Traversing 296.1 miles through the Mountain West, your journey from Laurel to Glasgow takes approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes. This trip is best suited as a single-day drive, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend about $47 on fuel, so factor that into your travel budget before heading out. The route utilizes a mix of US 191, US 87, and Roundup Road to navigate the Montana landscape. Since both your start and end points are located within the Mountain West, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the entire excursion.
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
148 miles from Laurel, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 191
90.9 mi
2h 15m
US 87
47.9 mi
1h 8m
Roundup Road
44.4 mi
48m
North 1st Street East
40.8 mi
47m
1st Avenue North
29 mi
33m
MT 19
21.5 mi
31m
US Highway 87 East
1.3 mi
1m
Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 191
— 90.9 mi, about 2h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurel, MT and Glasgow, MT.
1
Start on US 310; MT S-532
0.6 mi·55 sec·South 1st Avenue
2
Turn left
19 mi·21 min
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
4
Turn left onto US Highway 87 East
1.3 mi·1 min·US Highway 87 East
5
Take the exit onto US 87
3.5 mi·5 min·US 87
6
Turn slight left onto US 87
44 mi·48 min·Roundup Road
7
Turn left onto US 12; US 87
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
8
Turn slight left onto US 87
44 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 87
9
Continue on MT 19
21 mi·31 min·MT 19
10
Continue on US 191
91 mi·2 hr 15 min·US 191
11
Turn right onto US 2
41 mi·47 min·North 1st Street East
12
Continue on US 2
29 mi·33 min·1st Avenue North
13
Turn right onto MT 42
38 ft·0 sec·6th Street North
14
Arrive at destination
MT 42
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 6-hour and 30-minute journey, plan to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight hours. Although the route is manageable in one day, keep in mind that you only have one planned stop, so prioritize your rest and fuel needs accordingly. Since you are covering nearly 300 miles, check your fuel levels before leaving Laurel to ensure you stay within your $47 budget. Given that the longest stretch on US 191 lasts for 90.9 miles, make sure to take advantage of your stop to stretch your legs and reset. Staying flexible with your schedule will make this long haul much more comfortable.
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 148 miles from Laurel, MT, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.9 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 65 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148 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 Glasgow, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Laurel, 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 Laurel, MT
This is one driving day of about 296.1 miles and 6h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Laurel, 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 191 for about 90.9 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 226.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.6 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
3
19.2 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
20.7 mi into trip|~24m in|US 87
Take the exit onto US 87
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
68.7 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|US 12; US 87 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 12; US 87 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
226.2 mi into trip|~5h 10m in|US 2 / North 1st Street East
Turn right onto US 2 / North 1st Street East
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.92 one way
$93.84 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$49.18
$98.37
premium
$4.53
$52.82
$105.64
diesel
$5.61
$65.38
$130.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.8
1
$31.09
$14.21
Efficient EV
74
0
$25.91
$11.84
EV Truck/SUV
118.4
1
$41.45
$18.95
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Laurel, MT
Night
in Laurel on Saturday
Local time
10:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Glasgow, MT
Night
in Glasgow on Saturday
Local time
10:35 PM
MDT
Current temp
71°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
27 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 30m 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 mixed driving experience that balances highway efficiency with more local-style road segments. With a highway share of 55 percent, you will find periods of steady cruising interspersed with more varied terrain. Be prepared for the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip, which covers 90.9 miles along US 191. The character of the road shifts as you transition between these different highways, requiring you to stay alert behind the wheel. It is neither a pure interstate sprint nor a purely technical road, offering a balanced pace that keeps the drive engaging from start to finish.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.9 mi on US 191.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
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 30m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 6 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 20.7 miles (US 87): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,708 ft2,095 ft
Total Climb
550 ft
Total Descent
1,644 ft
Highest Point
3,708 ft
~111 mi in
Elevation Range
1,613 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 30m. Total distance: 296.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 90.9 miles on US 191. 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 Glasgow, 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 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 20.7 miles (US 87): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Glasgow, MT before the return drive.
