Origin
Cut Bank, MT
Morning in Cut Bank on Saturday
Local time
9:07 AM
MDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cut Bank, MT to Laurel, MT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 39m
Distance
349.2 mi
562 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 27m
★
6 AM
5h 40m
8 AM
6h 6m
10 AM
5h 49m
12 PM
5h 47m
3 PM
5h 51m
5 PM
6h 5m
8 PM
5h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cut Bank, MT
Alex Huahuisa Florez
Laurel, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cut Bank, MT to Laurel, MT covers 349.2 miles and takes about 5h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 15 South, First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, I 15 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.34 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
174.6 miles from Cut Bank, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 49m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 39m. Total distance: 349.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 39m drive with frequent turns across 349.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 15 South 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.
This is a straightforward 5h 39m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cut Bank, MT to Laurel, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 15 South | — | — |
| First Special Service Force Memorial Highway | — | — |
| I 15 | — | — |
| Central Avenue West | — | — |
| First Avenue North Bridge | — | — |
| 1st Avenue North | — | — |
| 14th Street North | — | — |
| 10th Avenue South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 15 South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cut Bank, MT and Laurel, MT.
1
Start on East Main Street
22 mi
·
25 min
·
East Main Street
2
Take the exit slight right toward I 15 South: Great Falls
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 15 South: Great Falls
3
Merge slight left onto First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
81 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
4
Take the exit slight right toward I 15 Business
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
I 15 Business
5
Turn left onto Central Avenue West
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue West
6
Continue on First Avenue North Bridge
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
First Avenue North Bridge
7
Continue on 1st Avenue North
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Avenue North
8
Turn right onto 14th Street North
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
14th Street North
9
Turn left onto 10th Avenue South
23 mi
·
25 min
·
10th Avenue South
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
223 ft
·
3 sec
·
the route
11
Exit the roundabout
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
12
Turn straight
64 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
13
Turn right
39 mi
·
43 min
14
Turn left
45 mi
·
50 min
15
Turn right
12 mi
·
14 min
16
Continue straight
2.5 mi
·
2 min
17
Continue straight
25 mi
·
28 min
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Zimmerman Trail
33 ft
·
Zimmerman Trail
19
Exit the roundabout onto Zimmerman Trail
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Zimmerman Trail
20
Continue on 32nd Street West
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
32nd Street West
21
Turn right onto Gabel Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Gabel Road
22
Turn left onto Zoo Drive
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Zoo Drive
23
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
24
Merge slight left
8.7 mi
·
10 min
25
Take the exit slight right toward US 212, US 310: Laurel, Red Lodge
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
US 212, US 310: Laurel, Red Lodge
26
Turn right
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
27
Arrive at your destination
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 174.6 miles from Cut Bank, MT, or about 2h 49m 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 77 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 174.6 miles or 2h 49m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laurel, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cut Bank, 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 Cut Bank, MT
This is one driving day of about 349.2 miles and 5h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Cut Bank, 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 174.6 mi from Cut Bank, MT · 2h 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
175 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 77 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 174.6 miles from Cut Bank, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Laurel, MT
The final approach into Laurel, 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 Laurel, 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
$55.34 one way
$110.67 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
122 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $58.00 | $116.01 |
| premium | $4.53 | $62.29 | $124.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $77.10 | $154.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 104.8 | 1 | $36.67 | $16.76 |
| Efficient EV | 87.3 | 0 | $30.55 | $13.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 139.7 | 1 | $48.89 | $22.35 |
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 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.
Destination
Laurel, MT
Morning in Laurel on Saturday
Local time
9:07 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°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
25 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 39m 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 Cut Bank, MT to Laurel, MT covers 349.2 miles and takes about 5h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 15 South, First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, I 15. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 174.6 miles from Cut Bank, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $55.34 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 39m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cut Bank, MT to Laurel, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cut Bank, MT to Laurel, 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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