The drive from Belgrade, MT to Colstrip, MT covers 277.6 miles and takes about 4h 58m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, US 212, State Highway 39 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 210.1 miles on I 90.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.99 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
138.8 miles from Belgrade, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 58m. Total distance: 277.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 4h 58m highway drive covering 277.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and US 212. The longest continuous stretch is about 210.1 miles on I 90.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 210.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 212. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near Airway Boulevard.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 58m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (Airway Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Airway Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 158 miles (I 90; US 87; US 212): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|Airway Boulevard
Turn right onto Airway Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|Airway Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto Airway Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
158 mi into trip|~2h 41m in|I 90; US 87; US 212
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90; US 87; US 212 toward I 90 East: Sheridan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 East: Sheridan
5
212 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|US 212
Take the exit onto US 212 toward US 212 East: Little Bighorn Battlefield, Broadus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 212 East: Little Bighorn Battlefield,...
5
254.5 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|MT 39 / Cheyenne Avenue
Enter roundabout onto MT 39 / Cheyenne Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Belgrade, MT to Colstrip, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Broadus along the way.
Broadus
212 mi in|~3h 32m|via US 212
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
210.1 mi
3h 28m
US 212
42.5 mi
50m
State Highway 39
22.2 mi
33m
Cheyenne Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Airway Boulevard
0.5 mi
<1m
Frontage Road
0.5 mi
<1m
East Main Street
0.4 mi
1m
Box Elder Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 210.1 mi, about 3h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belgrade, MT and Colstrip, MT.
1
Start on MT 205
0.4 mi·1 min·East Main Street
2
Continue on MT 205
0.5 mi·55 sec·Frontage Road
3
Turn right onto Airway Boulevard
0.2 mi·18 sec·Airway Boulevard
4
Enter roundabout onto Airway Boulevard
151 ft·3 sec·Airway Boulevard
5
Continue on Airway Boulevard
0.3 mi·33 sec·Airway Boulevard
6
Enter roundabout
0.2 mi·16 sec
7
Continue
0.3 mi·34 sec
8
Merge onto I 90
156 mi·2 hr 37 min·I 90
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90; US 87; US 212
54 mi·50 min·I 90; US 87; US 212
Toward I 90 East: Sheridan
10
Take the exit onto US 212
0.4 mi·53 sec·US 212
Toward US 212 East: Little Bighorn Battlefield, Broadus
11
Turn left onto US 212
42 mi·49 min·US 212
12
Enter roundabout onto MT 39
328 ft·5 sec·Cheyenne Avenue
13
Continue on MT 39
0.5 mi·42 sec·Cheyenne Avenue
14
Continue on MT 39
22 mi·33 min·State Highway 39
15
Turn right onto Box Elder Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Box Elder Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Park Street
Trip Plan
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 138.8 miles from Belgrade, MT, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 210.1 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 61 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.8 miles or 2h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colstrip, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Belgrade, 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 Belgrade, MT
This is one driving day of about 277.6 miles and 4h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Belgrade, 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 210.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 138.8 mi from Belgrade, MT
· 2h 22m into the drive
The midpoint is around 138.8 miles from Belgrade, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 210.1 miles.
Arriving in Colstrip, MT
The final approach into Colstrip, MT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Colstrip, MT.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
This land is a place to honor and reflect on the sacrifices made here on June 25 and 26, 1876, when Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors fought against a deliberate attack by the U.S. Army's 7th Cav...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
$25
near mile 210.6
Park Closure: The Park is ONLY OPEN Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.99 one way
$87.98 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$46.11
$92.22
premium
$4.53
$49.52
$99.04
diesel
$5.61
$61.29
$122.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.3
1
$29.15
$13.32
Efficient EV
69.4
0
$24.29
$11.10
EV Truck/SUV
111
1
$38.86
$17.77
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 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 15, 2026
Origin
Belgrade, MT
Late night
in Belgrade on Friday
Local time
4:39 AM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colstrip, MT
Late night
in Colstrip on Friday
Local time
4:39 AM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Laurel, MT
139 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
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
4h 58m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Belgrade, MT to Colstrip, MT covers 277.6 miles and takes about 4h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, US 212, State Highway 39. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.8 miles from Belgrade, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.99 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 58m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (Airway Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Airway Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 158 miles (I 90; US 87; US 212): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Belgrade, MT to Colstrip, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Broadus along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
