The drive from Livingston, MT to Sun Prairie, MT covers 217 miles and takes about 3h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, Highway 287, I 90 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93.6 miles on First Special Service Force Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.39 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
108.5 miles from Livingston, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 217 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Livingston, MT to Sun Prairie, MT covers 217 miles and takes about 3h 52m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 93.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near I 90 Business.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 217 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (I 90 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.6 miles (US 287 / Highway 287): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These 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
58.3 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 287: Helena, Ennis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 287: Helena, Ennis
5
58.6 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 287 / Highway 287
Turn right onto US 287 / Highway 287
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
121.2 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|I 15; US 287 / First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 15; US 287 / First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
214.9 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|North Manchester Road
Turn left onto North Manchester Road
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Livingston, MT to Sun Prairie, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Ennis along the way.
Ennis
58.3 mi in|~1h 1m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
93.6 mi
1h 30m
Highway 287
62.2 mi
1h 10m
I 90
55.3 mi
56m
I 90 Business
2.5 mi
4m
Manchester Lane
0.9 mi
3m
South Manchester Road
0.5 mi
2m
Vaughn South Frontage Road
0.5 mi
<1m
East Park Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
— 93.6 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livingston, MT and Sun Prairie, 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
55 mi·56 min·I 90; US 191
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 287: Helena, Ennis
6
Turn right onto US 287
62 mi·1 hr 10 min·Highway 287
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 287
0.4 mi·47 sec·US 287
Toward I 15 North: Great Falls
8
Merge onto I 15; US 287
94 mi·1 hr 30 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
10
Turn left onto North Manchester Road
0.2 mi·27 sec·North Manchester Road
11
At end of road, turn right onto Vaughn South Frontage Road
0.5 mi·54 sec·Vaughn South Frontage Road
12
Turn left onto South Manchester Road
0.5 mi·2 min·South Manchester Road
13
Turn right onto Manchester Lane
0.9 mi·3 min·Manchester Lane
14
Arrive at destination
Manchester Lane
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 108.5 miles from Livingston, MT, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.6 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 48 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.5 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sun Prairie, 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 217 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 First Special Service Force Memorial Highway for about 93.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 108.5 mi from Livingston, MT
· 1h 59m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.39 one way
$68.77 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$36.04
$72.09
premium
$4.53
$38.71
$77.42
diesel
$5.61
$47.91
$95.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.1
0
$22.78
$10.42
Efficient EV
54.3
0
$18.99
$8.68
EV Truck/SUV
86.8
1
$30.38
$13.89
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Friday
Local time
12:15 PM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sun Prairie, MT
Afternoon
in Sun Prairie on Friday
Local time
12:15 PM
MDT
Current temp
68°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
3 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
3h 52m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Livingston, MT to Sun Prairie, MT covers 217 miles and takes about 3h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, Highway 287, I 90. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 108.5 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 $34.39 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 217 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (I 90 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.6 miles (US 287 / Highway 287): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Livingston, MT to Sun Prairie, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Ennis along the way.
