Caldwell to Kamiah is 237.2 miles and takes about 4h 42m via North Norris Avenue, East Central Boulevard, and South 16th Street, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Idaho, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, offering a more local feel than a full interstate experience. With a single recommended stop and a longest stretch of 79 miles, this route is manageable for a day trip, making it a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B within the state.
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
118.6 miles from Caldwell, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Norris Avenue
79 mi
1h 29m
East Central Boulevard
46.6 mi
1h
South 16th Street
35.9 mi
44m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
28.4 mi
27m
Harpster Grade Road
25.2 mi
28m
Railroad Street
8.5 mi
10m
US 12
7.6 mi
10m
North Whitley Drive
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
North Norris Avenue
— 79 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 35 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,582 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,903
Quietest
2 AM
~98 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Kamiah, 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
Continue on North Illinois Avenue
0.1 mi·24 sec·North Illinois Avenue
7
Take the ramp onto I 84, US 20, US 26, US 30
0.2 mi·27 sec·I 84, US 20, US 26, US 30
8
Merge onto I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30
28 mi·27 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward US 30 East: Fruitland, Payette
10
Turn right onto US 30
0.6 mi·52 sec·East Idaho Avenue
11
Continue on US 30
0.6 mi·54 sec·Northwest 16th Street
12
Turn left onto US 95
2.1 mi·3 min·North Whitley Drive
13
Turn slight right onto US 95
36 mi·44 min·South 16th Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 95
8.5 mi·10 min·Railroad Street
15
Take the exit onto US 95
365 ft·12 sec·Superior Street
16
Merge onto US 95
47 mi·1 hr·East Central Boulevard
17
Turn left onto US 95
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·North Norris Avenue
18
Turn right onto ID 13
1.1 mi·1 min·West Main Street
19
Continue on ID 13
25 mi·28 min·Harpster Grade Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 12
7.6 mi·10 min·US 12
21
Turn left onto ID 64; ID 162
0.1 mi·14 sec·Hill Street
22
Arrive at destination
Hill Street
Trip Plan
For this 4h 42m drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Kamiah without feeling rushed. Since the total distance is 237.2 miles, you can comfortably complete it in one day. The route data indicates only one recommended stop, so plan your breaks accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point or when you anticipate needing fuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 79-mile stretch on North Norris Avenue, as services might be more spread out on surface roads. The estimated fuel cost is around $42, so budget accordingly.
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 118.6 miles from Caldwell, ID, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79 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 52 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.6 miles or 2h 24m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kamiah, 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 237.2 miles and 4h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 North Norris Avenue for about 79 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 29.5 — 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
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South 10th Avenue
Turn right onto South 10th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
29.5 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward US 30 East: Fruitland, Payette
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 East: Fruitland, Payette
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.97 one way
$73.94 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$38.97
$77.94
premium
$4.47
$41.78
$83.56
diesel
$4.80
$44.79
$89.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.2
0
$24.91
$11.39
Efficient EV
59.3
0
$20.76
$9.49
EV Truck/SUV
94.9
1
$33.21
$15.18
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Caldwell, ID
Late night
in Caldwell on Sunday
Local time
2:14 AM
MDT
Current temp
98°F
Patchy Smoke
NW 3 to 7 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kamiah, ID
Late night
in Kamiah on Sunday
Local time
1:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
NW 0 to 5 mph1% 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
3 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
4h 42m 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.
Nez Perce National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Since time immemorial, the valleys, prairies, mountains, and plateaus of the inland northwest have been home to the nimíipuu (Nez Perce) people. Extremely resilient, they survived the settling of the...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 220.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with highways making up only 30% of the total mileage. You'll experience a longest continuous stretch of 79 miles on North Norris Avenue, indicating a significant period of consistent cruising rather than frequent turns. The profile suggests you'll transition from highway driving to surface roads early on, with the majority of your time spent on local routes. Be prepared for this shift, as it generally means slower speeds and more interaction with local traffic.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79 mi on North Norris Avenue.
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 4h 42m drive. You will face about 15 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; near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,144 ft1,239 ft
Total Climb
3,858 ft
Total Descent
4,993 ft
Highest Point
4,144 ft
~118.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,905 ft
Notable High Points
4,144 ft at ~118.6 miles+396 ft prominence
3,401 ft at ~203.3 miles+1,615 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 Caldwell, ID to Kamiah, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Payette along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79 miles on North Norris Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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; near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — Nez Perce National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Kamiah, ID, but most travelers stay overnight.
