Townsend, MT to Billings, MT is 205.1 miles and takes about 3h 32m via I 90 and US 287, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, primarily traveling through Montana. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
102.5 miles from Townsend, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
170 mi
2h 49m
US 287
27.6 mi
29m
South Front Street
2.9 mi
3m
Montana Avenue
2.2 mi
4m
I 90 Business
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 170 mi, about 2h 49m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~890 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,098
Quietest
2 AM
~49 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Townsend, MT and Billings, MT.
1
Start on this road
112 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 287
2.9 mi·3 min·South Front Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 287
2.3 mi·2 min·US 287
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 287
1.2 mi·1 min·US 287
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 287
1.4 mi·1 min·US 287
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 287
23 mi·24 min·US 287
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 90 East: Billings
8
Merge onto I 90
170 mi·2 hr 49 min·I 90
9
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
0.4 mi·47 sec·I 90 Business
Toward I 90 Business: West Billings
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business
1.7 mi·2 min·I 90 Business
Toward I 90 Business: City Center
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·Montana Avenue
12
Continue on I 90 Business
0.9 mi·2 min·Montana Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 32 minutes, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Aim for an early morning departure from Townsend to maximize daylight and allow for any unforeseen delays. With a fuel cost estimated at $33, it's wise to fill up before leaving Townsend, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 170 miles on I 90. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and grab a snack.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 102.5 miles from Townsend, MT, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 170 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 45 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.5 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 51m
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 Townsend, 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 Townsend, MT
This is one driving day of about 205.1 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Townsend, 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 90 for about 170 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 202.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 287 / South Front Street
Turn left onto US 287 / South Front Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
30.5 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward I 90 East: Billings
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 East: Billings
4
200.8 mi into trip|~3h 23m in|I 90 Business
Take the exit onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business: West Billings
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 Business: West Billings
5
201.2 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|I 90 Business
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business: City Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 Business: City Center
4
202.9 mi into trip|~3h 27m in|I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business / Montana Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.97 one way
$63.94 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$33.70
$67.39
premium
$4.47
$36.13
$72.25
diesel
$4.80
$38.73
$77.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
EV Charging Along Route
16 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Billings, MT - North Frontage Road - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.5
0
$21.54
$9.84
Efficient EV
51.3
0
$17.95
$8.20
EV Truck/SUV
82
1
$28.71
$13.13
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Townsend, MT
Late night
in Townsend on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
W 2 to 6 mph47% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 7:14PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 7:09PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
Billings, MT
Late night
in Billings on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
67°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NNW 7 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 7:14PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 7:09PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
94°F
Livingston, MT
103 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.
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
6 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
3h 32m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 route is almost entirely highway, with 97% of the drive on interstates and major roads. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 90, where the longest continuous stretch is 170 miles. The transition to surface roads like South Front Street happens near the end of your trip. Expect a consistent cruising experience with minimal deviations from high-speed travel.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 170 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 287. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 287 / South Front Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 32m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 287 / South Front Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 200.8 miles (I 90 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 170 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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: near the start (US 287 / South Front Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 200.8 miles (I 90 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Billings, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
