Origin
Red Lodge, MT
Evening in Red Lodge on Sunday
Local time
8:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
30°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Red Lodge, MT to Billings, MT
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
60.3 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Billings, MT
John De Leon
Trip Overview
The drive from Red Lodge, MT to Billings, MT covers 60.3 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Broadway Avenue, Highway 212, Clarks River Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.56 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
30.2 miles from Red Lodge, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 5m drive with frequent turns across 60.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Broadway Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Red Lodge, MT to Billings, MT is easy. At 1h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Red Lodge, MT to Billings, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Broadway Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 212 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Clarks River Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 90 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Montana Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Broadway Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Lodge, MT and Billings, MT.
1
Start on South Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Broadway Avenue
2
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Broadway Avenue
89 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Broadway Avenue
3
Exit the roundabout onto North Broadway Avenue
7.8 mi
·
11 min
·
North Broadway Avenue
4
Continue on US Highway 212
25 mi
·
34 min
·
US Highway 212
5
Turn right onto Clarks River Road
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Clarks River Road
6
Turn right
1.8 mi
·
2 min
7
Take the exit slight right
11 mi
·
13 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 Business: West Billings
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 90 Business: West Billings
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 Business: City Center
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
I 90 Business: City Center
10
Keep slight left to continue on Montana Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Montana Avenue
11
Continue on Montana Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Montana Avenue
12
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 30.2 miles from Red Lodge, MT, or about 32m into the drive.
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 60.3 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.2 miles or 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Billings, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Red Lodge, 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 Red Lodge, MT
This is one driving day of about 60.3 miles and 1h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Red Lodge, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.2 mi from Red Lodge, MT · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 60.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.2 miles from Red Lodge, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Billings, MT
The final approach into Billings, 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 Billings, MT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.56 one way
$19.11 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $10.04 | $20.09 |
| premium | $4.53 | $10.75 | $21.50 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $13.40 | $26.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.33 | $2.89 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.44 | $3.86 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Billings, MT
Evening in Billings on Sunday
Local time
8:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
38°F
Laurel, MT
30 mi in
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
10 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
1h 5m 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 Red Lodge, MT to Billings, MT covers 60.3 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Broadway Avenue, Highway 212, Clarks River Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.2 miles from Red Lodge, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Red Lodge, MT to Billings, MT is easy. At 1h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Red Lodge, MT to Billings, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Red Lodge, MT to Billings, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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