Spanning 342.4 miles across Montana, this trek from South Browning to Billings takes approximately 6 hours and 25 minutes of driving time. Because the route is categorized as a single-day journey, you can comfortably complete the trip in one sitting without needing an overnight stop. You will primarily navigate a combination of US 89, US 87, and US 12 as you move through the Mountain West. Expect to budget roughly $54 for fuel to cover the distance. While the drive is manageable for a dedicated traveler, it is best approached with a plan to stay focused on the road, as the transit is straightforward and efficient.
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
171.2 miles from South Browning, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 89
76.4 mi
1h 26m
US 87
64.3 mi
1h 9m
US 12
45.1 mi
50m
MT 3
41 mi
46m
US 191
39.2 mi
43m
10th Avenue South
22.6 mi
25m
United States Route 89
16.8 mi
18m
1st Road Southeast
14.7 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
US 89
— 76.4 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Browning, MT and Billings, MT.
1
Start on Mountain Chief Road
305 ft·13 sec·Mountain Chief Road
2
Continue on 9th Avenue Southeast
486 ft·26 sec·9th Avenue Southeast
3
Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast
381 ft·18 sec·1st Street Northeast
4
Turn right onto 8th Avenue Southeast
423 ft·20 sec·8th Avenue Southeast
5
Turn right onto US 2; US 89
2.5 mi·3 min·US 2; US 89
6
Turn straight onto US 89
68 mi·1 hr 16 min·US 89
7
Enter roundabout onto US 89
526 ft·19 sec·1st Street Southwest
8
Continue on US 89
107 ft·1 sec·1st Street Southwest
9
Turn straight onto US 89
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Avenue South
10
Continue on US 89
17 mi·18 min·United States Route 89
11
Continue on US 89
15 mi·15 min·1st Road Southeast
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 89; MT 200
7.9 mi·9 min·US 89; MT 200
13
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
0.3 mi·32 sec·US 89; MT 200
Toward I 15 South: Great Falls
14
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
9.5 mi·8 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
15
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi·30 sec·I 15 Business
Toward I 15 Business
16
Turn left onto I 15 Business
1.5 mi·1 min·Central Avenue West
17
Continue on I 15 Business
0.2 mi·17 sec·First Avenue North Bridge
18
Continue on I 15 Business
1.2 mi·2 min·1st Avenue North
19
Turn right onto US 87
0.8 mi·1 min·14th Street North
20
Turn left onto US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
23 mi·25 min·10th Avenue South
21
Enter roundabout
224 ft·2 sec
22
Continue
0.3 mi·20 sec
23
Turn straight onto US 87; MT 3; MT 200
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 87; MT 3; MT 200
24
Turn right onto US 191; MT 3
39 mi·43 min·US 191; MT 3
25
Turn left onto US 12; MT 3
45 mi·50 min·US 12; MT 3
26
Turn right onto MT 3
12 mi·14 min·MT 3
27
Continue on MT-3
2.5 mi·2 min·MT-3
28
Continue on MT 3
25 mi·28 min·MT 3
29
Enter roundabout onto MT 3
123 ft·1 sec·MT 3
30
Continue on MT 3
3.1 mi·3 min·MT 3
31
Enter roundabout onto North 27th Street
36 ft·0 sec·North 27th Street
32
Continue on North 27th Street
2.2 mi·3 min·North 27th Street
Use the straight lane.
33
Turn left onto I 90 Business
0.2 mi·33 sec·Montana Avenue
Use the left lane.
34
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 6-hour and 25-minute journey, aim for an early morning departure to avoid traffic and maintain your momentum. Although the trip is designed for a single day, remember that you have one recommended stop available to stretch your legs and refresh your focus. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the longer 76.4-mile stretches to ensure you aren't caught off guard between service points. Since you are crossing a significant portion of Montana, check local weather reports before you leave, as conditions can shift quickly in the Mountain West. Staying flexible with your pace will help you arrive in Billings feeling rested rather than worn out.
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 171.2 miles from South Browning, MT, or about 3h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.4 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 75 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 171.2 miles or 3h 13m 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 15m
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 South Browning, 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 South Browning, MT
This is one driving day of about 342.4 miles and 6h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from South Browning, 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 US 89 for about 76.4 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 342.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|1st Street Northeast
Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|8th Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto 8th Avenue Southeast
Navigation decision point
4
71.1 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|US 89 / 1st Street Southwest
Enter roundabout onto US 89 / 1st Street Southwest
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
103.4 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|US 89; MT 200
At end of road, turn left onto US 89; MT 200
Navigation decision point
6
342.2 mi into trip|~6h 24m in|I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Turn left onto I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.26 one way
$108.52 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg120 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$56.87
$113.75
premium
$4.53
$61.08
$122.16
diesel
$5.61
$75.60
$151.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102.7
1
$35.95
$16.44
Efficient EV
85.6
0
$29.96
$13.70
EV Truck/SUV
137
1
$47.94
$21.91
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
South Browning, MT
Evening
in South Browning on Saturday
Local time
7:28 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Billings, MT
Evening
in Billings on Saturday
Local time
7:28 PM
MDT
Current temp
74°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
13 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 25m 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 highway-focused drive relies on a 84% highway share to keep your progress steady. Behind the wheel, you will encounter a mix of open stretches and standard roadway, with the longest uninterrupted segment reaching 76.4 miles along US 89. The personality of the route is defined by its consistency, favoring efficiency over technical, winding local roads. As you transition between these primary US routes, the driving experience remains largely predictable, allowing you to settle into a rhythm. It is a practical path that prioritizes reaching your destination in Billings with minimal navigational complexity.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.4 mi on US 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 89 and US 87. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 1st Street Northeast.
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 25m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 18 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (1st Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (8th Avenue Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 71.1 miles (US 89 / 1st Street Southwest): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
4,486 ft3,122 ft
Total Climb
1,952 ft
Total Descent
3,227 ft
Highest Point
4,486 ft
~244.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,364 ft
Notable High Points
4,354 ft at ~48.9 miles+354 ft prominence
4,396 ft at ~195.6 miles+103 ft prominence
4,486 ft at ~244.5 miles+250 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 25m. Total distance: 342.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 76.4 miles on US 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 (1st Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (8th Avenue Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 71.1 miles (US 89 / 1st Street Southwest): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.9 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.
