Origin
Billings, MT
Morning in Billings on Saturday
Local time
7:29 AM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Billings, MT to Columbus, MT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
42.2 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Billings, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Columbus, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Billings, MT to Columbus, MT covers 42.2 miles and takes about 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, Montana Avenue, Laurel Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.5 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 42.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 50m highway drive covering 42.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and Montana Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 36.5 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 12 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 36.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and Montana Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North 23rd Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 50m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North 23rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 90 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 23rd Street
Turn left onto North 23rd Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North
Turn left onto I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North
Navigation decision point
6
4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 90 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90 Business toward Butte, I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Butte, I 90 West
4
40.8 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward MT 78: Columbus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MT 78: Columbus
5
42 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
MT 78 / East Pike Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto MT 78 / East Pike Avenue
Navigation decision point
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 Billings, MT to Columbus, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Butte along the way.
Butte
4 mi in
|
~8m
|
via I 90 Business
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 36.5 mi | 38m |
| Montana Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Laurel Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 1st Avenue North | 0.9 mi | 3m |
| MT 78 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| I 90 Business | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Pike Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Division Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 36.5 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Billings, MT and Columbus, MT.
1
Start on I 90 Business
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Montana Avenue
2
Turn left onto North 23rd Street
372 ft
·
21 sec
·
North 23rd Street
3
Turn left onto I 90 Business
0.9 mi
·
3 min
·
1st Avenue North
4
Turn left onto I 90 Business
447 ft
·
9 sec
·
Division Street
5
Continue on I 90 Business
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Montana Avenue
6
Continue on I 90 Business
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Laurel Road
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90 Business
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 90 Business
Toward Butte, I 90 West
8
Merge onto I 90; US 212
36 mi
·
38 min
·
I 90; US 212
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Toward MT 78: Columbus
10
Turn left onto MT 78
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
MT 78
11
At end of road, turn right onto MT 78
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Pike Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
MT 78
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.1 mi from Billings, MT · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.1 miles from Billings, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Columbus, MT
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Columbus, MT if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.69 one way
$13.37 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $7.01 | $14.02 |
| premium | $4.53 | $7.53 | $15.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.32 | $18.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.43 | $2.03 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Columbus, MT
Morning in Columbus on Saturday
Local time
7:29 AM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Laurel, MT
21 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
50m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Billings, MT to Columbus, MT covers 42.2 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, Montana Avenue, Laurel Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.1 miles from Billings, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.69 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 50m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North 23rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 90 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Billings, MT to Columbus, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Butte along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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