Drive Time
3h 16m
Distance
169.6 mi
273 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
Photo: 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 5th Avenue South, 2nd Street South, 3rd Avenue South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. 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 38m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 16m drive with frequent turns across 169.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Great Falls, MT to Orchard Homes, MT is easy. At 3h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Great Falls, MT to Orchard Homes, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Avenue South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 2nd Street South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 3rd Avenue South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| River Drive South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| First Avenue North Bridge | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Central Avenue West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| First Special Service Force Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 12 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
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 the end of the road, turn right onto 2nd Street South
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue South
At the end of the road, turn right onto River Drive South
Turn left onto First Avenue North Bridge
Continue on Central Avenue West
Take the exit right
Merge slight left onto First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right
Keep slight right
Take the exit slight right toward US 12 West, I 90 Business
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Van Buren Street
Exit the roundabout onto Van Buren Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Van Buren Street
Exit the roundabout onto Van Buren Street
Turn right onto East Broadway Street
Turn left onto Madison Street
Continue on Arthur Avenue
Turn right onto South 5th Street East
Turn left onto South Higgins Avenue
Turn right onto Brooks Street
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 your 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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.8 miles or 1h 38m 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 41m
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 38m 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.
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.
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Great Falls on Saturday
Local time
6:16 PM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Orchard Homes on Saturday
Local time
6:16 PM
MDT
Current temp
33°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
30°F
Deer Lodge, MT
85 mi in
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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