U.S. Route 12 in Montana
{{short description|U.S. Highway in Montana}}
{{highway detail hatnote|U.S. Route 12}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox road
| state = MT
| type = US
| route = 12
| alternate_name = Lewis and Clark Highway
| map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=240|type=line|from=U.S. Route 12 in Montana.map}}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = US 12 highlighted in red
| length_mi = 597.576
| length_ref = {{cite book |author = Road Inventory and Mapping Section |title = Montana Road Log |date = 2013 |publisher = Montana Department of Transportation |location = Helena |pages = 11–12, 19–20, 59–62, 143–144, 157–159 |url = http://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/docs/brochures/2013_roadlog.pdf |access-date = November 27, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200101223835/http://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/docs/brochures/2013_roadlog.pdf |archive-date = January 1, 2020 }}
| established = 1926
| tourist = {{Jct|country=USA|LCT}}
| direction_a = West
| terminus_a = {{jct|state=ID|US|12}} at the Idaho state line at Lolo Pass
| junction =
- {{jct|state=MT|US|93}} from Lolo to Missoula
- {{jct|state=MT|I|90}} from Missoula to Garrison
- {{jct|state=MT|MT|200}} from Missoula to West Riverside
- {{jct|state=MT|I|15}} in Helena
- {{jct|state=MT|US|287}} from Helena to Townsend
- {{jct|state=MT|US|89}} near White Sulphur Springs
- {{jct|state=MT|US|191}} in Harlowton
- {{jct|state=MT|US|87}} in Roundup
- {{jct|state=MT|I|94}} from Forsyth to Miles City
| direction_b = East
| terminus_b = {{jct|state=ND|US|12}} at the North Dakota state line east of Baker
| counties = Missoula, Granite, Powell, Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, Broadwater, Meagher, Wheatland, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Rosebud, Custer, Fallon
| previous_type = MT
| previous_route = 7
| next_type = MT
| next_route = 13
}}
U.S. Highway 12 (US 12) is an east–west United States Numbered Highway in the state of Montana. It extends approximately {{convert|597.576|mi|km}} from the Idaho state line east to the North Dakota state line, the greatest distance that US 12 traverses through any state.
US 12 in Montana has been defined as the Lewis and Clark Highway{{cite book |author = Montana Legislature |year = 1947 |chapter = 60-1-202: Lewis And Clark Highway |chapter-url = https://leg.mt.gov/bills/MCA/title_0600/chapter_0010/part_0020/section_0020/0600-0010-0020-0020.html |title = Montana Code Annotated |at = Title 60, Chapter 1, Part 2 }} despite not being the route followed by Lewis and Clark across the state.
Route description
File:Lolo Hot Springs, Lolo, MT, 2011 3.jpg at Lolo Hot Springs]]
US 12 enters Montana at Lolo Pass, {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} southwest of Lolo Hot Springs in Lolo National Forest. After passing Lolo Peak to the south and traveling east for {{convert|33|mi|km}}, it meets with US 93 at Lolo and continues running concurrently northeast for {{convert|7.5|mi|km}}, where US 93 heads due north on Reserve Street, toward Kalispell and Glacier National Park. US 12 continues northeasterly through Missoula's downtown, eventually meeting Interstate 90 (I-90). It then overlaps I-90 for {{convert|69|mi|km}}, until Garrison, where it heads eastward toward Helena for {{convert|48.8|mi|km}}. This two-lane section of the trip passes through Avon and Elliston winding through Helena National Forest, over the Continental Divide at MacDonald Pass, and then through Montana's capital city, Helena.
