavily on I-90 and US Highway 87 East, keeping the logistics simple and predictable. Because this stretch is so short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your own schedule rather than rushing to beat the clock.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 42.4 mi | 40m |
| US Highway 87 East | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| North Crawford Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| 1st Avenue North | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| I 90 Business | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Montana Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| I 90 Bus | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 18th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Billings, MT and Hardin, MT.
Start on I 90 Business
Turn left onto I 90 Business
At end of road, turn right onto I 90 Business
Continue on 1st Avenue North
Turn right onto I 90 Business; US 87
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 87
Continue on I 90; US 87; US 212
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90; US 87; US 212
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; MT 47
Continue on North Crawford Avenue
Turn left onto North Crawford Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.2 miles from Billings, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 45.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto I 90 Business; US 87 / US Highway 87 East
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90; US 87; US 212 toward I 90 East: Sheridan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business, MT 47: Hardin City Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto North Crawford Avenue
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$7.37 one way
$14.74 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $7.72 | $15.45 |
| premium | $4.53 | $8.29 | $16.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.27 | $20.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.88 | $2.23 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.07 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Billings on Tuesday
Local time
7:44 AM
MDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Morning in Hardin on Tuesday
Local time
7:44 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience, as 96% of this trip is spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-90, which accounts for a 42.4-mile stretch of uninterrupted driving. The path is designed for speed and directness, trading winding backroads for the steady pace of the interstate. As you transition from Billings toward Hardin, the route maintains a consistent character that prioritizes time-saving over technical navigation. Once you exit the interstate, you will finish your journey via North Crawford Avenue, bringing you directly into your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US Highway 87 East. 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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 49m drive. You will face about 7 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 1.3 miles (I 90 Business; US 87 / US Highway 87 East): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (I 90; US 87; US 212): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
914 ft
Total Descent
949 ft
Highest Point
3,972 ft
~19.4 mi in
Elevation Range
869 ft
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.
Hardin is a town in southeast Montana. About 3,800 people lived there in 2020.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 46.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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