Connecting Choteau to Lockwood, this 276.5-mile journey across Montana is a straightforward trek that takes approximately 5 hours and 11 minutes of driving time. Because the trip is well within the range of a single day, you can easily complete it in one go without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate a combination of US 87, US 12, and MT 3 to make your way across the Mountain West region. Budgeting about $44 for fuel is a safe estimate for your vehicle. Whether you are moving between these two areas or just passing through, this route offers a reliable, no-nonsense path for your travel plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
138.3 miles from Choteau, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
64.9 mi
1h 10m
US 12
45.1 mi
50m
MT 3
41 mi
46m
US 191
39.2 mi
43m
10th Avenue South
22.6 mi
25m
United States Route 89
16.8 mi
18m
1st Road Southeast
14.7 mi
15m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9.5 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 64.9 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Choteau, MT and Lockwood, MT.
1
Start on US 89
496 ft·16 sec·Main Avenue North
2
Enter roundabout onto US 89
526 ft·19 sec·1st Street Southwest
3
Continue on US 89
107 ft·1 sec·1st Street Southwest
4
Turn straight onto US 89
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Avenue South
5
Continue on US 89
17 mi·18 min·United States Route 89
6
Continue on US 89
15 mi·15 min·1st Road Southeast
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 89; MT 200
7.9 mi·9 min·US 89; MT 200
8
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
0.3 mi·32 sec·US 89; MT 200
Toward I 15 South: Great Falls
9
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
9.5 mi·8 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi·30 sec·I 15 Business
Toward I 15 Business
11
Turn left onto I 15 Business
1.5 mi·1 min·Central Avenue West
12
Continue on I 15 Business
0.2 mi·17 sec·First Avenue North Bridge
13
Continue on I 15 Business
1.2 mi·2 min·1st Avenue North
14
Turn right onto US 87
0.8 mi·1 min·14th Street North
15
Turn left onto US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
23 mi·25 min·10th Avenue South
16
Enter roundabout
224 ft·2 sec
17
Continue
0.3 mi·20 sec
18
Turn straight onto US 87; MT 3; MT 200
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 87; MT 3; MT 200
19
Turn right onto US 191; MT 3
39 mi·43 min·US 191; MT 3
20
Turn left onto US 12; MT 3
45 mi·50 min·US 12; MT 3
21
Turn right onto MT 3
12 mi·14 min·MT 3
22
Continue on MT-3
2.5 mi·2 min·MT-3
23
Continue on MT 3
25 mi·28 min·MT 3
24
Enter roundabout onto MT 3
123 ft·1 sec·MT 3
25
Continue on MT 3
3.1 mi·3 min·MT 3
26
Enter roundabout onto Airport Road
149 ft·1 sec·Airport Road
27
Continue on Airport Road
2.7 mi·4 min·Airport Road
28
Turn right onto Swords Lane
249 ft·12 sec·Swords Lane
29
Turn left onto Aronson Avenue
469 ft·9 sec·Aronson Avenue
30
Merge onto US 87
0.6 mi·1 min·US 87
31
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 87
1.3 mi·1 min·US Highway 87 East
32
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 87
0.3 mi·40 sec·I 90 Business; US 87
33
Continue on I 90; US 87; US 212
1.8 mi·2 min·I 90; US 87; US 212
34
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Johnson Lane
35
Turn left onto Johnson Lane
0.4 mi·46 sec·Johnson Lane
36
Arrive at destination
Johnson Lane
Trip Plan
To keep your 5-hour and 11-minute trip comfortable, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the route is manageable in a single day, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though leaving early helps ensure you reach Lockwood before dark. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the longer segments, particularly the 64.9-mile stretch on US 87, where services might be more spread out. Taking advantage of the single planned stop is essential for maintaining focus during the longer highway portions of the drive. Prioritize checking your tire pressure before heading out, as the sustained highway speeds will demand a well-prepared vehicle.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 138.3 miles from Choteau, MT, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 61 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.3 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lockwood, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Choteau, MT so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Choteau, MT
This is one driving day of about 276.5 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Choteau, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 87 for about 64.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 271.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 89 / 1st Street Southwest
Enter roundabout onto US 89 / 1st Street Southwest
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
32.4 mi into trip|~36m in|US 89; MT 200
At end of road, turn left onto US 89; MT 200
Navigation decision point
4
40.2 mi into trip|~45m in|US 89; MT 200
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200 toward I 15 South: Great Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 15 South: Great Falls
4
49.9 mi into trip|~55m in|I 15 Business
Take the exit onto I 15 Business toward I 15 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 15 Business
5
271.8 mi into trip|~5h 4m in|Aronson Avenue
Turn left onto Aronson Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.82 one way
$87.63 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$45.93
$91.85
premium
$4.53
$49.32
$98.65
diesel
$5.61
$61.05
$122.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83
1
$29.03
$13.27
Efficient EV
69.1
0
$24.19
$11.06
EV Truck/SUV
110.6
1
$38.71
$17.70
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Choteau, MT
Late night
in Choteau on Tuesday
Local time
3:20 AM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain
N 5 to 8 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lockwood, MT
Late night
in Lockwood on Tuesday
Local time
3:20 AM
MDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 8 mph47% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 11m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 80% of this 276.5-mile route consists of high-speed travel. You will encounter varying road conditions, including a notable longest uninterrupted stretch of 64.9 miles along US 87 that allows for steady cruising. The drive shifts between different state and federal highway segments, requiring you to stay alert as the road transitions between US 87, US 12, and MT 3. While the path remains efficient, the personality of the drive is defined by these long, open stretches that characterize travel through this part of the state. It is a functional drive designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal complexity.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.9 mi on US 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and US 12. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 89 / 1st Street Southwest.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 11m drive. You will face about 20 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 89 / 1st Street Southwest): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 32.4 miles (US 89; MT 200): Navigation decision point; at 40.2 miles (US 89; MT 200): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
4,439 ft3,098 ft
Total Climb
1,626 ft
Total Descent
2,347 ft
Highest Point
4,439 ft
~92.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,341 ft
Notable High Points
4,439 ft at ~92.2 miles+116 ft prominence
4,310 ft at ~149.8 miles+353 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 11m. Total distance: 276.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 64.9 miles on US 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through MT can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 89 / 1st Street Southwest): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 32.4 miles (US 89; MT 200): Navigation decision point; at 40.2 miles (US 89; MT 200): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lockwood, MT before the return drive.
