If you are planning to travel from Kimberly to Pocatello, expect a straightforward 109-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes. This trip sits entirely within the Mountain West region of Idaho, making it a very manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $17 for fuel to complete the transit. Navigating this route involves a mix of roads, primarily utilizing I-86, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, and US-30. Because of the quick duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule without worrying about complex logistics.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.5 miles from Kimberly, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 86
58.3 mi
54m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
39.1 mi
36m
US 30
4.8 mi
7m
East 3800 North
4.2 mi
5m
Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
North 3500 East
0.4 mi
<1m
ID 50
0.4 mi
<1m
North 7th Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 58.3 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kimberly, ID and Pocatello, 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
0.4 mi·27 sec·ID 50
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
6
Merge onto I 84
39 mi·36 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
7
Continue on I 86; US 30
58 mi·54 min·I 86; US 30
8
Take the exit onto US 30
0.3 mi·38 sec·US 30
Exit 58Toward US 30: West Pocatello
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 30
4.5 mi·6 min·US 30
Exit 58Toward US 30: West Pocatello
10
Turn left onto US 30
0.3 mi·28 sec·East Gould Street
11
Continue on Gould Street
347 ft·11 sec·Gould Street
12
Turn right onto I 15 BUS; US 91
0.1 mi·15 sec·Pocatello Avenue
13
Turn left onto North 7th Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·North 7th Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
North 7th Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 109-mile drive, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever it suits your plans. Even though there are no scheduled stops required to finish the 1 hour and 50-minute trip, consider checking your fuel levels before heading out to ensure you stay within your $17 budget. Because the route relies heavily on I-86, keep an eye on traffic patterns during peak hours to maintain your expected travel time. Use the flexibility of this short trip to your benefit by choosing a departure time that avoids the heaviest congestion. Always keep your focus sharp during the long 58.3-mile stretch on the interstate to ensure you remain alert behind the wheel.
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 54.5 miles from Kimberly, ID, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.3 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 24 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.5 miles or 54m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pocatello, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kimberly, ID
This is one driving day of about 109 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Kimberly, ID.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 86 for about 58.3 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 1 and 108.6 — 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
5
103.3 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|US 30
Take the exit onto US 30 toward US 30: West Pocatello
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 58
Toward US 30: West Pocatello
6
103.6 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|US 30
Keep slight right at fork onto US 30 toward US 30: West Pocatello
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 58
Toward US 30: West Pocatello
5
108.5 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|I 15 BUS; US 91 / Pocatello Avenue
Turn right onto I 15 BUS; US 91 / Pocatello Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
108.6 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|North 7th Avenue
Turn left onto North 7th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.27 one way
$34.55 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$18.11
$36.21
premium
$4.53
$19.44
$38.89
diesel
$5.61
$24.07
$48.13
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: 38.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.7
0
$11.44
$5.23
Efficient EV
27.3
0
$9.54
$4.36
EV Truck/SUV
43.6
0
$15.26
$6.98
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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
Night
in Kimberly on Saturday
Local time
10:20 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
ESE 7 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pocatello, ID
Night
in Pocatello on Saturday
Local time
10:20 PM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 6 mph5% chanceLive 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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 50m 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 trip offers a mixed drive experience that transitions between different road types as you make your way across the state. With 58% of the route consisting of highway travel, you will spend a significant portion of your time maintaining consistent speeds. The most notable segment is a 58.3-mile stretch on I-86, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the drive. While the transition between highway sections and local roads keeps the experience varied, you should be prepared for the change in pace when exiting the interstate. Overall, the road personality is functional and efficient, designed for steady progress.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.3 mi on I 86.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near ID 50 / East 3800 North.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kimberly, ID to Pocatello, ID is easy. At 1h 50m with 58% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (ID 50 / East 3800 North): Navigation decision point; at 103.3 miles (US 30): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 103.6 miles (US 30): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
4,483 ft3,924 ft
Total Climb
1,071 ft
Total Descent
532 ft
Highest Point
4,483 ft
~49.9 mi in
Elevation Range
559 ft
Notable High Points
4,164 ft at ~13.6 miles+46 ft prominence
4,235 ft at ~22.7 miles+4 ft prominence
4,483 ft at ~49.9 miles+132 ft prominence
4,425 ft at ~63.6 miles+74 ft prominence
4,419 ft at ~81.7 miles+6 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 109 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 58.3 miles on I 86. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 1 miles (ID 50 / East 3800 North): Navigation decision point; at 103.3 miles (US 30): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 103.6 miles (US 30): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pocatello, ID before heading back.
