Miles City, MT to West Yellowstone, MT is 377.5 miles and takes about 6h 49m via I 90 and I 94, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Montana, taking you across the Mountain West region. It's a straightforward trip that's mostly highway driving, making it a practical choice for a single-day transit. You'll cover a good amount of ground efficiently, so plan for a solid day on the road.
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
188.7 miles from Miles City, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
148.3 mi
2h 27m
I 94
135.4 mi
2h 18m
Gallatin Road
81.5 mi
1h 41m
Huffine Lane
5.3 mi
7m
I 94 Business
2.2 mi
3m
West Main Street
1.7 mi
3m
North 7th Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Main Street
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 148.3 mi, about 2h 27m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~770 veh/hr typical
· worst 941
Quietest
2 AM
~44 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.5×
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 Miles City, MT and West Yellowstone, 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
26 mi·26 min·I 90; US 191
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward MT 205
11
Turn left onto North 7th Avenue
1.3 mi·2 min·North 7th Avenue
12
At end of road, turn right onto US 191; MT 84
1.7 mi·3 min·West Main Street
13
Continue on US 191; MT 84
5.3 mi·7 min·Huffine Lane
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto US 191
82 mi·1 hr 41 min·Gallatin Road
15
Continue on US 191; US 287
0.2 mi·32 sec·North Canyon Street
16
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·45 sec·Firehole Avenue
17
Turn left onto Electric Street
39 ft·1 sec·Electric Street
18
Arrive at destination
Electric Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 49m estimated drive time, leaving Miles City in the morning is your best bet to arrive in West Yellowstone with daylight to spare. While you only need one stop for this single-day drive, consider breaking it up a bit if you prefer a more relaxed pace. Keep an eye on fuel; the estimated cost is around $60, and it's wise to top off when you see stations, especially as you get closer to West Yellowstone where services might be more spaced out. The shift from interstate to Gallatin Road is a good point to be aware of for potential changes in speed limits and traffic.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 188.7 miles from Miles City, MT, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.3 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 83 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188.7 miles or 3h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Yellowstone, 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 377.5 miles and 6h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 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 90 for about 148.3 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 377.5 — 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
4
287 mi into trip|~4h 52m in
Take the exit toward MT 205
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MT 205
4
288.6 mi into trip|~4h 55m in|US 191; MT 84 / West Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 191; MT 84 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
377.2 mi into trip|~6h 48m in|US 20 / Firehole Avenue
Turn right onto US 20 / Firehole Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
377.5 mi into trip|~6h 49m in|Electric Street
Turn left onto Electric Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.36 one way
$132.72 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg132 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$69.39
$138.78
premium
$4.99
$74.16
$148.32
diesel
$5.35
$79.51
$159.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.3
1
$39.64
$18.12
Efficient EV
94.4
1
$33.03
$15.10
EV Truck/SUV
151
1
$52.85
$24.16
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 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 May 22, 2026
Origin
Miles City, MT
Afternoon
in Miles City on Wednesday
Local time
1:01 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Isolated Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
WSW 5 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Destination
West Yellowstone, MT
Afternoon
in West Yellowstone on Wednesday
Local time
1:01 PM
MDT
Current temp
21°F
Mostly Clear then Patchy Fog
ENE 1 mph1% chanceLive forecast
45°F
Livingston, MT
189 mi in
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
18 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
6h 49m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Yellowstone National Park
National Park
On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal wonders. Today, millions of people come here each year to camp, hike, and enjoy the majesty of the...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
$35
near mile 377.5
Park Closure: Select Roads Open to Regular Vehicles
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 76% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on interstates. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 148.3 miles on I 90. You'll transition from interstates to Gallatin Road for the final leg, which will feel more like rural cruising. Expect a fairly consistent driving experience for the majority of the trip.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148.3 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 94. 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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 49m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (I 94 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 287 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 288.6 miles (US 191; MT 84 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point.
West Yellowstone, Montana, is a rustic mountain town nestled between National Forest lands and is the gateway to Yellowstone National Park. It is only a mile from the park entrance, and the town's airport is the closest to the park, and to attractions like Old Faithful.
Top landmarks
•Eagle's Store — historic commercial building in West Yellowstone, Montana, United States
The longest stretch is about 148.3 miles on I 90. 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at West Yellowstone, 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 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 3.1 miles (I 94 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 287 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 288.6 miles (US 191; MT 84 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Yellowstone National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at West Yellowstone, MT before the return drive.
