How far is Columbia Falls, MT from Miles City, MT?

The driving distance from Columbia Falls, MT to Miles City, MT is about 528.8 miles (851 km), with a travel time of about 08h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 412.8 miles (664.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 54m 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
528.81 mi
08h 57m
Flight
412.83 mi
664.38 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Columbia Falls.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
412.83 mi
Kilometers
664.38 km
Flight Time
00h 49m

Driving Distance

Road route
528.81 mi
Kilometers
851.04 km
Drive Time
08h 57m

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 08h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Miles City
Thu, Apr 23, 10:28 AM MDT
Return by in Columbia Falls
Thu, Apr 23, 7:26 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia Falls
2026-04-23T01:31
Arrive Miles City
Thu, Apr 23, 10:28 AM MDT
Route Timing
08h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:57 PM to 4:27 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
6:06 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Columbia Falls
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
Stanford
MT

Town in Montana

From Columbia Falls
262.3 mi
04h 28m
To Miles City
266.5 mi
04h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
49°F
Thursday

Rain And Snow Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
8 mph NNE
Destination
47°F
Thursday

Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
24 to 33 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Columbia Falls and Miles City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia Falls and Miles City.

  1. 1

    Start on 7th Street West

    31 m · 7 sec · 7th Street West

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Nucleus Avenue

    784 ft · 34 sec · Nucleus Avenue

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto 9th Street

    1603 ft · 49 sec · 9th Street

  4. 4

    Continue on US 2

    3 mi · 4 min · US 2

  5. 5

    Continue on US Route 2

    80.1 mi · 1 hr 31 min · US Route 2

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    7 m · 1 sec

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout

    3.7 mi · 7 min

  8. 8

    Turn straight

    68.3 mi · 1 hr 17 min

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward 1st Street Southwest

    526 ft · 19 sec · 1st Street Southwest

  10. 10

    Exit the rotary onto 1st Street Southwest

    33 m · 2 sec · 1st Street Southwest

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto Main Avenue South

    1.1 km · 2 min · Main Avenue South

  12. 12

    Continue on United States Route 89

    16.8 mi · 19 min · United States Route 89

  13. 13

    Continue on 1st Road Southeast

    14.7 mi · 16 min · 1st Road Southeast

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn left

    7.9 mi · 9 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 15 South: Great Falls

    1323 ft · 32 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

    9.5 mi · 9 min · First Special Service Force Memorial Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 15 Business

    1262 ft · 31 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Central Avenue West

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Central Avenue West

  19. 19

    Continue on First Avenue North Bridge

    1055 ft · 18 sec · First Avenue North Bridge

  20. 20

    Continue on 1st Avenue North

    1.2 mi · 2 min · 1st Avenue North

  21. 21

    Turn right onto 14th Street North

    1.3 km · 1 min · 14th Street North

  22. 22

    Turn left onto 10th Avenue South

    22.6 mi · 25 min · 10th Avenue South

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    68 m · 3 sec

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout

    1606 ft · 21 sec

  25. 25

    Turn straight

    64.3 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  26. 26

    Continue straight

    14.7 mi · 16 min

  27. 27

    Turn straight onto Truck Bypass

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Truck Bypass

  28. 28

    Continue on 1st Avenue North

    1629 ft · 37 sec · 1st Avenue North

  29. 29

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    1946 ft · 1 min · East Main Street

  30. 30

    Continue on Northeast Main Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Northeast Main Street

  31. 31

    Continue on US Highway 87

    126.8 mi · 2 hr 16 min · US Highway 87

  32. 32

    Turn right

    82.6 mi · 2 hr 3 min

  33. 33

    Turn left onto Main Street

    2357 ft · 52 sec · Main Street

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Columbia Falls and Miles City.

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
34 steps
19 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
1 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US Highway 87
127 mi · 24%
US Route 2
83.9 mi · 16%
10th Avenue South
37.6 mi · 7%
United States Route 89
16.8 mi · 3%
1st Road Southeast
14.7 mi · 3%
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9.48 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

US Highway 87

Continue on US Highway 87

127 mi · 02h 16m

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
08h 57m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
17h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+116 mi
412.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Stanford
04h 28m from Columbia Falls
Leave By
6:06 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Rain And Snow Likely leaving Columbia Falls and Rain Showers near Miles City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Columbia Falls to Miles City?

The road trip is about 528.8 miles (851 km) and usually takes 08h 57m 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?

Stanford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 262.3 miles from Columbia Falls and 266.5 miles from Miles City.

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

The direct path is about 412.8 miles (664.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 116 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 $72.64 one way or $145.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 165.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain And Snow Likely around Columbia Falls and Rain Showers near Miles City.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbia Falls and Miles City. Straight-line distance: 412.83 mi (664.38 km).

Columbia Falls

#1 Columbia Falls

Town in Montana, United States

Population6,209
Coordinates48.3724600, -114.1815200
Altitude941
CountryUnited States
Miles City

#2 Miles City

City in Custer County, Montana

Population8,264
Coordinates46.4083400, -105.8405600
Altitude722
CountryUnited States
Start: 7th Street West (-114.18152, 48.372459)
End: Main Street (-105.84056, 46.408351)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 851 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)17h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)13h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
18.66 gal
70.64 L · about $72.64
Round trip
$145.29
37.32 gal · 141.28 L
Estimated CO2
165.8 kg one way
Round trip: 331.7 kg / 731 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $72.64 $145.29
Mid-grade $4.23 $78.95 $157.90
Premium $4.55 $84.88 $169.77
Diesel $5.41 $100.99 $201.98

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 Columbia Falls and Miles City. The current time is 01:31:39.

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.