How far is Miles City, MT from Columbia Falls, MT?
The driving distance from Miles City, MT to Columbia Falls, MT is about 528.7 miles (850.9 km), with a travel time of about 08h 59m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 412.8 miles (664.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 59m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Town in Montana
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Miles City and Columbia Falls.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Miles City and Columbia Falls.
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1
Start on Main Street
2357 ft · 56 sec · Main Street
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2
Turn right onto North 7th Street
82.6 mi · 2 hr 3 min · North 7th Street
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3
At the end of the road, turn left
128.3 mi · 2 hr 19 min
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4
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
1629 ft · 30 sec · 1st Avenue North
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5
Continue on Truck Bypass
2.6 mi · 4 min · Truck Bypass
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6
Continue on US Highway 87
14.7 mi · 16 min · US Highway 87
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7
Continue straight
64.3 mi · 1 hr 10 min
-
8
Turn slight right
1588 ft · 21 sec
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9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
52 m · 2 sec
-
10
Exit the roundabout
557 ft · 7 sec
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11
Continue straight
19.3 mi · 21 min
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12
Turn right onto 57th Street South
1.5 km · 1 min · 57th Street South
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13
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
4.3 mi · 8 min · 2nd Avenue North
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14
At the end of the road, turn left onto Park Drive North
73 m · 4 sec · Park Drive North
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15
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
1070 ft · 24 sec · 1st Avenue North
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16
Continue on First Avenue North Bridge
1045 ft · 18 sec · First Avenue North Bridge
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17
Continue on Central Avenue West
1.4 mi · 2 min · Central Avenue West
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18
Take the exit right
1311 ft · 32 sec
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19
Merge slight left onto First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9.4 mi · 9 min · First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
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20
Take the exit slight right
8.3 mi · 10 min
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21
Turn right
32.2 mi · 36 min
-
22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Division Street
157 m · 18 sec · West Division Street
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23
Exit the rotary onto West Division Street
44 m · 5 sec · West Division Street
-
24
Turn slight right onto Main Avenue North
6 mi · 8 min · Main Avenue North
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25
Continue on 13th Lane Northwest
12.9 mi · 15 min · 13th Lane Northwest
-
26
Continue on United States Highway 89
49.2 mi · 53 min · United States Highway 89
-
27
At the end of the road, turn left
3.9 mi · 7 min
-
28
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route
75 m · 4 sec
-
29
Exit the roundabout
72.3 mi · 1 hr 20 min
-
30
Turn right
842 ft · 1 min
-
31
At the end of the road, turn left onto Old US 2
1930 ft · 1 min · Old US 2
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32
Turn right onto US Route 2
7.5 mi · 10 min · US Route 2
-
33
Continue on US 2
3 mi · 4 min · US 2
-
34
Continue on 9th Street
1603 ft · 53 sec · 9th Street
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35
Turn right onto Nucleus Avenue
784 ft · 32 sec · Nucleus Avenue
-
36
Turn left onto 7th Street West
31 m · 4 sec · 7th Street West
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37
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 7th Street West
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Miles City and Columbia Falls.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Longest stretch
At the end of the road, turn left
128 mi · 02h 19m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Miles City and Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms near Columbia Falls.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Miles City to Columbia Falls?
The road trip is about 528.7 miles (850.9 km) and usually takes 08h 59m 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 262.6 miles from Miles City and 266.2 miles from Columbia Falls.
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 115.9 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 Mostly Sunny around Miles City and Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms near Columbia Falls.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Miles City and Columbia Falls. Straight-line distance: 412.83 mi (664.38 km).
#1 Miles City
City in Custer County, Montana
| Population | 8,264 |
| Coordinates | 46.4083400, -105.8405600 |
| Altitude | 722 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Columbia Falls
Town in Montana, United States
| Population | 6,209 |
| Coordinates | 48.3724600, -114.1815200 |
| Altitude | 941 |
| Country | United States |
End: 7th Street West (-114.18152, 48.372459)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 851 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 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.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round 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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.