Red Lodge, MT to Livingston, MT is 122.7 miles and takes about 2h 16m via I 90, State Highway 78, and I 90 Business, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward drive between two Montana towns. With most of the route on highways, it's a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Consider this route if you're looking for a quick transit between destinations without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.4 miles from Red Lodge, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
70.7 mi
1h 6m
State Highway 78
45.1 mi
55m
I 90 Business
3.5 mi
6m
North 9th Street
0.9 mi
1m
South Woodard Avenue
0.7 mi
2m
South Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
3rd Street
0.5 mi
1m
East Pike Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 70.7 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Lodge, MT and Livingston, MT.
1
Start on US 212
0.6 mi·1 min·South Broadway Avenue
2
Enter roundabout onto 3rd Street
200 ft·7 sec·3rd Street
3
Continue on 3rd Street
0.5 mi·1 min·3rd Street
4
Continue on MT 78
32 mi·38 min·State Highway 78
5
Continue on MT 78
0.7 mi·2 min·South Woodard Avenue
6
Continue on MT 78
14 mi·16 min·State Highway 78
7
Continue on MT 78
0.1 mi·25 sec·Pratten Street
8
Turn right onto MT 78
0.2 mi·44 sec·East Pike Avenue
9
Turn left onto MT 78
0.9 mi·1 min·North 9th Street
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
11
Merge onto I 90
71 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 90
12
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
0.2 mi·38 sec·I 90 Business
Toward I 90 Business: Livingston
13
Turn left onto I 90 Business
3.3 mi·5 min·I 90 Business
14
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short drive time of just over two hours, you have flexibility in when you depart. A morning start will allow you to arrive in Livingston with plenty of daylight. While there are no designated stops listed, the longest stretch without an exit is over 70 miles, so plan your fuel and restroom breaks accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $19 estimated cost suggests fewer services along certain highway segments.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.4 miles from Red Lodge, MT, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.7 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 27 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.4 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Livingston, 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 122.7 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Red Lodge, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 70.7 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 119.3 — 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|3rd Street
Enter roundabout onto 3rd Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
47.1 mi into trip|~1h in|MT 78 / East Pike Avenue
Turn right onto MT 78 / East Pike Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
47.3 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|MT 78 / North 9th Street
Turn left onto MT 78 / North 9th Street
Navigation decision point
3
48.2 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
119.3 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|I 90 Business
Take the exit onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business: Livingston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 Business: Livingston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.44 one way
$38.89 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$20.38
$40.76
premium
$4.53
$21.89
$43.78
diesel
$5.61
$27.09
$54.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.8
0
$12.88
$5.89
Efficient EV
30.7
0
$10.74
$4.91
EV Truck/SUV
49.1
0
$17.18
$7.85
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Red Lodge, MT
Morning
in Red Lodge on Tuesday
Local time
6:19 AM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Livingston, MT
Morning
in Livingston on Tuesday
Local time
6:19 AM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
8 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
2h 16m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 primarily highway cruising, with 97% of the 122.7 miles on high-speed roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 70.7 miles on I 90 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to encounter more frequent exits and potential merging traffic as you approach and depart the main highway sections.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.7 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Highway 78. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near 3rd Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Red Lodge, MT to Livingston, MT is easy. At 2h 16m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (3rd Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 47.1 miles (MT 78 / East Pike Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 47.3 miles (MT 78 / North 9th Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 122.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 70.7 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 0.6 miles (3rd Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 47.1 miles (MT 78 / East Pike Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 47.3 miles (MT 78 / North 9th Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Livingston, MT before heading back.
