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Trip from Miles City, MT to Hamilton, MT

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

Drive Time

8h 57m

Distance

474.5 mi

764 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$75

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
8h 50m ★
6 AM
8h 58m
8 AM
9h 14m
10 AM
9h 3m
12 PM
9h 2m
3 PM
9h 4m
5 PM
9h 13m
8 PM
8h 53m

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 in and county seat of Custer County, Montana, United States

Miles City, MT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Hamilton, MT, MT

Hamilton, MT

Russ

Trip Overview

The drive from Miles City, MT to Hamilton, MT covers 474.5 miles and takes about 8h 57m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 90, I 94, Skalkaho Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 246.8 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $75.19 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

237.2 miles from Miles City, MT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 2m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 246.8 mi 4h 5m
I 94 135.4 mi 2h 18m
Skalkaho Highway 33.1 mi 1h 3m
Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway 28.3 mi 39m
Skalkaho Road 21 mi 34m
US 93 2.8 mi 5m
I 94 Business 2.2 mi 3m
East Commercial Avenue 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 246.8 mi, about 4h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Miles City, MT and Hamilton, MT.

1

Start on MT 59

1.1 mi · 2 min · Main Street
2

Continue on I 94 Business

1.9 mi · 2 min · I 94 Business
3

Take the ramp onto I 94 Business

66 ft · 1 sec · I 94 Business
4

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 Business

0.3 mi · 36 sec · I 94 Business
5

Merge onto I 94; US 12

135 mi · 2 hr 18 min · I 94; US 12
6

Merge onto I 90; US 87; US 212

2.8 mi · 3 min · I 90; US 87; US 212
7

Continue on I 90; US 212

113 mi · 1 hr 51 min · I 90; US 212
8

Continue on I 90; US 89; US 191

7.0 mi · 6 min · I 90; US 89; US 191
9

Continue on I 90; US 191

113 mi · 1 hr 54 min · I 90; US 191
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

11 mi · 10 min · I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
11

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 58 sec
Toward MT 1: Anaconda, Opportunity, Phillipsburg
12

Continue on MT 1

7.0 mi · 7 min · Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway
13

Continue on MT 1

1.8 mi · 2 min · East Commercial Avenue
14

Turn slight right onto MT 1

1.3 mi · 1 min · West Park Avenue
15

Continue on MT 1

21 mi · 31 min · Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway
16

Turn left onto MT 38

21 mi · 34 min · Skalkaho Road
17

Continue on MT 38

33 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Skalkaho Highway
18

At end of road, turn right onto US 93

2.8 mi · 5 min · US 93
19

Turn left onto S-531

0.2 mi · 46 sec · West Main Street
Use the left lane.
20

Arrive at destination

S-531

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 237.2 miles from Miles City, MT, or about 4h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 246.8 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 104 miles or 1h 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 237.2 miles or 4h 2m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 237.2 miles or 4h 2m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 10m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Miles City, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Miles City, MT

Aim for roughly 237 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Hamilton, MT

Aim for roughly 237 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 104 miles from Miles City, MT.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 246.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and the county seat of Powell County, Montana, United States

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Deer Lodge, MT

237 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Deer Lodge, MT

Overnight Options

Night 1

Deer Lodge, MT

237 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Deer Lodge, MT after about 237 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Hardin, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 104 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Timber, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 237.2 miles from Miles City, 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 246.8 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 237 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.

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

Maria's

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hamilton, Montana

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 474.5

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+14063637710

The Porch at Nogans

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Manhattan, Montana

0.1 mi

The Farmhouse Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Miles City, Montana

0 mi

Top Coffee Stop

The Ruby

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Miles City, Montana

Near the start, right off the route

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

Hours: 6:15 am–2 pm

+14062347829

The Ugly Mug

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Miles City, Montana

0.5 mi

Sophie's Bakery Cafe Espresso

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Manhattan, Montana

0.3 mi

Maria's

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 474.5

Hamilton, Montana

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+14063637710

The Porch at Nogans

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 305

Manhattan, Montana

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+14062846464

The Farmhouse Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route $10 to $20

