Livingston, MT to Cut Bank, MT is 313.4 miles and takes about 5h 22m via First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, Highway 287, and I 90, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Montana, moving you from the Mountain West region to another part of the same region. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you travel north. With a recommended one-day trip, this route offers a straightforward connection between these two points.
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
156.7 miles from Livingston, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
169.3 mi
2h 41m
Highway 287
62.2 mi
1h 10m
I 90
55.3 mi
56m
West Roosevelt Highway
22.6 mi
25m
I 90 Business
2.5 mi
4m
East Park Street
0.4 mi
1m
US 287
0.4 mi
<1m
I 15 BUS
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
— 169.3 mi, about 2h 41m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~361 veh/hr typical
· worst 450
Quietest
2 AM
~11 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
32.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Cut Bank, 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
169 mi·2 hr 41 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS
0.3 mi·40 sec·I 15 BUS
Exit 363Toward I 15 BUS, US 2: Shelby, Cut Bank
10
At end of road, turn left onto I 15 BUS; US 2
23 mi·25 min·West Roosevelt Highway
11
Arrive at destination
US 2
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 22m estimated drive time, starting in the morning from Livingston, MT, will give you ample daylight to reach Cut Bank, MT. You'll only need one planned stop for this 313.4-mile journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 169.3-mile stretch on the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, as services might be more spaced out. The fuel cost is estimated at $50, so plan accordingly before you depart.
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 156.7 miles from Livingston, MT, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 169.3 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 69 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.7 miles or 2h 48m 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 Cut Bank, 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 313.4 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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 First Special Service Force Memorial Highway for about 169.3 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
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 290.4 — 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.
6
290.4 mi into trip|~4h 55m in|I 15 BUS
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS toward I 15 BUS, US 2: Shelby, Cut Bank
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 363
Toward I 15 BUS, US 2: Shelby, Cut Bank
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.85 one way
$97.70 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$51.49
$102.98
premium
$4.47
$55.20
$110.41
diesel
$4.80
$59.18
$118.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94
1
$32.91
$15.04
Efficient EV
78.4
0
$27.42
$12.54
EV Truck/SUV
125.4
1
$43.88
$20.06
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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
1:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
92°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 3 to 10 mph34% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 17 at 12:23AM MDT until July 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
Cut Bank, MT
Late night
in Cut Bank on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
90°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 12 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 17 at 12:23AM MDT until July 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls 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
2 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 22m 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 313.4-mile route involves 39% highway driving. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 169.3 miles on the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway before transitioning to other roads. Expect significant rural cruising for a large portion of the trip, with fewer exits compared to interstate driving. The profile is mixed highway and surface, so be prepared for a change in road type.
39% 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: 169.3 mi on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 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 313.4 miles you will encounter 10 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
4,917 ft3,295 ft
Total Climb
1,883 ft
Total Descent
2,608 ft
Highest Point
4,917 ft
~22.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,622 ft
Notable High Points
4,917 ft at ~22.4 miles+415 ft prominence
4,368 ft at ~67.2 miles+101 ft prominence
4,509 ft at ~134.3 miles+424 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Livingston, MT to Cut Bank, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Ennis along the way.
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
Cut Bank is a small city in northwest Montana, near Glacier National Park. It has a population of about 3,000 and is the county seat of Glacier County.
Top landmarks
•Glacier County Courthouse — county courthouse in Cut Bank, Montana
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 22m. Total distance: 313.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 169.3 miles on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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 11 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 5.4 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 Cut Bank, MT before the return drive.