On the east end of Helena, US 12 passes over I-15 at which point it joins US 287 south. US 12 overlaps US 287 and heads southeasterly, toward Townsend for {{convert|33.4|mi|km}}, where it splits from US 287, which heads south toward the intersection of I-90 near the town of Three Forks. US 12 heads eastward toward White Sulphur Springs for {{convert|42.2|mi|km}}; the route joins US 89 (which heads south toward Livingston and Yellowstone National Park) for {{convert|8.4|mi|km}} before entering White Sulphur Springs and for another {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} east of town. US 12 continues east for {{convert|54.4|mi|km}} to Harlowton where it joins US 191 and share a {{convert|1.4|mi|km|adj=on}} concurrency through town. On the east end of Harlowton, the routes meet with Montana Highway 3 (MT 3), where US 191 and MT 3 share a common alignment and continue north to Lewistown and MT 3 joins US 12. US 12 and MT 3 continue east for {{convert|45.2|mi|km}} before MT 3 heads south near Lavina and continues to Billings. US 12 continues east {{convert|21.4|mi|km}} until the junction of US 87 and the two routes continue as a {{convert|2.1|mi|km|adj=on}} concurrency through Roundup. US 87 splits north and US 12 continues east on its own for {{convert|101|mi|km}}, until the junction with I-94 at Forsyth as a concurrency northeast for {{convert|45.8|mi|km}} to Miles City. At the east exit for Miles City, US 12 splits again from I-94 and heads almost directly east to the North Dakota border at a distance of {{convert|92.4|mi|km}}.{{cite map |author = Montana Department of Transportation |title = Montana Official Highway Map |year = 2016 |scale = 1:633,600 |location = Helena |publisher = Montana Department of Transportation |sections = }}{{full citation needed|date=November 2020}}
History
{{Expand section|date=June 2023}}
US 12 had a proposal to be routed southwestward from Miles City through Forsyth, Hysham, Billings, Laurel, Rockvale, Red Lodge, and Cooke City, partially on the path of US 212. This path would have also taken the highway into Wyoming, with a second piece in Montana.[https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/us12.cfm]
{{-}}
Major intersections
{{jcttop|state=MT|exit|length_ref=}}
{{Jctint|exit
|river=Lolo Pass
|mile=0.000
|espan=5
|road={{Jct|state=ID|US|12|dir1=west|LCT||road|Nez Perce Trail|road|Northwest Passage Scenic Byway|city1=Lewiston}}
|notes=Continuation into Idaho
}}
{{MTint
|county=Missoula
|cspan=11
|location=Lolo
|type=concur
|mile=32.556
|road={{Jct|state=MT|US|93|dir1=south|LCT||road|Nez Perce Trail|city1=Hamilton}}
|notes=Western end of US 93 concurrency
}}
{{MTint
|location=Missoula
|lspan=5
|type=concur
|mile=40.080
|road={{jct|state=MT|US|93|I|90|dir1=north|name1=South Reserve Street|to2=yes|city1=Kalispell}}
{{jct|state=MT|US-Bus|93|dab1=Missoula|dir1=begins}}
|notes=Eastern end of US 93 concurrency; western terminus of US 93 Bus.; western end of US 93 Bus. concurrency
}}
{{MTint
|type=concur
|mile=41.745
|road={{jct|state=MT|US-Bus|93|dab1=Missoula|dir1=north|name1=Stephens Avenue}}
|notes=Eastern end of US 93 Bus. concurrency
}}
{{MTint
|type=concur
|mile=43.806
|road={{jct|state=MT|BL|90|dab1=Missoula|dir1=west|name1=East Broadway Street}}
|notes=Western end of I-90 BL concurrency
}}
{{MTint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=44.159
|exit=105
|road={{jct|state=MT|I|90|MT|200|BL|90|dir1=west|dir2=west|dab3=Missoula|dir3=ends|location1=Coeur d'Alene}}
|notes=Eastern end of I-90 BL concurrency; I-90 BL eastern terminus; western end of I-90 / MT 200 concurrency; exit numbers follow I-90
}}
{{MTint|exit
|mile=45.784
|exit=107
|road=East Missoula
}}
{{MTint|exit
|location=Bonner
|mile=48.999
|exit=109
