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Trip from Miles City, MT to Pinesdale, MT

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 10m

Distance

533 mi

858 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$92

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
9h 2m ★
6 AM
9h 10m
8 AM
9h 27m
10 AM
9h 16m
12 PM
9h 14m
3 PM
9h 17m
5 PM
9h 26m
8 PM
9h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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city in and county seat of Custer County, Montana, United States

Miles City, MT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Pinesdale, MT, MT

Pinesdale, MT

John De Leon

Trip Overview

The drive from Miles City, MT to Pinesdale, MT covers 533 miles and takes about 9h 10m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 90, I 94, US Highway 93 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-haul drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 348.5 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $92.44 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

266.5 miles from Miles City, MT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 31m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 348.5 mi 5h 42m
I 94 135.4 mi 2h 18m
US Highway 93 South 33.5 mi 40m
Sheafman Creek Road 4.1 mi 9m
Brooks Street 3.3 mi 4m
Bitteroot Road 3 mi 3m
I 94 Business 2.2 mi 3m
Main Street 1.1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 348.5 mi, about 5h 42m

Traffic on I-90

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~675 veh/hr typical · worst 901

Quietest

2 AM

~42 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

16.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 104 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 Miles City, MT and Pinesdale, 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

7.0 mi · 6 min · I 90; US 89; US 191
9

Continue on I 90; US 191

113 mi · 1 hr 54 min · I 90; US 191
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

113 mi · 1 hr 46 min · I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
11

Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12

0.2 mi · 26 sec · I 90 Business; US 12
Toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
12

Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12

206 ft · 2 sec · Van Buren Street
13

Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12

212 ft · 3 sec · Van Buren Street
14

Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12

92 ft · 1 sec · Van Buren Street
15

Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Van Buren Street
16

Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 12

0.2 mi · 22 sec · East Broadway Street
17

Turn left onto US 12

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Madison Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
18

Continue on US 12

0.1 mi · 9 sec · Arthur Avenue
19

Turn right onto US 12

0.4 mi · 35 sec · South 5th Street East
20

Turn left onto US 12

0.1 mi · 28 sec · South Higgins Avenue
21

Turn right onto US 12

3.3 mi · 4 min · Brooks Street
Use the right lane.
22

Continue on US 12; US 93

3.0 mi · 3 min · Bitteroot Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
23

Continue on US 12; US 93

33 mi · 40 min · US Highway 93 South
24

Turn right onto Sheafman Creek Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Sheafman Creek Road
25

Continue on Sheafman Creek Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Sheafman Creek Road
26

Continue on Sheafman Creek Road

2.3 mi · 5 min · Sheafman Creek Road
27

At end of road, turn left onto Bowman Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Bowman Road
28

Turn left onto 18th Street

374 ft · 16 sec · 18th Street
29

Arrive at destination

18th Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 266.5 miles from Miles City, MT, or about 4h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 348.5 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 117 miles or 2h 2m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 266.5 miles or 4h 31m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 266.5 miles or 4h 31m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pinesdale, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Miles City, MT

Aim for roughly 267 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Pinesdale, MT

Aim for roughly 267 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 117 miles from Miles City, MT.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 348.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Sweet Grass County, Montana, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Big Timber, MT

176 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

county seat of Missoula County, Montana, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Missoula, MT

352 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Missoula, MT

Overnight Options

Night 1

Montana City, MT

267 mi · about 4.6h in

A practical overnight split lands near Montana City, MT after about 267 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Hardin, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 117 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Livingston, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 266.5 miles from Miles City, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 348.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 267 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 487.8 — 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

5
374.7 mi into trip | ~6h 20m in | I 90

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 toward I 90 West: Missoula

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 90 West: Missoula
5
487.2 mi into trip | ~8h 7m in | I 90 Business; US 12

Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12 toward US 12 West, I 90 Business

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
5
487.4 mi into trip | ~8h 7m in | I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street

Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

7
487.8 mi into trip | ~8h 8m in | US 12 / Madison Street

Turn left onto US 12 / Madison Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$92.44 one way

$184.87 round trip

$4.41/gal 25.4 MPG avg 187 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $96.67 $193.35
premium $4.95 $103.87 $207.74
diesel $5.60 $117.49 $234.98

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$92

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$222–$332

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 186.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 159.9 1 $55.97 $25.58
Efficient EV 133.3 1 $46.64 $21.32
EV Truck/SUV 213.2 2 $74.62 $34.11

Gas CO2

186 kg

EV CO2

62 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 Sep 1, 2026

Origin

Miles City, MT

Evening in Miles City on Tuesday

Local time

8:57 PM

MDT

Current temp

86°F

Mostly Cloudy

SE 6 to 10 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued September 1 at 10:22AM MDT until September 3 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Missoula MT

High Wind Watch

High Wind Watch issued August 31 at 10:19PM MDT until September 3 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT

Destination

Pinesdale, MT

Evening in Pinesdale on Tuesday

Local time

8:57 PM

MDT

Current temp

83°F

Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SE 3 mph 71% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued September 1 at 10:22AM MDT until September 3 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Missoula MT

High Wind Watch

High Wind Watch issued August 31 at 10:19PM MDT until September 3 at 9:00PM 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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

3 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

9h 10m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

533 mi / 9h 10m — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: I 90.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 348.5 mi on I 90.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 94. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near I 94 Business.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 533 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 3.1 miles (I 94 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 374.7 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 487.2 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

High-altitude sections with notable climbs

5,397 ft 2,362 ft

Total Climb

4,675 ft

Total Descent

3,070 ft

Highest Point

5,397 ft

~380.7 mi in

Elevation Range

3,035 ft

Notable High Points

4,916 ft at ~266.5 miles +647 ft prominence
5,397 ft at ~380.7 miles +1,000 ft prominence

About the Cities

Starting in Miles City, MT

Full guide →

Miles City is a city of 8400 people (2020) in Montana. It still has a strong cowboy culture.

Top landmarks

  • • Olive Hotel — historic hotel in Miles City, Montana, United States
  • • Main Street Historic District — historic district in Miles City, Montana, United States
  • • Holy Rosary Hospital — hospital in Montana, United States

Arriving in Pinesdale, MT

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

9h 10m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 348.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 267 miles on day one.

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.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Pinesdale, MT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 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 3.1 miles (I 94 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 374.7 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 487.2 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.2 hours each way, a round trip means 18.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pinesdale, MT before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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