
Total Traffic Volume & Performance in Powder River County, Montana
Traffic The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network. | vehicles per day1,968 |
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Trucks The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles. | 17.5% |
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Average travel time The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network. | 44.2 min |
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Congestion ratio The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network. | 6.3% |
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Drivers’ average age Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated. | 54.5 yrs |
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Drivers’ average income Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated. | $63,490 |
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A typical monitored road in Powder River County, Montana sees 1,968 vehicles per day, while its 105 miles of monitored roads together handle 167,760 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈61.2 million per year). Freight weighs heavily here: trucks are 17.5% of traffic, against 11.7% across Montana.
Traffic 53% below the Montana average
Powder River's average daily traffic volume is 53% lower than the state average - 1,968 vehicles per day against 4,202 - suggesting less traffic load per road - quiet roads that suit freight movement more than drive-by retail. Network-wide, Powder River accounts for about 0.6% of Montana's statewide total of vehicle-miles. 64% of counties in Montana see less traffic than Powder River's 1,968 vehicles per day.
Journey times run 22% higher than the state level, at 44.2 minutes on average. On travel time, Powder River runs longer than 76% of counties in Montana.
At 49% lower than the state level, the 6.3% congestion ratio signals smoother traffic flow - fewer delays make delivery windows more reliable.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis

Highway Traffic in Powder River County, Montana
| Traffic | vehicles per day2,445 |
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| Trucks | 16.6% |
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| Average travel time | 43.7 min |
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| Congestion ratio | 6.3% |
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| Drivers’ average age | 54.5 yrs |
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| Drivers’ average income | $63,479 |
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Highways carry nearly all of the traffic in Powder River County, Montana, 90% of all vehicle-miles. The average highway carries 2,445 vehicles per day, 410% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 480 vehicles per day.
With 68% of the road miles (72 miles in 184 segments), highways punch above their length, carrying 151,283 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈55.2 million per year).
A typical mix of freight and passenger traffic
Highway truck concentration here runs 11% higher than the state average, at 16.6%. The highway traffic mix is typical for Montana: neither freight- nor commuter-dominated.
By truck concentration, highways here outrank 61% of counties in Montana. By raw truck volume, Powder River carries fewer highway trucks than 52% of counties in Montana.

Non-highway Traffic in Powder River County, Montana
| Traffic | vehicles per day480 |
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| Trucks | 26.1% |
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| Average travel time | 46.0 min |
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| Drivers’ average age | 54.5 yrs |
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| Drivers’ average income | $63,750 |
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Local roads carry only a small share of the traffic in Powder River County, Montana, 10% of all vehicle-miles. The average non-highway road carries 480 vehicles per day.
Spread over 34 miles and 59 segments, 32% of the road network, local roads carry a lighter load per mile: 16,477 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈6.0 million per year). About 1 in 4 vehicles on non-highway roads is a truck (26.1%).
Older drivers than 78% of counties in Montana
Unusually, the concentration of trucks on non-highway roads is 57% higher than on highways.
Trip origins here have lower average income than 58% of counties in Montana. 78% of counties in Montana have a younger driver population than Powder River.