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=MT|MT|200|dir1=east|LCT||city1=Bonner|city2=Great Falls}}
|notes=Eastern end of MT 200 concurrency
}}
{{MTint|exit
|location=Turah
|mile=52.884
|exit=113
|road=Turah
}}
{{MTint|exit
|location=Clinton
|mile=59.788
|exit=120
|road=Clinton
}}
{{MTint|exit
|location=none
|lspan=2
|mile=64.840
|exit=126
|road=Rock Creek Road
|notes=Rock Creek Road Scenic Byway
}}
{{MTint|exit
|mile=69.228
|exit=130
|road=Beavertail Road
}}
{{MTint|exit
|county=Granite
|cspan=3
|location=none
|mile=76.889
|exit=138
|road=Bearmouth Area
}}
{{MTint|exit
|location=Drummond
|lspan=2
|mile=92.167
|exit=153
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=MT|MT|1|city1=Drummond|city2=Philipsburg}}
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
}}
{{MTint|exit
|mile=93.092
|exit=154
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=MT|to1=To|MT|1|city1=Drummond|city2=Philipsburg}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
}}
{{MTint|exit
|county=Powell
|cspan=5
|location=Jens
|mile=101.002
|exit=162
|road=Jens
}}
{{MTint|exit
|location=Gold Creek
|mile=104.725
|exit=166
|road=Gold Creek
}}
{{MTint|exit
|location=Phosphate
|mile=108.692
|exit=170
|road=Phosphate
}}
{{MTint|exit
|location=Garrison
|mile=112.836
|exit=174
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=MT|I|90|dir1=east|city1=Butte}}
|notes=Eastern end of I-90 concurrency; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; westbound exit and eastbound entrance via exit 175
}}
{{MTint|exit
|location=none
|espan=22
|mile=125.743
|road={{jct|state=MT|MT|141|dir1=north|city1=Helmville}}
}}
{{MTint
|county=Powell
|county2=Lewis and Clark
|location=none
|mile=140.337
|place=MacDonald Pass (Continental Divide)
}}
{{MTint
|county=Lewis and Clark
|cspan=3
|location=Helena
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|mile=156.631
|road={{jct|state=MT|BL|15|dab1=Helena|dir1=north|name1=North Montana Avenue}}
|notes=Western end of I-15 Bus. concurrency
}}
{{MTint
|type=concur
|mile=158.241
|road={{jct|state=MT|I|15|US|287|dir2=north|LCT||city1=Great Falls|city2=Butte}}
|notes=I-15 exit 192; eastern end of I-15 BL concurrency; southern terminus of {{jct|state=MT|BL|15|dab1=Helena|noshield=yes}}; western end of US 287 concurrency
}}
{{MTint
|location=East Helena
|mile=162.562
|road={{jct|state=MT|S|518|dir1=south|city1=Montana City}}
}}
{{MTint
|county=Jefferson
|location=Louisville
|mile=169.468
|road={{jct|state=MT|S|284|dir1=north}}
}}
{{MTint
|county=Broadwater
|cspan=2
|location=Townsend
|type=concur
|mile=190.311
|road={{jct|state=MT|US|287|dir1=south|LCT||city1=Three Forks|city2=Bozeman}}
|notes=Eastern end of US 287 concurrency
}}
{{MTint
|location=none
|mile=192.713
|road={{jct|state=MT|S|284|dir1=north}}
}}
{{MTint
|county=Meagher
|cspan=4
|location=none
|type=concur
|mile=223.562
|road={{jct|state=MT|US|89|dir1=south|city1=Livingston}}
|notes=Western end of US 89 concurrency
}}
{{MTint
|location=White Sulphur Springs
|mile=232.418
|road={{jct|state=MT|S|360|dir1=west|city1=Fort Logan}}
}}
{{MTint
|location=none
|lspan=2
|mile=235.361
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=MT|US|89|dir1=north|city1=Great Falls}}
|notes=Eastern end of US 89 concurrency
}}
{{MTint
|mile=266.380
|road={{jct|state=MT|S|294|dir1=west|city1=Martinsdale}}
}}
{{MTint
|county=Wheatland
|cspan=3
|location=Harlowton
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|mile=289.790
|road={{jct|state=MT|US|191|dir1=south|city1=Big Timber}}
|notes=Western end of US 191 concurrency
}}
{{MTint
|type=concur
|mile=291.176
|road={{jct|state=MT|US|191|MT|3|dir1=north|dir2=north|road|Nez Perce Trail|city1=Lewistown}}
|notes=Eastern end of US 191 concurrency; western end of MT 3 concurrency
