Origin
Billings, MT
Morning in Billings on Saturday
Local time
6:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Billings, MT to Chinook, MT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 10m
Distance
226.5 mi
365 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 57m
★
6 AM
5h 10m
8 AM
5h 37m
10 AM
5h 20m
12 PM
5h 17m
3 PM
5h 21m
5 PM
5h 36m
8 PM
5h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Billings, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Chinook, MT
Alex Moliski
Trip Overview
The drive from Billings, MT to Chinook, MT covers 226.5 miles and takes about 5h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MT 66, Roundup Road, US 87 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50 miles on MT 66. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.89 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
113.3 miles from Billings, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 10m. Total distance: 226.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 10m highway drive covering 226.5 miles, with most of the trip on MT 66 and Roundup Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 50 miles on MT 66.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MT 66 is the longest continuous segment at about 50 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MT 66 and Roundup Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 10m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 49.2 miles (US 12; US 87 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 151.6 miles (MT 66): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North
At end of road, turn right onto I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North
Navigation decision point
3
49.2 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
US 12; US 87 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 12; US 87 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
151.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 26m in
|
MT 66
Turn left onto MT 66
Navigation decision point
3
201.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 40m in
|
US 2
Turn left onto US 2
Navigation decision point
4
226.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 8m in
|
Indiana Street
Turn left onto Indiana Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MT 66 | 50 mi | 1h 14m |
| Roundup Road | 44.4 mi | 48m |
| US 87 | 44.4 mi | 1h 2m |
| US 191 | 35.8 mi | 53m |
| US 2 | 24.7 mi | 28m |
| MT 19 | 21.5 mi | 31m |
| Main Street | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| 1st Avenue North | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
MT 66
— 50 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Billings, MT and Chinook, MT.
1
Start on I 90 Business
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Montana Avenue
2
Turn left onto I 90 Business
420 ft
·
8 sec
·
North 18th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto I 90 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue North
4
Continue on 1st Avenue North
403 ft
·
9 sec
·
1st Avenue North
5
Continue on US 87
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Main Street
6
Turn slight left onto US 87
44 mi
·
48 min
·
Roundup Road
7
Turn left onto US 12; US 87
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
8
Turn slight left onto US 87
44 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
US 87
9
Continue on MT 19
21 mi
·
31 min
·
MT 19
10
Continue on US 191
36 mi
·
53 min
·
US 191
11
Turn left onto MT 66
50 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
MT 66
12
Turn left onto US 2
25 mi
·
28 min
·
US 2
13
Turn left onto Indiana Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Indiana Street
14
Arrive at destination
Indiana 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 113.3 miles from Billings, MT, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50 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 50 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.3 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chinook, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Billings, 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 Billings, MT
This is one driving day of about 226.5 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Billings, 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 MT 66 for about 50 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113.3 mi from Billings, MT · 2h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 113.3 miles from Billings, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chinook, MT
The final approach into Chinook, 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 Chinook, MT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.89 one way
$71.78 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $37.62 | $75.24 |
| premium | $4.53 | $40.40 | $80.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.01 | $100.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68 | 0 | $23.78 | $10.87 |
| Efficient EV | 56.6 | 0 | $19.82 | $9.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.6 | 1 | $31.71 | $14.50 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Chinook, MT
Morning in Chinook on Saturday
Local time
6:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
41°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
33 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 10m 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 Billings, MT to Chinook, MT covers 226.5 miles and takes about 5h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MT 66, Roundup Road, US 87. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 113.3 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 $35.89 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 5h 10m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (I 90 Business / 1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 49.2 miles (US 12; US 87 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 151.6 miles (MT 66): Navigation decision point.
The route from Billings, MT to Chinook, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Chinook, MT
More trips to Chinook, MT
Explore more options from Billings, MT or browse trips ending in Chinook, MT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MT road trips.