This 354.5-mile drive from Plentywood, Montana, to Billings, Montana, is a straightforward journey that can comfortably be completed in about 6 hours and 15 minutes. Designed as a highway-focused experience, 88% of this trip utilizes major roadways, making it an efficient option for a single-day adventure. With an estimated fuel cost of $56, it's an economical choice for covering ground within the Mountain West region. You'll primarily travel on I 94 and MT 16, with a segment on the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway. This route is well-suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
177.2 miles from Plentywood, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
212.8 mi
3h 31m
MT 16
48.9 mi
55m
Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
46.1 mi
52m
1st Street East
35.6 mi
40m
I 90
2.8 mi
3m
North Central Avenue
2.6 mi
2m
West Holly Street
1.4 mi
1m
1st Avenue North
1.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 212.8 mi, about 3h 31m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~177 veh/hr typical
· worst 251
Quietest
1 AM
~16 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Plentywood, MT and Billings, MT.
1
Start on South Washington Street
211 ft·13 sec·South Washington Street
2
Turn right onto MT 5; MT 16
0.8 mi·56 sec·West 1st Avenue
3
Continue on MT 5; MT 16
46 mi·52 min·Theodore Roosevelt Expressway
4
Continue on MT 16
0.1 mi·11 sec·1st Avenue East
5
Turn right onto US 2; MT 16
370 ft·17 sec·6th Street East
6
Turn left onto MT 16
0.3 mi·27 sec·Broadway Avenue
7
Turn left onto MT 16
36 mi·40 min·1st Street East
8
Continue on MT 16
1.4 mi·1 min·West Holly Street
9
Turn right onto MT 16; MT 200
2.6 mi·2 min·North Central Avenue
10
Enter roundabout onto MT 16
135 ft·1 sec·MT 16
11
Continue on MT 16
49 mi·55 min·MT 16
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
13
Merge onto I 94
213 mi·3 hr 31 min·I 94
14
Merge onto I 90; US 87; US 212
2.8 mi·3 min·I 90; US 87; US 212
15
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 87
0.3 mi·36 sec·I 90 Business; US 87
Toward I 90 Business, US 87 North: Lockwood, Roundup
16
Merge onto I 90 Business; US 87
1.2 mi·1 min·US Highway 87 East
17
At end of road, turn left onto I 90 Business
1.2 mi·3 min·1st Avenue North
18
Turn left onto North 25th Street
375 ft·15 sec·North 25th Street
19
Turn left onto I 90 Business
169 ft·5 sec·Montana Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour and 15-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Plentywood to maximize your daylight hours. With only one recommended stop and a significant 212.8-mile stretch on I 94, plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. The estimated fuel cost is $56, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Plentywood. Keep an eye on the weather, especially during transitional seasons, as conditions can change quickly in Montana. This route is designed for a single day, so you have the flexibility to stop as needed, but the long highway segments mean fewer opportunities for spontaneous roadside attractions.
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 177.2 miles from Plentywood, MT, or about 3h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 212.8 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 78 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.2 miles or 3h 16m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Billings, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Plentywood, 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 Plentywood, MT
This is one driving day of about 354.5 miles and 6h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Plentywood, 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 212.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 354.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MT 5; MT 16 / West 1st Avenue
Turn right onto MT 5; MT 16 / West 1st Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
47.1 mi into trip|~53m in|US 2; MT 16 / 6th Street East
Turn right onto US 2; MT 16 / 6th Street East
Navigation decision point
4
47.1 mi into trip|~54m in|MT 16 / Broadway Avenue
Turn left onto MT 16 / Broadway Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
351.7 mi into trip|~6h 10m in|I 90 Business; US 87
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 87 toward I 90 Business, US 87 North: Lockwood, Roundup
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 Business, US 87 North: Lockwood, Ro...
5
354.4 mi into trip|~6h 15m in|I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Turn left onto I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.25 one way
$110.51 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$58.24
$116.48
premium
$4.47
$62.44
$124.88
diesel
$4.80
$66.94
$133.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106.4
1
$37.22
$17.02
Efficient EV
88.6
1
$31.02
$14.18
EV Truck/SUV
141.8
1
$49.63
$22.69
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Plentywood, MT
Night
in Plentywood on Saturday
Local time
10:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Areas Of Fog
NNE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 17 at 12:23AM MDT until July 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
Billings, MT
Night
in Billings on Saturday
Local time
10:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
WSW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 17 at 12:23AM MDT until July 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
5 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
6h 15m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 354.5-mile trip, with 88% of the route on major roads like I 94 and MT 16. The personality of this drive is largely about covering distance efficiently. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 212.8 miles on I 94, which emphasizes the interstate nature of this journey. While primarily a highway experience, the inclusion of MT 16 and the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway might offer subtle shifts in scenery and road conditions as you progress toward Billings.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 212.8 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MT 16. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MT 5; MT 16 / West 1st Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
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 15m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 14 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MT 5; MT 16 / West 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 47.1 miles (US 2; MT 16 / 6th Street East): Navigation decision point; at 47.1 miles (MT 16 / Broadway Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Billings is the largest city in Montana in Yellowstone County, with an estimated 110,000 people (2019). As a destination, Billings does a significant amount of convention business and is also the host to various regional events such as music festivals, athletic contests, rodeos, and outdoor activities. Billings hosts the largest hospitals in a 500-mile radius, as such the medical profession is a major source of employment in the area. Billings is also a frequent overnight or meal stop for westbound visitors to Yellowstone National Park, as it is the last major city for visitors going to the park via the Beartooth Highway.
Top landmarks
•Masonic Temple — building in Billings, Montana
•United States Post Office and Courthouse–Billings — post office in Billings, United States of America
•Northern Hotel — historic hotel in Billings, Montana, United States
The longest stretch is about 212.8 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 Billings, 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 5 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: near the start (MT 5; MT 16 / West 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 47.1 miles (US 2; MT 16 / 6th Street East): Navigation decision point; at 47.1 miles (MT 16 / Broadway Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Billings, MT before the return drive.
