Spanning 288.7 miles across the Mountain West, your journey from Fort Belknap Agency to Miles City is a committed day trip that typically takes 4 hours and 56 minutes to complete. Because this route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you should budget for a full day of driving to ensure you reach your destination comfortably. Plan to set aside about $39 for fuel, keeping in mind that the lack of highway travel means your mileage efficiency may fluctuate. This drive is best suited for those who prefer a slower, more deliberate pace through the Montana landscape. Since the trip takes nearly five hours, you will want to prepare for a long stint behind the wheel before reaching the end of your trek.
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
167.3 miles from Fort Belknap Agency, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 2
161.3 mi
3h 4m
I 94 Business
70.7 mi
1h 8m
State Highway 13
46.7 mi
1h 9m
B Avenue
46.3 mi
50m
East Main Street
5.5 mi
8m
Valley Drive East
1.6 mi
2m
West Towne Street
1.5 mi
2m
1st Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 2
— 161.3 mi, about 3h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Belknap Agency, MT and Miles City, MT.
1
Start on 1st Street
0.4 mi·1 min·1st Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 2
161 mi·3 hr 4 min·US 2
3
Turn right onto MT 25
365 ft·6 sec·4th Avenue North
4
Continue on MT 25
0.2 mi·22 sec·3rd Avenue
5
Turn left onto Anaconda Street
0.2 mi·21 sec·Anaconda Street
6
Turn left onto South 1st Avenue
245 ft·6 sec·South 1st Avenue
7
Turn right onto MT 25
5.5 mi·8 min·East Main Street
8
Turn straight onto MT 13
47 mi·1 hr 9 min·State Highway 13
9
Turn left onto MT 200
46 mi·50 min·B Avenue
10
At end of road, turn right onto I 94 Business
1.5 mi·2 min·West Towne Street
11
Take the ramp onto I 94 Business
0.1 mi·13 sec·I 94 Business
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 Business
69 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 94 Business
13
Take the exit onto I 94 Business
0.2 mi·25 sec·I 94 Business
14
Turn right onto I 94 Business
1.5 mi·2 min·I 94 Business
15
At end of road, turn left onto I 94 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·Valley Drive East
16
Turn sharp left onto MT 59
54 ft·1 sec·Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
MT 59
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour and 56 minute duration, aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight for your arrival in Miles City. You have one scheduled stop planned, so use that break strategically to stretch and refuel before the final leg of your 288.7-mile journey. Since this route is entirely local, be prepared for varying speed limits and local traffic patterns that you wouldn't encounter on a major highway. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially when navigating the smaller roads, as service availability can change quickly. Flexibility is your best asset here, so don't hesitate to adjust your pace if the local road conditions dictate a slower approach.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 167.3 miles from Fort Belknap Agency, MT, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 161.3 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 74 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 167.3 miles or 3h 14m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Miles City, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Fort Belknap Agency, MT so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 Fort Belknap Agency, MT
This is one driving day of about 334.6 miles and 6h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Fort Belknap Agency, 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 2 for about 161.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 47.8
Malta, Montana
Hours: 6 am–8 pm
+14066542100
The Tavern
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 167.3
Wolf Point, Montana
+14066531471
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 334.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 2
At end of road, turn right onto US 2
Navigation decision point
4
161.8 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|MT 25 / 4th Avenue North
Turn right onto MT 25 / 4th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
162.2 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|South 1st Avenue
Turn left onto South 1st Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
260.7 mi into trip|~5h 15m in|I 94 Business / West Towne Street
At end of road, turn right onto I 94 Business / West Towne Street
Navigation decision point
5
334.5 mi into trip|~6h 28m in|MT 59 / Main Street
Turn sharp left onto MT 59 / Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.02 one way
$106.04 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg117 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$55.58
$111.16
premium
$4.53
$59.69
$119.38
diesel
$5.61
$73.88
$147.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
100.4
1
$35.13
$16.06
Efficient EV
83.7
0
$29.28
$13.38
EV Truck/SUV
133.8
1
$46.84
$21.41
Gas CO2
117 kg
EV CO2
39 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
Fort Belknap Agency, MT
Night
in Fort Belknap Agency on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
MDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Miles City, MT
Night
in Miles City on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
MDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Glasgow, MT
167 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
6 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
6h 28m 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 turn-heavy, local experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features 0% highway driving. You will navigate through local thoroughfares like 4th Avenue North, 3rd Avenue, and Anaconda Street, which require more active attention than a typical freeway slog. Because the longest stretch on any single road is 0 miles on 4th Avenue North, you should anticipate frequent transitions between smaller segments. This technical, winding path provides a very different feel compared to standard regional travel. Staying alert is essential, as the constant navigation of local roads keeps you engaged with the vehicle at every turn.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 161.3 mi on US 2.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 2 and I 94 Business. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 2.
Driving Effort3/10
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 6h 28m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 12 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 2): Navigation decision point; at 161.8 miles (MT 25 / 4th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 162.2 miles (South 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 28m. Total distance: 334.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 161.3 miles on US 2. 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 1 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 0.4 miles (US 2): Navigation decision point; at 161.8 miles (MT 25 / 4th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 162.2 miles (South 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 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.
