Laurel, MT to Missoula, MT is 328.4 miles and takes about 5h 20m via I 90, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward drive across Montana. Given its mostly highway profile and single-day recommendation, it's a solid option for a direct transit between these two cities. Plan for a relatively uninterrupted trip with minimal need for overnight stays, making it efficient for travelers on a schedule.
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
164.2 miles from Laurel, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
326.8 mi
5h 17m
East Broadway Street
0.6 mi
<1m
South 1st Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Van Buren Street
0.2 mi
<1m
I 90 Business
0.2 mi
<1m
North Higgins Avenue
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 326.8 mi, about 5h 17m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~501 veh/hr typical
· worst 718
Quietest
2 AM
~37 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurel, MT and Missoula, MT.
1
Start on US 310; MT S-532
0.4 mi·37 sec·South 1st Avenue
2
Turn left
0.2 mi·30 sec
3
Merge onto I 90
214 mi·3 hr 30 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
113 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
5
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
0.2 mi·26 sec·I 90 Business; US 12
Toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
6
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
206 ft·2 sec·Van Buren Street
7
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
212 ft·3 sec·Van Buren Street
8
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
92 ft·1 sec·Van Buren Street
9
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
0.1 mi·11 sec·Van Buren Street
10
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 12
0.6 mi·55 sec·East Broadway Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto North Higgins Avenue
19 ft·0 sec·North Higgins Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
North Higgins Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour, 20-minute drive, consider leaving in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight. With a total distance of 328.4 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $55, you can easily complete this in one day. There's only one recommended stop, suggesting you can be quite flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially if you plan to stop at less frequent exits on I 90; topping up in Laurel before you depart is a good idea.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164.2 miles from Laurel, MT, or about 2h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 326.8 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 72 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.2 miles or 2h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Missoula, 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 328.4 miles and 5h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 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 I 90 for about 326.8 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 327.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
214.9 mi into trip|~3h 31m in|I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 toward I 90 West: Missoula
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
5
327.4 mi into trip|~5h 18m in|I 90 Business; US 12
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12 toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
5
327.6 mi into trip|~5h 19m in|I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
327.7 mi into trip|~5h 19m in|I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.95 one way
$113.91 round trip
$4.41/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$59.56
$119.13
premium
$4.95
$64.00
$128.00
diesel
$5.60
$72.39
$144.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.5
1
$34.48
$15.76
Efficient EV
82.1
0
$28.74
$13.14
EV Truck/SUV
131.4
1
$45.98
$21.02
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 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 Aug 28, 2026
Origin
Laurel, MT
Night
in Laurel on Tuesday
Local time
10:21 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
W 9 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Missoula, MT
Night
in Missoula on Tuesday
Local time
10:21 PM
MDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
75°F
Whitehall, MT
164 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
8 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 20m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 100% highway, meaning you'll be on I 90 for the entire 328.4 miles. The longest continuous stretch on I 90 is 326.8 miles. You'll notice the consistent highway cruising for nearly the entire drive, transitioning from East Broadway Street and South 1st Avenue in Laurel directly onto the interstate. Expect a generally rural feel with fewer exits compared to more urban corridors for most of the distance.
100% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 326.8 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and East Broadway Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near I 90.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 20m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.9 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 327.4 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Laurel is a town in southern Montana. About 7,200 people lived there in 2020. Though some refer to it as a suburb of Billings, the town is a uniquely different place.
Missoula is a medium-sized city in Western Montana with a population of about 73,000 (2020). The hub of five valleys in the northwest region of the state, or Glacier Country, the town boasts the University of Montana, the Rattlesnake Recreation Area, and a multitude of recreational opportunities, along with an active and colorful downtown.
Top landmarks
•Fort Missoula
•Gleim Building — building in Missoula, Montana, US
•Masonic Lodge — Masonic lodge in Missoula, Montanna
The longest stretch is about 326.8 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.
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 (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.9 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 327.4 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Missoula, MT before the return drive.
