Spanning 436.3 miles across Montana, this trek between Evergreen and Laurel is a significant cross-state journey that typically requires 7 hours and 35 minutes of drive time. While you can complete the trip in a single day, it demands stamina to cover the full distance in one go. You should budget approximately $69 for fuel to account for the long haul. The route primarily utilizes I-90, I-15, and MT-83 to navigate the Mountain West region. Because this is a highway-focused drive, it is best suited for travelers looking to move efficiently between these two Montana points rather than those seeking a leisurely backroads tour.
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
218.2 miles from Evergreen, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
145.8 mi
2h 20m
I 15
110.8 mi
1h 51m
MT 83
91.1 mi
1h 43m
State Highway 141
32.5 mi
35m
MT 200
23.8 mi
25m
MT 35
15.9 mi
18m
US 12
12.9 mi
14m
East Evergreen Drive
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 145.8 mi, about 2h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evergreen, MT and Laurel, MT.
1
Start on US 2
26 ft·3 sec·La Salle Road
2
Turn right onto East Evergreen Drive
1.0 mi·2 min·East Evergreen Drive
3
Turn right onto Helena Flats Road
0.1 mi·21 sec·Helena Flats Road
4
Turn left onto MT 35
1.1 mi·1 min·MT 35
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on MT 35
15 mi·17 min·MT 35
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto MT 83
91 mi·1 hr 43 min·MT 83
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto MT 200
24 mi·25 min·MT 200
8
Turn right onto MT 141
32 mi·35 min·State Highway 141
9
Turn sharp right onto US 12
13 mi·14 min·US 12
10
Turn left
0.5 mi·42 sec
11
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·13 sec·this road
12
Take the ramp
0.9 mi·1 min
13
Merge onto I 90
45 mi·42 min·I 90
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90
111 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 15; I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 90; US 89; US 191
6.9 mi·6 min·I 90; US 89; US 191
16
Continue on I 90; US 191
94 mi·1 hr 31 min·I 90; US 191
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 212, US 310: Laurel, Red Lodge
18
Turn right onto US 310; MT S-532
0.6 mi·58 sec·US 310; MT S-532
19
Arrive at destination
US 310; MT S-532
Trip Plan
To manage the 7-hour and 35-minute duration effectively, plan for at least two intentional stops to stretch your legs and refresh. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue, especially since you have a substantial 145.8-mile stretch on I-90 to navigate. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $69 estimated cost can fluctuate depending on your vehicle’s efficiency and local station prices. Since the trip is almost entirely highway-based, use the two recommended stops to transition from the mental focus required for interstate driving. If you find the full distance daunting, consider splitting the trip to maintain higher alertness behind the wheel.
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 218.2 miles from Evergreen, MT, or about 4h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.8 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 96 miles or 1h 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 218.2 miles or 4h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laurel, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Evergreen, 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 Evergreen, MT
This is one driving day of about 436.3 miles and 7h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Evergreen, 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 I 90 for about 145.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 435.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|MT 35
Turn left onto MT 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
17 mi into trip|~21m in|MT 83
Turn left onto MT 83
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
164.4 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|US 12
Turn sharp right onto US 12
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
223.8 mi into trip|~4h 5m in|I 15; I 90
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
435.5 mi into trip|~7h 34m in
Take the exit toward US 212, US 310: Laurel, Red Lodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 212, US 310: Laurel, Red Lodge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$69.14 one way
$138.28 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg153 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$72.47
$144.94
premium
$4.53
$77.83
$155.66
diesel
$5.61
$96.33
$192.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 152.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
130.9
1
$45.81
$20.94
Efficient EV
109.1
1
$38.18
$17.45
EV Truck/SUV
174.5
2
$61.08
$27.92
Gas CO2
153 kg
EV CO2
51 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 12, 2026
Origin
Evergreen, MT
Evening
in Evergreen on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SSE 2 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Laurel, MT
Evening
in Laurel on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°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
5 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 35m 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 high-speed experience, as 99% of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the vast majority of your time cruising on major interstates, providing a consistent pace throughout the journey. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on I-90, where you can settle in for 145.8 miles of steady road. Transitions between the different highways are straightforward, though the character of the drive shifts from the local connectivity of MT-83 to the high-capacity flow of the interstate system. Be prepared for a focused, efficient drive that prioritizes miles over technical challenges.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.8 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 15. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near MT 35.
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 35m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (MT 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles (MT 83): Lane positioning matters here; at 164.4 miles (US 12): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,330 ft2,924 ft
Total Climb
2,407 ft
Total Descent
0 ft
Highest Point
5,330 ft
~218.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,407 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 35m. Total distance: 436.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 145.8 miles on I 90. 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 Laurel, 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 1.2 miles (MT 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles (MT 83): Lane positioning matters here; at 164.4 miles (US 12): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Laurel, MT before the return drive.
