This 286.4-mile journey from Conrad, MT to Lockwood, MT will take approximately 4 hours and 53 minutes of driving time. Designed as a single-day trip, it's a straightforward drive through the Mountain West region of Montana. With an estimated fuel cost of $45, this route offers a practical option for getting between these two locations. You'll navigate a mix of roads, including portions of the First Special Service Force Memorial Highway and I-15, before transitioning to Central Avenue West. The overall feel is that of a local drive, making it manageable for a single day's travel.
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
142.5 miles from Conrad, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
64.9 mi
1h 10m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
57.1 mi
53m
US 12
45.1 mi
50m
MT 3
41 mi
46m
US 191
39.2 mi
43m
10th Avenue South
22.6 mi
25m
Airport Road
2.7 mi
4m
MT-3
2.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 64.9 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Conrad, MT and Lockwood, MT.
1
Start on I 15 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·South Main Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
3
Merge onto I 15
57 mi·53 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
4
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi·30 sec·I 15 Business
Toward I 15 Business
5
Turn left onto I 15 Business
1.5 mi·1 min·Central Avenue West
6
Continue on I 15 Business
0.2 mi·17 sec·First Avenue North Bridge
7
Continue on I 15 Business
1.2 mi·2 min·1st Avenue North
8
Turn right onto US 87
0.8 mi·1 min·14th Street North
9
Turn left onto US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
23 mi·25 min·10th Avenue South
10
Enter roundabout
224 ft·2 sec
11
Continue
0.3 mi·20 sec
12
Turn straight onto US 87; MT 3; MT 200
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 87; MT 3; MT 200
13
Turn right onto US 191; MT 3
39 mi·43 min·US 191; MT 3
14
Turn left onto US 12; MT 3
45 mi·50 min·US 12; MT 3
15
Turn right onto MT 3
12 mi·14 min·MT 3
16
Continue on MT-3
2.5 mi·2 min·MT-3
17
Continue on MT 3
25 mi·28 min·MT 3
18
Enter roundabout onto MT 3
123 ft·1 sec·MT 3
19
Continue on MT 3
3.1 mi·3 min·MT 3
20
Enter roundabout onto Airport Road
149 ft·1 sec·Airport Road
21
Continue on Airport Road
2.7 mi·4 min·Airport Road
22
Turn right onto Swords Lane
249 ft·12 sec·Swords Lane
23
Turn left onto Aronson Avenue
469 ft·9 sec·Aronson Avenue
24
Merge onto US 87
0.6 mi·1 min·US 87
25
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 87
1.3 mi·1 min·US Highway 87 East
26
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 87
0.3 mi·40 sec·I 90 Business; US 87
27
Continue on I 90; US 87; US 212
1.8 mi·2 min·I 90; US 87; US 212
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Johnson Lane
29
Turn left onto Johnson Lane
0.4 mi·46 sec·Johnson Lane
30
Arrive at destination
Johnson Lane
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 53-minute duration, this drive is comfortably achievable in a single day. Plan to depart in the morning to allow ample time for the one recommended stop and any unexpected delays. The $45 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but always check your fuel gauge, especially since the route features frequent turns which can impact fuel efficiency. Keep an eye on road conditions, as local roads can sometimes be less predictable than interstates. A specific tip: be mindful of your speed through populated areas as you transition onto Central Avenue West, as speed limits may vary.
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 142.5 miles from Conrad, MT, or about 2h 29m 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 63 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.5 miles or 2h 29m 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 10m
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 Conrad, 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 Conrad, MT
This is one driving day of about 284.9 miles and 5h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Conrad, 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 58.3 and 280.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
58.3 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
4
84.9 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
188.7 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|US 12; MT 3
Turn left onto US 12; MT 3
Navigation decision point
4
233.8 mi into trip|~4h 10m in|MT 3
Turn right onto MT 3
Navigation decision point
5
280.1 mi into trip|~5h 5m in|Aronson Avenue
Turn left onto Aronson Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.15 one way
$90.29 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$47.32
$94.65
premium
$4.53
$50.82
$101.64
diesel
$5.61
$62.90
$125.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.5
1
$29.91
$13.68
Efficient EV
71.2
0
$24.93
$11.40
EV Truck/SUV
114
1
$39.89
$18.23
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 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 20, 2026
Origin
Conrad, MT
Morning
in Conrad on Tuesday
Local time
6:41 AM
MDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lockwood, MT
Morning
in Lockwood on Tuesday
Local time
6:41 AM
MDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Lewistown, MT
142 mi in
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
2 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 12m 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 turn-heavy local drive for this 286.4-mile trip, as indicated by the 0% highway share. This means you'll be on roads that require more active navigation rather than long stretches of high-speed cruising. The route is characterized by frequent turns and transitions, suggesting a more intimate connection with the landscape and local infrastructure. While there isn't a specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the 'turn-heavy' profile implies a steady pace with regular adjustments rather than prolonged periods on a single road type. This drive prioritizes local roads over major highways.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 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?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 58.3 miles in near I 15 Business.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 12m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 58.3 miles (I 15 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 84.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 188.7 miles (US 12; MT 3): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 12m. Total distance: 284.9 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 58.3 miles (I 15 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 84.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 188.7 miles (US 12; MT 3): Navigation decision point.
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.
