Spanning 352.9 miles across Montana, this trek from Lockwood to Orchard Homes is a straightforward journey through the Mountain West. You should plan for about 5 hours and 51 minutes of travel time, making this a manageable one-day trip for most drivers. With a fuel budget of approximately $56, it is an economically predictable route. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-90 before transitioning to local roads like South 14th Street West and Mount Avenue. Whether you are moving between regions or just passing through, the drive remains practical and efficient. It is a classic interstate-focused transit that gets you from point A to point B without unnecessary detours.
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
176.4 miles from Lockwood, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
347.6 mi
5h 41m
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
South 7th Street West
0.4 mi
1m
South 5th Street East
0.4 mi
<1m
Madison Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 347.6 mi, about 5h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lockwood, MT and Orchard Homes, 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
113 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
8
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
9
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
206 ft·2 sec·Van Buren Street
10
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
212 ft·3 sec·Van Buren Street
11
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
92 ft·1 sec·Van Buren Street
12
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
0.1 mi·11 sec·Van Buren Street
13
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 12
0.2 mi·22 sec·East Broadway Street
14
Turn left onto US 12
0.3 mi·18 sec·Madison Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on US 12
0.1 mi·9 sec·Arthur Avenue
16
Turn right onto US 12
0.4 mi·35 sec·South 5th Street East
17
Turn left onto US 12
0.1 mi·28 sec·South Higgins Avenue
18
Turn right onto US 12
0.7 mi·49 sec·Brooks Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto Mount Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Mount Avenue
20
Continue on South 14th Street West
0.8 mi·1 min·South 14th Street West
21
Continue on Mount Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·Mount Avenue
22
Turn right onto South Reserve Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·South Reserve Street
23
Turn left onto South 7th Street West
0.4 mi·1 min·South 7th Street West
24
Arrive at destination
South 7th Street West
Trip Plan
Since this is a full-day commitment of nearly six hours, try to get an early start to avoid afternoon fatigue. You only have one planned stop on this itinerary, so prioritize comfort and fuel efficiency when choosing where to stretch your legs. Keep a close eye on your gas gauge throughout that long 347.6-mile stretch on I-90 to avoid unnecessary detours into smaller towns. Because the route is so heavily reliant on the interstate, stay alert for changing traffic patterns as you transition onto South 14th Street West and Mount Avenue. Being prepared for that final shift from high-speed highway driving to local streets will make your arrival in Orchard Homes much smoother.
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 176.4 miles from Lockwood, MT, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 347.6 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 78 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.4 miles or 2h 56m 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 50m
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 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 352.9 miles and 5h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 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 347.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 235.7 and 348.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
348.2 mi into trip|~5h 42m 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
5
348.4 mi into trip|~5h 43m in|I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
348.5 mi into trip|~5h 43m in|I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
348.9 mi into trip|~5h 44m 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
$55.92 one way
$111.84 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$58.62
$117.24
premium
$4.53
$62.95
$125.90
diesel
$5.61
$77.92
$155.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.9
1
$37.05
$16.94
Efficient EV
88.2
1
$30.88
$14.12
EV Truck/SUV
141.2
1
$49.41
$22.59
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 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 12, 2026
Origin
Lockwood, MT
Evening
in Lockwood on Saturday
Local time
7:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 8 mph47% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Orchard Homes, MT
Evening
in Orchard Homes on Saturday
Local time
7:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Areas Of Fog then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
ESE 2 mph72% 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
6 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
5h 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?
Expect a highly efficient transit, as 99% of this 352.9-mile route consists of highway driving. You will spend nearly the entire duration—specifically 347.6 miles—on the uninterrupted stretch of I-90. Because this is a highway-focused drive, the pace is consistent and requires minimal navigation until you reach the final segments in Orchard Homes. The experience is defined by the steady rhythm of the interstate, offering a predictable environment for long-distance travel. Once you peel off the main highway, the pace slows slightly as you navigate local roads to reach your final destination.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 347.6 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and South 14th Street West. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 235.7 miles in near I 90.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 51m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 235.7 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 348.2 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 348.4 miles (I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,189 ft3,153 ft
Total Climb
3,983 ft
Total Descent
4,050 ft
Highest Point
6,189 ft
~220.6 mi in
Elevation Range
3,037 ft
Notable High Points
5,383 ft at ~132.3 miles+1,013 ft prominence
6,189 ft at ~220.6 miles+1,301 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 51m. Total distance: 352.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 347.6 miles on I 90. 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 235.7 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 348.2 miles (I 90 Business; US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 348.4 miles (I 90 Bus; US 12 / Van Buren Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Orchard Homes, MT before the return drive.
