Livingston, MT to West Glendive, MT is 335.2 miles and takes about 5h 40m via I 90 and I 94, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, primarily traversing Montana on well-maintained interstate highways. It's a straightforward, mostly highway route that's ideal for a single-day trip if you get an early start. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so expect a consistent driving experience without many major diversions.
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
167.6 miles from Livingston, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
212.7 mi
3h 33m
I 90
118.1 mi
1h 58m
East Park Street
3.6 mi
6m
I 90 Business
0.1 mi
<1m
MT 16
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 212.7 mi, about 3h 33m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~796 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,029
Quietest
2 AM
~45 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 West Glendive, 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
113 mi·1 hr 53 min·I 90; US 191
5
Continue on I 90; US 87; US 212
3.1 mi·3 min·I 90; US 87; US 212
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
212 mi·3 hr 32 min·I 94
Toward I 94 East: Bismark
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward MT 16: Glendive, Sidney
8
Turn left onto MT 16
0.1 mi·18 sec·MT 16
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
10
Merge onto I 94
0.5 mi·27 sec·I 94
11
Arrive at destination
I 94
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 40m estimated drive time, leaving Livingston, MT early in the morning is your best bet to reach West Glendive, MT before dark. The long stretch on I 94 means you should top off your fuel before leaving the immediate Livingston area and be mindful of your gas gauge as you approach the 212.7-mile mark. While it's a single-day drive, consider a brief stop midway to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on the weather, as conditions can change quickly in Montana, especially in shoulder seasons.
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 167.6 miles from Livingston, MT, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 212.7 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 74 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 167.6 miles or 2h 51m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Glendive, 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 335.2 miles and 5h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 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 I 94 for about 212.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
$1 to $10
Miles City, Montana
Hours: 6 am–8 pm
+14062341008
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 334.4 — 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
5
121.9 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94 East: Bismark
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 94 East: Bismark
5
334.1 mi into trip|~5h 38m in
Take the exit toward MT 16: Glendive, Sidney
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MT 16: Glendive, Sidney
4
334.3 mi into trip|~5h 39m in|MT 16
Turn left onto MT 16
Navigation decision point
6
334.4 mi into trip|~5h 39m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.38 one way
$120.75 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg117 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$63.05
$126.11
premium
$5.11
$67.38
$134.77
diesel
$6.18
$81.54
$163.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
100.6
1
$35.20
$16.09
Efficient EV
83.8
0
$29.33
$13.41
EV Truck/SUV
134.1
1
$46.93
$21.45
Gas CO2
117 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (67% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Livingston, MT
Late night
in Livingston on Sunday
Local time
4:15 AM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 26 to 32 mph0% chanceLive forecast
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued October 16 at 11:59PM MDT until October 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued October 16 at 11:59PM MDT until October 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
West Glendive, MT
Late night
in West Glendive on Sunday
Local time
4:15 AM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
SW 12 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued October 16 at 11:59PM MDT until October 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued October 16 at 11:59PM MDT until October 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 warmer 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 route is 99% highway, meaning you'll be on interstate for nearly the entire 335.2 miles. The longest stretch without an exit is 212.7 miles on I 94, so plan your fuel and breaks accordingly. You'll begin on East Park Street in Livingston, quickly merging onto the interstate system. Expect consistent, rural interstate cruising for the vast majority of this drive.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 212.7 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. 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 5h 40m drive. You will face about 6 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 121.9 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 334.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
The longest stretch is about 212.7 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 10 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 3.8 miles (I 90; US 89; US 191): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 121.9 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 334.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 West Glendive, MT before the return drive.
