Iona, ID to Caldwell, ID is 311.9 miles and takes about 5h 8m via Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway and I 86, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward trip entirely within Idaho. Given its manageable length and estimated duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. You'll primarily navigate surface roads, so expect a cruising pace rather than high-speed highway travel. Plan for a steady drive with minimal need for an overnight stop.
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
155.9 miles from Iona, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
192.4 mi
3h 6m
I 86
62.7 mi
59m
Veterans Memorial Highway
46.5 mi
44m
East Iona Road
4.6 mi
8m
Rigby Highway
2 mi
2m
Blaine Street
0.8 mi
1m
North 21st Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Franklin Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 192.4 mi, about 3h 6m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 160 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,828 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~178 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.9×
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 Iona, ID and Caldwell, ID.
1
Start on Olson Avenue
424 ft·20 sec·Olson Avenue
2
Turn right onto East Iona Road
0.6 mi·1 min·East Iona Road
3
Enter roundabout onto East Iona Road
129 ft·2 sec·East Iona Road
4
Continue on East Iona Road
2.0 mi·3 min·East Iona Road
5
Enter roundabout onto East Iona Road
107 ft·1 sec·East Iona Road
6
Continue on East Iona Road
2.0 mi·3 min·East Iona Road
7
At end of road, turn right onto US 20 BUS
0.2 mi·27 sec·North 5th East
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
9
Merge onto US 20
2.0 mi·2 min·Rigby Highway
10
Merge onto US 20
0.1 mi·14 sec·Grandview Drive
11
Take the exit onto US 20
0.3 mi·36 sec·US 20
Toward I 15 South: Arco, Pocatello
12
Merge onto I 15; US 20
47 mi·44 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·43 sec
Exit 72Toward I 86 West: Chubbuck, Twin Falls
14
Continue on I 86
63 mi·59 min·I 86
15
Continue on I 84; US 30
192 mi·3 hr 6 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward US 20, US 26 EastUse the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
0.4 mi·52 sec·Franklin Road
18
Continue on North 21st Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North 21st Avenue
19
Turn right onto I 84 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Blaine Street
20
Turn left onto South 10th Avenue
166 ft·9 sec·South 10th Avenue
21
Turn left
68 ft·6 sec
22
Turn right
79 ft·5 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Iona to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a mostly surface road profile, you have flexibility in pacing. The fuel cost estimate of $51 suggests budgeting a bit extra for potential price fluctuations. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 192.4-mile stretch on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent than on major interstates. The 20% highway share means you'll be passing through many small towns, so be mindful of local speed limits.
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 155.9 miles from Iona, ID, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 192.4 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 69 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.9 miles or 2h 35m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Caldwell, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Iona, 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 Iona, ID
This is one driving day of about 311.9 miles and 5h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Iona, 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 192.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 309.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|East Iona Road
Enter roundabout onto East Iona Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in|East Iona Road
Enter roundabout onto East Iona Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
7.3 mi into trip|~13m 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
54 mi into trip|~57m 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
7
309.8 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Take the exit toward US 20, US 26 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward US 20, US 26 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.61 one way
$97.23 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$51.24
$102.48
premium
$4.47
$54.94
$109.88
diesel
$4.80
$58.89
$117.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.6
1
$32.75
$14.97
Efficient EV
78
0
$27.29
$12.48
EV Truck/SUV
124.8
1
$43.67
$19.96
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 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
Iona, ID
Late night
in Iona on Sunday
Local time
3:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
89°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 5 to 8 mph43% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 12:19PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:26AM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
Destination
Caldwell, ID
Late night
in Caldwell on Sunday
Local time
3:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
97°F
Patchy Smoke
WNW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 12:19PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:26AM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
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
8 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
5h 8m 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
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 193.6
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?
This drive features a highway share of 20%, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 192.4 miles along the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. You'll transition from highway cruising to navigating local roads, likely noticing more frequent intersections and a generally slower pace as you approach your destination. Expect to encounter more varied terrain and traffic patterns typical of surface road travel.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 192.4 mi on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 around 0.6 miles in near East Iona Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 8m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (East Iona Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.6 miles (East Iona Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.3 miles (US 20): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
4,784 ft2,374 ft
Total Climb
1,021 ft
Total Descent
3,431 ft
Highest Point
4,784 ft
Elevation Range
2,409 ft
Notable High Points
4,439 ft at ~111.4 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.
On the drive from Iona, ID to Caldwell, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Twin Falls along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 192.4 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 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.
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. There are 21 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 0.6 miles (East Iona Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.6 miles (East Iona Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.3 miles (US 20): 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 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Caldwell, ID before the return drive.
