The drive from Laurel, MT to Cut Bank, MT covers 337.1 miles and takes about 6h 9m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 87, First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, US 12 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 83.6 miles on US 87.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.42 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
168.6 miles from Laurel, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 12m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 9m. Total distance: 337.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 6h 9m highway drive covering 337.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 87 and First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 83.6 miles on US 87.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 44 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 87 is the longest continuous segment at about 83.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 11.2 miles in near South Shiloh Road.
Driving Effort3/10
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 9m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 24 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.2 miles (South Shiloh Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 57.4 miles (US 12; MT 3): Navigation decision point; at 206.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
11.2 mi into trip|~14m in|South Shiloh Road
Enter roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
57.4 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|US 12; MT 3
At end of road, turn left onto US 12; MT 3
Navigation decision point
5
206.3 mi into trip|~3h 53m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
231 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|I 15 Business / Park Drive North
At end of road, turn left onto I 15 Business / Park Drive North
Navigation decision point
6
314.2 mi into trip|~5h 43m in|I 15 BUS
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS toward I 15 BUS, US 2: Shelby, Cut Bank
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 363
Toward I 15 BUS, US 2: Shelby, Cut Bank
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
83.6 mi
1h 30m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
81.2 mi
1h 16m
US 12
45.1 mi
50m
US 191
39.2 mi
42m
MT 3
38 mi
43m
West Roosevelt Highway
22.6 mi
25m
2nd Avenue North
4.3 mi
7m
Iowa Avenue
2.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 83.6 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurel, MT and Cut Bank, MT.
1
Start on US 310; MT S-532
0.6 mi·55 sec·South 1st Avenue
2
Turn left
9.0 mi·10 min
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward Zoo Drive
4
Turn left onto Zoo Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Zoo Drive
5
Enter roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
12 ft·0 sec·South Shiloh Road
6
Continue on South Shiloh Road
0.3 mi·30 sec·South Shiloh Road
7
Enter roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
136 ft·2 sec·South Shiloh Road
8
Continue on South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi·51 sec·South Shiloh Road
9
Enter roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
104 ft·2 sec·South Shiloh Road
10
Continue on South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi·50 sec·South Shiloh Road
11
Enter roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
173 ft·2 sec·South Shiloh Road
12
Continue on South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi·43 sec·South Shiloh Road
13
Enter roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
90 ft·1 sec·South Shiloh Road
14
Continue on South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi·42 sec·South Shiloh Road
15
Enter roundabout onto Shiloh Road
141 ft·2 sec·Shiloh Road
16
Continue on Shiloh Road
0.5 mi·43 sec·Shiloh Road
17
Enter roundabout onto Shiloh Road
109 ft·1 sec·Shiloh Road
18
Continue on Shiloh Road
0.5 mi·42 sec·Shiloh Road
19
Enter roundabout onto Shiloh Road
127 ft·2 sec·Shiloh Road
20
Continue on Shiloh Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Shiloh Road
21
Turn right onto Rimrock Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Rimrock Road
22
Turn left onto Zimmerman Trail
1.0 mi·1 min·Zimmerman Trail
23
Enter roundabout onto MT 3
251 ft·3 sec·MT 3
24
Continue on MT 3
25 mi·28 min·MT 3
25
Continue on MT-3
2.5 mi·2 min·Iowa Avenue
26
Continue on MT 3
12 mi·14 min·MT 3
27
At end of road, turn left onto US 12; MT 3
45 mi·50 min·US 12; MT 3
28
Turn right onto US 191; MT 3
39 mi·42 min·US 191; MT 3
29
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; MT 3; MT 200
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 87; MT 3; MT 200
30
Turn slight right
0.3 mi·20 sec
31
Enter roundabout
172 ft·2 sec
32
Continue
0.1 mi·7 sec
33
Continue on US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
19 mi·20 min·US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
34
Turn right onto US 87 Bypass
0.9 mi·1 min·57th Street South
35
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
4.3 mi·7 min·2nd Avenue North
36
At end of road, turn left onto I 15 Business
240 ft·4 sec·Park Drive North
37
Turn right onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi·23 sec·1st Avenue North
38
Continue on I 15 Business
0.2 mi·17 sec·First Avenue North Bridge
39
Continue on I 15 Business
1.4 mi·1 min·Central Avenue West
40
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi·32 sec·I 15 Business
41
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
81 mi·1 hr 16 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
42
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS
0.3 mi·40 sec·I 15 BUS
Exit 363Toward I 15 BUS, US 2: Shelby, Cut Bank
43
At end of road, turn left onto I 15 BUS; US 2
23 mi·25 min·West Roosevelt Highway
44
Arrive at destination
US 2
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 168.6 miles from Laurel, MT, or about 3h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.6 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 74 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 168.6 miles or 3h 12m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cut Bank, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Laurel, 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 Laurel, MT
This is one driving day of about 337.1 miles and 6h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Laurel, 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 83.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 168.6 mi from Laurel, MT
· 3h 12m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.42 one way
$106.84 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg118 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$55.99
$111.99
premium
$4.53
$60.13
$120.27
diesel
$5.61
$74.43
$148.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
1 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: sparse
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Shelby, Montana
Other
1 DCFC
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101.1
1
$35.40
$16.18
Efficient EV
84.3
0
$29.50
$13.48
EV Truck/SUV
134.8
1
$47.19
$21.57
Gas CO2
118 kg
EV CO2
39 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
Laurel, MT
Morning
in Laurel on Saturday
Local time
10:14 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cut Bank, MT
Morning
in Cut Bank on Saturday
Local time
10:14 AM
MDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Lewistown, MT
169 mi in
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 9m 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 Laurel, MT to Cut Bank, MT covers 337.1 miles and takes about 6h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 87, First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, US 12. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 168.6 miles from Laurel, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.42 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 9m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 24 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.2 miles (South Shiloh Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 57.4 miles (US 12; MT 3): Navigation decision point; at 206.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Laurel, MT to Cut Bank, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
