Pinesdale, MT to Belgrade, MT is 238.1 miles and takes about 4h 10m via Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway and I 15, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward drive between two points in Montana. With a 47% highway share, you'll experience a mix of faster travel and more scenic surface roads. It's a solid one-day option if you're looking for efficient travel without extensive planning.
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
119.1 miles from Pinesdale, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
115.1 mi
1h 49m
I 15
75.3 mi
1h 14m
US 93
36.4 mi
44m
Sheafman Creek Road
4.1 mi
9m
Brooks Street
3.3 mi
4m
Amsterdam Road
0.8 mi
<1m
Jackrabbit Lane
0.5 mi
<1m
South 6th Street East
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
— 115.1 mi, about 1h 49m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~514 veh/hr typical
· worst 730
Quietest
2 AM
~37 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Pinesdale, MT and Belgrade, MT.
1
Start on 18th Street
374 ft·18 sec·18th Street
2
Turn right onto Bowman Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·Bowman Road
3
Turn right onto Sheafman Creek Road
2.3 mi·5 min·Sheafman Creek Road
4
Continue on Sheafman Creek Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Sheafman Creek Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto Sheafman Creek Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Sheafman Creek Road
6
Turn left onto US 93
36 mi·44 min·US 93
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on Brooks Street
3.3 mi·4 min·Brooks Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 12
356 ft·16 sec·South Higgins Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto US 12
0.4 mi·36 sec·South 6th Street East
10
Turn left onto Arthur Avenue
0.2 mi·13 sec·Arthur Avenue
11
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi·15 sec·Madison Street
12
Take the exit onto US 12
0.2 mi·26 sec·US 12
13
Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12
435 ft·5 sec·Van Buren Street
14
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
0.2 mi·29 sec·I 90 Business; US 12
15
Merge onto I 90; US 12; MT 200
115 mi·1 hr 49 min·Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90
75 mi·1 hr 14 min·I 15; I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward MT 291, MT 85: Belgrade, West Yellowstone
18
Turn left onto Amsterdam Road
0.8 mi·57 sec·Amsterdam Road
19
Turn left onto MT 85
0.5 mi·50 sec·Jackrabbit Lane
20
Turn right onto West Madison Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·West Madison Avenue
21
Turn slight left onto South Broadway
0.3 mi·54 sec·South Broadway
22
Turn right onto MT 205
83 ft·2 sec·East Main Street
23
Arrive at destination
MT 205
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 10m estimated drive time, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow ample time for the drive and any unscheduled stops. The fuel cost is estimated at $40, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Pinesdale, as there's only one recommended stop on this route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 115.1-mile stretch on the Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent there.
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 119.1 miles from Pinesdale, MT, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.1 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 52 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.1 miles or 2h 12m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belgrade, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pinesdale, 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 Pinesdale, MT
This is one driving day of about 238.1 miles and 4h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Pinesdale, 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 Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway for about 115.1 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 236 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Bowman Road
Turn right onto Bowman Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Sheafman Creek Road
Turn right onto Sheafman Creek Road
Navigation decision point
5
4.5 mi into trip|~11m in|US 93
Turn left onto US 93
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
160.8 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|I 15; I 90
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
236 mi into trip|~4h 6m in
Take the exit toward MT 291, MT 85: Belgrade, West Yellowstone
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MT 291, MT 85: Belgrade, West Yellowston...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.89 one way
$85.77 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$44.79
$89.58
premium
$5.11
$47.86
$95.73
diesel
$6.18
$57.92
$115.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.4
0
$25.00
$11.43
Efficient EV
59.5
0
$20.83
$9.52
EV Truck/SUV
95.2
1
$33.33
$15.24
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Pinesdale, MT
Morning
in Pinesdale on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
MDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 8 to 12 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
Belgrade, MT
Morning
in Belgrade on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
MDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Sunny
SSE 3 to 9 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 10m 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 about 47% highway, meaning you'll transition from high-speed travel to surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 115.1 miles on the Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway. Expect a mixed driving experience, balancing time on the interstate with cruising through more varied terrain. You'll notice the shift from highway speeds to potentially slower surface road conditions as you progress.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.1 mi on Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Bowman Road.
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 238.1 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 0.1 miles (Bowman Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Sheafman Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (US 93): Lane positioning matters here.
Belgrade is a town in Montana with a population of 10,500 in 2020. Only 10 miles west of Bozeman, many travellers may not consider Belgrade as its own destination. Yet it has the same mountain scenery and closeness to premium skiing and Yellowstone National Park.
Top landmarks
•Belgrade City Hall and Jail — city hall and prison in Belgrade, Montana
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 10m. Total distance: 238.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.1 miles on Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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.
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 0.1 miles (Bowman Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Sheafman Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (US 93): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Belgrade, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
