Connecting Lewiston to Boise, this 267.5-mile journey is a direct trek across the Idaho landscape. You should plan for approximately 5 hours and 48 minutes of drive time, making it a manageable, albeit long, one-day trip. With a fuel budget of about $42, the route primarily utilizes US 95 and ID 55 to navigate through the Mountain West. Since the entire drive stays within Idaho, you won't need to worry about crossing state lines or changing time zones mid-trip. It is a straightforward corridor that works best as a single-day push for those comfortable with nearly six hours behind the wheel.
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
133.7 miles from Lewiston, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 95
135 mi
2h 35m
South 3rd Street
45.6 mi
1h 1m
ID 55
31.1 mi
46m
Highway 55
15 mi
20m
US 12
10.3 mi
13m
North Horseshoe Bend Road
8.9 mi
12m
Payette River Scenic Byway
5.9 mi
7m
East State Street
5.4 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
US 95
— 135 mi, about 2h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lewiston, ID and Boise, ID.
1
Start on this road
105 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Idaho Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Idaho Street
3
Turn right onto 19th Street
288 ft·18 sec·19th Street
4
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·30 sec·7th Avenue
5
At end of road, turn left onto 21st Street
339 ft·10 sec·21st Street
6
Continue on US 12
1.0 mi·2 min·US 12
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
9.3 mi·11 min·US 12
Toward US 95 South: Missoula, BoiseUse the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 95
59 mi·1 hr 8 min·US 95
9
Turn right onto Johnston Road
2.2 mi·5 min·Johnston Road
10
Turn right onto US 95
76 mi·1 hr 26 min·US 95
11
Turn left onto ID 55
11 mi·16 min·ID 55
12
Turn right onto Boydstun Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Boydstun Street
13
Continue on East Deinhard Lane
1.6 mi·2 min·East Deinhard Lane
14
Turn right onto ID 55
46 mi·1 hr 1 min·South 3rd Street
15
Continue on ID 55
18 mi·25 min·ID 55
16
Continue on ID 55
13 mi·17 min·Highway 55
17
Continue on ID 55
1.3 mi·1 min·Horseshoe Bend Road
18
Continue on ID 55
2.0 mi·5 min·ID 55
19
Continue on ID 55
0.4 mi·29 sec·Horseshoe Bend Road
20
Continue on ID 55
2.4 mi·3 min·Highway 55
21
Continue on ID 55
5.9 mi·7 min·Payette River Scenic Byway
22
Continue on ID 55
8.9 mi·12 min·North Horseshoe Bend Road
23
Turn left onto ID 44
5.4 mi·9 min·East State Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto West State Street
2.4 mi·6 min·West State Street
25
Turn right onto North 6th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North 6th Street
26
Turn right onto US 20; US 26
263 ft·8 sec·West Front Street
27
Turn right
55 ft·4 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To keep your energy high, aim to depart early in the morning so you can reach your destination before evening traffic intensifies. Although the route is doable in one go, scheduling at least one planned stop will help break up the nearly six-hour duration. Because the longest stretch covers 135 miles on US 95, be sure to check your fuel levels before starting that segment to avoid unnecessary stress. Since you only have one stop factored into the schedule, use it strategically to stretch your legs and refuel your vehicle. Staying flexible with your timing is a major advantage on this route, as it allows you to adjust for any unexpected road conditions along the way.
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 133.7 miles from Lewiston, ID, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135 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 59 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.7 miles or 2h 39m 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 35m
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 Lewiston, 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 Lewiston, ID
This is one driving day of about 267.5 miles and 5h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Lewiston, 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 US 95 for about 135 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 259.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Idaho Street
Turn right onto Idaho Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|7th Avenue
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|21st Street
At end of road, turn left onto 21st Street
Navigation decision point
8
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|US 12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12 toward US 95 South: Missoula, Boise
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 95 South: Missoula, Boise
5
259.3 mi into trip|~5h 31m in|ID 44 / East State Street
Turn left onto ID 44 / East State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.39 one way
$84.78 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$44.43
$88.86
premium
$4.53
$47.72
$95.44
diesel
$5.61
$59.06
$118.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.3
0
$28.09
$12.84
Efficient EV
66.9
0
$23.41
$10.70
EV Truck/SUV
107
1
$37.45
$17.12
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Lewiston, ID
Late night
in Lewiston on Tuesday
Local time
1:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Chance Light Rain
NE 3 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Boise, ID
Late night
in Boise on Tuesday
Local time
2:46 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
18 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 48m 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.
Nez Perce National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 73.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that is heavily highway-focused, with 72% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. The route kicks off with a significant 135-mile stretch on US 95, which serves as the backbone of your travel. As you transition from South 3rd Street onto ID 55, the character of the road shifts, offering a mix of highway speeds and regional road navigation. While the terrain is consistent with the Mountain West, the experience remains practical and focused on efficiency rather than leisurely cruising. You will spend most of your time maintaining a steady pace on these arterial highways.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 135 mi on US 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 95 and South 3rd Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Idaho Street.
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 48m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Idaho Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (21st Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
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.
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.
Top landmarks
•Idaho State Capitol — Idaho state capitol building in Boise, Idaho, U.S.A.
•Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist — church in Idaho, United States
•Morris Hill Cemetery Mausoleum — mausoleum in Morris Hill Cemetery, Boise, Idaho
The longest stretch is about 135 miles on US 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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. 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: near the start (Idaho Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (21st Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Nez Perce National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Boise, ID before the return drive.
