Spanning 231.1 miles across the heart of the Mountain West, this journey from Livingston to Orchard Homes is a straightforward trek that takes roughly 3 hours and 53 minutes. Because the route is almost entirely highway-focused, you can easily complete it in a single day, leaving you plenty of time to reach your destination before dusk. Budget approximately $37 for fuel to cover the distance, which remains consistent regardless of your vehicle's efficiency. Since both the start and end points are located within Montana, you will enjoy a consistent regional experience throughout the trip. It is a highly practical drive for those looking to move efficiently between these two areas without the need for an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
115.5 miles from Livingston, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
223.5 mi
3h 38m
I 90 Business
2.7 mi
4m
South 14th Street West
0.8 mi
1m
Mount Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Brooks Street
0.7 mi
<1m
South Reserve Street
0.5 mi
<1m
East Park Street
0.4 mi
1m
South 7th Street West
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 223.5 mi, about 3h 38m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~493 veh/hr typical
· worst 665
Quietest
2 AM
~35 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livingston, MT and Orchard Homes, MT.
1
Start on I 90 Business
0.4 mi·1 min·East Park Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto I 90 Business
2.3 mi·3 min·I 90 Business
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp onto I 90 Business
0.2 mi·28 sec·I 90 Business
4
Merge onto I 90; US 191
111 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 90; US 191
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
113 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
6
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
0.2 mi·26 sec·I 90 Business; US 12
Toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
7
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
206 ft·2 sec·Van Buren Street
8
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
212 ft·3 sec·Van Buren Street
9
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
92 ft·1 sec·Van Buren Street
10
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
0.1 mi·11 sec·Van Buren Street
11
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 12
0.2 mi·22 sec·East Broadway Street
12
Turn left onto US 12
0.3 mi·18 sec·Madison Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Continue on US 12
0.1 mi·9 sec·Arthur Avenue
14
Turn right onto US 12
0.4 mi·35 sec·South 5th Street East
15
Turn left onto US 12
0.1 mi·28 sec·South Higgins Avenue
16
Turn right onto US 12
0.7 mi·49 sec·Brooks Street
Use the right lane.
17
Turn right onto Mount Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Mount Avenue
18
Continue on South 14th Street West
0.8 mi·1 min·South 14th Street West
19
Continue on Mount Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·Mount Avenue
20
Turn right onto South Reserve Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·South Reserve Street
21
Turn left onto South 7th Street West
0.4 mi·1 min·South 7th Street West
22
Arrive at destination
South 7th Street West
Trip Plan
With a total travel time under four hours, you have significant flexibility in your departure time, though hitting the road early helps you avoid potential congestion. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs during the long 223.5-mile interstate segment to keep your focus sharp. Given that the route is almost entirely highway-based, ensure your cruise control is ready and keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Livingston. Since you only have one suggested stop, use it strategically to refuel or grab a quick bite to stay within your $37 budget. Having this single break point is usually sufficient to maintain comfort without turning a manageable afternoon drive into an all-day affair.
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 115.5 miles from Livingston, MT, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 223.5 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 51 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.5 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orchard Homes, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Livingston, 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 Livingston, MT
This is one driving day of about 231.1 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Livingston, 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 I 90 for about 223.5 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 0.4 and 227.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|I 90 Business
Turn right onto I 90 Business
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in|I 90; US 191
Merge onto I 90; US 191
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
113.9 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 toward I 90 West: Missoula
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
5
226.4 mi into trip|~3h 44m in|I 90 Business; US 12
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12 toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
7
227.1 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|US 12 / Madison Street
Turn left onto US 12 / Madison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.02 one way
$72.04 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$37.97
$75.94
premium
$4.47
$40.71
$81.41
diesel
$4.80
$43.64
$87.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.3
0
$24.27
$11.09
Efficient EV
57.8
0
$20.22
$9.24
EV Truck/SUV
92.4
1
$32.35
$14.79
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Livingston, MT
Late night
in Livingston on Sunday
Local time
4:39 AM
MDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 8 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Orchard Homes, MT
Late night
in Orchard Homes on Sunday
Local time
4:39 AM
MDT
Current temp
96°F
Sunny
NW 0 to 5 mph8% 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
3 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
3h 53m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 high-speed, interstate-heavy experience, as 98% of your journey takes place on major highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-90, which accounts for a massive 223.5-mile uninterrupted stretch. This makes for a predictable, efficient drive that prioritizes speed over technical maneuvering. While the final leg transitions into I-90 Business and South 14th Street West, the overall character remains firmly rooted in long-distance highway travel. Prepare for a steady, consistent pace that allows you to cover significant ground quickly.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 223.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 90 Business. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near I 90 Business.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 53m 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 0.4 miles (I 90 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 90; US 191): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.9 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Livingston is a city in the Yellowstone Country of Montana. It is the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Livingston is commonly called "The Gateway City" because it was the original entrance to Yellowstone.
Top landmarks
•The Murray Hotel — historic hotel in Livingston, Montana, USA
The longest stretch is about 223.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 0.4 miles (I 90 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 90; US 191): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.9 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Orchard Homes, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
