Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
23m
Distance
16.4 mi
26 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
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
Laurel, MT
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a quick transit between Billings and Laurel, Montana, you are looking at a very straightforward 16.4-mile trip. This drive takes approximately 23 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a half-day excursion or a simple commute. You will primarily navigate via I-90, Montana Avenue, and Laurel Road to complete the journey. Given the short distance and duration, you can easily handle this as a one-day trip without needing any overnight stays. With an estimated fuel cost of just $3, it is an incredibly budget-friendly route within the Mountain West region. Expect a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 11.3 mi | 13m |
| Montana Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Laurel Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 1st Avenue North | 0.9 mi | 3m |
| I 90 Business | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US 310 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US 212 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Division Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Billings, MT and Laurel, MT.
Start on I 90 Business
Turn left onto North 23rd Street
Turn left onto I 90 Business
Turn left onto I 90 Business
Continue on I 90 Business
Continue on I 90 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90 Business
Merge onto I 90; US 212
Take the exit onto US 212
Turn right onto US 310; MT S-532
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 15.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto North 23rd Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto I 90 Business / Division Street
Navigation decision point
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
Take the exit onto US 212 toward US 212, US 310: Laurel, Red Lodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$2.60 one way
$5.20 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $2.72 | $5.45 |
| premium | $4.53 | $2.93 | $5.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.62 | $7.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.79 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.43 | $0.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.30 | $1.05 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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
Late night in Billings on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
27°F
Chance Rain And Snow Showers
Destination
Late night in Laurel on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
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 highway-focused experience, as 76% of this route consists of high-speed travel. The drive is defined by a significant 11.3-mile stretch on I-90, which provides the bulk of the journey's momentum. You will transition from the interstate onto local infrastructure like Montana Avenue and Laurel Road as you approach your destination. While the highway segments offer a steady, consistent pace, the final miles require a shift in attention as you move into local road environments. This is a functional drive designed for speed and direct access rather than winding, scenic detours.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 23m 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 0.1 miles (North 23rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 90 Business / Division Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
180 ft
Total Descent
4 ft
Highest Point
3,298 ft
~16.4 mi in
Elevation Range
176 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Billings, MT to Laurel, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Butte along the way.
Butte
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 16.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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