Red Lodge, MT to Havre, MT is 310.9 miles and takes about 6 hours 57 minutes via MT 66, US 87, and US 2, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Montana, connecting the Mountain West region to itself. It's a solid day trip that prioritizes getting you from point A to point B efficiently, with most of your time spent on main highways. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward drive across the state without many detours.
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
155.5 miles from Red Lodge, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MT 66
50 mi
1h 14m
US 87
47.9 mi
1h 8m
US 2
46.4 mi
52m
Roundup Road
44.4 mi
48m
US 191
35.8 mi
53m
US Highway 212
25 mi
34m
MT 19
21.5 mi
31m
US 212
20.4 mi
24m
Longest stretch:
MT 66
— 50 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Lodge, MT and Havre, MT.
1
Start on US 212
0.6 mi·1 min·South Broadway Avenue
2
Enter roundabout onto North Broadway Avenue
89 ft·3 sec·North Broadway Avenue
3
Continue on North Broadway Avenue
7.8 mi·11 min·North Broadway Avenue
4
Continue on US 212
25 mi·34 min·US Highway 212
5
Turn right onto Clarks River Road
8.4 mi·9 min·Clarks River Road
6
Turn right onto US 212; US 310
1.8 mi·2 min·US 212; US 310
7
Take the exit onto US 212
19 mi·21 min·US 212
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
9
Turn left onto US Highway 87 East
1.3 mi·1 min·US Highway 87 East
10
Take the exit onto US 87
3.5 mi·5 min·US 87
11
Turn slight left onto US 87
44 mi·48 min·Roundup Road
12
Turn left onto US 12; US 87
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
13
Turn slight left onto US 87
44 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 87
14
Continue on MT 19
21 mi·31 min·MT 19
15
Continue on US 191
36 mi·53 min·US 191
16
Turn left onto MT 66
50 mi·1 hr 14 min·MT 66
17
Turn left onto US 2
46 mi·52 min·US 2
18
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·1st Avenue
19
Turn right onto 5th Street
421 ft·20 sec·5th Street
20
Turn right onto Montana Avenue
161 ft·7 sec·Montana Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Montana Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour 57-minute drive time, starting your trip in the morning is recommended to ensure you arrive with daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when on the longer stretches of highway; planning your refueling stops around towns along US 87 and US 2 will be key. The approximate fuel cost is $52, so budget accordingly. This is a manageable single-day drive, allowing for a relaxed departure time if needed.
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 155.5 miles from Red Lodge, MT, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50 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 68 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.5 miles or 3h 21m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Havre, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Red Lodge, 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 Red Lodge, MT
This is one driving day of about 310.9 miles and 6h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Red Lodge, 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 MT 66 for about 50 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 310.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|North Broadway Avenue
Enter roundabout onto North Broadway Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
33.5 mi into trip|~48m in|Clarks River Road
Turn right onto Clarks River Road
Navigation decision point
4
41.9 mi into trip|~57m in|US 212; US 310
Turn right onto US 212; US 310
Navigation decision point
4
310.5 mi into trip|~6h 55m in|1st Avenue
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
310.8 mi into trip|~6h 56m in|5th Street
Turn right onto 5th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.37 one way
$112.73 round trip
$4.61/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$59.05
$118.09
premium
$5.13
$62.77
$125.54
diesel
$6.28
$76.82
$153.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.3
1
$32.64
$14.92
Efficient EV
77.7
0
$27.20
$12.44
EV Truck/SUV
124.4
1
$43.53
$19.90
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 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 Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Red Lodge, MT
Afternoon
in Red Lodge on Friday
Local time
2:59 PM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 12 to 17 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued October 22 at 12:57PM MDT until October 24 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued October 22 at 12:57PM MDT until October 24 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
Havre, MT
Afternoon
in Havre on Friday
Local time
2:59 PM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
ENE 2 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued October 22 at 12:57PM MDT until October 24 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued October 22 at 12:57PM MDT until October 24 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
7 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 57m 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?
This drive is 80% highway, meaning you'll spend the majority of your time on well-maintained roads. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 50 miles on MT 66. After that, you'll transition to US 87 and then US 2. Expect mostly rural cruising with fewer exits once you're on the main highway segments, especially compared to routes closer to major cities.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50 mi on MT 66.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MT 66 and US 87. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near North Broadway 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 57m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 12 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (North Broadway Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 33.5 miles (Clarks River Road): Navigation decision point; at 41.9 miles (US 212; US 310): Navigation decision point.
Red Lodge is a town in south central Montana. About 2,200 people live there. It is located in the shadow of no less than 28 different 12,000-foot peaks. This charming town is nestled in the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains and is surrounded by Custer National Forest. The 69-mile Beartooth Scenic Drive has dramatic switchbacks overlooking snow-capped peaks, glaciers, alpine lakes and plateaus and is considered by many to be one of the most scenic roads in the country.
It is conveniently located between the major airport in Billings and the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park at Cooke City.
Top landmarks
•Calvary Episcopal Church — church building in Red Lodge, Montana
Havre is a town in Montana. About 9,300 people lived there in 2020. Havre is home to Montana State University – Northern. Havre serves as the "big city" for a huge radius of small towns.
The longest stretch is about 50 miles on MT 66. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Havre, 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 4 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 0.6 miles (North Broadway Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 33.5 miles (Clarks River Road): Navigation decision point; at 41.9 miles (US 212; US 310): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 13.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Havre, MT before the return drive.
