Miles City, MT to Livingston, MT is 260.1 miles and takes about 4h 28m via I 94 and I 90, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, primarily on interstate highways, making for a straightforward trip. You'll spend most of your time on I 94 and then I 90, with a short section on I 90 Business. It's a single-day trip with a manageable duration, perfect for getting from one point to another efficiently.
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
130.1 miles from Miles City, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
135.4 mi
2h 18m
I 90
118 mi
1h 57m
I 90 Business
3.5 mi
6m
I 94 Business
2.2 mi
3m
Main Street
1.1 mi
2m
East Park Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 135.4 mi, about 2h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Miles City, MT and Livingston, MT.
1
Start on MT 59
1.1 mi·2 min·Main Street
2
Continue on I 94 Business
1.9 mi·2 min·I 94 Business
3
Take the ramp onto I 94 Business
66 ft·1 sec·I 94 Business
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 Business
0.3 mi·36 sec·I 94 Business
5
Merge onto I 94; US 12
135 mi·2 hr 18 min·I 94; US 12
6
Merge onto I 90; US 87; US 212
2.8 mi·3 min·I 90; US 87; US 212
7
Continue on I 90; US 212
113 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 90; US 212
8
Continue on I 90; US 89; US 191
2.4 mi·2 min·I 90; US 89; US 191
9
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
0.2 mi·38 sec·I 90 Business
Toward I 90 Business: Livingston
10
Turn left onto I 90 Business
3.3 mi·5 min·I 90 Business
11
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 28m estimated drive time, leaving Miles City in the morning should allow you to reach Livingston with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can decide if you need a break during the 135.4-mile stretch on I 94. Fuel costs are estimated at $41, so ensure your tank is full before departing Miles City, as services might be less frequent on the interstates. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility in your departure time and how you choose to pace your stop.
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 130.1 miles from Miles City, MT, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135.4 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 57 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.1 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Livingston, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Miles City, 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 Miles City, MT
This is one driving day of about 260.1 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Miles City, 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 135.4 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 256.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in|I 94 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 Business
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
3.3 mi into trip|~5m in|I 94; US 12
Merge onto I 94; US 12
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
138.7 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|I 90; US 87; US 212
Merge onto I 90; US 87; US 212
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
256.7 mi into trip|~4h 21m in|I 90 Business
Take the exit onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business: Livingston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 Business: Livingston
3
256.8 mi into trip|~4h 22m in|I 90 Business
Turn left onto I 90 Business
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.22 one way
$82.43 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$43.20
$86.41
premium
$4.53
$46.40
$92.80
diesel
$5.61
$57.43
$114.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78
0
$27.31
$12.48
Efficient EV
65
0
$22.76
$10.40
EV Truck/SUV
104
1
$36.41
$16.65
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 20, 2026
Origin
Miles City, MT
Late night
in Miles City on Tuesday
Local time
3:43 AM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Livingston, MT
Late night
in Livingston on Tuesday
Local time
3:43 AM
MDT
Current temp
48°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 28m 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 trip is 100% highway driving, meaning you won't encounter any significant stretches on surface roads. The longest continuous segment is 135.4 miles on I 94. You'll experience a good amount of rural cruising with relatively few exits during these long highway stretches before reaching the I 90 Business section as you approach Livingston. Expect consistent, albeit sometimes long, stretches of open interstate.
100% 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: 135.4 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 3.1 miles in near I 94 Business.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 28m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (I 94 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.3 miles (I 94; US 12): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 138.7 miles (I 90; US 87; US 212): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 260.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 135.4 miles on I 94. 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.
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 3.1 miles (I 94 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.3 miles (I 94; US 12): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 138.7 miles (I 90; US 87; US 212): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Livingston, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
