Lewiston, ID to Buhl, ID is 388.2 miles and takes about 7h 51m via US 95, with a fuel budget near $61 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward drive through Idaho. It's a single-day option that requires minimal planning, making it suitable for a quick transit or a leisurely exploration of the state's central corridor. Consider this route if you need to cover ground efficiently while still experiencing the varied landscapes of the region.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
194.1 miles from Lewiston, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 95
135 mi
2h 35m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
105.6 mi
1h 39m
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
Longest stretch:
US 95
— 135 mi, about 2h 35m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 134 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,271 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,739
Quietest
2 AM
~170 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Lewiston, ID and Buhl, 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
2.4 mi·3 min·East State Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Turn right onto ID 44
1.7 mi·3 min·North Glenwood Street
25
Turn left onto North Mountain View Drive
0.2 mi·38 sec·North Mountain View Drive
26
Turn right onto North Cole Road
2.6 mi·5 min·North Cole Road
Use the left lane.
27
Continue on South Cole Road
1.2 mi·2 min·South Cole Road
28
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 84 EastUse the left lane.
29
Merge onto I 84; US 30
106 mi·1 hr 39 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward ID 46: Wendell
31
Turn right onto ID 46
4.8 mi·7 min·South 1950 East
32
Continue on ID 46
4.3 mi·6 min·East 3500 South
33
Continue on ID 46
4.8 mi·7 min·North 1500 East Road
34
Turn right onto Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
35
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour, 388-mile drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to ensure ample daylight. With two planned stops, you can break up the 135-mile longest stretch on US 95 to refuel or stretch your legs. The fuel cost is estimated at $61, so budget accordingly. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have flexibility, but be aware that highway driving concludes about halfway through, so be prepared for slower speeds on surface roads as you get closer to Buhl.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 194.1 miles from Lewiston, ID, or about 4h 1m 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 85 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 194.1 miles or 4h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buhl, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lewiston, ID
This is one driving day of about 388.2 miles and 7h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Lewiston, ID.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 267.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
6
267.4 mi into trip|~5h 48m in
Take the ramp toward I 84 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 84 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$69.92 one way
$139.84 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg136 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$73.02
$146.05
premium
$5.11
$78.04
$156.07
diesel
$6.18
$94.44
$188.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 135.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
116.5
1
$40.76
$18.63
Efficient EV
97.1
1
$33.97
$15.53
EV Truck/SUV
155.3
1
$54.35
$24.84
Gas CO2
136 kg
EV CO2
45 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Lewiston, ID
Late night
in Lewiston on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Partly Cloudy
E 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Buhl, ID
Late night
in Buhl on Sunday
Local time
3:42 AM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Partly Cloudy
ESE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
28°F
Cascade, ID
194 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.
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
4 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
7h 51m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 361.4
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...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 66.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features 49% highway driving, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 135 miles on US 95. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface roads, with the highway portion likely ending around the halfway point. Expect some rural cruising after transitioning off the main highway, as you navigate towards your destination. The change from high-speed highway to surface streets will be noticeable as you approach your final destination.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
35 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 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 0.7 miles in near 7th Avenue.
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 7h 51m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 19 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
Buhl is a town of 4,500 people (2019) in South Central Idaho, 20 miles west of Twin Falls. Known as the "Trout Capital of the World," Buhl is the location of numerous hatcheries in the immediate surrounding area, which produce a majority of the rainbow trout consumed in the United States.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 135 miles on US 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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 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 Buhl, 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 13 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 0.7 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Buhl, ID before the return drive.
