This 279.7-mile drive from Conrad, Montana, to Billings, Montana, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 5 hours and 5 minutes to complete. You'll primarily be on US 87 and US 12, with about 69% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $45. Given its relatively short duration and the highway-focused profile, it's well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. This journey stays within the Mountain West region, offering a consistent regional experience.
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
139.9 miles from Conrad, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
64.3 mi
1h 9m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
57.1 mi
53m
US 12
45.1 mi
50m
MT 3
41 mi
46m
US 191
39.2 mi
43m
10th Avenue South
22.6 mi
25m
MT-3
2.5 mi
2m
North 27th Street
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 64.3 mi, about 1h 9m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~391 veh/hr typical
· worst 507
Quietest
1 AM
~14 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
27.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Conrad, MT and Billings, MT.
1
Start on I 15 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·South Main Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
3
Merge onto I 15
57 mi·53 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
4
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi·30 sec·I 15 Business
Toward I 15 Business
5
Turn left onto I 15 Business
1.5 mi·1 min·Central Avenue West
6
Continue on I 15 Business
0.2 mi·17 sec·First Avenue North Bridge
7
Continue on I 15 Business
1.2 mi·2 min·1st Avenue North
8
Turn right onto US 87
0.8 mi·1 min·14th Street North
9
Turn left onto US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
23 mi·25 min·10th Avenue South
10
Enter roundabout
224 ft·2 sec
11
Continue
0.3 mi·20 sec
12
Turn straight onto US 87; MT 3; MT 200
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 87; MT 3; MT 200
13
Turn right onto US 191; MT 3
39 mi·43 min·US 191; MT 3
14
Turn left onto US 12; MT 3
45 mi·50 min·US 12; MT 3
15
Turn right onto MT 3
12 mi·14 min·MT 3
16
Continue on MT-3
2.5 mi·2 min·MT-3
17
Continue on MT 3
25 mi·28 min·MT 3
18
Enter roundabout onto MT 3
123 ft·1 sec·MT 3
19
Continue on MT 3
3.1 mi·3 min·MT 3
20
Enter roundabout onto North 27th Street
36 ft·0 sec·North 27th Street
21
Continue on North 27th Street
2.2 mi·3 min·North 27th Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn left onto I 90 Business
0.2 mi·33 sec·Montana Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, starting your drive in the morning will allow you to arrive in Billings with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. The estimated fuel cost of $45 is a good budget point to keep in mind. Pay attention to road conditions, especially on US 87, as it represents the longest continuous stretch. This route is efficient enough that you can easily adjust your departure time based on weather or your schedule.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 139.9 miles from Conrad, MT, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.3 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 62 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.9 miles or 2h 26m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Billings, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Conrad, 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 Conrad, MT
This is one driving day of about 279.7 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Conrad, 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 64.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 58.3 and 279.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
58.3 mi into trip|~55m in|I 15 Business
Take the exit onto I 15 Business toward I 15 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 15 Business
4
84.9 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
188.7 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|US 12; MT 3
Turn left onto US 12; MT 3
Navigation decision point
4
233.8 mi into trip|~4h 10m in|MT 3
Turn right onto MT 3
Navigation decision point
6
279.5 mi into trip|~5h 4m in|I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Turn left onto I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.60 one way
$87.19 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$45.95
$91.90
premium
$4.47
$49.27
$98.53
diesel
$4.80
$52.81
$105.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.9
1
$29.37
$13.43
Efficient EV
69.9
0
$24.47
$11.19
EV Truck/SUV
111.9
1
$39.16
$17.90
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Conrad, MT
Night
in Conrad on Saturday
Local time
10:44 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SSW 2 to 8 mph74% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 8:47PM MDT by NWS Missoula MT
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 8:26PM MDT by NWS Missoula MT
Destination
Billings, MT
Night
in Billings on Saturday
Local time
10:44 PM
MDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
NW 5 to 9 mph57% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 8:47PM MDT by NWS Missoula MT
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 8:26PM MDT by NWS Missoula MT
60°F
Denton, MT
140 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
7 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 5m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 predominantly highway-focused drive for this 279.7-mile stretch. With 69% of the route on highways, you'll experience stretches of efficient travel, including a longest uninterrupted segment of 64.3 miles on US 87. The First Special Service Force Memorial Highway also plays a part in this journey. While primarily a highway experience, the road will likely offer varied Montana landscapes as you progress south towards Billings.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.3 mi on US 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 58.3 miles in near I 15 Business.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 5m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 58.3 miles (I 15 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 84.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 188.7 miles (US 12; MT 3): 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.
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
The longest stretch is about 64.3 miles on US 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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.
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 4 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 58.3 miles (I 15 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 84.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 188.7 miles (US 12; MT 3): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Billings, MT before the return drive.
