Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
52.1 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Coeur d'Alene, ID
Ghassan Hani
Priest River, ID
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick getaway in the Mountain West, this 52.1-mile journey from Coeur d'Alene to Priest River is an ideal day trip. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 19 minutes behind the wheel, making it a very manageable drive for a single day. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, this route is as economical as it is efficient. Since both the origin and destination are located within Idaho, you will stay comfortably within the Mountain West region throughout the entire trip. This drive is perfect if you want to get out of the city without committing to a multi-day itinerary.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Highway 41 | 36.7 mi | 54m |
| US 2 | 5.8 mi | 9m |
| I 90 | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| North 5th Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North 4th Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| South State Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Highway 53 / North Highway 41 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Jackson Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Coeur d'Alene, ID and Priest River, ID.
Start on East Garden Avenue
Turn right onto North 4th Street
Take the ramp onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto ID 41
Turn left onto ID 53; ID 41
Turn right onto ID 41
Continue on ID 41
Continue on ID 41
Continue on ID 41
Turn right onto US 2
Turn left onto ID 57
Turn right onto East Jackson Avenue
Turn right onto 7th Street
Continue on Summit Boulevard
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26 miles from Coeur d'Alene, ID, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 51.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto North 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp onto I 90 toward Spokane
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn right onto US 2
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto 7th Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$8.26 one way
$16.51 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $8.65 | $17.31 |
| premium | $4.53 | $9.29 | $18.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.50 | $23.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.29 | $3.33 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday
Local time
7:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Priest River on Saturday
Local time
7:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Patchy Fog
43°F
Spirit Lake, ID
26 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of your travel spent on major roads like I-90, North Highway 41, and US 2. You will find yourself settling into a steady pace for long periods, particularly during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 36.7 miles on North Highway 41. The personality of the drive is straightforward and efficient, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding backroads. As you transition between these primary routes, the character of the road remains consistent and predictable. Expect a smooth, high-speed experience that gets you to your destination with minimal technical driving required.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Highway 41 and US 2. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 4th Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 19m drive. You will face about 10 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 (North 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 90): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
149 ft
Total Descent
51 ft
Highest Point
2,319 ft
~17.4 mi in
Elevation Range
97 ft
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 52.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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