How far is Billings, MT from Plains, MT?

The driving distance from Billings, MT to Plains, MT is about 419.2 miles (674.7 km), with a travel time of about 07h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 324.2 miles (521.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 42m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
419.23 mi
07h 21m
Flight
324.14 mi
521.66 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Billings.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
324.14 mi
Kilometers
521.66 km
Flight Time
00h 39m

Driving Distance

Road route
419.23 mi
Kilometers
674.68 km
Drive Time
07h 21m

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 07h 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Plains
Thu, Apr 23, 2:43 AM MDT
Return by in Billings
Thu, Apr 23, 10:04 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Billings
2026-04-22T19:21
Arrive Plains
Thu, Apr 23, 2:43 AM MDT
Route Timing
07h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:21 PM to 2:51 PM MDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
9:18 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Billings
8:00 PM MDT
Overnight-style route

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
Whitehall
MT

Town in Jefferson County, Montana

From Billings
209.2 mi
03h 40m
To Plains
210 mi
03h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
8 to 20 mph SW
Destination
60°F
Wednesday

Light Rain Likely then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Billings and Plains.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Billings and Plains.

  1. 1

    Start on Montana Avenue

    589 ft · 25 sec · Montana Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North 23rd Street

    114 m · 22 sec · North 23rd Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 1st Avenue North

    1.5 km · 3 min · 1st Avenue North

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Division Street

    136 m · 10 sec · Division Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Montana Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Montana Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Laurel Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Laurel Road

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Butte, I 90 West

    1963 ft · 48 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight right

    105.4 mi · 1 hr 43 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    7 mi · 7 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    113.4 mi · 1 hr 54 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Missoula

    121.8 mi · 1 hr 57 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell

    1009 ft · 25 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell

    27.2 mi · 32 min

  14. 14

    Turn left

    39.8 mi · 59 min

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Railroad Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Billings and Plains.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
15 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Butte
226 mi · 54%
I 90 West
122 mi · 29%
US 93 North
27.4 mi · 7%
Montana Avenue
1.45 mi
Laurel Road
1.44 mi
1st Avenue North
0.92 mi
Longest Stretch

I 90 West

Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Missoula

122 mi · 01h 57m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
07h 21m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+95 mi
324.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Whitehall
03h 40m from Billings
Leave By
9:18 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Billings and Light Rain Likely then Showers And Thunderstorms near Plains.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Billings to Plains?

The road trip is about 419.2 miles (674.7 km) and usually takes 07h 21m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Whitehall is a useful midpoint, sitting about 209.2 miles from Billings and 210 miles from Plains.

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

The direct path is about 324.2 miles (521.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 95 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 7:30 AM MDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $57.58 one way or $115.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 131.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Billings and Light Rain Likely then Showers And Thunderstorms near Plains.

Stop Ideas Near Whitehall

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Whitehall, 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 Whitehall.

BUS

Butte, MT

36 mi away
1324 Harrison Avenue
BUS

Bozeman, MT

72 mi away
6505 Jack Rabbit Lane

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Billings and Plains. Straight-line distance: 324.14 mi (521.66 km).

Billings

#1 Billings

The most populous city in Montana.

Population117,445
Coordinates45.7832900, -108.5006900
Altitude952
CountryUnited States
Plains

#2 Plains

Town of the United States

Population1,139
Coordinates47.4602100, -114.8829100
Altitude755
CountryUnited States
Start: Billings (-108.50069, 45.78329)
End: Plains (-114.88291, 47.46021)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 675 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14.79 gal
56 L · about $57.58
Round trip
$115.15
29.58 gal · 112 L
Estimated CO2
131.4 kg one way
Round trip: 262.9 kg / 580 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $57.58 $115.15
Mid-grade $4.23 $62.58 $125.15
Premium $4.55 $67.28 $134.56
Diesel $5.41 $80.04 $160.09

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Billings and Plains. The current time is 19:21:59.

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.