Caldwell, ID to Hansen, ID is 158.6 miles and takes about 2h 39m via Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, entirely within Idaho, making it a straightforward hop. Expect a route primarily on surface roads, offering a chance to see more of the local landscape than a pure interstate drive. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short drive time, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion.
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
79.3 miles from Caldwell, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
153.5 mi
2h 29m
North 3800 East
1.8 mi
3m
South 1150 East
0.8 mi
<1m
South 10th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
ID 50
0.5 mi
<1m
US 30
0.2 mi
<1m
Main Street North
0.2 mi
<1m
Cleveland Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 153.5 mi, about 2h 29m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 320 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,040 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,560
Quietest
2 AM
~198 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Caldwell, ID and Hansen, ID.
1
Start on this road
90 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto I 84 Business
72 ft·4 sec·Cleveland Boulevard
3
Turn right
141 ft·12 sec
4
Turn right
150 ft·12 sec
5
Turn right onto South 10th Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·South 10th Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
7
Merge onto I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30
21 mi·24 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 30
133 mi·2 hr 5 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward ID 50: Eden, Kimberly
10
Turn right onto ID 50
0.5 mi·31 sec·ID 50
11
Continue on ID 50
0.8 mi·59 sec·South 1150 East
12
Turn slight left onto North 3800 East
1.8 mi·3 min·North 3800 East
13
Turn left onto US 30
0.2 mi·24 sec·US 30
14
Turn right onto Main Street North
0.2 mi·47 sec·Main Street North
15
Turn left onto Maple Avenue
8 ft·0 sec·Maple Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Maple Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 39m duration, starting your drive in Caldwell, ID earlier in the day is advisable to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 158.6 miles, you have considerable flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $28, and it's wise to refuel before leaving Caldwell. Pay attention to the transition from Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway to local roads like North 3800 East and South 1150 East to ensure you're on the correct path.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.3 miles from Caldwell, ID, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.5 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 35 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.3 miles or 1h 21m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hansen, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Caldwell, 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 Caldwell, ID
This is one driving day of about 158.6 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Caldwell, 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 153.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 154.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|I 84 Business / Cleveland Boulevard
Turn left onto I 84 Business / Cleveland Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in|I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22.2 mi into trip|~27m in|I 84; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
154.8 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward ID 50: Eden, Kimberly
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward ID 50: Eden, Kimberly
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.57 one way
$57.13 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$29.83
$59.67
premium
$5.11
$31.88
$63.76
diesel
$6.18
$38.58
$77.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.6
0
$16.65
$7.61
Efficient EV
39.7
0
$13.88
$6.34
EV Truck/SUV
63.4
0
$22.20
$10.15
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (65% 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.
Forecast as of Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Caldwell, ID
Morning
in Caldwell on Monday
Local time
8:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
NW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hansen, ID
Morning
in Hansen on Monday
Local time
8:12 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
ENE 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 39m on the road
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.
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
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 120.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on surface roads, with 0% highway share. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on surface streets, with the longest stretch on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway measuring 153.5 miles. Be prepared for a rural cruising experience as you transition from the highway segment to North 3800 East and South 1150 East.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 153.5 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 I 84 Business / Cleveland Boulevard.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 39m drive. You will face about 11 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 (I 84 Business / Cleveland Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 153.5 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 (I 84 Business / Cleveland Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hansen, ID before heading back.
