Coeur d'Alene, ID to Lincoln, ID is 480.4 miles and takes about 7h 57m via I 90 and I 15, with a fuel budget near $76 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, offering a highway-focused experience from start to finish. Given its 98% highway share and single-day recommendation, it's a practical choice for covering ground efficiently. You'll be on familiar interstates for the vast majority of the trip, making it a straightforward journey.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
240.2 miles from Coeur d'Alene, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
275.3 mi
4h 36m
I 15
197.5 mi
3h 5m
Lincoln Road
1.6 mi
3m
Sherman Avenue
1.2 mi
1m
East Lincoln Road
1 mi
1m
East Anderson Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Rigby Highway
0.8 mi
1m
Science Center Drive
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 275.3 mi, about 4h 36m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~460 veh/hr typical
· worst 691
Quietest
2 AM
~35 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Coeur d'Alene, ID and Lincoln, ID.
1
Start on East Garden Avenue
0.2 mi·43 sec·East Garden Avenue
2
Turn right onto North 7th Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·North 7th Street
3
Turn left onto Sherman Avenue
1.2 mi·1 min·Sherman Avenue
4
Take the ramp onto I 90
275 mi·4 hr 36 min·I 90
Toward I 90 East
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
6
Merge onto I 15
197 mi·3 hr 5 min·I 15
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 119Toward US 20 East: Airport, Idaho Falls
8
Turn left onto Grandview Drive
0.2 mi·29 sec·Grandview Drive
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on Rigby Highway
0.8 mi·1 min·Rigby Highway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward Science Center Drive
11
Keep slight right at fork
398 ft·9 sec
12
Turn straight onto Science Center Drive
0.3 mi·28 sec·Science Center Drive
13
Continue on East Anderson Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·East Anderson Avenue
14
Continue on Lincoln Road
1.6 mi·3 min·Lincoln Road
15
Enter roundabout onto East Lincoln Road
138 ft·2 sec·East Lincoln Road
16
Continue on East Lincoln Road
1.0 mi·1 min·East Lincoln Road
17
Enter roundabout onto North Ammon Road
266 ft·5 sec·North Ammon Road
18
Continue on North Ammon Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·North Ammon Road
19
Arrive at destination
North Ammon Road
Trip Plan
Starting early in the morning is your best bet to complete this 480.4-mile drive within the recommended 7h 57m. With only 2 planned stops, consider how you'll manage your time; you might want to consolidate fuel and rest breaks. Pay attention to fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch on I 90, as services can be spread out. Since this is a single-day trip, flexibility is key, but knowing that you'll be on interstates for almost the entire journey means you can anticipate steady progress.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 240.2 miles from Coeur d'Alene, ID, or about 4h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 275.3 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 106 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 240.2 miles or 4h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lincoln, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Coeur d'Alene, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Coeur d'Alene, ID
This is one driving day of about 480.4 miles and 7h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 106 miles from Coeur d'Alene, ID.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 275.3 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 0.2 and 476.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|North 7th Street
Turn right onto North 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
276.9 mi into trip|~4h 40m in
Take the exit toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
6
474.9 mi into trip|~7h 46m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East: Airport, Idaho Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 119
Toward US 20 East: Airport, Idaho Falls
5
475.2 mi into trip|~7h 47m in|Grandview Drive
Turn left onto Grandview Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
476.4 mi into trip|~7h 49m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$74.88 one way
$149.76 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg168 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$78.93
$157.85
premium
$4.47
$84.62
$169.24
diesel
$4.80
$90.71
$181.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$75
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$100–$125
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 168.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
144.1
1
$50.44
$23.06
Efficient EV
120.1
1
$42.04
$19.22
EV Truck/SUV
192.2
2
$67.26
$30.75
Gas CO2
168 kg
EV CO2
56 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
Coeur d'Alene, ID
Evening
in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday
Local time
6:32 PM
PDT
Current temp
100°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 3 mph31% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:22PM MDT by NWS Boise ID
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:18PM MDT until July 16 at 5:45PM MDT by NWS Boise ID
Destination
Lincoln, ID
Evening
in Lincoln on Saturday
Local time
7:32 PM
MDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
ESE 5 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:22PM MDT by NWS Boise ID
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:18PM MDT until July 16 at 5:45PM 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
9 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
7h 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 98% of the route utilizing major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 275.3 miles, primarily on I 90, so prepare for extended periods of consistent speed and limited exits. While the roads are generally smooth and well-maintained, the character remains consistent, offering little in the way of winding backroads or dramatic shifts in terrain. This is a route built for covering distance.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 275.3 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North 7th Street.
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 7h 57m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 12 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 276.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 474.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,065 ft2,191 ft
Total Climb
4,845 ft
Total Descent
2,279 ft
Highest Point
6,065 ft
~377.5 mi in
Elevation Range
3,874 ft
Notable High Points
3,524 ft at ~68.6 miles+824 ft prominence
5,325 ft at ~274.5 miles+147 ft prominence
6,065 ft at ~377.5 miles+124 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 Coeur d'Alene, ID to Lincoln, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Idaho Falls along the way.
The longest stretch is about 275.3 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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 Lincoln, 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 22 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 0.2 miles (North 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 276.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 474.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lincoln, ID before the return drive.
