Lewistown to Billings is 125.4 miles and takes about 2h 37m via US 87, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Montana, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. It's a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day, making it ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B. You can expect a mix of driving conditions as you travel.
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
62.7 miles from Lewistown, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
45.1 mi
1h 4m
1st Avenue West
44.4 mi
48m
US Highway 87
29.1 mi
31m
Main Street
3.5 mi
5m
1st Avenue North
1.2 mi
2m
Northeast Main Street
1.1 mi
2m
West Main Street
0.7 mi
2m
6th Avenue South
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 45.1 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lewistown, MT and Billings, MT.
1
Start on 6th Avenue South
395 ft·19 sec·6th Avenue South
2
Turn right onto US 87; MT 200
0.7 mi·2 min·West Main Street
3
Continue on US 87; MT 200
1.1 mi·2 min·Northeast Main Street
4
Continue on US 87; MT 200
29 mi·31 min·US Highway 87
5
Turn right onto US 87
45 mi·1 hr 4 min·US 87
6
Turn right onto US 12; US 87
44 mi·48 min·1st Avenue West
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on US 87
261 ft·6 sec·Roundup Road
8
Turn right onto US 87
3.5 mi·5 min·Main Street
9
Turn straight onto I 90 Business
1.2 mi·2 min·1st Avenue North
10
Turn left onto North 25th Street
375 ft·15 sec·North 25th Street
11
Turn left onto I 90 Business
169 ft·5 sec·Montana Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 37m drive time, you can easily depart Lewistown any time of day and still arrive in Billings with daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop and a short overall duration, flexibility is key. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as longer stretches between services are possible, especially on the highway portions. The estimated fuel cost is around $20, so plan accordingly before you leave Lewistown.
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 62.7 miles from Lewistown, MT, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.1 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 28 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.7 miles or 1h 21m 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 9m
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 Lewistown, 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 Lewistown, MT
This is one driving day of about 125.4 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Lewistown, 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 45.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Early stretch
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
$10 to $20
Grass Range, Montana
Hours: 6 am–2 pm
+14064282242
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 125.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 87; MT 200 / West Main Street
Turn right onto US 87; MT 200 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
31 mi into trip|~36m in|US 87
Turn right onto US 87
Navigation decision point
5
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|US 12; US 87 / 1st Avenue West
Turn right onto US 12; US 87 / 1st Avenue West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
125.3 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|North 25th Street
Turn left onto North 25th Street
Navigation decision point
5
125.4 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Turn left onto I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.87 one way
$39.74 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$20.83
$41.66
premium
$4.53
$22.37
$44.74
diesel
$5.61
$27.69
$55.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
2 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Town Pump Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger
Billings, MT
Tesla
12 DCFC
Target T1333 (Billings, MT)
Billings, MT
Electrify America
4 DCFC
Tesla: 1
Electrify America: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.6
0
$13.17
$6.02
Efficient EV
31.4
0
$10.97
$5.02
EV Truck/SUV
50.2
0
$17.56
$8.03
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Lewistown, MT
Late night
in Lewistown on Tuesday
Local time
3:51 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Billings, MT
Late night
in Billings on Tuesday
Local time
3:51 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
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
2h 37m 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?
About 59% of this 125.4-mile route is on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on US 87 covering 45.1 miles. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads as you proceed. Expect a rural cruising feel for much of this trip, with fewer exits and more open road.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.1 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 0.1 miles in near US 87; MT 200 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lewistown, MT to Billings, MT is easy. At 2h 37m with 59% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 87; MT 200 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 31 miles (US 87): Navigation decision point; at 76.1 miles (US 12; US 87 / 1st Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.1 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 0.1 miles (US 87; MT 200 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 31 miles (US 87): Navigation decision point; at 76.1 miles (US 12; US 87 / 1st Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Billings, MT before heading back.
