Lewiston, ID to Shelley, ID is 537.8 miles and takes about 9h 58m via US 12 and I 15, with a fuel budget near $94 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route spans the Mountain West region, staying within Idaho for its entirety. It's a long-haul drive that will likely require an overnight stop, given the nearly 10 hours of estimated travel time. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward, albeit lengthy, trip across the state.
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
268.9 miles from Lewiston, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 12
212.4 mi
4h 42m
I 15
203.4 mi
3h 11m
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
111.5 mi
1h 45m
Brooks Street
3.3 mi
4m
North 800 East
2.3 mi
3m
South 45th West
1 mi
1m
North State Street
0.7 mi
1m
Idaho Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 212.4 mi, about 4h 42m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~385 veh/hr typical
· worst 543
Quietest
2 AM
~24 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16×
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 Shelley, 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
7.4 mi·8 min·US 12
Toward US 95 South: Missoula, BoiseUse the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto US 12
164 mi·3 hr 42 min·US 12
Toward US 12 East
9
Continue on US 12
33 mi·39 min·US 12
10
Continue on US 12; US 93
7.0 mi·9 min·US 12; US 93
11
Continue on Brooks Street
3.3 mi·4 min·Brooks Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 12
356 ft·16 sec·South Higgins Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto US 12
0.4 mi·36 sec·South 6th Street East
14
Turn left onto Arthur Avenue
0.2 mi·13 sec·Arthur Avenue
15
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi·15 sec·Madison Street
16
Take the exit onto US 12
0.2 mi·26 sec·US 12
17
Turn left onto I 90 Bus; US 12
435 ft·5 sec·Van Buren Street
18
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 12
0.2 mi·29 sec·I 90 Business; US 12
19
Merge onto I 90; US 12; MT 200
111 mi·1 hr 45 min·Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
21
Merge onto I 15
203 mi·3 hr 11 min·I 15
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward Shelley
23
Enter roundabout onto West 65th South
376 ft·6 sec·West 65th South
24
Continue on West 65th South
0.1 mi·9 sec·West 65th South
25
Enter roundabout onto South 45th West
107 ft·1 sec·South 45th West
26
Continue on South 45th West
1.0 mi·1 min·South 45th West
27
Continue on North 800 East
2.3 mi·3 min·North 800 East
28
Continue on Anderson Road
0.3 mi·31 sec·Anderson Road
29
At end of road, turn right onto US 91
0.7 mi·1 min·North State Street
30
Turn sharp left onto East Center Street
31 ft·0 sec·East Center Street
31
Arrive at destination
East Center Street
Trip Plan
Given the nearly 10-hour drive time, planning for an overnight stay is highly recommended. Splitting the drive into two days will make it more manageable and enjoyable. Consider departing early on your first day to cover a substantial portion of the 537.8 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 212.4-mile segment on US 12, where services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost is around $94, so budget accordingly.
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 268.9 miles from Lewiston, ID, or about 5h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 212.4 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 118 miles or 2h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 268.9 miles or 5h 40m 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 268.9 miles or 5h 40m
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 8h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shelley, 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 269 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Shelley, ID
Aim for roughly 269 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 118 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 12 for about 212.4 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 533.3 — 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
329.2 mi into trip|~6h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
5
533.3 mi into trip|~9h 50m in|West 65th South
Enter roundabout onto West 65th South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$102.75 one way
$205.51 round trip
$4.85/gal25.4 MPG avg188 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$109.68
$219.35
premium
$5.44
$115.27
$230.53
diesel
$6.38
$135.00
$270.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$103
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$233–$343
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 188.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
161.3
1
$56.47
$25.81
Efficient EV
134.5
1
$47.06
$21.51
EV Truck/SUV
215.1
2
$75.29
$34.42
Gas CO2
188 kg
EV CO2
63 kg (66% 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
Morning
in Lewiston on Saturday
Local time
8:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Partly Cloudy
E 5 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Shelley, ID
Morning
in Shelley on Saturday
Local time
9:45 AM
MDT
Current temp
32°F
Partly Cloudy
ESE 3 mph0% 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.
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
14 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
9h 58m 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...
7 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 74.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 77% of this trip. The longest continuous stretch without a significant break is 212.4 miles on US 12. Expect to transition from highway cruising to more rural driving as you approach your destination. The route features a significant amount of highway time, which generally means consistent speeds and fewer complex intersections for extended periods.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 212.4 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and I 15. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near 7th Avenue.
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 537.8 miles you will encounter 19 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 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
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,270 ft741 ft
Total Climb
6,338 ft
Total Descent
2,449 ft
Highest Point
6,270 ft
~461 mi in
Elevation Range
5,530 ft
Notable High Points
5,629 ft at ~345.8 miles+518 ft prominence
6,270 ft at ~461 miles+383 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 Lewiston, ID to Shelley, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Idaho Falls 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
9h 58m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 212.4 miles on US 12. 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 269 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 18 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 Shelley, 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 18 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 10.0 hours each way, a round trip means 19.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Shelley, ID before the return drive.
