How far is Belgrade, MT from Colstrip, MT?

The driving distance from Belgrade, MT to Colstrip, MT is about 277.6 miles (446.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 219.3 miles (352.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 57m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
277.63 mi
04h 58m
Flight
219.31 mi
352.94 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Belgrade.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
219.31 mi
Kilometers
352.94 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
277.63 mi
Kilometers
446.81 km
Drive Time
04h 58m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Colstrip
Wed, Apr 15, 6:21 AM MDT
Return by in Belgrade
Wed, Apr 15, 11:19 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Belgrade
2026-04-15T01:22
Arrive Colstrip
Wed, Apr 15, 6:21 AM MDT
Route Timing
04h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:59 AM to 12:59 PM MDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:02 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Belgrade
9:00 PM MDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Laurel
MT

City in Yellowstone County, Montana, USA

From Belgrade
138.6 mi
02h 29m
To Colstrip
139.1 mi
02h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Wednesday

Mostly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
8 to 26 mph SW
Destination
68°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Belgrade and Colstrip.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Belgrade and Colstrip.

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    2371 ft · 1 min · East Main Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Frontage Road

    2586 ft · 55 sec · Frontage Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Airway Boulevard

    825 ft · 19 sec · Airway Boulevard

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Airway Boulevard

    46 m · 3 sec · Airway Boulevard

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto Airway Boulevard

    1694 ft · 34 sec · Airway Boulevard

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route

    808 ft · 16 sec

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout

    1414 ft · 34 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    156.1 mi · 2 hr 38 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 90 East: Sheridan

    54 mi · 51 min

  10. 10

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

    2032 ft · 54 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left

    42.1 mi · 50 min

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Cheyenne Avenue

    100 m · 6 sec · Cheyenne Avenue

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto Cheyenne Avenue

    2522 ft · 43 sec · Cheyenne Avenue

  14. 14

    Continue on State Highway 39

    22.2 mi · 33 min · State Highway 39

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Box Elder Avenue

    2176 ft · 2 min · Box Elder Avenue

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Park Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Belgrade and Colstrip.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
16 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
1 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Airway Boulevard
157 mi · 57%
I 90 East
54 mi · 19%
State Highway 39
22.2 mi · 8%
Cheyenne Avenue
0.54 mi
Frontage Road
0.49 mi
East Main Street
0.45 mi
Longest Stretch

Airway Boulevard

Merge slight left

156 mi · 02h 38m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 58m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+58.3 mi
219.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Laurel
02h 29m from Belgrade
Leave By
7:02 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Belgrade and Mostly Sunny near Colstrip.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Belgrade to Colstrip?

The road trip is about 277.6 miles (446.8 km) and usually takes 04h 58m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Laurel is a useful midpoint, sitting about 138.6 miles from Belgrade and 139.1 miles from Colstrip.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 219.3 miles (352.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:02 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.15 one way or $76.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Belgrade and Mostly Sunny near Colstrip.

Stop Ideas Near Laurel

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Laurel, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Laurel.

BUS

Billings, MT

24 mi away
2501 1st Avenue North

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Belgrade and Colstrip. Straight-line distance: 219.31 mi (352.94 km).

Belgrade

#1 Belgrade

City in Gallatin County, Montana, USA

Population10,390
Coordinates45.7760400, -111.1769000
Altitude1359
CountryUnited States
Colstrip

#2 Colstrip

Town focused on coal mining and electricity production

Population2,217
Coordinates45.8841600, -106.6236400
Altitude982
CountryUnited States
Start: Belgrade (-111.1769, 45.77604)
End: Colstrip (-106.62364, 45.88416)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 447 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.8 gal
37.09 L · about $38.15
Round trip
$76.30
19.6 gal · 74.18 L
Estimated CO2
87.1 kg one way
Round trip: 174.2 kg / 384 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $38.15 $76.30
Mid-grade $4.23 $41.46 $82.93
Premium $4.55 $44.58 $89.16
Diesel $5.41 $53.04 $106.08

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Montana · Apr 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Belgrade and Colstrip. The current time is 01:22:36.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.