Spanning 444.7 miles across the Mountain West, this journey from South Browning to Miles City is a significant cross-state undertaking. You should budget approximately 7 hours and 23 minutes of driving time, making it a demanding single-day trip that requires an early start. Because the route relies on local roads like 9th Avenue Southeast, 1st Street Northeast, and 8th Avenue Southeast rather than major interstates, the pace is slower than your average highway cruise. Plan on setting aside roughly $70 for fuel to cover the distance. While it is possible to complete this in one long day, be prepared for a focused stint behind the wheel as you navigate through the heart of Montana.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
220.6 miles from South Browning, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 87
126.8 mi
2h 16m
MT 59
82.6 mi
2h 2m
US 87
79 mi
1h 25m
US 89
76.4 mi
1h 26m
10th Avenue South
22.6 mi
25m
United States Route 89
16.8 mi
18m
1st Road Southeast
14.7 mi
15m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9.5 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 87
— 126.8 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Browning, MT and Miles City, 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
Continue on US 87; US 191; MT 200
15 mi·15 min·US 87; US 191; MT 200
25
Turn straight onto US 191
2.6 mi·3 min·Truck Bypass
26
Continue on 1st Avenue North
0.3 mi·37 sec·1st Avenue North
27
Turn left onto US 87; MT 200
0.4 mi·1 min·East Main Street
28
Continue on US 87; MT 200
1.1 mi·2 min·Northeast Main Street
29
Continue on US 87; MT 200
127 mi·2 hr 16 min·US Highway 87
30
Turn right onto MT 59
83 mi·2 hr 2 min·MT 59
31
Turn left onto I 94 Business; MT 59
0.4 mi·51 sec·Main Street
32
Arrive at destination
MT 59
Trip Plan
To manage the 7 hours and 23 minutes effectively, plan for at least two intentional stops to stretch your legs and refuel. Since this route avoids major highways, account for the lack of high-speed stretches when estimating your arrival time, as your average speed will be lower than usual. Keep your $70 fuel budget handy and fill up before leaving South Browning to ensure you have a comfortable buffer for the duration of the trip. Given the turn-heavy nature of these local roads, verify your navigation before departure to avoid confusion at intersections along 8th and 9th Avenues. Being well-rested is essential for this route, as the constant demand for steering input can be more fatiguing than a standard interstate trek.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 220.6 miles from South Browning, MT, or about 4h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 97 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 220.6 miles or 4h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 220.6 miles or 4h 6m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Miles City, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from South Browning, MT
Aim for roughly 221 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Miles City, MT
Aim for roughly 221 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 97 miles from South Browning, MT.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 87 for about 126.8 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 0.1 and 111.2 — 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
4
111.2 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|US 89; MT 200
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200 toward I 15 South: Great Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 15 South: Great Falls
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$69.90 one way
$139.80 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg154 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$73.27
$146.54
premium
$4.53
$78.69
$157.37
diesel
$5.61
$97.39
$194.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$200–$310
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 154.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
132.3
1
$46.32
$21.17
Efficient EV
110.3
1
$38.60
$17.64
EV Truck/SUV
176.4
2
$61.75
$28.23
Gas CO2
154 kg
EV CO2
52 kg (66% 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
7:30 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Miles City, MT
Evening
in Miles City on Saturday
Local time
7:30 PM
MDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Lewistown, MT
221 mi in
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
14 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
8h 41m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention compared to the monotony of an interstate. With a highway share of 0%, you will spend the entire 444.7 miles navigating smaller thoroughfares rather than cruising on high-speed freeways. This configuration keeps the driving experience technical and varied, requiring you to stay alert through frequent directional changes. The route’s character is defined by its localized nature, moving away from high-speed transit toward a more hands-on driving style. You will find that the road surface and traffic patterns remain consistent with local travel, creating a steady, rhythmic pace throughout your seven-hour journey.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 126.8 mi on US Highway 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 87 and MT 59. 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 Effort4/10
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 8h 41m, 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: 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
4,397 ft2,362 ft
Total Climb
1,169 ft
Total Descent
3,205 ft
Highest Point
4,397 ft
Elevation Range
2,035 ft
Notable High Points
4,055 ft at ~94.5 miles+26 ft prominence
4,330 ft at ~189.1 miles+255 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 126.8 miles on US Highway 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 221 miles on day one.
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 Miles City, 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 2 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 8.7 hours each way, a round trip means 17.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Miles City, MT before the return drive.
