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Trip from Livingston, MT to Absarokee, MT

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

Drive Time

1h 33m

Distance

89.3 mi

144 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 26m ★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 47m
10 AM
1h 38m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 29m

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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city and the county seat of Park County, Montana, United States

Livingston, MT

Wikimedia Commons

census-designated place in Stillwater County, Montana, United States

Absarokee, MT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Livingston, MT to Absarokee, MT covers 89.3 miles and takes about 1h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 90, State Highway 78, East Park Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 70.4 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.15 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

44.7 miles from Livingston, MT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 70.4 mi 1h 6m
State Highway 78 13.5 mi 16m
East Park Street 3.6 mi 6m
MT 78 0.7 mi 1m
East Pike Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
North Woodard Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
I 90 Business 0.1 mi <1m
Pratten Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 70.4 mi, about 1h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Livingston, MT and Absarokee, MT.

1

Start on I 90 Business

3.6 mi · 6 min · East Park Street
2

Take the ramp onto I 90 Business

0.1 mi · 17 sec · I 90 Business
3

Merge onto I 90; US 89; US 191

2.0 mi · 1 min · I 90; US 89; US 191
4

Continue on I 90; US 191

68 mi · 1 hr 4 min · I 90; US 191
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward MT 78: Columbus
6

Turn right onto MT 78

0.7 mi · 1 min · MT 78
7

At end of road, turn right onto MT 78

0.2 mi · 44 sec · East Pike Avenue
8

Turn left onto MT 78

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Pratten Street
9

Continue on MT 78

14 mi · 16 min · State Highway 78
10

Continue on MT 78

0.2 mi · 39 sec · North Woodard Avenue
11

Turn right onto MT 420

114 ft · 3 sec · West Grove Street
12

Arrive at destination

MT 420

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.7 miles from Livingston, MT, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.4 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 20 miles or 21m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 44.7 miles or 44m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 16m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Livingston, MT so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Livingston, MT

This is one driving day of about 89.3 miles and 1h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Livingston, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 70.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

town in and county seat of Stillwater County, Montana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Columbus, MT

45 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

Big Timber, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Timber, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 44.7 miles from Livingston, 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 70.4 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

Faye's Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Livingston, Montana

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7–11 am

+14062237481

Visit website

Rice Fine Thai Cuisine - Livingston

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Livingston, Montana

0.1 mi

Los Pinos Mexican Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Livingston, Montana

1.2 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Niemi’s Rosebud Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Absarokee, Montana

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 89.3

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+14063286969

MainStreet Commons

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Absarokee, Montana

0.1 mi

The Beartooth Beanery

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Columbus, Montana

0.7 mi

Faye's Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Livingston, Montana

Hours: 7–11 am

+14062237481

Visit website

Rice Fine Thai Cuisine - Livingston

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route Moderately

Livingston, Montana

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14063332289

Visit website

Los Pinos Mexican Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Livingston, Montana

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14069461286

Visit website

Taste of Siberia

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 31.9

Big Timber, Montana

Hours: Closed

Black Brew Coffee House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 76.6

Columbus, Montana

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

+14063215282

Visit website

Timber Bar & Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 31.9

Big Timber, Montana

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+14069324040

Visit website

The Grand Hotel & Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 31.9

Big Timber, Montana

+14069324459

Visit website

Niemi’s Rosebud Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 89.3

Absarokee, Montana

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+14063286969

MainStreet Commons

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 89.3

Absarokee, Montana

Hours: 8 am–1 pm

+14063284115

Visit website

The Beartooth Beanery

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 76.6

Columbus, Montana

Hours: 6:30 am–2 pm

Early Bird Coffee House

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 76.6

Columbus, Montana

Hours: 5 am–2 pm

The Coffee Stop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 31.9

Big Timber, Montana

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+14069328646

Visit website

Crazy Mountain Coffee Roasters

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 31.9

Big Timber, Montana

Hours: 8 am–1 pm

+14064046056

Visit website

Sacajawea Park and Tennis Courts

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Livingston, Montana

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+14062232233

Visit website

Itch-Kep-Pe Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 76.6

Columbus, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 6

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 89.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
3.8 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 90; US 89; US 191

Merge onto I 90; US 89; US 191

Merge point - match speed before joining

4
74.2 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in

Take the exit toward MT 78: Columbus

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward MT 78: Columbus
5
75.2 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | MT 78 / East Pike Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto MT 78 / East Pike Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
75.5 mi into trip | ~1h 15m in | MT 78 / Pratten Street

Turn left onto MT 78 / Pratten Street

Navigation decision point

5
89.3 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in | MT 420 / West Grove Street

Turn right onto MT 420 / West Grove Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.15 one way

$28.30 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $14.83 $29.67
premium $4.53 $15.93 $31.86
diesel $5.61 $19.72 $39.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 31.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26.8 0 $9.38 $4.29
Efficient EV 22.3 0 $7.81 $3.57
EV Truck/SUV 35.7 0 $12.50 $5.72

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (68% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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

Livingston, MT

Afternoon in Livingston on Saturday

Local time

12:44 PM

MDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Absarokee, MT

Afternoon in Absarokee on Saturday

Local time

12:44 PM

MDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

74°F

Columbus, MT

45 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

3 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

1h 33m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a 1h 33m highway drive covering 89.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and State Highway 78. The longest continuous stretch is about 70.4 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 70.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Highway 78. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near I 90; US 89; US 191.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Livingston, MT to Absarokee, MT is easy. At 1h 33m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (I 90; US 89; US 191): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 74.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 75.2 miles (MT 78 / East Pike Avenue): Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 89.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Livingston, MT to Absarokee, MT covers 89.3 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 90, State Highway 78, East Park Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 44.7 miles from Livingston, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.15 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

The drive from Livingston, MT to Absarokee, MT is easy. At 1h 33m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (I 90; US 89; US 191): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 74.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 75.2 miles (MT 78 / East Pike Avenue): Navigation decision point.

The route from Livingston, MT to Absarokee, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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