Spanning 465.9 miles across Idaho, this trek from Kamiah to Idaho Falls takes approximately 8 hours and 34 minutes of pure driving time. Because of the significant distance, I highly recommend splitting this journey over two days to avoid fatigue. You should budget roughly $74 for fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency and current gas prices. The route navigates through the Mountain West, transitioning between smaller local corridors and major transit arteries. Whether you are looking for a steady haul or a relaxed pace, planning for an overnight stay makes this cross-state trip far more manageable.
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
233 miles from Kamiah, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 15
198 mi
3h 5m
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
111.5 mi
1h 45m
3rd Street
108.1 mi
2h 38m
US 12
39.8 mi
49m
Brooks Street
3.3 mi
4m
South Boulevard
1 mi
2m
South Utah Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
West 17th Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 15
— 198 mi, about 3h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kamiah, ID and Idaho Falls, ID.
1
Start on Hill Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·Hill Street
2
Turn right onto US 12
108 mi·2 hr 38 min·3rd Street
3
Continue on US 12
33 mi·39 min·US 12
4
Continue on US 12; US 93
7.0 mi·9 min·US 12; US 93
5
Continue on Brooks Street
3.3 mi·4 min·Brooks Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 12
356 ft·16 sec·South Higgins Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto US 12
0.4 mi·36 sec·South 6th Street East
8
Turn left onto Arthur Avenue
0.2 mi·13 sec·Arthur Avenue
9
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi·15 sec·Madison Street
10
Take the exit onto US 12
0.2 mi·26 sec·US 12
11
Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12
435 ft·5 sec·Van Buren Street
12
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
0.2 mi·29 sec·I 90 Business; US 12
13
Merge onto I 90; US 12; MT 200
111 mi·1 hr 45 min·Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
15
Merge onto I 15
198 mi·3 hr 5 min·I 15
16
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS; US 20
0.3 mi·46 sec·I 15 BUS; US 20
Toward I 15 Business, US 20 West: Historic Downtown, Arco
17
Continue on I 15 BUS; US 20
0.4 mi·54 sec·West Broadway Street
18
Turn right onto South Utah Avenue
0.5 mi·50 sec·South Utah Avenue
19
Enter roundabout onto South Utah Avenue
103 ft·2 sec·South Utah Avenue
20
Continue on South Utah Avenue
0.1 mi·23 sec·South Utah Avenue
21
Turn left onto Pancheri Drive
0.4 mi·42 sec·Pancheri Drive
22
Continue on West 17th Street
0.6 mi·57 sec·West 17th Street
23
Turn right onto South Boulevard
1.0 mi·2 min·South Boulevard
24
Continue on Stonebrook Lane
466 ft·14 sec·Stonebrook Lane
25
Turn right onto West Stone Run Lane
241 ft·16 sec·West Stone Run Lane
26
Turn left onto Charleston Lane
152 ft·6 sec·Charleston Lane
27
Arrive at destination
Charleston Lane
Trip Plan
Given the 8.5-hour duration, try to get an early start to maximize your daylight hours and avoid heavy traffic near the destination. Plan for at least two deliberate stops to stretch your legs and refuel, as the long 198-mile segment on I-15 can be taxing. Since you are crossing a significant portion of the state, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the less populated sections of the route. If you choose to split the trip, look for accommodations midway to break up the drive effectively. Always check the status of the Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway before departing to ensure your planned pace remains realistic for your schedule.
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 233 miles from Kamiah, ID, or about 4h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 198 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 102 miles or 2h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 233 miles or 4h 50m 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 233 miles or 4h 50m
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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Idaho Falls, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kamiah, 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 Kamiah, ID
Aim for roughly 233 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Idaho Falls, ID
Aim for roughly 233 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 102 miles from Kamiah, 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 15 for about 198 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 151.2 and 465.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
151.2 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|US 12 / South 6th Street East
Turn right onto US 12 / South 6th Street East
Navigation decision point
5
264 mi into trip|~5h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
5
462.5 mi into trip|~8h 27m in|I 15 BUS; US 20
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS; US 20 toward I 15 Business, US 20 West: Historic Downtown, Arco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 15 Business, US 20 West: Historic Down...
5
465.9 mi into trip|~8h 34m in|West Stone Run Lane
Turn right onto West Stone Run Lane
Navigation decision point
5
465.9 mi into trip|~8h 34m in|Charleston Lane
Turn left onto Charleston Lane
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$73.83 one way
$147.66 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg163 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$77.39
$154.77
premium
$4.53
$83.11
$166.22
diesel
$5.61
$102.86
$205.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$204–$314
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 163 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
139.8
1
$48.92
$22.36
Efficient EV
116.5
1
$40.77
$18.64
EV Truck/SUV
186.4
2
$65.23
$29.82
Gas CO2
163 kg
EV CO2
55 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Kamiah, ID
Evening
in Kamiah on Saturday
Local time
6:10 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Idaho Falls, ID
Evening
in Idaho Falls on Saturday
Local time
7:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
63°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.
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
16 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
8h 34m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience that keeps you attentive behind the wheel. The route is composed of 51% highway driving, blending stretches of the Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway and 3rd Street with the faster pace of I-15. You will encounter a lengthy 198-mile stretch on I-15, which serves as the primary interstate portion of the trip. As you transition between these different road types, the character of the drive shifts from local transit to high-speed interstate travel. The variety ensures you aren't stuck on a single type of road for the entire 465.9-mile duration.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 198 mi on I 15.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 151.2 miles in near US 12 / South 6th Street East.
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 8h 34m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 17 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 151.2 miles (US 12 / South 6th Street East): Navigation decision point; at 264 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 462.5 miles (I 15 BUS; US 20): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,706 ft2,882 ft
Total Climb
3,893 ft
Total Descent
2,070 ft
Highest Point
6,706 ft
~388.3 mi in
Elevation Range
3,823 ft
Notable High Points
6,706 ft at ~388.3 miles+477 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 198 miles on I 15. 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 233 miles on day one.
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.
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 Idaho Falls, 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. 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: at 151.2 miles (US 12 / South 6th Street East): Navigation decision point; at 264 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 462.5 miles (I 15 BUS; US 20): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.6 hours each way, a round trip means 17.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Idaho Falls, ID before the return drive.