Miles City, Montana

Hours: 8 am–1 pm

+14062346731

Vintage and Rustics in Montana

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Miles City, MT

Hours: 7:30 am–4:30 pm

+14062347878

Visit website

Red Rooster Artisan Bakery

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 474.5

Hamilton, Montana

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+14063811129

Visit website

Coffee Cup Cafe

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 474.5

Hamilton, Montana

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14063633822

Visit website

Montana Bar

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

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

Miles City, Montana

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+14062345809

Visit website

The Manhattan Saloon

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30 mile 305

Manhattan, Montana

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+14062846929

The Ruby

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

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

Miles City, Montana

Hours: 6:15 am–2 pm

+14062347829

The Ugly Mug

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Miles City, Montana

Hours: 6:30 am–2 pm

+14068748459

Visit website

Sophie's Bakery Cafe Espresso

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 305

Manhattan, Montana

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+14063123452

Visit website

Main Street Grind

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

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

Miles City, Montana

Hours: 6:30 am–2 pm

+14062344664

Scoop MT

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Miles City, Montana

Hours: 9 am–5:30 pm

+14062341915

Harvest Moon Coffee Shoppe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 305

Manhattan, Montana

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14065955122

Visit website

Broadway Brew

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 305

Manhattan, Montana

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+14065952424

City Brew Coffee

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour Moderately

Miles City, Montana

Hours: 5:30 am–3 pm

+14062346106

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 372.8

Butte, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 372.8

Butte, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

EvGateway Charging Station

1.4 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route mile 474.5

Hamilton, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19499452000

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 372.8

Butte, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Claudia Driscoll Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 474.5

Hamilton, Montana

Hours: 5 am–8 pm

+14063632101

Visit website

Girl Ran Away With the Spoon

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Miles City, Montana

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14062341525

Visit website

Unique Creations

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Miles City, Montana

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+14062341008

Dumas Brothel

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 372.8

Butte, Montana

+14063519922

Visit website

Piccadilly Museum of Transportation

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 372.8

Butte, Montana

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+14067233034

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 474.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
3.1 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 94 Business

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 Business

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
374.7 mi into trip | ~6h 20m 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
385.5 mi into trip | ~6h 30m in

Take the exit toward MT 1: Anaconda, Opportunity, Phillipsburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward MT 1: Anaconda, Opportunity, Phillipsbur...
4
417.4 mi into trip | ~7h 14m in | MT 38 / Skalkaho Road

Turn left onto MT 38 / Skalkaho Road

Navigation decision point

6
474.3 mi into trip | ~8h 57m in | S-531 / West Main Street

Turn left onto S-531 / West Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$75.19 one way

$150.38 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 166 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $78.82 $157.63
premium $4.53 $84.64 $169.29
diesel $5.61 $104.76 $209.53

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$75

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$205–$315

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 166 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $50 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 142.4 1 $49.82 $22.78
Efficient EV 118.6 1 $41.52 $18.98
EV Truck/SUV 189.8 2 $66.43 $30.37

Gas CO2

166 kg

EV CO2

56 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Miles City, MT

Afternoon in Miles City on Saturday

Local time

1:17 PM

MDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hamilton, MT

Afternoon in Hamilton on Saturday

Local time

1:17 PM

MDT

Current temp

43°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

8h 57m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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

What kind of drive is this?

474.5 mi in 8h 57m, mostly highway — 246.8 mi of that is on I 90.

82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 246.8 mi on I 90.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 94. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near I 94 Business.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 474.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 3.1 miles (I 94 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 374.7 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 385.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Miles City, MT and Hamilton, MT, road signs point toward Opportunity and Phillipsburg.

Opportunity

385.5 mi in | ~6h 30m

Phillipsburg

385.5 mi in | ~6h 30m

Who Is This Route For?

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

8h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 246.8 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 237 miles on day one.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Hamilton, MT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through MT can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.

The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (I 94 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 374.7 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 385.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.0 hours each way, a round trip means 17.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hamilton, MT before the return drive.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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