Connecting Billings to Lewistown takes you on a 125.4-mile journey through the heart of Montana’s Mountain West. Spanning roughly 2 hours and 17 minutes of driving time, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging arrangements. You should budget approximately $17 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. Since the drive relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you can expect a more intimate look at the regional landscape. It serves as a straightforward transition between these two Montana hubs, providing a practical travel experience without the need for additional stops along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.7 miles from Billings, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
75.3 mi
1h 38m
Roundup Road
44.4 mi
48m
Main Street
4.2 mi
6m
1st Avenue North
0.7 mi
1m
Montana Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
North 18th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
6th Avenue South
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 75.3 mi, about 1h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Billings, MT and Lewistown, 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
403 ft·9 sec·1st Avenue North
5
Continue on US 87
3.5 mi·5 min·Main Street
6
Turn slight left onto US 87
44 mi·48 min·Roundup Road
7
Turn left onto US 12; US 87
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
8
Turn slight left onto US 87
44 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 87
9
Turn left onto US 87; MT 200
31 mi·35 min·US 87; MT 200
10
Turn left onto 6th Avenue South
395 ft·17 sec·6th Avenue South
11
Arrive at destination
6th Avenue South
Trip Plan
Given the local nature of these roads, flexibility is your greatest advantage when planning your departure time. Since the entire trip takes just over two hours, you can easily manage the drive in one go without needing to schedule formal rest stops. Be prepared for constant turns and varying road conditions, which can make the journey feel more demanding than a standard highway cruise. Budget your $17 for fuel before you head out, as local routes may have fewer service options than major corridors. Keep your eyes on the road and enjoy the direct, point-to-point pace of this Montana excursion.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.7 miles from Billings, MT, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.3 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 28 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.7 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewistown, 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 125.3 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 75.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
3.8 mi from route
~10 min detour
$10 to $20
Grass Range, Montana
Hours: 6 am–2 pm
+14064282242
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 125.3 — 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
3
49.2 mi into trip|~57m in|US 12; US 87 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 12; US 87 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
94.3 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|US 87; MT 200
Turn left onto US 87; MT 200
Navigation decision point
4
125.3 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|6th Avenue South
Turn left onto 6th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.86 one way
$39.71 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$20.81
$41.63
premium
$4.53
$22.35
$44.70
diesel
$5.61
$27.66
$55.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.6
0
$13.16
$6.01
Efficient EV
31.3
0
$10.96
$5.01
EV Truck/SUV
50.1
0
$17.54
$8.02
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 20, 2026
Origin
Billings, MT
Late night
in Billings on Tuesday
Local time
2:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lewistown, MT
Late night
in Lewistown on Tuesday
Local time
2:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live 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
6 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
2h 37m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 turn-heavy, local driving experience that prioritizes navigation over high-speed interstate travel. You will spend your time winding through North 18th Street, 1st Avenue North, and Main Street, as the route features a 0% highway share. Because there is no extended highway cruising, the longest uninterrupted stretch on North 18th Street is effectively zero miles, requiring your full attention behind the wheel. The road’s personality is defined by these technical, local connections rather than long, monotonous straightaways. Staying alert is essential as you navigate the frequent transitions throughout this 125.4-mile trek.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.3 mi on US 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Billings, MT to Lewistown, MT is easy. At 2h 37m with 60% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 49.2 miles (US 12; US 87 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 94.3 miles (US 87; MT 200): 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.
The longest stretch is about 75.3 miles on US 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.5 miles (I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 49.2 miles (US 12; US 87 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 94.3 miles (US 87; MT 200): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lewistown, MT before heading back.
