Trip from Frenchtown, MT to Billings, MT

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 56m

Distance

358.6 mi

577 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

25 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 44m ★

6 AM

5h 57m

8 AM

6h 23m

10 AM

6h 6m

12 PM

6h 3m

3 PM

6h 7m

5 PM

6h 22m

8 PM

5h 49m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Frenchtown, MT to Billings, MT covers 358.6 miles and takes about 5h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 90, I 15, Montana Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 243.2 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.71 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

179.3 miles from Frenchtown, MT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 54m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 56m. Total distance: 358.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 5h 56m highway drive covering 358.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and I 15. The longest continuous stretch is about 243.2 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 243.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 15. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MT 263 / Demer 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 5h 56m drive. You will face about 7 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 (MT 263 / Demer Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 131.4 miles (I 15; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | MT 263 / Demer Street

Turn right onto MT 263 / Demer Street

Navigation decision point

4

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

6

131.4 mi into trip | ~2h 6m in | I 15; I 90

Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

4

354.4 mi into trip | ~5h 48m in | I 90 Business

Take the exit onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business: West Billings

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 90 Business: West Billings

5

354.7 mi into trip | ~5h 49m in | I 90 Business

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business: City Center

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 90 Business: City Center

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 90	243.2 mi	3h 56m
I 15	110.8 mi	1h 51m
Montana Avenue	2.2 mi	4m
I 90 Business	2.1 mi	3m
Demer Street	<0.1 mi	<1m
Beckwith Street	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 90 — 243.2 mi, about 3h 56m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on MT 263

474 ft · 10 sec · Beckwith Street

2

Turn right onto MT 263

495 ft · 9 sec · Demer Street

3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec

4

Merge onto I 90

131 mi · 2 hr 5 min · I 90

5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90

111 mi · 1 hr 51 min · I 15; I 90

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

6

Continue on I 90; US 89; US 191

6.9 mi · 6 min · I 90; US 89; US 191

7

Continue on I 90; US 191

105 mi · 1 hr 44 min · I 90; US 191

8

Take the exit onto I 90 Business

0.4 mi · 47 sec · I 90 Business

Toward I 90 Business: West Billings

9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business

1.7 mi · 2 min · I 90 Business

Toward I 90 Business: City Center

10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business

1.3 mi · 2 min · Montana Avenue

11

Continue on I 90 Business

0.9 mi · 2 min · Montana Avenue

12

Arrive at destination

I 90 Business

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 179.3 miles from Frenchtown, MT, or about 2h 54m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 243.2 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 79 miles or 1h 16m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 179.3 miles or 2h 54m 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 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Billings, MT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Frenchtown, 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 Frenchtown, MT

This is one driving day of about 358.6 miles and 5h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Frenchtown, 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 243.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 179.3 mi from Frenchtown, MT · 2h 54m into the drive

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Butte, MT

179 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

Deer Lodge, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 79 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Whitehall, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 179.3 miles from Frenchtown, 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 243.2 miles.

Arriving in Billings, MT

The final approach into Billings, 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 Billings, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

McCormick Cafe

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Billings, Montana

Near the end, right off the route

0 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 358.6

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+14062559555

Visit website

NaRa Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Billings, Montana

0.9 mi

Stompin Grounds

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Billings, Montana

0.5 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Marble Coffee Co

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Billings, Montana

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 358.6

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+14063847764

Visit website

Bearded Bean Coffee Co

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Billings, Montana

0.5 mi

Black Dog Coffee House x 10th Ave

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Billings, Montana

0.9 mi

McCormick Cafe

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+14062559555

Visit website

NaRa Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+14062458866

Visit website

Stompin Grounds

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+16194956551

Tippy cow cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+14065343599

Visit website

MacKenzie River Pizza Co.

