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Trip from Havre, MT to Big Timber, MT

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

Drive Time

5h 35m

Distance

285.8 mi

460 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 22m ★
6 AM
5h 36m
8 AM
6h 2m
10 AM
5h 45m
12 PM
5h 42m
3 PM
5h 46m
5 PM
6h 1m
8 PM
5h 28m

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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Downtown Havre, MT, MT

Havre, MT

Shashank Brahmavar

city in and county seat of Sweet Grass County, Montana, United States

Big Timber, MT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Havre, MT to Big Timber, MT covers 285.8 miles and takes about 5h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 87, H Avenue Northwest, US 191 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 171.6 miles on US 87. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.29 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

142.9 miles from Havre, MT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 40m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 87 171.6 mi 3h 7m
H Avenue Northwest 44.1 mi 1h 6m
US 191 39.2 mi 42m
10th Avenue South 22.6 mi 25m
1st Street 3.1 mi 3m
14th Street North 1.7 mi 2m
US 12 1.4 mi 2m
15th Street Northeast 1.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 87 — 171.6 mi, about 3h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Havre, MT and Big Timber, MT.

1

Start on Montana Avenue

161 ft · 11 sec · Montana Avenue
2

Turn left onto 5th Street

0.1 mi · 39 sec · 5th Street
3

Turn left onto 2nd Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · 2nd Avenue
4

Turn left onto US 2

3.1 mi · 3 min · 1st Street
Use the left lane.
5

Turn left onto US 87

107 mi · 1 hr 58 min · US 87
Use the left lane.
6

Continue on US 87

1.3 mi · 1 min · 15th Street Northeast
7

Continue on US 87

1.7 mi · 2 min · 14th Street North
8

Turn left onto US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200

23 mi · 25 min · 10th Avenue South
9

Enter roundabout

224 ft · 2 sec
10

Continue

0.3 mi · 20 sec
11

Turn straight onto US 87; MT 3; MT 200

64 mi · 1 hr 9 min · US 87; MT 3; MT 200
12

Turn right onto US 191; MT 3

39 mi · 42 min · US 191; MT 3
13

Turn right onto US 12; MT 3

485 ft · 8 sec · US 12; MT 3
14

Continue on US 12; US 191

1.4 mi · 2 min · US 12; US 191
15

Turn left onto US 191

44 mi · 1 hr 6 min · H Avenue Northwest
16

Turn right onto McLeod Street

16 ft · 0 sec · McLeod Street
17

Arrive at destination

McLeod 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 142.9 miles from Havre, MT, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 171.6 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 63 miles or 1h 11m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 142.9 miles or 2h 40m 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 20m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Havre, 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 Havre, MT

This is one driving day of about 285.8 miles and 5h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Havre, 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 US 87 for about 171.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Three Forks, MT, MT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Three Forks, MT

143 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

Fort Benton, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Three Forks, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 142.9 miles from Havre, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 87 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 171.6 miles.

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

Timber Bar & Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Big Timber, Montana

Near the end, right off the route

0 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 285.8

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+14069324040

Visit website

The Grand Hotel & Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Big Timber, Montana

0.1 mi

Ma's Loma Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Loma, Montana

1 mi

Top Coffee Stop

The Coffee Stop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Big Timber, Montana

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 285.8

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+14069328646

Visit website

Coffee Hound

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Havre, Montana

0.3 mi

Crazy Mountain Coffee Roasters

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Big Timber, Montana

0.6 mi

Timber Bar & Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 285.8

Big Timber, Montana

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+14069324040

Visit website

The Grand Hotel & Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 285.8

Big Timber, Montana

+14069324459

Visit website

Ma's Loma Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 61.3

Loma, Montana

Hours: 8 am–9 pm

+14067394400

Visit website

Taste of Siberia

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 285.8

Big Timber, Montana

Hours: Closed

The Coffee Stop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 285.8

Big Timber, Montana

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+14069328646

Visit website

Coffee Hound

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Havre, Montana

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+14062658105

Crazy Mountain Coffee Roasters

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 285.8

Big Timber, Montana

Hours: 8 am–1 pm

+14064046056

Visit website

Havre Beneath the Streets

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Havre, Montana

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+14062658888

Visit website

H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Havre, Montana

Hours: 1–5 pm

+14062654000

Visit website

Engineer Espresso

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 245

Harlowton, Montana

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+14063663382

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 241.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | 5th Street

Turn left onto 5th Street

Navigation decision point

6
0.5 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 2 / 1st Street

Turn left onto US 2 / 1st Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
3.6 mi into trip | ~5m in | US 87

Turn left onto US 87

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
4
136.4 mi into trip | ~2h 33m in

Enter roundabout

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4
241.7 mi into trip | ~4h 29m in | US 191 / H Avenue Northwest

Turn left onto US 191 / H Avenue Northwest

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$45.29 one way

$90.58 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 100 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $47.47 $94.94
premium $4.53 $50.98 $101.97
diesel $5.61 $63.10 $126.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$45

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 100 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

4 DC fast chargers · Coverage: fair

Great Falls Hampton Inn - Tesla Supercharger

Great Falls, MT

Tesla

8 DCFC

The Fort - Tesla Supercharger

Big Timber, MT

Tesla

4 DCFC

Great Falls Subaru

Great Falls, MT

EV Connect

2 DCFC

Tilleman Motors

Havre, MT

EVGATEWAY

1 DCFC

Tesla: 2 EVGATEWAY: 1 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 85.7 1 $30.01 $13.72
Efficient EV 71.5 0 $25.01 $11.43
EV Truck/SUV 114.3 1 $40.01 $18.29

Gas CO2

100 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (67% 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

Havre, MT

Afternoon in Havre on Saturday

Local time

12:39 PM

MDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Big Timber, MT

Afternoon in Big Timber on Saturday

Local time

12:39 PM

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

23 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 35m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

285.8 mi in 5h 35m, mostly highway — 171.6 mi of that is on US 87.

74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 171.6 mi on US 87.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and H Avenue Northwest. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 5th Street.

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 35m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 2 / 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 35m. Total distance: 285.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (74%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 171.6 miles on US 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through MT can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 2 / 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Big Timber, MT before the return drive.

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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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