Spanning 347.7 miles across the Mountain West, this trip from Lockwood to South Browning takes approximately 6 hours and 35 minutes of driving time. Because the route is a turn-heavy local drive, it is best approached as a full-day commitment rather than a quick jaunt. You should budget about $55 for fuel to complete the journey comfortably. While the trip can be done in a single day, the winding nature of the roads makes it more demanding than a standard interstate cruise. Whether you are heading toward the mountains or simply transitioning across the state, this route offers a focused driving experience that requires your full attention.
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
173.9 miles from Lockwood, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 16m 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
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lockwood, MT and South 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
2.7 mi·3 min·US 2; US 89
39
Turn left onto 8th Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·45 sec·8th Avenue Southeast
40
At end of road, turn left onto South Piegan Street
383 ft·18 sec·South Piegan Street
41
Turn right onto Mountain Chief Road
305 ft·13 sec·Mountain Chief Road
42
Arrive at destination
Mountain Chief Road
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour and 35-minute duration, prioritize an early morning departure to ensure you reach South Browning before nightfall. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refocus, especially if you encounter challenging weather or road conditions. Keep your fuel gauge in mind throughout the 347.7-mile trek, as consistent stops will help you manage the $55 fuel budget effectively. Because the route relies on local roads rather than high-speed highways, use your GPS for real-time navigation updates to stay on track. Staying flexible with your timing will make this long day behind the wheel much more manageable.
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 173.9 miles from Lockwood, MT, or about 3h 16m 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 76 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.9 miles or 3h 16m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South 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 347.7 miles and 6h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 347.6 — 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
6
347.6 mi into trip|~6h 34m in|South Piegan Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Piegan Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.10 one way
$110.20 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg122 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$57.75
$115.51
premium
$4.53
$62.02
$124.05
diesel
$5.61
$76.77
$153.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104.3
1
$36.51
$16.69
Efficient EV
86.9
0
$30.42
$13.91
EV Truck/SUV
139.1
1
$48.68
$22.25
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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lockwood, MT
Evening
in Lockwood on Saturday
Local time
7:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Browning, MT
Evening
in South Browning on Saturday
Local time
7:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live 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
16 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 35m 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?
Expect a departure from the typical interstate grind, as this route relies on Highway 87 East and Aronson Avenue rather than just I-90. With a 0% highway share, the path feels much more personal and technical, requiring you to navigate turns and local transitions frequently. The road lacks long, monotonous stretches, keeping you engaged with the steering wheel as you transition through the diverse terrain of the Mountain West. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience where the pace is dictated by the character of the secondary roads. It is a drive that rewards those who prefer navigation over mindless 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 35m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 26 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 35m. Total distance: 347.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 84.3 miles on US 87. 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.
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 South 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. 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 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 13.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at South Browning, MT before the return drive.
