Caldwell, ID to Moreland, ID is 283.3 miles and takes about 4h 37m via Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway and I-15 BUS, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, traversing Idaho for its entirety. Expect a drive dominated by surface roads, making it a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, offering a straightforward path between your starting and ending points.
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
141.7 miles from Caldwell, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
193.2 mi
3h 6m
I 86
62.7 mi
59m
I 15 BUS
19.8 mi
18m
Bergener Boulevard
4.5 mi
6m
South 10th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
North 740 West
0.6 mi
1m
Moreland Riverside Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Cleveland Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 193.2 mi, about 3h 6m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 336 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,873 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,374
Quietest
2 AM
~190 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.1×
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 Moreland, 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
172 mi·2 hr 42 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 86; US 30
63 mi·59 min·I 86; US 30
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·40 sec
Toward Idaho Falls
11
Merge onto I 15 BUS
20 mi·18 min·I 15 BUS
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 26, ID 39: Blackfoot, Arco
13
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft·12 sec
14
Turn left onto I 15 Business; US 26
4.5 mi·6 min·Bergener Boulevard
15
Turn left onto Moreland Riverside Road
0.2 mi·27 sec·Moreland Riverside Road
16
Continue on North 740 West
0.6 mi·1 min·North 740 West
17
Arrive at destination
North 740 West
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 37m estimated drive time, leaving Caldwell, ID in the morning will allow you to reach Moreland, ID with plenty of daylight to spare. The route has only one recommended stop, so plan your breaks accordingly. Your fuel cost is estimated at $48, so ensure you have sufficient funds or a full tank before departing. Pay attention to the transition from Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway to surface roads, as this marks a significant change in the driving environment and speed limits.
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 141.7 miles from Caldwell, ID, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 193.2 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 62 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.7 miles or 2h 20m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moreland, 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 283.3 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 193.2 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 0.1 and 277.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
257.2 mi into trip|~4h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Idaho Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Idaho Falls
5
277.7 mi into trip|~4h 29m in
Take the exit toward US 26, ID 39: Blackfoot, Arco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 26, ID 39: Blackfoot, Arco
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.13 one way
$98.26 round trip
$4.41/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$51.38
$102.77
premium
$4.95
$55.21
$110.42
diesel
$5.60
$62.45
$124.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85
1
$29.75
$13.60
Efficient EV
70.8
0
$24.79
$11.33
EV Truck/SUV
113.3
1
$39.66
$18.13
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Aug 15, 2026
Origin
Caldwell, ID
Late night
in Caldwell on Friday
Local time
5:20 AM
MDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
NNW 3 to 9 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued August 14 at 12:54PM MDT until August 14 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Boise ID
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued August 14 at 8:29AM MDT until August 14 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Boise ID
Destination
Moreland, ID
Late night
in Moreland on Friday
Local time
5:20 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain
E 7 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued August 14 at 12:54PM MDT until August 14 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Boise ID
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued August 14 at 8:29AM MDT until August 14 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Boise ID
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
11 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 37m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive involves 29% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway covering 193.2 miles. After this main highway segment, you'll transition to mostly surface roads for the remainder of your trip. You can expect a significant portion of your time to be spent on less-trafficked roads, offering a more rural cruising experience. The transition from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as the environment changes.
Only 29% 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: 193.2 mi on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 283.3 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 22.2 miles (I 84; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,616 ft2,374 ft
Total Climb
3,245 ft
Total Descent
1,154 ft
Highest Point
4,616 ft
~263.1 mi in
Elevation Range
2,242 ft
Notable High Points
4,422 ft at ~202.4 miles+203 ft prominence
4,616 ft at ~263.1 miles+151 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 Moreland, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Idaho Falls along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 37m. Total distance: 283.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 193.2 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Moreland, ID before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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: 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; at 22.2 miles (I 84; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Moreland, ID, but most travelers stay overnight.
