Crossing the state from Idaho Falls to Parma covers 319.2 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 16 minutes of driving time. Because this journey stays within the Mountain West, you will experience consistent regional terrain throughout the entire trip. With a fuel budget estimated at $51, it is a manageable trek that works well as a single-day commitment. You will primarily navigate via the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, I-86, and the Veterans Memorial Highway. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this route is straightforward enough to complete in one go without the need for an overnight stay.
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
159.6 miles from Idaho Falls, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
194.9 mi
3h 8m
I 86
62.7 mi
59m
Veterans Memorial Highway
43.1 mi
40m
Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
12.4 mi
18m
West Sunnyside Road
2.7 mi
3m
Elgin Street
1.7 mi
2m
East Grove Avenue
0.7 mi
<1m
I 15 BUS
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 194.9 mi, about 3h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Idaho Falls, ID and Parma, ID.
1
Start on Charleston Lane
152 ft·8 sec·Charleston Lane
2
Turn right onto West Stone Run Lane
241 ft·15 sec·West Stone Run Lane
3
Turn left onto Stonebrook Lane
466 ft·20 sec·Stonebrook Lane
4
Turn left onto West Sunnyside Road
2.7 mi·3 min·West Sunnyside Road
5
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS; US 26
0.2 mi·31 sec·I 15 BUS; US 26
Toward Blackfook, Pocatello, Salt Lake City
6
Merge onto I 15; US 26
43 mi·40 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·43 sec
Exit 72Toward I 86 West: Chubbuck, Twin Falls
8
Continue on I 86
63 mi·59 min·I 86
9
Continue on I 84; US 30
195 mi·3 hr 8 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30
0.2 mi·13 sec·Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
11
Take the exit onto US 20; US 26
0.2 mi·31 sec·Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
Exit 26Toward US 20, US 26: Notus, ParmaUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on US 20; US 26
4.7 mi·6 min·Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
13
Continue on US 20; US 26
1.7 mi·2 min·Elgin Street
14
Continue on US 20; US 26
7.3 mi·10 min·Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
15
Continue on US 95; US 20; US 26
0.7 mi·48 sec·East Grove Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
US 95; US 20; US 26
Trip Plan
Planning for this 319.2-mile trek is relatively simple, but you should account for at least one planned stop to break up the drive. Since the route involves a blend of highway and local roads, aim to depart early in the day to avoid peak traffic periods that might increase your total travel time beyond the 5-hour, 16-minute estimate. Keep your fuel budget of $51 in mind and monitor your gauge during the long 194.9-mile stretch on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, as service intervals may vary. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so use your single recommended stop to stretch your legs and reset before navigating the final, more technical turns toward Parma.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 159.6 miles from Idaho Falls, ID, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.9 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 70 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.6 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parma, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Idaho Falls, 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 Idaho Falls, ID
This is one driving day of about 319.2 miles and 5h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Idaho Falls, 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 194.9 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 304.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Stone Run Lane
Turn right onto West Stone Run Lane
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Stonebrook Lane
Turn left onto Stonebrook Lane
Navigation decision point
6
2.9 mi into trip|~4m in|I 15 BUS; US 26
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS; US 26 toward Blackfook, Pocatello, Salt Lake City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Blackfook, Pocatello, Salt Lake City
6
46.2 mi into trip|~45m 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
9
304.6 mi into trip|~4h 54m in|US 20; US 26 / Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
Take the exit onto US 20; US 26 / Idaho Medal of Honor Highway toward US 20, US 26: Notus, Parma
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26
Toward US 20, US 26: Notus, Parma
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.58 one way
$101.16 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$53.02
$106.04
premium
$4.53
$56.94
$113.88
diesel
$5.61
$70.48
$140.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.8
1
$33.52
$15.32
Efficient EV
79.8
0
$27.93
$12.77
EV Truck/SUV
127.7
1
$44.69
$20.43
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Idaho Falls, ID
Evening
in Idaho Falls on Saturday
Local time
8:46 PM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SSW 13 to 23 mph71% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Parma, ID
Evening
in Parma on Saturday
Local time
8:46 PM
MDT
Current temp
56°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 3 to 14 mph88% chanceLive forecast
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
6 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
5h 16m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 187.1
Caution: Use Caution with "Fossil Beds Information" Signs
Caution: If You Can't Reach Us By Phone, Please Email Us
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by a turn-heavy local personality rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will spend 20% of your time on highways, the driving experience shifts significantly as you transition between sections. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, which spans 194.9 miles of the journey. The remainder of the route requires more active attention due to the technical nature of the local road segments. Prepare for a drive that demands consistent engagement behind the wheel as you move across the Idaho landscape.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 194.9 mi on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Stone Run Lane.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 16m drive. You will face about 7 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 (West Stone Run Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Stonebrook Lane): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 15 BUS; US 26): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
4,704 ft2,231 ft
Total Climb
703 ft
Total Descent
3,177 ft
Highest Point
4,704 ft
Elevation Range
2,473 ft
Notable High Points
4,616 ft at ~45.6 miles+103 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 Idaho Falls, ID to Parma, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Twin Falls along the way.
Twin Falls
46.2 mi in|~45m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 16m. Total distance: 319.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 194.9 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.
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: near the start (West Stone Run Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Stonebrook Lane): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 15 BUS; US 26): 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 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Parma, ID before the return drive.
