This 144.8-mile drive from Laurel to Lewistown, Montana, is a manageable 2-hour and 36-minute journey, making it an excellent option for a single-day trip. The route primarily utilizes Highway 87 East and local roads like Roundup Road and Main Street, with no highway driving involved. Budget approximately $23 for fuel, and anticipate one stop along the way. This trip offers a straightforward experience within the Mountain West region, perfect for those seeking a direct connection between these two Montana towns.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72.4 miles from Laurel, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
78.8 mi
1h 44m
Roundup Road
44.4 mi
48m
US Highway 87 East
1.3 mi
1m
Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
South 1st Avenue
0.6 mi
<1m
6th Avenue South
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 78.8 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurel, MT and Lewistown, 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
Turn left onto US 87; MT 200
31 mi·35 min·US 87; MT 200
10
Turn left onto 6th Avenue South
395 ft·17 sec·6th Avenue South
11
Arrive at destination
6th Avenue South
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour and 36-minute duration for this 144.8-mile trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits your schedule, perhaps mid-morning to avoid early rush or late departures. The estimated fuel cost is around $23, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before setting out. With only one recommended stop, you can choose a convenient point to stretch your legs or grab a quick bite. Pay attention to local road conditions, especially on Roundup Road, as this type of route can sometimes present unexpected changes.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.4 miles from Laurel, MT, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.8 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 32 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.4 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewistown, 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 144.8 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 87 for about 78.8 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 144.7 — 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
4
144.7 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|6th Avenue South
Turn left onto 6th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.95 one way
$45.89 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$24.05
$48.10
premium
$4.53
$25.83
$51.66
diesel
$5.61
$31.97
$63.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.4
0
$15.20
$6.95
Efficient EV
36.2
0
$12.67
$5.79
EV Truck/SUV
57.9
0
$20.27
$9.27
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Laurel, MT
Night
in Laurel on Saturday
Local time
10:41 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lewistown, MT
Night
in Lewistown on Saturday
Local time
10:41 PM
MDT
Current temp
65°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
21 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
2h 59m 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 on this route, as indicated by its profile. With 0% highway share, you'll be navigating primarily on two-lane roads and local streets for the entire 144.8 miles. There isn't a 'longest stretch' noted, suggesting frequent turns and intersections that keep you engaged. This road's personality is less about open-road cruising and more about navigating through varied terrain and local thoroughfares, offering a connected feel to the landscape you're traversing.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.8 mi on US 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Laurel, MT to Lewistown, MT is easy. At 2h 59m with 55% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 144.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 78.8 miles on US 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lewistown, MT before heading back.
