Livingston, MT to Browning, MT is 296 miles and takes about 5h 40m via Highway 287 and US 89, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, primarily traveling through Montana. Expect a mostly highway experience with a good portion of your time spent on major roads. This route is a solid option if you're looking for a direct drive between these two points without extensive detours.
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 Livingston, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 287
62.2 mi
1h 10m
I 90
55.3 mi
56m
United States Highway 89
49.2 mi
53m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
35.9 mi
35m
US 287
21.1 mi
31m
MT 200
18.4 mi
20m
Park Way
16.8 mi
18m
13th Lane Northwest
12.9 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
Highway 287
— 62.2 mi, about 1h 10m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~805 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,080
Quietest
2 AM
~43 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 50 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 Livingston, MT and Browning, MT.
1
Start on I 90 Business
0.4 mi·1 min·East Park Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto I 90 Business
2.3 mi·3 min·I 90 Business
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp onto I 90 Business
0.2 mi·28 sec·I 90 Business
4
Merge onto I 90; US 191
55 mi·56 min·I 90; US 191
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 287: Helena, Ennis
6
Turn right onto US 287
62 mi·1 hr 10 min·Highway 287
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 287
0.4 mi·47 sec·US 287
Toward I 15 North: Great Falls
8
Merge onto I 15; US 287
36 mi·35 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit onto US 287
21 mi·31 min·US 287
Toward US 287 North: Augusta, Choteau
10
Turn right onto MT 200
18 mi·20 min·MT 200
11
Turn left onto Simms Fairfield Road
1.8 mi·3 min·Simms Fairfield Road
12
Continue on S-565
5.3 mi·9 min·3rd Lane
13
Turn left onto US 89
3.3 mi·3 min·1st Road Southeast
14
Continue on US 89
17 mi·18 min·Park Way
15
Continue on US 89
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Avenue South
16
Enter roundabout onto US 89
514 ft·17 sec·West Division Street
17
Continue on US 89
143 ft·4 sec·West Division Street
18
Turn slight right onto US 89
6.0 mi·8 min·Main Avenue North
19
Continue on US 89
13 mi·15 min·13th Lane Northwest
20
Continue on US 89
49 mi·53 min·United States Highway 89
21
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 89
3.4 mi·5 min·US 2; US 89
22
Turn right onto North Piegan Street
353 ft·15 sec·North Piegan Street
23
Arrive at destination
North Piegan Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 40m estimated drive time, leaving Livingston, MT in the morning is recommended to allow for a full day of travel. With only one recommended stop and a majority of the route on highways, you can maintain a consistent pace. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 62.2-mile stretch on Highway 287, as services might be spaced out. Budgeting around $52 for fuel should cover the 296-mile trip. This is a manageable one-day drive, so you have flexibility to stop as needed.
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 148 miles from Livingston, MT, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.2 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 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148 miles or 2h 40m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Browning, 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 296 miles and 5h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Livingston, 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 Highway 287 for about 62.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First break
2.4 mi from route
~6 min detour
$20 to $30
Manhattan, Montana
Hours: 11 am–12 pm
+14062846929
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 157.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|I 90 Business
Turn right onto I 90 Business
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
58.3 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 287: Helena, Ennis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 287: Helena, Ennis
5
58.6 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 287 / Highway 287
Turn right onto US 287 / Highway 287
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
121.2 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|I 15; US 287 / First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 15; US 287 / First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
157.1 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|US 287
Take the exit onto US 287 toward US 287 North: Augusta, Choteau
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 287 North: Augusta, Choteau
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.14 one way
$92.27 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$48.63
$97.26
premium
$4.47
$52.14
$104.28
diesel
$4.80
$55.89
$111.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
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, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.8
1
$31.08
$14.21
Efficient EV
74
0
$25.90
$11.84
EV Truck/SUV
118.4
1
$41.44
$18.94
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Livingston, MT
Late night
in Livingston on Sunday
Local time
2:15 AM
MDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 10 mph34% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 4:14PM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Missoula MT
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:08PM MDT by NWS Missoula MT
Destination
Browning, MT
Late night
in Browning on Sunday
Local time
2:15 AM
MDT
Current temp
86°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 mph47% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 4:14PM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Missoula MT
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:08PM MDT by NWS Missoula MT
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 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 40m 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 drive is mostly highway, with 72% of the 296 miles spent on major roads like Highway 287 and US 89. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 62.2 miles on Highway 287. You'll experience a significant amount of rural cruising, with fewer exits and more open road compared to urban driving. The transition from highway to more local roads will be gradual as you approach your destination.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.2 mi on Highway 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 287 and I 90. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near I 90 Business.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 296 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (I 90 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.6 miles (US 287 / Highway 287): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
4,954 ft3,701 ft
Total Climb
2,227 ft
Total Descent
2,358 ft
Highest Point
4,954 ft
~21.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,253 ft
Notable High Points
4,954 ft at ~21.1 miles+453 ft prominence
4,590 ft at ~63.4 miles+316 ft prominence
4,336 ft at ~105.7 miles+473 ft prominence
4,140 ft at ~190.3 miles+143 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Livingston, MT and Browning, MT, road signs point toward Ennis and Choteau.
Livingston is a city in the Yellowstone Country of Montana. It is the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Livingston is commonly called "The Gateway City" because it was the original entrance to Yellowstone.
Top landmarks
•The Murray Hotel — historic hotel in Livingston, Montana, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 40m. Total distance: 296 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.2 miles on Highway 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 0.4 miles (I 90 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.6 miles (US 287 / Highway 287): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Browning, MT before the return drive.
