Chubbuck to Hayden is 530.7 miles and takes about 8h 45m via I-90 and US-95, with a fuel budget near $94 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive stays within Idaho, connecting the Mountain West regions. While it's possible to complete in one day, the 8 hours and 45 minutes of driving time suggest an overnight stop would make for a more relaxed experience. This route offers a solid stretch of highway driving, ideal for those who prefer covering distance efficiently.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
265.3 miles from Chubbuck, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
278.5 mi
4h 41m
I 15 BUS
244.5 mi
3h 49m
US 95
3.6 mi
6m
North Government Way
1 mi
1m
I 86
0.8 mi
<1m
Yellowstone Avenue
0.6 mi
<1m
West Honeysuckle Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 278.5 mi, about 4h 41m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~592 veh/hr typical
· worst 830
Quietest
2 AM
~38 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.6×
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 Chubbuck, ID and Hayden, ID.
1
Start on US 91
0.6 mi·59 sec·Yellowstone Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
3
Merge onto I 86
0.8 mi·52 sec·I 86
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·40 sec
Toward Idaho Falls
5
Merge onto I 15 BUS
244 mi·3 hr 49 min·I 15 BUS
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
7
Merge onto I 90
278 mi·4 hr 41 min·I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
9
Turn right onto US 95
3.6 mi·6 min·US 95
10
Turn right onto West Honeysuckle Avenue
0.2 mi·29 sec·West Honeysuckle Avenue
11
Turn left onto North Government Way
1.0 mi·1 min·North Government Way
12
Arrive at destination
North Government Way
Trip Plan
Given the 8 hour and 45 minute duration, splitting this drive over two days is recommended for a comfortable pace. Plan to depart early to maximize daylight, especially if attempting it in one go. With two recommended stops, you can break up the 530.7 miles effectively. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without services could be around 278.5 miles on I-90. Ensure your vehicle is in good condition for this extended drive.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 265.3 miles from Chubbuck, ID, or about 4h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 278.5 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 117 miles or 1h 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 265.3 miles or 4h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 265.3 miles or 4h 12m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hayden, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chubbuck, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chubbuck, ID
Aim for roughly 265 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Hayden, ID
Aim for roughly 265 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 117 miles from Chubbuck, ID.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 278.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 529.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|I 86
Merge onto I 86
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
1.6 mi into trip|~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Idaho Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Idaho Falls
4
246.6 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Take the exit toward I 90 West: Missoula
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
4
247.1 mi into trip|~3h 54m in|I 90
Merge onto I 90 toward I 90 West: Missoula
Merge point - match speed before joining
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
4
529.7 mi into trip|~8h 43m in|North Government Way
Turn left onto North Government Way
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$82.72 one way
$165.44 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg186 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$87.19
$174.38
premium
$4.47
$93.48
$186.96
diesel
$4.80
$100.21
$200.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$83
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$213–$323
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 185.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
159.2
1
$55.72
$25.47
Efficient EV
132.7
1
$46.44
$21.23
EV Truck/SUV
212.3
2
$74.30
$33.96
Gas CO2
186 kg
EV CO2
62 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 16, 2026
Origin
Chubbuck, ID
Evening
in Chubbuck on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
94°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 6 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 3:42PM MDT by NWS Boise ID
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 2:23PM MDT until July 16 at 5:30PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
Destination
Hayden, ID
Evening
in Hayden on Saturday
Local time
6:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
100°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 5 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 3:42PM MDT by NWS Boise ID
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 2:23PM MDT until July 16 at 5:30PM MDT by NWS Pocatello 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
6 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
8h 45m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Nearly all of this drive, 99%, is on highways. You'll spend the bulk of your time on Interstate 90, with the longest continuous stretch spanning 278.5 miles. The transition from the interstate to surface roads will occur near the end of your trip. Expect consistent cruising with minimal traffic interruptions for most of the route.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 278.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 15 BUS. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near I 86.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 45m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (I 86): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 246.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The longest stretch is about 278.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 265 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 26 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Hayden, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 26 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 0.8 miles (I 86): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 246.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.8 hours each way, a round trip means 17.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hayden, ID before the return drive.
