Caldwell, ID to Moscow, ID is 300.3 miles and takes about 6h 6m via US 95, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, entirely within Idaho. It's a straightforward, same-day drive that offers a good mix of highway cruising and surface road travel. You'll find it's a practical option if you need to get between these two points 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
150.1 miles from Caldwell, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 95
90.8 mi
1h 52m
North Norris Avenue
76.4 mi
1h 26m
East Central Boulevard
46.6 mi
1h
South 16th Street
35.9 mi
44m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
28.4 mi
27m
Railroad Street
8.5 mi
10m
Reisenauer Road
5.3 mi
6m
Johnston Road
2.2 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 95
— 90.8 mi, about 1h 52m
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 Moscow, 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
76 mi·1 hr 26 min·North Norris Avenue
18
Turn left onto Johnston Road
2.2 mi·5 min·Johnston Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
67 mi·1 hr 18 min·US 95
Use the straight lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 95
6.7 mi·7 min·US 95
Toward US 195 North: Moscow, Coeur d' Alene, Spokane
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 95
17 mi·25 min·US 95
22
Turn left onto Reisenauer Road
5.3 mi·6 min·Reisenauer Road
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
1.1 mi·2 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Continue on US 95; ID 8
0.4 mi·1 min·South Washington Street
Toward Potlatch, Cour d'AleneUse the straight lane.
25
Turn left onto ID 8
39 ft·1 sec·East 3rd Street
26
Arrive at destination
ID 8
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $48 for the 300.3 miles. The longest stretch without a significant break is over 90 miles on US 95, so plan your refueling accordingly before you hit that segment. Since it’s a single-day trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150.1 miles from Caldwell, ID, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.8 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 66 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.1 miles or 3h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moscow, 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 300.3 miles and 6h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 US 95 for about 90.8 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 298.7 — 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
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
7
202.7 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|US 95
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
270.1 mi into trip|~5h 22m in|US 95
Keep slight right at fork onto US 95 toward US 195 North: Moscow, Coeur d' Alene, Spokane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 195 North: Moscow, Coeur d' Alene, Sp...
7
298.7 mi into trip|~6h 2m in|US 95 / South Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 95 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.81 one way
$93.61 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$49.34
$98.67
premium
$4.47
$52.90
$105.79
diesel
$4.80
$56.70
$113.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.1
1
$31.53
$14.41
Efficient EV
75.1
0
$26.28
$12.01
EV Truck/SUV
120.1
1
$42.04
$19.22
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Caldwell, ID
Late night
in Caldwell on Sunday
Local time
2:15 AM
MDT
Current temp
97°F
Sunny
WNW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:46PM MDT until July 17 at 5:00PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:18PM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Boise ID
Destination
Moscow, ID
Late night
in Moscow on Sunday
Local time
1:15 AM
PDT
Current temp
85°F
Patchy Smoke
NW 7 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:46PM MDT until July 17 at 5:00PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:18PM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
12 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
6h 6m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 207.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 30% of this 300.3-mile route is on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a main road, US 95, spans 90.8 miles. You'll transition from higher-speed highway driving to surface roads, with North Norris Avenue and East Central Boulevard being part of the non-highway segments. Expect some urban merging and then more rural cruising as you progress.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.8 mi on US 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 20 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 300.3 miles you will encounter 20 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 29.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 202.7 miles (US 95): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
3,905 ft996 ft
Total Climb
6,568 ft
Total Descent
6,361 ft
Highest Point
3,905 ft
~235.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,909 ft
Notable High Points
3,326 ft at ~64.3 miles+539 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Caldwell, ID and Moscow, ID, road signs point toward Payette, Coeur D' Alene and Spokane.
Moscow is a city in North Central Idaho with a population of around 22,000 people, an agricultural center and the home of the University of Idaho. The surrounding area is generally referred to as the Moscow-Pullman area -- Pullman is a city in Washington, that is fairly symbiotic with Moscow. They are 8 mi (13 km) apart.
Top landmarks
•W. J. McConnell House — historic house in Moscow, Idaho, USA
•First Methodist Church — church building in Moscow, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 6m. Total distance: 300.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.8 miles on US 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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.
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 Moscow, 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. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 29.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 202.7 miles (US 95): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Nez Perce National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Moscow, ID before the return drive.
