Spanning 379.3 miles across Montana, this trek from Conrad to Miles City typically takes about 6 hours and 22 minutes of drive time. Because the route involves a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, it is best approached as a dedicated one-day trip. You should budget approximately $60 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Mountain West locations. While the drive is manageable in a single day, the winding nature of the roads means you should plan for a full day of travel. It is a practical route for those navigating within the state, but be prepared for a focused day behind the wheel.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
189.2 miles from Conrad, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 87
126.8 mi
2h 16m
MT 59
82.6 mi
2h 2m
US 87
79 mi
1h 25m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
57.1 mi
53m
10th Avenue South
22.6 mi
25m
Truck Bypass
2.6 mi
3m
1st Avenue North
1.6 mi
2m
Central Avenue West
1.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 87
— 126.8 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Conrad, MT and Miles City, 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
Continue on US 87; US 191; MT 200
15 mi·15 min·US 87; US 191; MT 200
14
Turn straight onto US 191
2.6 mi·3 min·Truck Bypass
15
Continue on 1st Avenue North
0.3 mi·37 sec·1st Avenue North
16
Turn left onto US 87; MT 200
0.4 mi·1 min·East Main Street
17
Continue on US 87; MT 200
1.1 mi·2 min·Northeast Main Street
18
Continue on US 87; MT 200
127 mi·2 hr 16 min·US Highway 87
19
Turn right onto MT 59
83 mi·2 hr 2 min·MT 59
20
Turn left onto I 94 Business; MT 59
0.4 mi·51 sec·Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
MT 59
Trip Plan
To tackle this 379.3-mile journey effectively, prioritize an early morning departure to account for the winding, turn-heavy nature of the roads. Since you only have one planned stop, use that break strategically to refuel and stretch your legs, as the technical driving can be more fatiguing than standard interstate travel. Keep a close eye on your navigation, especially when transitioning between the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway and local roads like Central Avenue West. Because this route is not a simple highway cruise, remain flexible with your arrival time to accommodate the slower pace of local roads. Always double-check your fuel levels before leaving Conrad, as the local road profile can impact your overall efficiency.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 189.2 miles from Conrad, MT, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.8 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 83 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.2 miles or 3h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 51m
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 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Conrad, MT
This is one driving day of about 378.5 miles and 7h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Conrad, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 87 for about 126.8 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 58.3 and 378 — 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
167.1 mi into trip|~2h 57m in|US 87; MT 200 / East Main Street
Turn left onto US 87; MT 200 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
295.4 mi into trip|~5h 16m in|MT 59
Turn right onto MT 59
Navigation decision point
4
378 mi into trip|~7h 19m in|I 94 Business; MT 59 / Main Street
Turn left onto I 94 Business; MT 59 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.98 one way
$119.96 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg132 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$62.87
$125.74
premium
$4.53
$67.52
$135.04
diesel
$5.61
$83.57
$167.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.6
1
$39.74
$18.17
Efficient EV
94.6
1
$33.12
$15.14
EV Truck/SUV
151.4
1
$52.99
$24.22
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Conrad, MT
Evening
in Conrad on Saturday
Local time
7:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Miles City, MT
Evening
in Miles City on Saturday
Local time
7:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Lewistown, MT
189 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
9 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
7h 20m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 road personality that leans heavily into local navigation rather than a high-speed interstate grind. With 0% of the route dedicated to highway travel, you will spend your time on routes like the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, I-15, and Central Avenue West. This profile creates a turn-heavy experience that requires your constant attention compared to the monotony of long, straight stretches. The character of the road shifts as you transition between these varied thoroughfares, demanding a more active driving style. You will find that the lack of major highway miles makes for a more technical journey through the Montana landscape.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 126.8 mi on US Highway 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 87 and MT 59. 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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 20m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 7 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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 167.1 miles (US 87; MT 200 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 20m. Total distance: 378.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 126.8 miles on US Highway 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Miles City, MT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 167.1 miles (US 87; MT 200 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Miles City, MT before the return drive.
