Stretching 101.7 miles across the Mountain West, this trip from Forsyth to Billings is a straightforward journey that takes approximately 1 hour and 36 minutes to complete. You can easily manage this as a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stop to reach your destination. Budgeting about $14 for fuel will cover your transit costs between these two Montana towns. Navigating this route involves a combination of North 10th Avenue, Main Street, and I-90. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, the simplicity of this drive makes it a practical choice for your itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.1 miles from Forsyth, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
93.2 mi
1h 37m
I 90
2.8 mi
3m
1st Avenue North
1.2 mi
3m
US Highway 87 East
1.2 mi
1m
Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
US 12
0.3 mi
<1m
I 90 Business
0.3 mi
<1m
North 25th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 93.2 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forsyth, MT and Billings, MT.
1
Start on this road
83 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto North 10th Avenue
151 ft·8 sec·North 10th Avenue
3
Turn right onto Main Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
4
Turn sharp left onto US 12
0.3 mi·25 sec·US 12
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
6
Merge onto I 94
93 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 94
7
Merge onto I 90; US 87; US 212
2.8 mi·3 min·I 90; US 87; US 212
8
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 87
0.3 mi·36 sec·I 90 Business; US 87
Toward I 90 Business, US 87 North: Lockwood, Roundup
9
Merge onto I 90 Business; US 87
1.2 mi·1 min·US Highway 87 East
10
At end of road, turn left onto I 90 Business
1.2 mi·3 min·1st Avenue North
11
Turn left onto North 25th Street
375 ft·15 sec·North 25th Street
12
Turn left onto I 90 Business
169 ft·5 sec·Montana Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best without worrying about complex pacing or overnight logistics. Keep in mind that with zero planned stops, you should ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you head out to avoid any mid-trip interruptions. Given the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, stay alert during the initial segments before you merge onto I-90. Planning for a quick, direct run will save you time, as there are no mandated stops along the way. Use the 1 hour and 36 minute duration as a reliable baseline for your planning, but allow for extra time if you encounter local traffic during your departure.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.1 miles from Forsyth, MT, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.2 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 22 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.1 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 27m
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 Forsyth, MT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Forsyth, MT
This is one driving day of about 100.3 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Forsyth, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 93.2 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 0 and 100.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North 10th Avenue
Turn left onto North 10th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|US 12
Turn sharp left onto US 12
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
97.5 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|I 90 Business; US 87
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 87 toward I 90 Business, US 87 North: Lockwood, Roundup
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 Business, US 87 North: Lockwood, Ro...
5
100.3 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Turn left onto I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.89 one way
$31.79 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$16.66
$33.32
premium
$4.53
$17.89
$35.78
diesel
$5.61
$22.14
$44.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.1
0
$10.53
$4.81
Efficient EV
25.1
0
$8.78
$4.01
EV Truck/SUV
40.1
0
$14.04
$6.42
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Forsyth, MT
Late night
in Forsyth on Tuesday
Local time
2:46 AM
MDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Billings, MT
Late night
in Billings on Tuesday
Local time
2:46 AM
MDT
Current temp
52°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
3 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
1h 49m 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 as you navigate your way out of Forsyth toward the interstate. Unlike a monotonous highway cruise, this route demands your attention with its mix of local roads and connecting infrastructure. You will find that the highway share is 0% for the initial local segments, meaning you should be prepared for more frequent adjustments behind the wheel. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on North 10th Avenue is 0 miles, the road keeps you engaged with constant transitions. The character of the path shifts as you move from local streets onto the main transit arteries, providing a functional rather than purely scenic experience.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 10th Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 49m 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: near the start (North 10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 12): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
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 93.2 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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: near the start (North 10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 12): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Billings, MT before heading back.
