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Create accountDrive Time
3h 16m
Distance
169.6 mi
273 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Great Falls, MT
Tomás Asurmendi
Orchard Homes, MT
John De Leon
The drive from Great Falls, MT to Orchard Homes, MT covers 169.6 miles and takes about 3h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 89, First Special Service Force Memorial Highway, MT 200 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 148.3 miles on US 89. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.88 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.8 miles from Great Falls, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
This is a 3h 16m highway drive covering 169.6 miles, with most of the trip on US 89 and First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 148.3 miles on US 89.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,327 ft
Total Descent
1,504 ft
Highest Point
4,656 ft
~84.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,504 ft
Notable High Points
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 89 and First Special Service Force Memorial Highway. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 5th Avenue South.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 169.6 miles you will encounter 19 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: near the start (5th Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (2nd Street South): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (3rd Avenue South): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto 5th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto 2nd Street South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue South
Navigation decision point
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
Turn left onto US 12 / Madison Street
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 89 | 148.3 mi | 2h 47m |
| First Special Service Force Memorial Highway | 9.4 mi | 9m |
| MT 200 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| Central Avenue West | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls, MT and Orchard Homes, MT.
Start on 4th Street South
Turn right onto 5th Avenue South
At end of road, turn right onto 2nd Street South
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue South
At end of road, turn right onto River Drive South
Turn left onto I 15 Business
Continue on I 15 Business
Take the exit onto I 15 Business
Merge onto I 15; US 89; MT 200
Take the exit onto US 89; MT 200
Keep slight right at fork onto MT 200
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
Enter roundabout onto I 90 Bus; US 12
Continue on I 90 Bus; US 12
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 12
Turn left onto US 12
Continue on US 12
Turn right onto US 12
Turn left onto US 12
Turn right onto US 12
Turn right onto Mount Avenue
Continue on South 14th Street West
Continue on Mount Avenue
Turn right onto South Reserve Street
Turn left onto South 7th Street West
Arrive at destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.8 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orchard Homes, MT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Great Falls, 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 Great Falls, MT
This is one driving day of about 169.6 miles and 3h 16m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.8 mi from Great Falls, MT · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 84.8 miles from Great Falls, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 89 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 148.3 miles.
The final approach into Orchard Homes, MT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Orchard Homes, MT.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$26.88 one way
$53.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $28.25 | $56.50 |
| premium | $4.53 | $30.24 | $60.48 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.68 | $75.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.9 | 0 | $17.81 | $8.14 |
| Efficient EV | 42.4 | 0 | $14.84 | $6.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.8 | 0 | $23.74 | $10.85 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Great Falls on Sunday
Local time
5:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Evening in Orchard Homes on Sunday
Local time
5:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Areas Of Fog then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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