Lockwood, MT to Malta, MT is 209.3 miles and takes about 4h 51m via US 191 and US 87, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Montana, traversing the Mountain West region. Expect a primarily highway experience, making for a straightforward drive between these two points. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day of 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
104.6 miles from Lockwood, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 191
90.8 mi
2h 14m
US 87
47.9 mi
1h 8m
Roundup Road
44.4 mi
48m
MT 19
21.5 mi
31m
I 90
1.8 mi
2m
US Highway 87 East
1.2 mi
1m
Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
I 90 Business
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 191
— 90.8 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lockwood, MT and Malta, 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
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 87
0.3 mi·36 sec·I 90 Business; US 87
Toward I 90 Business, US 87 North: Lockwood, Roundup
5
Merge onto I 90 Business; US 87
1.2 mi·1 min·US Highway 87 East
6
Take the exit onto US 87
3.5 mi·5 min·US 87
7
Turn slight left onto US 87
44 mi·48 min·Roundup Road
8
Turn left onto US 12; US 87
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
9
Turn slight left onto US 87
44 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 87
10
Continue on MT 19
21 mi·31 min·MT 19
11
Continue on US 191
91 mi·2 hr 14 min·US 191
12
Arrive at destination
US 191
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 51m drive time and 209.3 miles, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow ample time for any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to pause. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 90.8-mile stretch on US 191, as services might be less frequent. Budgeting around $37 for fuel should cover the main cost of this drive.
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 104.6 miles from Lockwood, MT, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.8 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 46 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.6 miles or 2h 15m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Malta, 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 209.3 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 US 191 for about 90.8 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 3.9 — 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
2.5 mi into trip|~3m in|I 90 Business; US 87
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 87 toward I 90 Business, US 87 North: Lockwood, Roundup
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 Business, US 87 North: Lockwood, Ro...
4
2.7 mi into trip|~4m in|I 90 Business; US 87 / US Highway 87 East
Merge onto I 90 Business; US 87 / US Highway 87 East
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
3.9 mi into trip|~5m in|US 87
Take the exit onto US 87
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.62 one way
$65.25 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$34.39
$68.77
premium
$4.47
$36.87
$73.73
diesel
$4.80
$39.52
$79.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.8
0
$21.98
$10.05
Efficient EV
52.3
0
$18.31
$8.37
EV Truck/SUV
83.7
1
$29.30
$13.40
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 19, 2026
Origin
Lockwood, MT
Late night
in Lockwood on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 7 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 6:27PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 6:26PM MDT until July 18 at 6:45PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
Malta, MT
Late night
in Malta on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
SSE 3 to 7 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 6:27PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 6:26PM MDT until July 18 at 6:45PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
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
1 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 51m 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 about 78% of this 209.3-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 90.8 miles along US 191. After leaving the highway portion, you'll transition to roads like Roundup Road, which will feel more like rural cruising. The drive offers a sense of open space, characteristic of Montana's landscape.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.8 mi on US 191.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 191 and US 87. 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 51m drive. You will face about 6 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 2.5 miles (I 90 Business; US 87): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Malta is a town in Montana. It is part of what is called the HiLine - a term used for the northern part of the state, mainly along Highway 2. The population was 1,900 in 2020.
The longest stretch is about 90.8 miles on US 191. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 2.5 miles (I 90 Business; US 87): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Malta, MT, but most travelers stay overnight.
