Connecting Kimberly to Boise, this 136.6-mile journey across Idaho’s Mountain West takes roughly 2 hours and 16 minutes to complete. Given the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $22 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the region involves transitioning from East 3800 North onto the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway before finishing on South Broadway Avenue. It is a straightforward drive that serves as an efficient link between these two Idaho points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
68.3 miles from Kimberly, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
126.7 mi
1h 58m
East 3800 North
4.2 mi
5m
South Broadway Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
East Front Street
0.6 mi
1m
Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
ID 50
0.5 mi
<1m
North 3500 East
0.4 mi
<1m
Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 126.7 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kimberly, ID and Boise, ID.
1
Start on Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Continue on US 30
0.4 mi·39 sec·North 3500 East
3
Turn right onto ID 50
4.2 mi·5 min·East 3800 North
4
Continue on ID 50
0.5 mi·35 sec·ID 50
5
Continue on ID 50
484 ft·14 sec·South 1150 East
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
7
Merge onto I 84
127 mi·1 hr 58 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit onto US 20; US 26
0.3 mi·34 sec·Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
Exit 54Toward US 20, US 26: Broadway Avenue
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 20; US 26
438 ft·12 sec·Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
Toward US 20, US 26: Boise State University, City Center:Convention CenterUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto US 20; US 26
2.9 mi·5 min·South Broadway Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
0.6 mi·1 min·East Front Street
12
Turn right
55 ft·4 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the entire trip takes just over two hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. While there are no formal stops scheduled, the relatively short duration means you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing extended breaks. Keep in mind that because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should stay alert to changing road conditions as you transition between local streets and the main highway. Budgeting $22 for gas is sufficient, but ensure your tank is ready for the 136.6-mile run before you leave Kimberly. If you prefer a relaxed pace, consider leaving mid-morning to avoid potential traffic when entering the Boise area.
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 68.3 miles from Kimberly, ID, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.7 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 30 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.3 miles or 1h 7m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boise, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kimberly, 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 Kimberly, ID
This is one driving day of about 136.6 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Kimberly, ID.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway for about 126.7 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 133.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1 mi into trip|~1m in|ID 50 / East 3800 North
Turn right onto ID 50 / East 3800 North
Navigation decision point
4
5.8 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
132.8 mi into trip|~2h 8m 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: Broadway Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 54
Toward US 20, US 26: Broadway Avenue
9
133 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|US 20; US 26 / Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 20; US 26 / Idaho Medal of Honor Highway toward US 20, US 26: Boise State University, City Center:Convention Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 20, US 26: Boise State University, Ci...
5
133.1 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|US 20; US 26 / South Broadway Avenue
Turn right onto US 20; US 26 / South Broadway Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.65 one way
$43.29 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$22.69
$45.38
premium
$4.53
$24.37
$48.74
diesel
$5.61
$30.16
$60.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41
0
$14.34
$6.56
Efficient EV
34.2
0
$11.95
$5.46
EV Truck/SUV
54.6
0
$19.12
$8.74
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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 12, 2026
Origin
Kimberly, ID
Late night
in Kimberly on Sunday
Local time
1:44 AM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
ESE 7 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Boise, ID
Late night
in Boise on Sunday
Local time
1:44 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°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
19 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
2h 16m 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.
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
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 42.4
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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. The route features no dedicated highway percentage, as the road composition relies on local segments and the primary memorial highway. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, which accounts for a 126.7-mile stretch of the journey. Because the road lacks significant highway-speed stretches, you should prepare for a varied driving experience that shifts from rural local roads to more structured segments as you approach Boise. The personality of this drive is practical and functional, requiring you to navigate turns rather than settle into long, straight-line highway travel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 126.7 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 around 1 miles in near ID 50 / East 3800 North.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 16m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (ID 50 / East 3800 North): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 132.8 miles (US 20; US 26 / Idaho Medal of Honor Highway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Boise is the capital and largest city of Idaho. Boise offers numerous recreational opportunities, including extensive hiking and biking in the foothills to the immediate north of downtown. Boise is a regional hub for jazz, theater, and indie music, and is home to several museums.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 126.7 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 1 miles (ID 50 / East 3800 North): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 132.8 miles (US 20; US 26 / Idaho Medal of Honor Highway): 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Boise, ID before heading back.
