How far is Missoula, MT from Sidney, MT?

The driving distance from Missoula, MT to Sidney, MT is about 542.8 miles (873.5 km), with a travel time of about 08h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 464.4 miles (747.3 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
542.78 mi
08h 57m
Flight
464.36 mi
747.32 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Missoula.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
464.36 mi
Kilometers
747.32 km
Flight Time
00h 56m

Driving Distance

Road route
542.78 mi
Kilometers
873.52 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 Sidney
Thu, Apr 23, 7:45 AM MDT
Return by in Missoula
Thu, Apr 23, 4:42 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Missoula
2026-04-22T22:48
Arrive Sidney
Thu, Apr 23, 7:45 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 Missoula
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
Columbus
MT

Town in Stillwater County, Montana, United States

From Missoula
306.3 mi
04h 28m
To Sidney
236.5 mi
04h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph W
Destination
83°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
8 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Missoula and Sidney.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Missoula and Sidney.

  1. 1

    Start on North Higgins Avenue

    6 m · 8 sec · North Higgins Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Broadway Street

    3078 ft · 59 sec · East Broadway Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Van Buren Street

    133 m · 6 sec · Van Buren Street

  4. 4

    Take the exit right

    1216 ft · 30 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway

    115.1 mi · 1 hr 49 min · Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right

    110.8 mi · 1 hr 51 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    6.9 mi · 6 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    113 mi · 1 hr 53 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    3.1 mi · 4 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 94 East: Bismark

    212.2 mi · 3 hr 33 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward MT 16: Glendive, Sidney

    1422 ft · 38 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left

    49 mi · 56 min

  13. 13

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Central Avenue

    40 m · 2 sec · South Central Avenue

  14. 14

    Exit the roundabout onto South Central Avenue

    2.5 mi · 3 min · South Central Avenue

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Central Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Missoula and Sidney.

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
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
2.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
349 mi · 64%
I 94 East
212 mi · 39%
South Central Avenue
2.48 mi
East Broadway Street
0.58 mi
Van Buren Street
0.31 mi
MT 16
0.27 mi
Longest Stretch

I 94 East

Keep slight left to continue on I 94 East: Bismark

212 mi · 03h 33m

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
+78.4 mi
464.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Columbus
04h 28m from Missoula
Leave By
6:06 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Missoula and Partly Sunny near Sidney.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Missoula to Sidney?

The road trip is about 542.8 miles (873.5 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?

Columbus is a useful midpoint, sitting about 306.3 miles from Missoula and 236.5 miles from Sidney.

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

The direct path is about 464.4 miles (747.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 78.4 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 $74.55 one way or $149.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 170.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain then Showers And Thunderstorms around Missoula and Partly Sunny near Sidney.

Stop Ideas Near Columbus

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

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

BUS

Billings, MT

60 mi away
2501 1st Avenue North
BUS

Livingston, MT

101 mi away
1404 East Park Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Missoula and Sidney. Straight-line distance: 464.36 mi (747.32 km).

Missoula

#1 Missoula

The most populous city in Missoula County, Montana.

Population76,848
Coordinates46.8721500, -113.9940000
Altitude978
CountryUnited States
Sidney

#2 Sidney

City in Montana, United States

Population6,297
Coordinates47.7166800, -104.1563300
Altitude594
CountryUnited States
Start: North Higgins Avenue (-113.994022, 46.872156)
End: North Central Avenue (-104.156325, 47.716678)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 874 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)18h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)13h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)09h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 46m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
19.15 gal
72.5 L · about $74.55
Round trip
$149.10
38.3 gal · 145 L
Estimated CO2
170.2 kg one way
Round trip: 340.4 kg / 750 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $74.55 $149.10
Mid-grade $4.23 $81.02 $162.05
Premium $4.55 $87.11 $174.23
Diesel $5.41 $103.64 $207.28

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 Missoula and Sidney. The current time is 22:48:09.

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.