This straightforward 115.4-mile drive from Livingston to Billings, Montana, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 1 minute to complete. Primarily utilizing I-90, you'll find this route to be a highway-focused experience with a 95% highway share. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $18, making it an economical option for traversing between these two Mountain West locations. Given its relatively short duration and clear path, it's an ideal drive for those looking to maximize their time exploring either Livingston or Billings.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.7 miles from Livingston, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
107.3 mi
1h 46m
East Park Street
3.6 mi
6m
Montana Avenue
2.2 mi
4m
I 90 Business
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 107.3 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livingston, MT and Billings, MT.
1
Start on I 90 Business
3.6 mi·6 min·East Park Street
2
Take the ramp onto I 90 Business
0.1 mi·17 sec·I 90 Business
3
Merge onto I 90; US 89; US 191
2.0 mi·1 min·I 90; US 89; US 191
4
Continue on I 90; US 191
105 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 90; US 191
5
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
0.4 mi·47 sec·I 90 Business
Toward I 90 Business: West Billings
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business
1.7 mi·2 min·I 90 Business
Toward I 90 Business: City Center
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·Montana Avenue
8
Continue on I 90 Business
0.9 mi·2 min·Montana Avenue
9
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over 2 hours, this route offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart Livingston, MT, at your leisure, as there are no mandatory long stretches requiring an overnight split. Consider an early morning start if you wish to maximize your daylight hours upon arrival in Billings, MT. While the drive is efficient, be mindful of the longest stretch of 107.3 miles on I-90; plan for a brief stop before this segment if you prefer to break up driving time. The estimated fuel cost of $18 is modest, so keeping your tank topped up should be straightforward at various points along I-90.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.7 miles from Livingston, MT, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.3 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 25 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.7 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 36m
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 Livingston, 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 Livingston, MT
This is one driving day of about 115.4 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Livingston, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 107.3 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
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 113.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
3.8 mi into trip|~6m in|I 90; US 89; US 191
Merge onto I 90; US 89; US 191
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
111.1 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|I 90 Business
Take the exit onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business: West Billings
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 Business: West Billings
5
111.5 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|I 90 Business
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business: City Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 Business: City Center
4
113.1 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.29 one way
$36.57 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$19.17
$38.34
premium
$4.53
$20.59
$41.17
diesel
$5.61
$25.48
$50.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.6
0
$12.12
$5.54
Efficient EV
28.9
0
$10.10
$4.62
EV Truck/SUV
46.2
0
$16.16
$7.39
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (65% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Livingston, MT
Late night
in Livingston on Tuesday
Local time
2:49 AM
MDT
Current temp
24°F
Slight Chance Snow Showers
SW 8 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Billings, MT
Late night
in Billings on Tuesday
Local time
2:49 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
28 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 1m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 predominantly highway-focused drive on this route, with nearly all of your 115.4 miles spent on major roads like I-90. The character of the drive is largely defined by its 95% highway share, offering a consistent pace for most of the journey. You'll encounter one significant uninterrupted stretch of 107.3 miles on I-90, allowing for a steady progression toward your destination. While the focus is on efficient travel, the transition from East Park Street in Livingston onto Montana Avenue before merging with the interstate provides a brief, localized introduction to the local road network before settling into the open highway.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.3 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 Park Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near I 90; US 89; US 191.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 1m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (I 90; US 89; US 191): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 111.1 miles (I 90 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 111.5 miles (I 90 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
The longest stretch is about 107.3 miles on I 90. 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 3.8 miles (I 90; US 89; US 191): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 111.1 miles (I 90 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 111.5 miles (I 90 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Billings, MT before heading back.
