Drive Time
3h 15m
Distance
169.6 mi
273 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
Photo: Tomás Asurmendi
The drive from Orchard Homes, MT to Great Falls, MT covers 169.6 miles and takes about 3h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Reserve Street, Mount Avenue, South 14th Street West 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 Orchard Homes, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 15m 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 Orchard Homes, MT to Great Falls, MT is easy. At 3h 15m 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 Orchard Homes, MT to Great Falls, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Reserve Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mount Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 14th Street West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Brooks Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Higgins Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 6th Street East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Arthur Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Madison Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Orchard Homes, MT and Great Falls, MT.
Start on South 7th Street West
Turn right onto South Reserve Street
Turn left onto Mount Avenue
Continue on South 14th Street West
Continue on Mount Avenue
Turn left onto Brooks Street
Continue on South Higgins Avenue
Turn right onto South 6th Street East
Turn left onto Arthur Avenue
Continue on Madison Street
Take the exit slight right
Turn left onto Van Buren Street
Take the exit right
Merge slight left onto Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward MT 200 East: Bonner, Great Falls
Take the exit slight right toward I 15 South: Great Falls
Merge slight left onto First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward I 15 Business
Turn left onto Central Avenue West
Continue on First Avenue North Bridge
Continue on 1st Avenue North
Turn right onto 5th Street North
Turn right onto 4th Avenue South
Turn left onto 4th Street South
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 37m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great Falls, MT than in the middle of the route.
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 169.6 miles and 3h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.8 mi from Orchard Homes, MT · 1h 37m 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 Orchard Homes, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Great Falls, 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 Great Falls, 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
Afternoon in Orchard Homes on Saturday
Local time
4:59 PM
MDT
Current temp
33°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Great Falls on Saturday
Local time
4:59 PM
MDT
Current temp
35°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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