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 mostly highway.
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
.
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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 446.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$74.38 one way
$148.77 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg164 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
Morning
in Missoula on Saturday
Local time
11:33 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Colstrip, MT
Morning
in Colstrip on Saturday
Local time
11:33 AM
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
This land is a place to honor and reflect on the sacrifices made here on June 25 and 26, 1876, when Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors fought against a deliberate attack by the U.S. Army's 7th Cav...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
$25
near mile 404.7
Park Closure: The Park is ONLY OPEN Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
469.4 mi in 8h 2m, mostly highway — 177 mi of that is on I 90.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 177 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 Effort4/10
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.
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
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 177 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 235 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 Colstrip, 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 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.
Yes — Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 16.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Colstrip, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
