Spanning 346.9 miles across Montana, this trek from Orchard Homes to Billings is a straightforward cross-state journey. You can expect to spend about 5 hours and 48 minutes behind the wheel, making it a feasible, albeit long, one-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $55, this route is an efficient way to transition between these Mountain West locations. While the drive is manageable in a single day, you should be prepared for the time commitment required to navigate the state. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this highway-focused transit provides a reliable connection between the two points.
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
173.5 miles from Orchard Homes, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
115.1 mi
1h 49m
I 90
112.2 mi
1h 51m
I 15
110.8 mi
1h 51m
I 90 Business
2.3 mi
4m
Montana Avenue
2.2 mi
4m
South 14th Street West
0.8 mi
1m
Mount Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Brooks Street
0.7 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
— 115.1 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orchard Homes, MT and Billings, MT.
1
Start on South 7th Street West
0.4 mi·1 min·South 7th Street West
2
Turn right onto South Reserve Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·South Reserve Street
3
Turn left onto Mount Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Mount Avenue
4
Continue on South 14th Street West
0.8 mi·1 min·South 14th Street West
5
Continue on Mount Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Mount Avenue
6
Turn left onto US 12
0.7 mi·50 sec·Brooks Street
7
Continue on US 12
356 ft·16 sec·South Higgins Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto US 12
0.4 mi·36 sec·South 6th Street East
9
Turn left onto Arthur Avenue
0.2 mi·13 sec·Arthur Avenue
10
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi·15 sec·Madison Street
11
Take the exit onto US 12
0.2 mi·26 sec·US 12
12
Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12
435 ft·5 sec·Van Buren Street
13
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
0.2 mi·29 sec·I 90 Business; US 12
14
Merge onto I 90; US 12; MT 200
115 mi·1 hr 49 min·Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90
111 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 15; I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 90; US 89; US 191
6.9 mi·6 min·I 90; US 89; US 191
17
Continue on I 90; US 191
105 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 90; US 191
18
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
0.4 mi·47 sec·I 90 Business
Toward I 90 Business: West Billings
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business
1.7 mi·2 min·I 90 Business
Toward I 90 Business: City Center
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·Montana Avenue
21
Continue on I 90 Business
0.9 mi·2 min·Montana Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Trip Plan
Because this drive covers nearly 350 miles in a single stint, starting your morning early is the best way to avoid fatigue. With only one recommended stop included in the itinerary, you should plan your break strategically to coincide with fuel needs or a quick meal. Given the 5-hour and 48-minute duration, keep a close watch on your fuel gauge, especially during that 115.1-mile stretch on the Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway where services may be more spaced out. Since you are sticking to major interstates for the majority of the trip, traffic flow is generally predictable. Flexibility is your biggest asset here, so use your single stop wisely to stretch your legs and refresh before the final push into Billings.
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 173.5 miles from Orchard Homes, MT, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.1 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 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.5 miles or 2h 51m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Billings, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Orchard Homes, 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 Orchard Homes, MT
This is one driving day of about 346.9 miles and 5h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Orchard Homes, 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 Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway for about 115.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 343 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|South Reserve Street
Turn right onto South Reserve Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|Mount Avenue
Turn left onto Mount Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
3.2 mi into trip|~6m in|US 12 / South 6th Street East
Turn right onto US 12 / South 6th Street East
Navigation decision point
6
119.7 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|I 15; I 90
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
343 mi into trip|~5h 40m in|I 90 Business
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business: City Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 Business: City Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.97 one way
$109.94 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$57.62
$115.24
premium
$4.53
$61.88
$123.76
diesel
$5.61
$76.59
$153.18
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: 121.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104.1
1
$36.42
$16.65
Efficient EV
86.7
0
$30.35
$13.88
EV Truck/SUV
138.8
1
$48.57
$22.20
Gas CO2
121 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
Orchard Homes, MT
Evening
in Orchard Homes on Saturday
Local time
7:28 PM
MDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Billings, MT
Evening
in Billings on Saturday
Local time
7:28 PM
MDT
Current temp
74°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
33 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 48m 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?
This trip leans heavily on major thoroughfares, with 65% of the journey taking place on highways. Your route relies on the Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway, I-90, and I-15 to keep you moving toward your destination. Be ready for a significant stretch of open road, as the longest uninterrupted portion covers 115.1 miles on the Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway. The experience is defined by a consistent, highway-focused pace that favors speed over winding backroads. Expect a steady, high-speed flow that allows you to cover substantial ground without the need for frequent navigation changes.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.1 mi on Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway and I 90. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near South Reserve Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 346.9 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (South Reserve Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Mount Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (US 12 / South 6th Street East): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,173 ft3,122 ft
Total Climb
5,244 ft
Total Descent
5,275 ft
Highest Point
6,173 ft
~130.1 mi in
Elevation Range
3,051 ft
Notable High Points
6,173 ft at ~130.1 miles+769 ft prominence
5,246 ft at ~159 miles+742 ft prominence
5,464 ft at ~216.8 miles+818 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 48m. Total distance: 346.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.1 miles on Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway. 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 route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Billings, 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 0.4 miles (South Reserve Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Mount Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (US 12 / South 6th Street East): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Billings, MT before the return drive.
