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Trip from Billings, MT to Ronan, MT

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 46m

Distance

399.1 mi

642 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$63

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
6h 34m ★
6 AM
6h 46m
8 AM
7h 10m
10 AM
6h 54m
12 PM
6h 52m
3 PM
6h 55m
5 PM
7h 8m
8 PM
6h 39m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in and county seat of Yellowstone County, Montana, United States

Billings, MT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Ronan, MT, MT

Ronan, MT

Shashank Brahmavar

Trip Overview

The drive from Billings, MT to Ronan, MT covers 399.1 miles and takes about 6h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North 23rd Street, 1st Avenue North, Division Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $63.24 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

199.5 miles from Billings, MT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 23m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 46m. Total distance: 399.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 46m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 46m drive with frequent turns across 399.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North 23rd Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

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 6h 46m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Billings, MT to Ronan, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North 23rd Street
1st Avenue North
Division Street
Montana Avenue
Laurel Road
I 90 West
US 93 North
Main Street Southwest

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: North 23rd Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Billings, MT and Ronan, MT.

1

Start on Montana Avenue

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Montana Avenue
2

Turn left onto North 23rd Street

374 ft · 22 sec · North 23rd Street
3

Turn left onto 1st Avenue North

0.9 mi · 3 min · 1st Avenue North
4

Turn left onto Division Street

446 ft · 10 sec · Division Street
5

Continue on Montana Avenue

1.3 mi · 2 min · Montana Avenue
6

Continue on Laurel Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · Laurel Road
7

Keep slight right to continue on Butte, I 90 West

0.4 mi · 48 sec · Butte, I 90 West
8

Merge slight right

105 mi · 1 hr 43 min
9

Continue straight

7.0 mi · 6 min
10

Continue straight

113 mi · 1 hr 54 min
11

Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Missoula

122 mi · 1 hr 56 min · I 90 West: Missoula
12

Take the exit slight right toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell

0.2 mi · 25 sec · US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
13

Keep slight right to continue on US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell

47 mi · 54 min · US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
14

Turn left onto Main Street Southwest

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Main Street Southwest
15

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 199.5 miles from Billings, MT, or about 3h 23m into the drive.

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 88 miles or 1h 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 199.5 miles or 3h 23m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 44m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ronan, 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 399.1 miles and 6h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 199.5 mi from Billings, MT · 3h 23m into the drive

consolidated city-county (with Silver Bow County) in Montana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Butte, MT

200 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

Livingston, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Butte, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 199.5 miles from Billings, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Ronan, MT

The final approach into Ronan, 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 Ronan, 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

$63.24 one way

$126.49 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 140 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $66.29 $132.58
premium $4.53 $71.19 $142.39
diesel $5.61 $88.12 $176.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$63

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$88–$113

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 139.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 119.7 1 $41.91 $19.16
Efficient EV 99.8 1 $34.92 $15.96
EV Truck/SUV 159.6 1 $55.87 $25.54

Gas CO2

140 kg

EV CO2

47 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 15, 2026

Origin

Billings, MT

Morning in Billings on Saturday

Local time

10:34 AM

MDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ronan, MT

Morning in Ronan on Saturday

Local time

10:34 AM

MDT

Current temp

61°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

13 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

6h 46m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 Ronan, MT covers 399.1 miles and takes about 6h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North 23rd Street, 1st Avenue North, Division Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 199.5 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 $63.24 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

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.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 46m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Billings, MT to Ronan, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Billings, MT to Ronan, 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.

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