Traveling from Livingston to South Browning covers 295.5 miles of Montana landscape, a journey that typically takes about 5 hours and 39 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate sprint, you should plan for a full day on the road. You can expect to spend approximately $47 on fuel, making it a manageable expense for a single-day trip. While the entire route stays within the Mountain West region, the transition from Livingston to the northern reaches of the state involves navigating varied terrain. It is a straightforward haul that works best as a one-day trek, provided you are prepared for the winding nature of the local highways.
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
147.8 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
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livingston, MT and South 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
2.7 mi·3 min·US 2; US 89
22
Turn left onto 8th Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·45 sec·8th Avenue Southeast
23
At end of road, turn left onto South Piegan Street
383 ft·18 sec·South Piegan Street
24
Turn right onto Mountain Chief Road
305 ft·13 sec·Mountain Chief Road
25
Arrive at destination
Mountain Chief Road
Trip Plan
For a drive of nearly six hours, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to ensure you reach South Browning before nightfall. Since the route includes only one major stop, pace yourself accordingly to avoid fatigue on the more technical sections of the road. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $47 budget is an estimate that can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency and local prices. Because the drive is turn-heavy, make sure to check your tire pressure and vehicle fluids before leaving Livingston to handle the winding stretches with confidence. Flexibility is your greatest asset here; since the total duration is under six hours, you have enough time to pull over safely if you encounter heavy local traffic or inclement weather.
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 147.8 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 147.8 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 South 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 295.5 miles and 5h 39m.
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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 295.4 — 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
295.4 mi into trip|~5h 39m in|South Piegan Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Piegan Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.83 one way
$93.65 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$49.08
$98.17
premium
$4.53
$52.71
$105.43
diesel
$5.61
$65.24
$130.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.6
1
$31.03
$14.18
Efficient EV
73.9
0
$25.86
$11.82
EV Truck/SUV
118.2
1
$41.37
$18.91
Gas CO2
103 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Livingston, MT
Night
in Livingston on Saturday
Local time
10:41 PM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Browning, MT
Night
in South Browning on Saturday
Local time
10:41 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°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
10 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 39m 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?
You will find that this route favors local roads over high-speed interstate travel, as the highway share is effectively zero percent. Instead of a monotonous interstate grind, you will be navigating US 287 and Highway 287 for much of the journey before connecting to I-15 North. The drive presents a turn-heavy profile, meaning you should stay alert as the road conditions shift from local passages to more established corridors. Expect a technical driving experience that requires your full attention, as the lack of highway miles keeps your speed moderate and your hands busy on the wheel. It is a hands-on drive that rewards drivers who prefer local flavor over the predictability of major interstates.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 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 17 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 295.5 miles you will encounter 17 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 ft3,704 ft
Total Climb
2,193 ft
Total Descent
2,297 ft
Highest Point
4,954 ft
~21.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,250 ft
Notable High Points
4,954 ft at ~21.1 miles+452 ft prominence
4,585 ft at ~63.3 miles+311 ft prominence
4,327 ft at ~105.5 miles+464 ft prominence
4,108 ft at ~190 miles+113 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 South Browning, MT, road signs point toward Ennis and Choteau.
Ennis
58.3 mi in|~1h 1m
Choteau
157.1 mi in|~2h 49m|via US 287
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 39m. Total distance: 295.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 39m 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.
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 0.4 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 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at South Browning, MT before the return drive.
