Traveling from Kimberly to Lewiston covers a 404.7-mile journey across the Mountain West, requiring approximately 8 hours and 1 minute of pure drive time. Given the length and the technical nature of the roads, you should plan for at least two days to complete the trip comfortably. You will navigate via the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, North Norris Avenue, and US 95. Budgeting around $64 for fuel is a solid starting point for your planning. Because this route is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, it is best treated as a multi-day excursion rather than a grueling single-day sprint.
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
202.4 miles from Kimberly, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
131.4 mi
2h 4m
North Norris Avenue
76.4 mi
1h 26m
US 95
67.5 mi
1h 18m
Main Street
46.2 mi
1h 2m
Horseshoe Bend Road
18.9 mi
25m
Highway 55
18.4 mi
27m
West Lake Street
10.6 mi
16m
North Horseshoe Bend Road
8.8 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 131.4 mi, about 2h 4m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 83 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,061 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,434
Quietest
2 AM
~151 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.6×
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 Kimberly, ID and Lewiston, 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
131 mi·2 hr 4 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 50AToward Cole Road, Overland RoadUse the right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
232 ft·12 sec
Toward Cole RoadUse the left / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto South Cole Road
0.8 mi·1 min·South Cole Road
11
Continue on North Cole Road
2.6 mi·5 min·North Cole Road
Use the left lane.
12
At end of road, turn left onto North Mountain View Drive
0.2 mi·39 sec·North Mountain View Drive
13
Turn right onto North Glenwood Street
1.7 mi·3 min·North Glenwood Street
14
Turn left onto ID 44
2.3 mi·3 min·West State Street
15
Take the ramp
513 ft·14 sec
Toward SH-55
16
Merge onto ID 55
8.8 mi·11 min·North Horseshoe Bend Road
17
Continue on ID 55
5.9 mi·7 min·Payette River Scenic Byway
18
Continue on ID 55
2.4 mi·3 min·Highway 55
19
Continue on ID 55
0.4 mi·29 sec·Horseshoe Bend Road
20
Continue on ID 55
16 mi·24 min·Highway 55
21
Continue on ID 55
18 mi·25 min·Horseshoe Bend Road
22
Continue on ID 55
46 mi·1 hr 1 min·Main Street
23
Turn left onto Deinhard Lane
1.6 mi·2 min·Deinhard Lane
24
Continue on Boydstun Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Boydstun Street
25
At end of road, turn left onto ID 55
11 mi·16 min·West Lake Street
26
Turn right onto US 95
76 mi·1 hr 26 min·North Norris Avenue
27
Turn left onto Johnston Road
2.2 mi·5 min·Johnston Road
28
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
67 mi·1 hr 18 min·US 95
Use the straight lane.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12
1.6 mi·3 min·US 12
Toward Lewiston
30
Turn right onto Idaho Street
0.8 mi·2 min·Idaho Street
31
Turn left
105 ft·7 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To manage the 404.7-mile distance, consider splitting your travel into two days to account for the winding nature of the roads. You should plan for at least two designated stops along the way to break up the technical driving and keep your focus sharp. Since fuel costs for the trip are estimated at $64, try to top off your tank before departing Kimberly to avoid searching for stations on more remote segments. Given that the route is turn-heavy, departing early in the morning allows you to navigate the more demanding stretches during daylight hours when visibility is best.
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 202.4 miles from Kimberly, ID, or about 3h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.4 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 89 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 202.4 miles or 3h 49m 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 202.4 miles or 3h 49m
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 6h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewiston, 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.
+
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 Kimberly, ID
Aim for roughly 202 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Lewiston, ID
Aim for roughly 202 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Kimberly, 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 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway for about 131.4 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 6.1 and 402.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.1 mi into trip|~9m in|I 84 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 84 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
137.5 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward Cole Road, Overland Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 50A
Toward Cole Road, Overland Road
8
137.7 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Cole Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward Cole Road
7
334.9 mi into trip|~6h 37m in|US 95
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
402.4 mi into trip|~7h 56m in|US 12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12 toward Lewiston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Lewiston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.08 one way
$126.16 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg142 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$66.49
$132.98
premium
$4.47
$71.28
$142.57
diesel
$4.80
$76.42
$152.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$193–$303
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 141.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
121.4
1
$42.49
$19.43
Efficient EV
101.2
1
$35.41
$16.19
EV Truck/SUV
161.9
2
$56.66
$25.90
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
47 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
Kimberly, ID
Late night
in Kimberly on Sunday
Local time
4:42 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
ESE 5 to 9 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 9:07PM MDT by NWS Boise ID
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 16 at 1:07PM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
Destination
Lewiston, ID
Late night
in Lewiston on Sunday
Local time
3:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 2 to 8 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 9:07PM MDT by NWS Boise ID
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued July 16 at 1:07PM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
88°F
Cascade, ID
202 mi in
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
8h 1m 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.
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 41.9
Caution: Use Caution with "Fossil Beds Information" Signs
Caution: If You Can't Reach Us By Phone, Please Email Us
Since time immemorial, the valleys, prairies, mountains, and plateaus of the inland northwest have been home to the nimíipuu (Nez Perce) people. Extremely resilient, they survived the settling of the...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 334.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a road personality that prioritizes local navigation over high-speed interstate cruising, with only 22% of the trip consisting of major highway stretches. You will spend your longest uninterrupted time on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, which spans 131.4 miles of the journey. The path is notably turn-heavy, requiring your full attention as you transition between local roads and US 95. This isn't a route where you can put the car on cruise control for hours; instead, be prepared for a more engaged, technical driving experience that changes character as you move through different sections of Idaho.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 131.4 mi on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.1 miles in near I 84 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 404.7 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.1 miles (I 84 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 137.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 137.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,866 ft741 ft
Total Climb
4,598 ft
Total Descent
7,782 ft
Highest Point
4,866 ft
~231.3 mi in
Elevation Range
4,125 ft
Notable High Points
4,866 ft at ~231.3 miles+60 ft prominence
3,489 ft at ~346.9 miles+1,136 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 Kimberly, ID to Lewiston, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Sh-55 along the way.
Lewiston is the county seat of and largest city in Nez Perce County, Idaho. It is the second largest city in the Idaho Panhandle region behind Coeur d'Alene. It sits across the river from Clarkston, Washington. In 2020, Lewiston was home to 34,000 people. Like Pocatello, Lewiston has a strong working-class heritage. Industries related to timber and logging pursuits have long been key to the city's economy. Because the Columbia and later the Snake River are navigable by some ocean-going vessels all the way to Lewiston, the city has the distinction of being Idaho's only port city, and the furthest inland port in the western United States.
Top landmarks
•Nave Apartments — apartment building in Lewiston, United States of America
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 131.4 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. 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 202 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 15 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 route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lewiston, 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 15 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 6.1 miles (I 84 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 137.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 137.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument and Nez Perce National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 16.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lewiston, ID before the return drive.
