Connecting Billings to Miles City, this 144.1-mile trek takes approximately 2 hours and 13 minutes to complete. You will navigate primarily via North 18th Street, 1st Avenue North, and Highway 87 East as you traverse the Mountain West region. Since this is a relatively short distance, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, meaning you likely won't need to book an overnight stay. Budgeting about $20 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-day journey. Because you remain within Montana throughout the entire trip, you can expect a consistent regional feel that keeps your travel planning simple and efficient.
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
72.1 miles from Billings, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
134.7 mi
2h 20m
I 94 Business
3.6 mi
6m
I 90
3.1 mi
3m
US Highway 87 East
1.3 mi
1m
1st Avenue North
0.7 mi
1m
Montana Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
I 90 Business
0.3 mi
<1m
North 18th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 134.7 mi, about 2h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Billings, MT and Miles City, 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
275 ft·8 sec·1st Avenue North
5
Turn right onto I 90 Business; US 87
1.3 mi·1 min·US Highway 87 East
6
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 87
0.3 mi·40 sec·I 90 Business; US 87
7
Continue on I 90; US 87; US 212
3.1 mi·3 min·I 90; US 87; US 212
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
135 mi·2 hr 20 min·I 94
Toward I 94 East: Bismark
9
Take the exit onto I 94 Business
3.6 mi·6 min·I 94 Business
Toward I 94 Business: Miles City, Jordan
10
Arrive at destination
MT 59
Trip Plan
Given the shorter duration of this 144.1-mile drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule. Since there are no designated stops on this specific route, ensure you are fueled up and ready to go before you pull away from Billings. Keep a close watch on your navigation as you transition between North 18th Street and 1st Avenue North, as the turn-heavy nature of the route requires frequent adjustments. Being prepared for a local, non-highway driving experience will make your trip to Miles City much smoother. If you prefer a relaxed pace, treat this as a direct point-to-point transit that rewards early morning starts to avoid local traffic congestion.
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 72.1 miles from Billings, MT, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 134.7 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 32 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.1 miles or 1h 17m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Miles City, 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 144.3 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 94 for about 134.7 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 140.7 — 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
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|I 90 Business; US 87 / US Highway 87 East
Turn right onto I 90 Business; US 87 / US Highway 87 East
Navigation decision point
3
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in|I 90 Business; US 87
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 87
Navigation decision point
5
6 mi into trip|~8m in|I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94 East: Bismark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 94 East: Bismark
5
140.7 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|I 94 Business
Take the exit onto I 94 Business toward I 94 Business: Miles City, Jordan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 94 Business: Miles City, Jordan
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.87 one way
$45.73 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$23.97
$47.94
premium
$4.53
$25.74
$51.48
diesel
$5.61
$31.86
$63.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.3
0
$15.15
$6.93
Efficient EV
36.1
0
$12.63
$5.77
EV Truck/SUV
57.7
0
$20.20
$9.24
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 15, 2026
Origin
Billings, MT
Late night
in Billings on Sunday
Local time
5:29 AM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Miles City, MT
Late night
in Miles City on Sunday
Local time
5:29 AM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Forsyth, MT
72 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
29 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 35m 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 drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route requires more active navigation as you transition through various local roads. Because there is a 0% highway share, you won't be cruising along high-speed interstates for long stretches. The longest uninterrupted stretch is currently 0 miles on North 18th Street, which highlights the localized nature of this transit. You will spend your time navigating through the specific turns of the local network rather than settling into a steady, long-distance highway rhythm.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 134.7 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 94 Business. 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 Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Billings, MT to Miles City, MT is easy. At 2h 35m with 99% 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 1.3 miles (I 90 Business; US 87 / US Highway 87 East): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (I 90 Business; US 87): 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 134.7 miles on I 94. 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 1.3 miles (I 90 Business; US 87 / US Highway 87 East): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (I 90 Business; US 87): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Miles City, MT before heading back.
