How far is Plains, MT from Livingston, MT?

The driving distance from Plains, MT to Livingston, MT is about 303.4 miles (488.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 239.9 miles (386.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 31m 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
303.4 mi
04h 45m
Flight
239.92 mi
386.11 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Plains.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
239.92 mi
Kilometers
386.11 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
303.4 mi
Kilometers
488.27 km
Drive Time
04h 45m

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 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Livingston
Wed, May 13, 11:26 PM MDT
Return by in Plains
Thu, May 14, 4:12 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Plains
2026-05-13T18:41
Arrive Livingston
Wed, May 13, 11:26 PM MDT
Route Timing
04h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:46 AM to 12:46 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
7:28 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Plains
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
Deer Lodge
MT

City in and the county seat of Powell County, Montana, United States

From Plains
151.4 mi
02h 22m
To Livingston
152 mi
02h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
89°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
0 to 6 mph WNW
Destination
87°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Railroad Avenue

    1.3 km · 1 min · Railroad Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on Montana Highway 200

    31.5 mi · 47 min · Montana Highway 200

  3. 3

    Continue on A Street

    7.5 mi · 11 min · A Street

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    27.3 mi · 32 min

  5. 5

    Continue on West Broadway Street

    925 ft · 24 sec · West Broadway Street

  6. 6

    Continue on West Broadway Street

    733 ft · 18 sec · West Broadway Street

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East: Missoula

    124.6 mi · 2 hr

  8. 8

    Keep slight right

    108.3 mi · 1 hr 49 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 90 Business: Livingston

    1117 ft · 33 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left

    2.4 mi · 4 min

  11. 11

    Turn left onto West Park Street

    2244 ft · 1 min · West Park Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Park Street

Car Route Details

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

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
12 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90 East
233 mi · 77%
A Street
34.8 mi · 11%
Montana Highway 200
31.5 mi · 10%
Railroad Avenue
0.78 mi
West Park Street
0.43 mi
West Broadway Street
0.31 mi
Longest Stretch

I 90 East

Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East: Missoula

125 mi · 02h 00m

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 45m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+63.5 mi
239.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Deer Lodge
02h 22m from Plains
Leave By
7:28 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Plains and Mostly Sunny near Livingston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 303.4 miles (488.3 km) and usually takes 04h 45m 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?

Deer Lodge is a useful midpoint, sitting about 151.4 miles from Plains and 152 miles from Livingston.

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

The direct path is about 239.9 miles (386.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 63.5 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 7:28 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.69 one way or $83.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Plains and Mostly Sunny near Livingston.

Stop Ideas Near Deer Lodge

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

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

BUS

Butte, MT

47 mi away
1324 Harrison Avenue
BUS

Missoula, MT

112 mi away
1660 West Broadway Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Plains and Livingston. Straight-line distance: 239.92 mi (386.11 km).

Plains

#1 Plains

Town of the United States

Population1,139
Coordinates47.4602100, -114.8829100
Altitude755
CountryUnited States
Livingston

#2 Livingston

City and the county seat of Park County, Montana, United States

Population7,898
Coordinates45.6624400, -110.5610400
Altitude1372
CountryUnited States
Start: Railroad Avenue (-114.88312, 47.460117)
End: East Park Street (-110.561034, 45.662483)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 488 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.71 gal
40.53 L · about $41.69
Round trip
$83.39
21.42 gal · 81.06 L
Estimated CO2
95.2 kg one way
Round trip: 190.4 kg / 420 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $41.69 $83.39
Mid-grade $4.23 $45.31 $90.63
Premium $4.55 $48.72 $97.44
Diesel $5.41 $57.96 $115.93

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 · May 14, 2026

There is no time difference between Plains and Livingston. The current time is 18:41:25.

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.