Origin
Laurel, MT
Morning in Laurel on Thursday
Local time
9:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laurel, MT to Shelby, MT
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 46m
Distance
315.6 mi
508 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 34m
★
6 AM
5h 47m
8 AM
6h 13m
10 AM
5h 56m
12 PM
5h 53m
3 PM
5h 57m
5 PM
6h 12m
8 PM
5h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laurel, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Laurel, MT to Shelby, MT covers 315.6 miles and takes about 5h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Zoo Drive, South Shiloh Road, Shiloh Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.01 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
157.8 miles from Laurel, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 46m. Total distance: 315.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 46m 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 46m drive with frequent turns across 315.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 47 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Zoo Drive 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 46m 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 Laurel, MT to Shelby, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Zoo Drive | — | — |
| South Shiloh Road | — | — |
| Shiloh Road | — | — |
| Rimrock Road | — | — |
| Zimmerman Trail | — | — |
| the route | — | — |
| Iowa Avenue | — | — |
| 57th Street South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Zoo Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurel, MT and Shelby, MT.
1
Start on South 1st Avenue
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
South 1st Avenue
2
Turn left
9.0 mi
·
10 min
3
Take the exit slight right toward Zoo Drive
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Zoo Drive
4
Turn left onto Zoo Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Zoo Drive
5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South Shiloh Road
13 ft
·
South Shiloh Road
6
Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Shiloh Road
138 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
8
Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Shiloh Road
105 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
10
Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Shiloh Road
174 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
12
Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Shiloh Road
89 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
14
Exit the roundabout onto South Shiloh Road
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
South Shiloh Road
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Shiloh Road
141 ft
·
2 sec
·
Shiloh Road
16
Exit the roundabout onto Shiloh Road
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Shiloh Road
17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Shiloh Road
108 ft
·
2 sec
·
Shiloh Road
18
Exit the roundabout onto Shiloh Road
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Shiloh Road
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Shiloh Road
128 ft
·
2 sec
·
Shiloh Road
20
Exit the roundabout onto 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 the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route
249 ft
·
4 sec
·
the route
24
Exit the roundabout
25 mi
·
28 min
25
Continue on Iowa Avenue
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Iowa Avenue
26
Continue straight
12 mi
·
14 min
27
At the end of the road, turn left
45 mi
·
50 min
28
Turn right
39 mi
·
42 min
29
At the end of the road, turn left
64 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
30
Turn slight right
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
31
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
171 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
32
Exit the roundabout
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
33
Continue straight
19 mi
·
20 min
34
Turn right onto 57th Street South
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 the end of the road, turn left onto Park Drive North
240 ft
·
4 sec
·
Park Drive North
37
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
1st Avenue North
38
Continue on First Avenue North Bridge
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
First Avenue North Bridge
39
Continue on Central Avenue West
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue West
40
Take the exit right
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
41
Merge slight left onto First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
81 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
42
Take the exit slight right toward I 15 BUS, US 2: Shelby, Cut Bank
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 15 BUS, US 2: Shelby, Cut Bank
43
Continue on West Roosevelt Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Roosevelt Highway
44
Continue on 5th Avenue North
453 ft
·
17 sec
·
5th Avenue North
45
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Main Street
46
Turn right onto Maple Avenue
82 ft
·
4 sec
·
Maple Avenue
47
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 157.8 miles from Laurel, MT, or about 2h 53m 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 69 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.8 miles or 2h 53m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shelby, 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 315.6 miles and 5h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 157.8 mi from Laurel, MT · 2h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
158 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 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 157.8 miles from Laurel, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Shelby, MT
The final approach into Shelby, 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 Shelby, 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
$50.01 one way
$100.02 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
110 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $52.42 | $104.84 |
| premium | $4.53 | $56.30 | $112.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $69.68 | $139.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94.7 | 1 | $33.14 | $15.15 |
| Efficient EV | 78.9 | 0 | $27.62 | $12.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 126.2 | 1 | $44.18 | $20.20 |
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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
Shelby, MT
Morning in Shelby on Thursday
Local time
9:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Lewistown, MT
158 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
20 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 46m 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 Laurel, MT to Shelby, MT covers 315.6 miles and takes about 5h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Zoo Drive, South Shiloh Road, Shiloh Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 157.8 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 $50.01 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 46m 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 Laurel, MT to Shelby, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Laurel, MT to Shelby, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Explore more options from Laurel, MT or browse trips ending in Shelby, MT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MT road trips.
Explore maps for Laurel, MT or Shelby, MT on MapSof.net.