Idaho Falls to Soda Springs is 105.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 52 minutes via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, specifically within Idaho, making it a straightforward local journey. Expect a route with frequent turns rather than long stretches of open highway. It's a short enough trip to complete comfortably in a single day, ideal for those looking for a quick excursion without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.9 miles from Idaho Falls, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
68.1 mi
1h 5m
East Merrill Road
31.6 mi
37m
West Sunnyside Road
2.7 mi
3m
US 30
2.6 mi
3m
I 15 BUS
0.2 mi
<1m
Stonebrook Lane
<0.1 mi
<1m
West Stone Run Lane
<0.1 mi
<1m
Charleston Lane
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 68.1 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Idaho Falls, ID and Soda Springs, 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
68 mi·1 hr 5 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 15 Business, US 30 East: Mc Cammon, Soda Springs, Montpelier
8
Turn left onto I 15 Business; US 30
32 mi·37 min·East Merrill Road
9
Continue on US 30; ID 34
2.6 mi·3 min·US 30; ID 34
10
Arrive at destination
US 30; ID 34
Trip Plan
Given this is a relatively short, single-day trip of under two hours, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Soda Springs and explore before heading back, or to settle in if you plan to stay. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, it's wise to ensure your tank is at least half-full before departing Idaho Falls. Keep an eye out for the various local road segments, as they can present different driving experiences compared to the highway portions.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.9 miles from Idaho Falls, ID, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.1 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 23 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.9 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Soda Springs, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Idaho Falls, ID
This is one driving day of about 105.7 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Idaho Falls, ID.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Highway for about 68.1 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 71.2 — 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
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|West Sunnyside Road
Turn left onto West Sunnyside Road
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
5
71.2 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 15 Business, US 30 East: Mc Cammon, Soda Springs, Montpelier
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 15 Business, US 30 East: Mc Cammon, So...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.75 one way
$33.50 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$17.56
$35.11
premium
$4.53
$18.86
$37.71
diesel
$5.61
$23.34
$46.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.7
0
$11.10
$5.07
Efficient EV
26.4
0
$9.25
$4.23
EV Truck/SUV
42.3
0
$14.80
$6.76
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Idaho Falls, ID
Afternoon
in Idaho Falls on Sunday
Local time
2:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
29°F
Partly Cloudy
E 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 10:04AM MDT until April 19 at 10:00AM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 10:04AM MDT until April 19 at 10:00AM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
Destination
Soda Springs, ID
Afternoon
in Soda Springs on Sunday
Local time
2:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live 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
29 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
1h 52m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with only a 30% share of highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 68.1 miles along Veterans Memorial Highway. You'll navigate through a mix of local roads, including Veterans Memorial Highway, East Merrill Road, and West Sunnyside Road. This means you'll be adjusting your speed and direction more frequently than on a pure interstate trip, so stay alert for changes in the road conditions and speed limits.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.1 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Stone Run Lane.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Idaho Falls, ID to Soda Springs, ID is easy. At 1h 52m with 3% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 0.2 miles (West Sunnyside Road): Navigation decision point.
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 Soda Springs, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Montpelier along the way.
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".
The longest stretch is about 68.1 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 0.2 miles (West Sunnyside Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Soda Springs, ID before heading back.
