Spanning 351.6 miles across Montana, this trek from South Browning to Lockwood takes approximately 5 hours and 52 minutes of driving time. Because this route relies on turn-heavy local roads like 9th Avenue Southeast, 1st Street Northeast, and 8th Avenue Southeast rather than interstate travel, you should plan for a full day of focused navigation. Budgeting roughly $56 for fuel is a smart move for this point-to-point journey. While the trip is manageable as a one-day excursion, the nature of the local road network makes it feel more like a dedicated transit day than a quick commute. You will remain within the Mountain West region for the duration of the drive, keeping the cultural and geographic context consistent from start to finish.
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
173.8 miles from South Browning, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 89
76.4 mi
1h 26m
US 87
64.9 mi
1h 10m
US 12
45.1 mi
50m
MT 3
41 mi
46m
US 191
39.2 mi
43m
10th Avenue South
22.6 mi
25m
United States Route 89
16.8 mi
18m
1st Road Southeast
14.7 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
US 89
— 76.4 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Browning, MT and Lockwood, MT.
1
Start on Mountain Chief Road
305 ft·13 sec·Mountain Chief Road
2
Continue on 9th Avenue Southeast
486 ft·26 sec·9th Avenue Southeast
3
Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast
381 ft·18 sec·1st Street Northeast
4
Turn right onto 8th Avenue Southeast
423 ft·20 sec·8th Avenue Southeast
5
Turn right onto US 2; US 89
2.5 mi·3 min·US 2; US 89
6
Turn straight onto US 89
68 mi·1 hr 16 min·US 89
7
Enter roundabout onto US 89
526 ft·19 sec·1st Street Southwest
8
Continue on US 89
107 ft·1 sec·1st Street Southwest
9
Turn straight onto US 89
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Avenue South
10
Continue on US 89
17 mi·18 min·United States Route 89
11
Continue on US 89
15 mi·15 min·1st Road Southeast
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 89; MT 200
7.9 mi·9 min·US 89; MT 200
13
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
0.3 mi·32 sec·US 89; MT 200
Toward I 15 South: Great Falls
14
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
9.5 mi·8 min·First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
15
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
0.2 mi·30 sec·I 15 Business
Toward I 15 Business
16
Turn left onto I 15 Business
1.5 mi·1 min·Central Avenue West
17
Continue on I 15 Business
0.2 mi·17 sec·First Avenue North Bridge
18
Continue on I 15 Business
1.2 mi·2 min·1st Avenue North
19
Turn right onto US 87
0.8 mi·1 min·14th Street North
20
Turn left onto US 87; US 89; MT 3; MT 200
23 mi·25 min·10th Avenue South
21
Enter roundabout
224 ft·2 sec
22
Continue
0.3 mi·20 sec
23
Turn straight onto US 87; MT 3; MT 200
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 87; MT 3; MT 200
24
Turn right onto US 191; MT 3
39 mi·43 min·US 191; MT 3
25
Turn left onto US 12; MT 3
45 mi·50 min·US 12; MT 3
26
Turn right onto MT 3
12 mi·14 min·MT 3
27
Continue on MT-3
2.5 mi·2 min·MT-3
28
Continue on MT 3
25 mi·28 min·MT 3
29
Enter roundabout onto MT 3
123 ft·1 sec·MT 3
30
Continue on MT 3
3.1 mi·3 min·MT 3
31
Enter roundabout onto Airport Road
149 ft·1 sec·Airport Road
32
Continue on Airport Road
2.7 mi·4 min·Airport Road
33
Turn right onto Swords Lane
249 ft·12 sec·Swords Lane
34
Turn left onto Aronson Avenue
469 ft·9 sec·Aronson Avenue
35
Merge onto US 87
0.6 mi·1 min·US 87
36
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 87
1.3 mi·1 min·US Highway 87 East
37
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 87
0.3 mi·40 sec·I 90 Business; US 87
38
Continue on I 90; US 87; US 212
1.8 mi·2 min·I 90; US 87; US 212
39
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Johnson Lane
40
Turn left onto Johnson Lane
0.4 mi·46 sec·Johnson Lane
41
Arrive at destination
Johnson Lane
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour and 52-minute duration and the technical nature of these local roads, an early morning departure is highly recommended to ensure you reach Lockwood before sunset. With only one planned stop in the itinerary, you should identify your break location in advance to keep your momentum steady across the 351.6-mile distance. Since you are relying entirely on local roads, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge and don't assume high-speed service stations will be as frequent as they are on a major highway. Flexibility is your best asset here, so adjust your pace if you encounter unexpected local traffic. A concrete tip for this route: verify your navigation settings before you pull out of South Browning to ensure your GPS is prioritizing these specific local roads rather than attempting to reroute you to highways that aren't part of this transit plan.
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 173.8 miles from South Browning, MT, or about 3h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.4 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.8 miles or 3h 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 5h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lockwood, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Browning, 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 South Browning, MT
This is one driving day of about 347.5 miles and 6h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from South Browning, 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 89 for about 76.4 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 342.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|1st Street Northeast
Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|8th Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto 8th Avenue Southeast
Navigation decision point
4
71.1 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|US 89 / 1st Street Southwest
Enter roundabout onto US 89 / 1st Street Southwest
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
103.4 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|US 89; MT 200
At end of road, turn left onto US 89; MT 200
Navigation decision point
5
342.8 mi into trip|~6h 25m in|Aronson Avenue
Turn left onto Aronson Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.07 one way
$110.13 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg122 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$57.72
$115.44
premium
$4.53
$61.99
$123.98
diesel
$5.61
$76.72
$153.45
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: 121.6 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
104.3
1
$36.49
$16.68
Efficient EV
86.9
0
$30.41
$13.90
EV Truck/SUV
139
1
$48.65
$22.24
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 16, 2026
Origin
South Browning, MT
Evening
in South Browning on Saturday
Local time
7:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lockwood, MT
Evening
in Lockwood on Saturday
Local time
7:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
77°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 32m 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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a straightforward interstate cruise, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will be navigating local arteries for the entire 351.6-mile duration. The road’s personality is defined by frequent turns and varied local road conditions rather than long, monotonous stretches of high-speed pavement. You will need to stay alert as you transition through the specific segments of 9th Avenue Southeast, 1st Street Northeast, and 8th Avenue Southeast. It is a practical, ground-level way to see the region, though it lacks the fast, uninterrupted flow typical of major cross-country highways.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.4 mi on US 89.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 89 and US 87. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 1st Street Northeast.
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 32m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 23 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (1st Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (8th Avenue Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 71.1 miles (US 89 / 1st Street Southwest): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 32m. Total distance: 347.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 76.4 miles on US 89. 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 Lockwood, 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 0.1 miles (1st Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (8th Avenue Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 71.1 miles (US 89 / 1st Street Southwest): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lockwood, MT before the return drive.
