Gooding, ID to Lewiston, ID is 369.8 miles and takes about 7h 32m via US 26 and US 95, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within the Mountain West region, crossing from one part of Idaho to another. Expect a mix of highway and surface roads, with about half the drive on faster routes. It's a straightforward drive that's manageable in a single day for most travelers.
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
184.9 miles from Gooding, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 26
90.4 mi
1h 26m
North Norris Avenue
76.4 mi
1h 26m
US 95
67.5 mi
1h 18m
Main Street
46.7 mi
1h 3m
Horseshoe Bend Road
18.9 mi
25m
Highway 55
18.4 mi
27m
University Avenue West
11.1 mi
16m
West Lake Street
10.6 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
US 26
— 90.4 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gooding, ID and Lewiston, ID.
1
Start on ID 46
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 26
11 mi·16 min·University Avenue West
3
Take the ramp onto US 26
90 mi·1 hr 26 min·US 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 50AToward Cole Road, Overland RoadUse the right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork
232 ft·12 sec
Toward Cole RoadUse the left / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto South Cole Road
0.8 mi·1 min·South Cole Road
7
Continue on North Cole Road
2.6 mi·5 min·North Cole Road
Use the left lane.
8
At end of road, turn left onto North Mountain View Drive
0.2 mi·39 sec·North Mountain View Drive
9
Turn right onto North Glenwood Street
1.7 mi·3 min·North Glenwood Street
10
Turn left onto ID 44
2.3 mi·3 min·West State Street
11
Take the ramp
513 ft·14 sec
Toward SH-55
12
Merge onto ID 55
8.8 mi·11 min·North Horseshoe Bend Road
13
Continue on ID 55
5.9 mi·7 min·Payette River Scenic Byway
14
Continue on ID 55
2.4 mi·3 min·Highway 55
15
Continue on ID 55
0.4 mi·29 sec·Horseshoe Bend Road
16
Continue on ID 55
16 mi·24 min·Highway 55
17
Continue on ID 55
18 mi·25 min·Horseshoe Bend Road
18
Continue on ID 55
46 mi·1 hr 1 min·Main Street
19
Turn left onto Deinhard Lane
1.6 mi·2 min·Deinhard Lane
20
Continue on Boydstun Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Boydstun Street
21
At end of road, turn left onto ID 55
11 mi·16 min·West Lake Street
22
Turn right onto US 95
76 mi·1 hr 26 min·North Norris Avenue
23
Turn left onto Johnston Road
2.2 mi·5 min·Johnston Road
24
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
67 mi·1 hr 18 min·US 95
Use the straight lane.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12
1.6 mi·3 min·US 12
Toward Lewiston
26
Turn right onto Idaho Street
0.8 mi·2 min·Idaho Street
27
Turn left
105 ft·7 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Consider an early morning departure from Gooding to maximize daylight, especially since this 7.5-hour drive is best completed in one go. You'll have about two planned stops, which should be sufficient for stretching and refueling. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly on the longer 90.4-mile section of US 26, as services can be spaced out in this stretch. The fuel cost estimate of $65 assumes average prices and your vehicle's efficiency.
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 184.9 miles from Gooding, ID, or about 3h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.4 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 81 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.9 miles or 3h 43m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewiston, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gooding, 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 Gooding, ID
This is one driving day of about 369.8 miles and 7h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Gooding, 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 US 26 for about 90.4 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.2 and 367.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
12.2 mi into trip|~18m in|US 26
Take the ramp onto US 26
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
102.6 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward Cole Road, Overland Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 50A
Toward Cole Road, Overland Road
8
102.8 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Cole Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward Cole Road
7
300 mi into trip|~6h 8m in|US 95
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
367.4 mi into trip|~7h 26m in|US 12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12 toward Lewiston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Lewiston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.64 one way
$115.28 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg129 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$60.75
$121.51
premium
$4.47
$65.14
$130.27
diesel
$4.80
$69.83
$139.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
110.9
1
$38.83
$17.75
Efficient EV
92.5
1
$32.36
$14.79
EV Truck/SUV
147.9
1
$51.77
$23.67
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 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
Gooding, ID
Late night
in Gooding on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Cloudy
ENE 9 to 13 mph6% 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
Lewiston, ID
Night
in Lewiston on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 2 to 7 mph34% 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
88°F
Cascade, ID
185 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
5 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
7h 32m 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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 12.8
Caution: Use Caution with "Fossil Beds Information" Signs
Caution: If You Can't Reach Us By Phone, Please Email Us
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 306
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is about 48% highway, meaning you'll spend nearly half the time on faster roads before transitioning to surface streets. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 90.4 miles along US 26. You'll notice the change from highway speeds to more varied traffic patterns as you move between these two road types.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.4 mi on US 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.2 miles in near US 26.
Driving Effort5/10
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 369.8 miles you will encounter 17 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 12.2 miles (US 26): Lane positioning matters here; at 102.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,137 ft741 ft
Total Climb
5,236 ft
Total Descent
8,068 ft
Highest Point
5,137 ft
~184.9 mi in
Elevation Range
4,397 ft
Notable High Points
5,137 ft at ~184.9 miles+38 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 Gooding, ID to Lewiston, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Sh-55 along the way.
Lewiston is the county seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho. It is the second largest city in the Idaho Panhandle region behind Coeur d'Alene. It sits across the river from Clarkston, Washington. In 2020, Lewiston was home to 34,000 people. Like Pocatello, Lewiston has a strong working-class heritage. Industries related to timber and logging pursuits have long been key to the city's economy. Because the Columbia and later the Snake River are navigable by some ocean-going vessels all the way to Lewiston, the city has the distinction of being Idaho's only port city, and the furthest inland port in the western United States.
Top landmarks
•Nave Apartments — apartment building in Lewiston, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 32m. Total distance: 369.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 32m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.4 miles on US 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 Lewiston, 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 14 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 12.2 miles (US 26): Lane positioning matters here; at 102.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument and Nez Perce National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 15.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lewiston, ID before the return drive.
