Lewiston, ID to Ketchum, ID is 378.1 miles and takes about 8h 29m via US 95 and ID 75, with a fuel budget near $67 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though we recommend splitting it over two days. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, offering a consistent feel as you traverse the landscape. Given the duration and the recommendation for two days, it's a trip best suited for those who appreciate a more relaxed pace rather than a quick dash. Plan for a drive that provides ample time to enjoy the scenery without feeling rushed.
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
189.1 miles from Lewiston, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 95
135 mi
2h 35m
ID 75
61 mi
1h 30m
South 3rd Street
45.6 mi
1h 1m
Banks Lowman Road
33.3 mi
58m
Ponderosa Pine Scenic Route
32.8 mi
44m
ID 55
29 mi
41m
State Highway 21
24.4 mi
28m
US 12
10.3 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
US 95
— 135 mi, about 2h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lewiston, ID and Ketchum, 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
Turn left onto Banks Lowman Road
33 mi·58 min·Banks Lowman Road
17
Turn left onto ID 21
33 mi·44 min·Ponderosa Pine Scenic Route
18
Continue on ID 21
24 mi·28 min·State Highway 21
19
Continue on ID 21
1.0 mi·2 min·Eva Falls Avenue
20
At end of road, turn right onto ID 75
61 mi·1 hr 30 min·ID 75
21
Turn left onto ID 75 Spur
154 ft·6 sec·East Sun Valley Road
22
Turn right
87 ft·6 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 8-hour drive, breaking it into two days is wise, with the first day covering roughly half the distance. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight, especially since you'll have 2 planned stops to break up the 378.1 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the 135-mile stretch on US 95, as services might be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is around $67, so budget accordingly before you set out.
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 189.1 miles from Lewiston, ID, or about 3h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135 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 83 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.1 miles or 3h 54m 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 189.1 miles or 3h 54m
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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ketchum, 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.
+
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 Lewiston, ID
Aim for roughly 189 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Ketchum, ID
Aim for roughly 189 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Lewiston, 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 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 0.7 and 378.1 — 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
317.1 mi into trip|~6h 58m in|ID 75
At end of road, turn right onto ID 75
Navigation decision point
5
378.1 mi into trip|~8h 28m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.47 one way
$132.93 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg132 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$69.50
$139.00
premium
$4.99
$74.28
$148.56
diesel
$5.35
$79.64
$159.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$196–$306
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.4
1
$39.70
$18.15
Efficient EV
94.5
1
$33.08
$15.12
EV Truck/SUV
151.2
1
$52.93
$24.20
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Lewiston, ID
Afternoon
in Lewiston on Wednesday
Local time
1:37 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 2 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ketchum, ID
Afternoon
in Ketchum on Wednesday
Local time
2:37 PM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Clear
NNE 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
37°F
Cascade, ID
189 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
15 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
8h 29m 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.
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
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 65.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 69% of this 378.1-mile trip on highways, with the longest continuous highway stretch being 135 miles on US 95. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination, with the final legs likely involving more local traffic. Expect mostly highway cruising for a significant portion of the drive, punctuated by transitions onto different state routes as you progress.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 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 ID 75. 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 8h 29m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 15 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.
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.
Top landmarks
•Nave Apartments — apartment building in Lewiston, United States of America
The longest stretch is about 135 miles on US 95. 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 189 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Ketchum, 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 4 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 — Nez Perce National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.5 hours each way, a round trip means 17.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ketchum, ID before the return drive.
