Lockwood, MT to North Browning, MT is 349 miles and takes about 6h 37m via US 87, with a fuel budget near $57 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward path through Montana. With 88% of the route on highways, expect a largely efficient trip. This is a solid option for a single-day drive, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
174.5 miles from Lockwood, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
84.3 mi
1h 31m
United States Highway 89
49.2 mi
53m
US 12
45.1 mi
50m
MT 3
41.1 mi
47m
US 89
40.5 mi
45m
US 191
39.2 mi
42m
13th Lane Northwest
12.9 mi
15m
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9.4 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 84.3 mi, about 1h 31m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~391 veh/hr typical
· worst 507
Quietest
1 AM
~14 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
27.9×
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 North Browning, 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
0.7 mi·1 min·US 87
7
Turn left onto Aronson Avenue
486 ft·11 sec·Aronson Avenue
8
Turn right onto Swords Lane
249 ft·12 sec·Swords Lane
9
Turn left onto Airport Road
2.7 mi·4 min·Airport Road
10
Enter roundabout onto MT 3
146 ft·2 sec·MT 3
11
Continue on MT 3
3.1 mi·3 min·MT 3
12
Enter roundabout onto MT 3
144 ft·2 sec·MT 3
13
Continue on MT 3
25 mi·28 min·MT 3
14
Continue on MT-3
2.5 mi·2 min·Iowa Avenue
15
Continue on MT 3
12 mi·14 min·MT 3
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 12; MT 3
45 mi·50 min·US 12; MT 3
17
Turn right onto US 191; MT 3
39 mi·42 min·US 191; MT 3
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; MT 3; MT 200
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 87; MT 3; MT 200
19
Turn slight right
0.3 mi·20 sec
20
Enter roundabout
172 ft·2 sec
21
Continue
0.1 mi·7 sec
22
Continue on US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
19 mi·20 min·US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
23
Turn right onto US 87 Bypass
0.9 mi·1 min·57th Street South
24
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
4.3 mi·7 min·2nd Avenue North
25
At end of road, turn left onto I 15 Business
240 ft·4 sec·Park Drive North
26
Turn right onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi·23 sec·1st Avenue North
27
Continue on I 15 Business
0.2 mi·17 sec·First Avenue North Bridge
28
Continue on I 15 Business
1.4 mi·1 min·Central Avenue West
29
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi·32 sec·I 15 Business
30
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
9.4 mi·9 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
31
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
8.3 mi·9 min·US 89; MT 200
Exit 290
32
Turn right onto US 89
32 mi·35 min·US 89
33
Enter roundabout onto US 89
514 ft·17 sec·West Division Street
34
Continue on US 89
143 ft·4 sec·West Division Street
35
Turn slight right onto US 89
6.0 mi·8 min·Main Avenue North
36
Continue on US 89
13 mi·15 min·13th Lane Northwest
37
Continue on US 89
49 mi·53 min·United States Highway 89
38
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; US 89
3.3 mi·5 min·US 2; US 89
39
Continue on MT 464
0.4 mi·43 sec·Northeast Boundary Street
40
Continue on MT 464
0.6 mi·1 min·Duck Lake Road
41
Turn right onto Meineke Road
329 ft·14 sec·Meineke Road
42
Arrive at destination
Meineke Road
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 37m estimated drive time, departing Lockwood in the morning will allow you to reach North Browning with plenty of daylight to spare. The route has one designated stop, but you can easily break up the drive as needed, especially during the 84.3-mile stretch on US 87. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $57, and plan to refuel before hitting longer stretches of highway. This is a manageable one-day trip, so you have flexibility in your departure time.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 174.5 miles from Lockwood, MT, or about 3h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.3 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 77 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 174.5 miles or 3h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Browning, 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 349 miles and 6h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 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 87 for about 84.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
$10 to $20
Choteau, Montana
Hours: 6 am–2 pm
+14064665330
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 224.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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...
5
4.7 mi into trip|~7m in|Swords Lane
Turn right onto Swords Lane
Navigation decision point
5
51 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|US 12; MT 3
At end of road, turn left onto US 12; MT 3
Navigation decision point
5
199.9 mi into trip|~3h 45m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
224.5 mi into trip|~4h 15m in|I 15 Business / Park Drive North
At end of road, turn left onto I 15 Business / Park Drive North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.35 one way
$122.70 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg122 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$64.15
$128.31
premium
$4.99
$68.56
$137.13
diesel
$5.35
$73.51
$147.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104.7
1
$36.65
$16.75
Efficient EV
87.3
0
$30.54
$13.96
EV Truck/SUV
139.6
1
$48.86
$22.34
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% 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 May 30, 2026
Origin
Lockwood, MT
Afternoon
in Lockwood on Wednesday
Local time
12:59 PM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NNE 8 to 12 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 29 at 6:28PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 29 at 6:26PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Destination
North Browning, MT
Afternoon
in North Browning on Wednesday
Local time
12:59 PM
MDT
Current temp
50°F
Light Rain
WSW 9 to 14 mph79% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 29 at 6:28PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 29 at 6:26PM 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
8 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
6h 37m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 88% of the 349 miles on major roads like US 87, US 89, and US 12. You'll encounter one stretch of 84.3 miles on US 87 without exiting the highway. The remaining 12% of the drive will involve surface roads, offering a change of pace from consistent highway cruising.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.3 mi on US 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and United States Highway 89. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near I 90 Business; US 87.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 37m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 24 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (I 90 Business; US 87): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles (Swords Lane): Navigation decision point; at 51 miles (US 12; MT 3): Navigation decision point.
The longest stretch is about 84.3 miles on US 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at North Browning, MT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 2.5 miles (I 90 Business; US 87): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles (Swords Lane): Navigation decision point; at 51 miles (US 12; MT 3): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at North Browning, MT before the return drive.