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour Moderately mile 204.9

Belgrade, Montana

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14063880016

Visit website

Pizza Ranch

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour Moderately mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+14068392366

Visit website

Copper Horse Restaurant - Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 204.9

Belgrade, Montana

Hours: 4:30 am–8 pm

+14063168129

Visit website

Pizza Hut

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour Inexpensiv mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+14062598424

Visit website

Marble Coffee Co

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+14063847764

Visit website

Bearded Bean Coffee Co

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+14066967859

Black Dog Coffee House x 10th Ave

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 6:30 am–2 pm

+14062818550

Visit website

Bull Mountain Brew

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 5:30 am–1 pm

Reel Coffee Co

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 204.9

Belgrade, Montana

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

Revamped Coffee Co

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour Inexpensiv mile 204.9

Belgrade, Montana

Hours: 6 am–3:30 pm

+14069200386

Visit website

Skyline Espresso

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 6:30 am–2 pm

+14065344629

Visit website

Rebel Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+14066711891

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 128.1

Butte, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 204.9

Belgrade, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 128.1

Butte, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

EV Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 204.9

Belgrade, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+14063887684

Wise Wonders Science and Discovery Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14067021280

Visit website

After Rage

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 3:30–9 pm

+14063715114

Visit website

DanWalt Botanical Gardens

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 9 am–5:30 pm

+14062484003

Visit website

The Grand Escape Room

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 358.6

Billings, Montana

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+14068608243

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.71 one way

$97.41 round trip

$3.45/gal 25.4 MPG avg 126 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.85	$54.35	$108.71
premium	$4.15	$58.59	$117.18
diesel	$3.75	$52.94	$105.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$49

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 125.5 kg one way.

EV Charging Along Route

25 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Town Pump Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger

Missoula, MT

Tesla

12 DCFC

Town Pump Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger

Billings, MT

Tesla

12 DCFC

Town Pump Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger

Butte, MT

Tesla

8 DCFC

Town Pump Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger

Belgrade, MT

Tesla

8 DCFC

Bozeman, MT

RIVIAN_ADVENTURE

8 DCFC

Fairfield Inn & Suites - Tesla Supercharger

Laurel, MT

Tesla

8 DCFC

Best Western Plus Grant Creek Inn - Tesla Supercharger

Missoula, MT

Tesla

6 DCFC

Best Western Plus Butte Plaza Inn - Tesla Supercharger

Butte, MT

Tesla

6 DCFC

Tesla: 10 Electrify America: 4 ChargePoint Network: 3 EV Connect: 3 Blink Network: 2 RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1 NAYAX_ENERGY: 1 IN_CHARGE: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	107.6	1	$37.65	$17.21
Efficient EV	89.7	1	$31.38	$14.34
EV Truck/SUV	143.4	1	$50.20	$22.95

Gas CO2

125 kg

EV CO2

42 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

Frenchtown, MT

Afternoon in Frenchtown on Friday

Local time

4:44 PM

MDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Billings, MT

Afternoon in Billings on Friday

Local time

4:44 PM

MDT

Current temp

74°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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 56m 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 Frenchtown, MT to Billings, MT covers 358.6 miles and takes about 5h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 90, I 15, Montana Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 179.3 miles from Frenchtown, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.71 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 56m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (MT 263 / Demer Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 131.4 miles (I 15; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Frenchtown, MT to Billings, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Billings, MT to Frenchtown, MT

Plan the drive back the other way.

359.1 mi 5h 57m

Explore more options from Frenchtown, MT or browse trips ending in Billings, MT.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MT road trips.

Trip from Frenchtown, MT to Billings, MT

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Billings, MT

Nearby Places

McCormick Cafe

Marble Coffee Co

McCormick Cafe

NaRa Restaurant

Stompin Grounds

Tippy cow cafe

MacKenzie River Pizza Co.

Pizza Ranch

Copper Horse Restaurant - Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport

Pizza Hut

Marble Coffee Co

Bearded Bean Coffee Co

Black Dog Coffee House x 10th Ave

Bull Mountain Brew

Reel Coffee Co

Revamped Coffee Co

Skyline Espresso

Rebel Coffee

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

EV Charging Station

Wise Wonders Science and Discovery Museum

After Rage

DanWalt Botanical Gardens

The Grand Escape Room

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Frenchtown, MT

Billings, MT

Same local time

33 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 56m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Frenchtown, MT to Billings, MT?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How many breaks should I plan?

How hard is the drive from Frenchtown, MT to Billings, MT?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Frenchtown, MT to Billings, MT?

How this page is built

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