Spanning 255 miles across Idaho’s Mountain West region, this drive from Blackfoot to Boise typically takes about 4 hours and 6 minutes. You can easily complete this journey in a single day, as it functions well as a straightforward transit between these two cities. With a fuel budget of approximately $40, it is a relatively affordable trip for your vehicle. You will primarily navigate via the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, I-86, and the Veterans Memorial Highway. Because the route stays within the same state and region, you won't need to worry about major time zone shifts or drastic environmental changes. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
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
127.5 miles from Blackfoot, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
166.5 mi
2h 36m
I 86
62.7 mi
59m
Veterans Memorial Highway
19.7 mi
18m
South Broadway Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
Bergener Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
East Front Street
0.6 mi
1m
West Bridge Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 166.5 mi, about 2h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blackfoot, ID and Boise, ID.
1
Start on this road
35 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto North Broadway Street
162 ft·12 sec·North Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto West Idaho Street
333 ft·19 sec·West Idaho Street
4
Turn left onto North Ash Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·North Ash Street
5
Turn right onto I 15 Business
0.5 mi·49 sec·West Bridge Street
6
Continue on I 15 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·Bergener Boulevard
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
8
Merge onto I 15
20 mi·18 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·43 sec
Exit 72Toward I 86 West: Chubbuck, Twin Falls
10
Continue on I 86
63 mi·59 min·I 86
11
Continue on I 84; US 30
166 mi·2 hr 36 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit onto US 20; US 26
0.3 mi·34 sec·Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
Exit 54Toward US 20, US 26: Broadway Avenue
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 20; US 26
438 ft·12 sec·Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
Toward US 20, US 26: Boise State University, City Center:Convention CenterUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto US 20; US 26
2.9 mi·5 min·South Broadway Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
0.6 mi·1 min·East Front Street
16
Turn right
55 ft·4 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour and 6-minute drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the trip is manageable in a single day, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though hitting the road early helps you avoid potential traffic closer to Boise. Keep your $40 fuel budget in mind when planning your stops to ensure you don't overspend at pricier stations along the way. Because this route includes a significant 166.5-mile stretch, make sure your vehicle is prepped for a long period of continuous driving. A helpful tip is to check the status of the Veterans Memorial Highway before you leave, as local road conditions can fluctuate significantly during this leg of the journey.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 127.5 miles from Blackfoot, ID, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 166.5 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 56 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.5 miles or 2h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boise, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Blackfoot, ID 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 Blackfoot, ID
This is one driving day of about 255 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Blackfoot, ID.
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 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway for about 166.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 251.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Idaho Street
Turn left onto West Idaho Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Ash Street
Turn left onto North Ash Street
Navigation decision point
6
21.4 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward I 86 West: Chubbuck, Twin Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 72
Toward I 86 West: Chubbuck, Twin Falls
6
251.2 mi into trip|~3h 58m in|US 20; US 26 / Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
Take the exit onto US 20; US 26 / Idaho Medal of Honor Highway toward US 20, US 26: Broadway Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 54
Toward US 20, US 26: Broadway Avenue
9
251.5 mi into trip|~3h 59m in|US 20; US 26 / Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 20; US 26 / Idaho Medal of Honor Highway toward US 20, US 26: Boise State University, City Center:Convention Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 20, US 26: Boise State University, Ci...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.41 one way
$80.82 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$42.36
$84.71
premium
$4.53
$45.49
$90.98
diesel
$5.61
$56.30
$112.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.5
0
$26.78
$12.24
Efficient EV
63.8
0
$22.31
$10.20
EV Truck/SUV
102
1
$35.70
$16.32
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 12, 2026
Origin
Blackfoot, ID
Evening
in Blackfoot on Saturday
Local time
8:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Boise, ID
Evening
in Boise on Saturday
Local time
8:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Rain Showers Likely
E 5 mph65% chanceLive forecast
44°F
Kimberly, ID
128 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
7 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
4h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
During the Pliocene, this place looked quite different. Lush wetlands, forests, and grasslands provided excellent habitat for a variety of animals. From fascinating, now-extinct creatures like the sab...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 158.3
Caution: Use Caution with "Fossil Beds Information" Signs
Caution: If You Can't Reach Us By Phone, Please Email Us
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mix of driving styles on this trek, characterized by a turn-heavy local feel that keeps you engaged. While 25% of your travel occurs on highways, the experience transitions through varied road types throughout the 255-mile journey. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 166.5 miles along the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, providing a consistent rhythm before the route shifts. Be prepared for the technical demands of the local sections, which contrast with the faster interstate portions. This isn't just a monotonous highway grind; the shifting road conditions require you to stay alert and adapt your speed as you move between the different highway segments.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 166.5 mi on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Idaho Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 6m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Idaho Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Ash Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
4,616 ft2,699 ft
Total Climb
340 ft
Total Descent
2,140 ft
Highest Point
4,616 ft
~21.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,917 ft
Notable High Points
4,616 ft at ~21.3 miles+117 ft prominence
4,426 ft at ~42.5 miles+3 ft prominence
4,327 ft at ~74.4 miles+114 ft prominence
4,231 ft at ~106.3 miles+57 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Blackfoot, ID to Boise, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Twin Falls along the way.
Boise is the capital and largest city of Idaho. Boise offers numerous recreational opportunities, including extensive hiking and biking in the foothills to the immediate north of downtown. Boise is a regional hub for jazz, theater, and indie music, and is home to several museums.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 166.5 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ID 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: near the start (West Idaho Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Ash Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Boise, ID, but most travelers stay overnight.
