Trip from Missoula, MT to Colstrip, MT

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are I 90, Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway, I 15. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Q: Should I split this drive into multiple days?

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 235 miles on day one.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 234.7 miles from Missoula, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $74.38 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Q: How many breaks should I plan?

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

8h 2m

Distance

469.4 mi

755 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$74

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

7h 54m ★

6 AM

8h 3m

8 AM

8h 20m

10 AM

8h 9m

12 PM

8h 7m

3 PM

8h 9m

5 PM

8h 19m

8 PM

7h 58m

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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Trip Overview

The drive from Missoula, MT to Colstrip, MT covers 469.4 miles and takes about 8h 2m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 90, Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway, I 15 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 177 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $74.38 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

234.7 miles from Missoula, MT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 49m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

8h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (75%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 8h 2m highway drive covering 469.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 177 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 17 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 177 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near I 90 Business; US 12.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 2m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 10 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 116 miles (I 15; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 349.8 miles (I 90; US 87; US 212): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4

0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in | I 90 Business; US 12

Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

6

116 mi into trip | ~1h 51m in | I 15; I 90

Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

5

349.8 mi into trip | ~5h 45m in | I 90; US 87; US 212

Keep slight right at fork onto I 90; US 87; US 212 toward I 90 East: Sheridan

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 90 East: Sheridan

5

403.8 mi into trip | ~6h 36m in | US 212

Take the exit onto US 212 toward US 212 East: Little Bighorn Battlefield, Broadus

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

Toward US 212 East: Little Bighorn Battlefield,...

5

446.3 mi into trip | ~7h 27m in | MT 39 / Cheyenne Avenue

Enter roundabout onto MT 39 / Cheyenne Avenue

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

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 Missoula, MT to Colstrip, MT, road signs begin pointing toward Broadus along the way.

Broadus

403.8 mi in | ~6h 36m | via US 212

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 90	177 mi	2h 54m
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway	115.1 mi	1h 49m
I 15	110.8 mi	1h 51m
US 212	42.5 mi	50m
State Highway 39	22.2 mi	33m
East Broadway Street	0.6 mi	<1m
Cheyenne Avenue	0.5 mi	<1m
Box Elder Avenue	0.4 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 90 — 177 mi, about 2h 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Missoula, MT and Colstrip, MT.

1

Start on North Higgins Avenue

19 ft · 7 sec · North Higgins Avenue

2

Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12 Bus

0.6 mi · 58 sec · East Broadway Street

3

Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12

435 ft · 5 sec · Van Buren Street

4

Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12

0.2 mi · 29 sec · I 90 Business; US 12

5

Merge onto I 90; US 12; MT 200

115 mi · 1 hr 49 min · Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway

6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90

111 mi · 1 hr 51 min · I 15; I 90

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

7

Continue on I 90; US 89; US 191

6.9 mi · 6 min · I 90; US 89; US 191

8

Continue on I 90; US 191

113 mi · 1 hr 53 min · I 90; US 191

9

Continue on I 90; US 87; US 212

3.1 mi · 3 min · I 90; US 87; US 212

10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 90; US 87; US 212

54 mi · 50 min · I 90; US 87; US 212

Toward I 90 East: Sheridan

11

Take the exit onto US 212

0.4 mi · 53 sec · US 212

Toward US 212 East: Little Bighorn Battlefield, Broadus

12

Turn left onto US 212

42 mi · 49 min · US 212

13

Enter roundabout onto MT 39

328 ft · 5 sec · Cheyenne Avenue

14

Continue on MT 39

0.5 mi · 42 sec · Cheyenne Avenue

15

Continue on MT 39

22 mi · 33 min · State Highway 39

16

Turn right onto Box Elder Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Box Elder Avenue

17

Arrive at destination

Park Street

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 234.7 miles from Missoula, MT, or about 3h 49m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 177 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 103 miles or 1h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 234.7 miles or 3h 49m 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 234.7 miles or 3h 49m

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 6h 43m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Missoula, 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 Missoula, MT

Aim for roughly 235 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Colstrip, MT

Aim for roughly 235 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 103 miles from Missoula, 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 177 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 234.7 mi from Missoula, MT · 3h 49m into the drive

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

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Bozeman, MT

235 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 Bozeman, MT

Overnight Options

Night 1

Bozeman, MT

235 mi · about 4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Bozeman, MT after about 235 miles or 4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Deer Lodge, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 103 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Livingston, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 234.7 miles from Missoula, 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 177 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 235 miles or 4 hours on the road.

Arriving in Colstrip, MT

The final approach into Colstrip, 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 Colstrip, MT.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Colstrip, MT with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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

$74.38 one way

$148.77 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 164 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.22	$77.97	$155.94
premium	$4.53	$83.73	$167.47
diesel	$5.61	$103.64	$207.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$74

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$204–$314

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 164.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	140.8	1	$49.29	$22.53
Efficient EV	117.4	1	$41.07	$18.78
EV Truck/SUV	187.8	2	$65.72	$30.04

Gas CO2

164 kg

EV CO2

55 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

Missoula, MT

Evening in Missoula on Thursday

Local time

7:16 PM

MDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Colstrip, MT

Evening in Colstrip on Thursday

Local time

7:16 PM

MDT

Current temp

73°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

8 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

8h 2m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Missoula, MT to Colstrip, MT covers 469.4 miles and takes about 8h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.