Driggs, ID to Meridian, ID is 362 miles and takes about 6h 13m via Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway and I 86, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Mountain West region, offering a familiar landscape as you travel. It's primarily a surface road experience, so expect a more leisurely pace than a pure interstate trip. Given the distance and duration, it's a feasible one-day drive, but be prepared for a full day behind the wheel. Consider this if you prefer a less highway-intensive experience and want to see more of the local scenery.
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
181 miles from Driggs, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
176.9 mi
2h 48m
I 86
62.7 mi
59m
Veterans Memorial Highway
46.5 mi
44m
Swan Valley Highway
28.5 mi
34m
Pine Creek Road
10.6 mi
14m
West State Highway 31
9.9 mi
13m
East Ririe Highway
9.5 mi
11m
South Main Street
9 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 176.9 mi, about 2h 48m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 115 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,574 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,979
Quietest
2 AM
~171 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.1×
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 Driggs, ID and Meridian, ID.
1
Start on West Little Avenue
75 ft·6 sec·West Little Avenue
2
Turn right onto ID 33
8.3 mi·12 min·South Main Street
3
Turn right onto ID 31
0.5 mi·1 min·West Center Street
4
Continue on ID 31
9.9 mi·13 min·West State Highway 31
5
Continue on ID 31
11 mi·14 min·Pine Creek Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 26
29 mi·34 min·Swan Valley Highway
7
Continue on US 26
9.5 mi·11 min·East Ririe Highway
8
Continue on US 26
1.6 mi·2 min·North Yellowstone Highway
9
Turn right onto East Iona Road
1.7 mi·3 min·East Iona Road
10
At end of road, turn right onto US 20 BUS
0.2 mi·27 sec·North 5th East
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
12
Merge onto US 20
2.0 mi·2 min·Rigby Highway
13
Merge onto US 20
0.1 mi·14 sec·Grandview Drive
14
Take the exit onto US 20
0.3 mi·36 sec·US 20
Toward I 15 South: Arco, Pocatello
15
Merge onto I 15; US 20
47 mi·44 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi·43 sec
Exit 72Toward I 86 West: Chubbuck, Twin Falls
17
Continue on I 86
63 mi·59 min·I 86
18
Continue on I 84; US 30
177 mi·2 hr 48 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 44Toward ID 69 South: Meridian, KunaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
310 ft·9 sec
Use the right lane.
21
Turn slight right onto ID 69
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Meridian Road
22
Continue on South Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Main Street
23
Continue on North Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 362-mile drive, consider departing in the morning to allow ample time for the 6h 13m estimated travel time. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto longer stretches, as the estimated fuel cost is $59. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you can afford to be a bit spontaneous with brief breaks. A good tip is to be aware that you'll be on surface roads for a significant portion, so factor in potential delays due to local traffic or slower speeds.
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 181 miles from Driggs, ID, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.9 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 80 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181 miles or 3h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meridian, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Driggs, 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 Driggs, ID
This is one driving day of about 362 miles and 6h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Driggs, 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 176.9 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 29.3 and 360.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
29.3 mi into trip|~41m in|US 26 / Swan Valley Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 26 / Swan Valley Highway
Navigation decision point
6
73.3 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|US 20
Take the exit onto US 20 toward I 15 South: Arco, Pocatello
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 15 South: Arco, Pocatello
6
120.1 mi into trip|~2h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 86 West: Chubbuck, Twin Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 72
Toward I 86 West: Chubbuck, Twin Falls
8
360.3 mi into trip|~6h 9m in
Take the exit toward ID 69 South: Meridian, Kuna
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 44
Toward ID 69 South: Meridian, Kuna
6
360.7 mi into trip|~6h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.42 one way
$112.85 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$59.47
$118.95
premium
$4.47
$63.76
$127.53
diesel
$4.80
$68.35
$136.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.6
1
$38.01
$17.38
Efficient EV
90.5
1
$31.68
$14.48
EV Truck/SUV
144.8
1
$50.68
$23.17
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 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
Driggs, ID
Late night
in Driggs on Sunday
Local time
2:15 AM
MDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 7 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:26AM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 1:18AM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
Destination
Meridian, ID
Late night
in Meridian on Sunday
Local time
2:15 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 5 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:26AM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 1:18AM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
92°F
Aberdeen, ID
181 mi in
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 13m 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.
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
During the Pliocene, this place looked quite different. Lush wetlands, forests, and grasslands provided excellent habitat for a variety of animals. From fascinating, now-extinct creatures like the sab...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 262.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive involves 20% highway travel, with the longest continuous stretch on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway covering 176.9 miles. After this section, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Expect to encounter more local traffic and potentially a higher number of intersections as you move away from the highway segments. The shift from highway to surface roads means a noticeable change in driving pace and surroundings.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.9 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 29.3 miles in near US 26 / Swan Valley Highway.
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 362 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 29.3 miles (US 26 / Swan Valley Highway): Navigation decision point; at 73.3 miles (US 20): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,110 ft2,579 ft
Total Climb
1,076 ft
Total Descent
4,579 ft
Highest Point
6,110 ft
Elevation Range
3,531 ft
Notable High Points
4,440 ft at ~181 miles+219 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Driggs, ID and Meridian, ID, road signs point toward Pocatello and Twin Falls.
Driggs, a town of about 1,900 as of 2020, is the county seat of Teton County in Eastern Idaho. This article also covers the much smaller neighboring town of Tetonia, 8 mi (13 km) north on Highway 33.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 13m. Total distance: 362 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 176.9 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 Meridian, 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 29.3 miles (US 26 / Swan Valley Highway): Navigation decision point; at 73.3 miles (US 20): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Meridian, ID before the return drive.
