Idaho Falls to Priest River is 530.8 miles and takes about 9 hours 11 minutes via I 90 and Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $89 and enough daylight to finish in a day if you start early. This is a long-haul drive that stays within Idaho's Mountain West region. Given the nearly 10-hour travel time, it's recommended to split this trip over two days for a more relaxed pace. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on major highways before transitioning to more local roads.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
265.4 miles from Idaho Falls, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
283.4 mi
4h 47m
Veterans Memorial Highway
198.2 mi
3h 6m
North Highway 41
36.7 mi
54m
US 2
5.8 mi
9m
North 5th Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
South Boulevard
1 mi
2m
South Utah Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
East 17th Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 283.4 mi, about 4h 47m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 116 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~944 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,226
Quietest
2 AM
~52 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Idaho Falls, ID and Priest River, 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·14 sec·Stonebrook Lane
4
Continue on South Boulevard
1.0 mi·2 min·South Boulevard
5
Turn left onto East 17th Street
0.6 mi·52 sec·East 17th Street
6
Continue on Pancheri Drive
0.4 mi·47 sec·Pancheri Drive
7
Turn right onto South Utah Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·South Utah Avenue
8
Enter roundabout onto South Utah Avenue
222 ft·4 sec·South Utah Avenue
9
Continue on South Utah Avenue
0.5 mi·58 sec·South Utah Avenue
10
Turn left onto I 15 BUS; US 20 BUS
0.3 mi·34 sec·West Broadway Street
11
Take the ramp onto I 15 BUS; US 20
0.2 mi·27 sec·I 15 BUS; US 20
Exit 118Toward I15 North: Roberts, Butte
12
Merge onto I 15; US 20
198 mi·3 hr 6 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
14
Merge onto I 90
283 mi·4 hr 47 min·I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
16
Keep slight right at fork
425 ft·10 sec
17
Turn straight onto ID 41
7.5 mi·11 min·North Highway 41
18
Turn left onto ID 53; ID 41
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Highway 53 / North Highway 41
19
Turn right onto ID 41
10 mi·15 min·North Highway 41
20
Continue on ID 41
1.5 mi·2 min·North 5th Avenue
21
Continue on ID 41
19 mi·28 min·North Highway 41
22
Continue on ID 41
0.4 mi·40 sec·South State Avenue
23
Turn right onto US 2
5.8 mi·9 min·US 2
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn left onto ID 57
488 ft·13 sec·State Highway 57
25
Turn right onto East Jackson Avenue
0.1 mi·29 sec·East Jackson Avenue
26
Turn right onto 7th Street
288 ft·12 sec·7th Street
27
Continue on Summit Boulevard
386 ft·17 sec·Summit Boulevard
28
Arrive at destination
Summit Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this 9-hour drive, consider starting your day early to maximize daylight, especially if you plan to complete it in one go. However, with a recommended two-day pace, you can comfortably break up the 530.8 miles. Plan for at least one overnight stop to avoid fatigue. Given the 283.4-mile stretch on I 90, ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the end of the interstate portion, as services might be more spread out on Veterans Memorial Highway and North Highway 41.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 265.4 miles from Idaho Falls, ID, or about 4h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 283.4 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 117 miles or 1h 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 265.4 miles or 4h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 265.4 miles or 4h 18m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Priest River, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Idaho Falls, ID
Aim for roughly 265 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Priest River, ID
Aim for roughly 265 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 117 miles from Idaho Falls, ID.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 283.4 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 524.6 — 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
2.2 mi into trip|~5m in|South Utah Avenue
Enter roundabout onto South Utah Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
3 mi into trip|~6m in|I 15 BUS; US 20
Take the ramp onto I 15 BUS; US 20 toward I15 North: Roberts, Butte
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 118
Toward I15 North: Roberts, Butte
6
524.6 mi into trip|~9h 1m in|US 2
Turn right onto US 2
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$101.42 one way
$202.83 round trip
$4.85/gal25.4 MPG avg186 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$108.25
$216.50
premium
$5.44
$113.77
$227.53
diesel
$6.38
$133.24
$266.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$101
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$231–$341
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 185.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
159.2
1
$55.73
$25.48
Efficient EV
132.7
1
$46.45
$21.23
EV Truck/SUV
212.3
2
$74.31
$33.97
Gas CO2
186 kg
EV CO2
62 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Idaho Falls, ID
Morning
in Idaho Falls on Saturday
Local time
9:46 AM
MDT
Current temp
32°F
Partly Cloudy
NNE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Priest River, ID
Morning
in Priest River on Saturday
Local time
8:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
34°F
Areas Of Frost
0 mph5% 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
2 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
9h 11m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 62% on main roads like I 90 and Veterans Memorial Highway. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on I 90, covering 283.4 miles. After this, you'll transition to Veterans Memorial Highway and North Highway 41, indicating a shift from interstate cruising to more direct, possibly less congested, surface roads. Expect to notice the change in driving environment as you move from high-speed interstate travel to these other routes.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 283.4 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
At 9h 11m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. 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 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 9h 11m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 18 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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 2.2 miles (South Utah Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Idaho Falls is a city in Eastern Idaho. Idaho Falls serves as the commercial, cultural, and healthcare hub for Eastern Idaho. The city attracts many tourists visiting nearby Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, Jackson Hole, and fishing on the Snake River. Due to its proximity to high-profile outdoor destinations, in 2009, Idaho Falls was named to National Geographic's list of the "100 Best Adventure Towns".
Top landmarks
•New Sweden School — school building in Idaho Falls, United States of America
•Bonneville Hotel — hotel building in Idaho Falls, Idaho
•Bonneville County Courthouse — historic courthouse in Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA
The longest stretch is about 283.4 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 265 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 24 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 Priest River, 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 24 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: near the start (West Stone Run Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Stonebrook Lane): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (South Utah Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.2 hours each way, a round trip means 18.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Priest River, ID before the return drive.