}}
{{MTint
|location=Shawmut
|mile=306.435
|road={{jct|state=MT|S|297|dir1=north}}
}}
{{MTint
|county=Golden Valley
|cspan=3
|location=Ryegate
|mile=320.079
|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|238|S|300|dir1=north|dir2=south}}
}}
{{MTint
|location=none
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|mile=336.354
|road={{jct|state=MT|MT|3|dir1=south|road|Nez Perce Trail|city1=Lavina|city2=Billings}}
|notes=Eastern end of MT 3 concurrency
}}
{{MTint
|mile=352.938
|road={{jct|state=MT|S|381}}
}}
{{MTint
|county=Musselshell
|cspan=4
|location=none
|type=concur
|mile=357.720
|road={{jct|state=MT|US|87|dir1=south|city1=Billings}}
|notes=Western end of US 87 concurrency
}}
{{MTint
|location=Roundup
|type=concur
|mile=359.788
|road={{jct|state=MT|US|87|dir1=north|city1=Lewistown}}
|notes=Eastern end of US 87 concurrency
}}
{{MTint
|location=none
|lspan=2
|mile=382.425
|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|310|dir1=south|city1=Musselshell}}
}}
{{MTint
|mile=396.097
|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|500|dir1=north}}
}}
{{MTint|exit
|county=Rosebud
|cspan=5
|location=Forsyth
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|mile=461.175
|exit=93
|road={{jct|state=MT|I|94|dir1=west|city1=Billings}}
|notes=Western end of I-94 concurrency; exit numbers follow I-94
}}
{{MTint|exit
|mile=462.803
|exit=95
|road=Forsyth
}}
{{MTint|exit
|location=none
|lspan=3
|mile=471.584
|exit=103
|road={{jct|state=MT|Sec|446|Sec|447|name1=Rosebud Creek Road|city1=Rosebud}}
}}
{{MTint|exit
|mile=474.700
|exit=106
|road=Butte Creek Road – Rosebud
}}
{{MTint|exit
|mile=485.470
|exit=117
|road=Hathaway
}}
{{MTint|exit
|county=Custer
|cspan=5
|location=none
|lspan=2
|mile=493.976
|exit=126
|road=Moon Creek Road
}}
{{MTint|exit
|mile=496.490
|exit=128
|road=Local Access
}}
{{MTint|exit
|location=Miles City
|lspan=2
|mile=503.235
|exit=135
|road={{jct|state=MT|BL|94|dir1=east|dab1=Miles City|city1=Jordan|city2=Miles City}}
}}
{{MTint|exit
|mile=506.013
|exit=138
|road={{jct|state=MT|MT|59|city1=Miles City|city2=Broadus}}
}}
{{MTint|exit
|location=none
|type=concur
|mile=508.880
|exit=141
|road={{jct|state=MT|I|94|dir1=east|location1=Bismarck}}
{{jct|state=MT|BL|94|dir1=west|dab1=Miles City|city1=Miles City}}
|notes=Eastern end of I-94 concurrency
}}
{{MTint|exit
|county=Fallon
|cspan=4
|espan=4
|location=none
|mile=559.863
|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|320|dir1=north|city1=Ismay}}
}}
{{MTint
|location=Plevna
|mile=572.578
|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|494|dir1=south}}
}}
{{MTint
|location=Baker
|mile=585.139
|road={{jct|state=MT|MT|7|city1=Wibaux|city2=Ekalaka}}
}}
{{MTint
|location=none
|mile=597.576
|road={{jct|state=ND|US|12|dir1=east|city1=Bowman}}
|notes=Continuation into North Dakota
}}
{{jctbtm|exit|keys=concur,incomplete}}
See also
- {{Portal-inline|U.S. roads}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Attached KML}}
- {{commons category-inline|U.S. Route 12 in Montana}}
{{state detail page browse|type=US|route=12|state=Montana|statebefore=Idaho|stateafter=North Dakota}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:U.S. Route 12 In Montana}}
Category:Transportation in Missoula County, Montana
Category:Transportation in Granite County, Montana
Category:Transportation in Powell County, Montana
Category:Transportation in Lewis and Clark County, Montana
Category:Transportation in Broadwater County, Montana
Category:Transportation in Meagher County, Montana
Category:Transportation in Wheatland County, Montana
Category:Transportation in Golden Valley County, Montana
Category:Transportation in Musselshell County, Montana
Category:Transportation in Rosebud County, Montana