Origin
Livingston, MT
Afternoon in Livingston on Thursday
Local time
4:58 PM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Livingston, MT to Lakeside, MT
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 53m
Distance
333.3 mi
536 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 40m
★
6 AM
5h 53m
8 AM
6h 19m
10 AM
6h 2m
12 PM
6h 0m
3 PM
6h 4m
5 PM
6h 18m
8 PM
5h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Livingston, MT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Livingston, MT to Lakeside, MT covers 333.3 miles and takes about 5h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, US 93, I 90 Business for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 232.8 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.82 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
166.7 miles from Livingston, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 48m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 53m. Total distance: 333.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (100%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 53m highway drive covering 333.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and US 93. The longest continuous stretch is about 232.8 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 8 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 232.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 93. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near I 90 Business.
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 53m 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 0.4 miles (I 90 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 90; US 191): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.9 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 90 Business
Turn right onto I 90 Business
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 90; US 191
Merge onto I 90; US 191
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
113.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
|
I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 toward I 90 West: Missoula
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
5
235.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 54m in
|
US 93; MT 200
Take the exit onto US 93; MT 200 toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
6
235.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 54m in
|
US 93; MT 200
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93; MT 200 toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 232.8 mi | 3h 48m |
| US 93 | 97.6 mi | 1h 58m |
| I 90 Business | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| East Park Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 232.8 mi, about 3h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livingston, MT and Lakeside, MT.
1
Start on I 90 Business
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Park Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto I 90 Business
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 90 Business
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp onto I 90 Business
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 90 Business
4
Merge onto I 90; US 191
111 mi
·
1 hr 52 min
·
I 90; US 191
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
122 mi
·
1 hr 56 min
·
I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
6
Take the exit onto US 93; MT 200
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 93; MT 200
Toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 93; MT 200
97 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
·
US 93; MT 200
Toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
8
Arrive at destination
US 93
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 166.7 miles from Livingston, MT, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 232.8 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 73 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166.7 miles or 2h 48m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakeside, 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.
+
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 Livingston, MT
This is one driving day of about 333.3 miles and 5h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Livingston, 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 232.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 166.7 mi from Livingston, MT · 2h 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
167 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 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 166.7 miles from Livingston, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 232.8 miles.
Arriving in Lakeside, MT
The final approach into Lakeside, 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 Lakeside, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.82 one way
$105.63 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
117 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $55.36 | $110.72 |
| premium | $4.53 | $59.46 | $118.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $73.59 | $147.18 |
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: 116.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 100 | 1 | $35.00 | $16.00 |
| Efficient EV | 83.3 | 0 | $29.16 | $13.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 133.3 | 1 | $46.66 | $21.33 |
Gas CO2
117 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.
Destination
Lakeside, MT
Afternoon in Lakeside on Thursday
Local time
4:58 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°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
32 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 53m 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 Livingston, MT to Lakeside, MT covers 333.3 miles and takes about 5h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, US 93, I 90 Business. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 166.7 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 $52.82 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 53m 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 0.4 miles (I 90 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 90; US 191): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.9 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Livingston, MT to Lakeside, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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