Lockwood, MT to Anaconda, MT is 254.8 miles and takes about 4h 15m via I 90 and Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Montana, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the same region. Most of your travel will be on the interstate, making for a straightforward drive. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, it's a feasible one-day excursion.
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
127.4 miles from Lockwood, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
245.9 mi
4h 4m
Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway
7 mi
7m
East Commercial Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Johnson Lane
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 245.9 mi, about 4h 4m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~791 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,001
Quietest
2 AM
~46 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.2×
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 Lockwood, MT and Anaconda, MT.
1
Start on Johnson Lane
0.2 mi·32 sec·Johnson Lane
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
3
Merge onto I 90; US 87; US 212
1.8 mi·2 min·I 90; US 87; US 212
4
Continue on I 90; US 212
113 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 90; US 212
5
Continue on I 90; US 89; US 191
7.0 mi·6 min·I 90; US 89; US 191
6
Continue on I 90; US 191
113 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 90; US 191
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
11 mi·10 min·I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·58 sec
Toward MT 1: Anaconda, Opportunity, Phillipsburg
9
Continue on MT 1
7.0 mi·7 min·Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway
10
Continue on MT 1
0.7 mi·1 min·East Commercial Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
MT 1
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 15m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning from Lockwood will comfortably get you to Anaconda with plenty of daylight remaining. The primary road, I 90, makes for efficient travel, but be aware that the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is nearly 246 miles. Plan your fuel stops accordingly, especially before entering the final section of the route, as the estimated cost is $45. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility to depart later if needed, but aim to be on the road early to maximize your time in Anaconda.
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 127.4 miles from Lockwood, MT, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 245.9 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 56 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.4 miles or 2h 7m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anaconda, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lockwood, 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 Lockwood, MT
This is one driving day of about 254.8 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Lockwood, 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 245.9 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
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 246.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|I 90; US 87; US 212
Merge onto I 90; US 87; US 212
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
235.7 mi into trip|~3h 56m 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
246.5 mi into trip|~4h 6m in
Take the exit toward MT 1: Anaconda, Opportunity, Phillipsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.4
0
$26.75
$12.23
Efficient EV
63.7
0
$22.30
$10.19
EV Truck/SUV
101.9
1
$35.67
$16.31
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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
Lockwood, MT
Late night
in Lockwood on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
67°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 6 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Anaconda, MT
Late night
in Anaconda on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
W 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
94°F
Livingston, MT
127 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
14 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 15m 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?
You'll spend 96% of this 254.8-mile drive on highways, with a substantial 245.9-mile stretch on I 90. The transition to surface roads will occur as you approach Anaconda. Expect mostly highway cruising, with limited opportunities for quick stops along the longest segment.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 245.9 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 15m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (I 90; US 87; US 212): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 235.7 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Anaconda is a city in southwestern Montana. In the 2020 census, the population was 9,400. It is located in a valley of the Deer Lodge National Forest, giving impressive views and plenty of nearby outdoor activities.
Top landmarks
•Anaconda Smelter Stack — smoke stack at Anaconda, Montana, USA
•Butte-Anaconda Historic District — historic district in Montana, United States
•Ancient Order of Hibernians Hall — former building in Anaconda, Montana, USA
The longest stretch is about 245.9 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (I 90; US 87; US 212): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 235.7 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Anaconda, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
