Lewiston Orchards, ID to Shelley, ID is 539.9 miles and takes about 10h 2m via US 12 and I 15, with a fuel budget near $96 and an overnight recommendation. This route spans the Mountain West region, remaining within Idaho for its entirety. It's a long-haul drive that covers a significant distance, best tackled over two days to avoid fatigue. Plan for a substantial amount of time on the road, making lodging arrangements for an overnight stop. The majority of the miles are on major highways, offering a relatively direct path between these two Idaho locations.
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
270 miles from Lewiston Orchards, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 44m 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
Thain Road
1.9 mi
4m
21st Street
1.1 mi
2m
South 45th West
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 212.4 mi, about 4h 42m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~384 veh/hr typical
· worst 527
Quietest
2 AM
~24 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Orchards, ID and Shelley, ID.
1
Start on this road
145 ft·12 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right
62 ft·6 sec
3
Turn right onto Bryden Avenue
207 ft·10 sec·Bryden Avenue
4
Turn slight right onto Thain Road
1.9 mi·4 min·Thain Road
5
Continue on 21st Street
1.1 mi·2 min·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 10-hour duration, splitting this 539.9-mile drive over two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight driving. The longest stretch without a significant change in main road is 212.4 miles on US 12, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. Plan for your overnight stop roughly halfway through the total duration, around the 5-hour mark, to break up the driving comfortably. This pacing will help manage the $96 fuel cost and ensure you arrive in Shelley, ID feeling refreshed.
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 270 miles from Lewiston Orchards, ID, or about 5h 44m 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 119 miles or 2h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 270 miles or 5h 44m 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 270 miles or 5h 44m
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 9h 2m
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 Orchards, 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 Orchards, ID
Aim for roughly 270 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Shelley, ID
Aim for roughly 270 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 119 miles from Lewiston Orchards, 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 535.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Bryden Avenue
Turn right onto Bryden Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
4 mi into trip|~9m 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
331.3 mi into trip|~6h 42m 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
535.4 mi into trip|~9h 55m in|West 65th South
Enter roundabout onto West 65th South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$94.91 one way
$189.82 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg189 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$99.24
$198.49
premium
$4.99
$106.07
$212.13
diesel
$5.35
$113.72
$227.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$95
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$225–$335
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 188.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
162
1
$56.69
$25.92
Efficient EV
135
1
$47.24
$21.60
EV Truck/SUV
216
2
$75.59
$34.55
Gas CO2
189 kg
EV CO2
63 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 Orchards, ID
Afternoon
in Lewiston Orchards on Wednesday
Local time
12:05 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Shelley, ID
Afternoon
in Shelley on Wednesday
Local time
1:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
37°F
Partly Cloudy
NNE 5 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
11 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
10h 2m 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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 74.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on major roadways, with 77% of the 539.9 miles covered on highways. You'll experience a long stretch of 212.4 miles on US 12 before transitioning to I 15. Expect to transition from potentially more rural cruising on US 12 to a higher volume of traffic and more frequent exits on I 15. The significant highway share suggests a consistent pace for most of the trip, with some variation as you shift between these main arteries.
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 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 539.9 miles you will encounter 17 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (Bryden Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4 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
6,290 ft971 ft
Total Climb
6,253 ft
Total Descent
3,064 ft
Highest Point
6,290 ft
~462.8 mi in
Elevation Range
5,319 ft
Notable High Points
5,675 ft at ~347.1 miles+570 ft prominence
6,290 ft at ~462.8 miles+405 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 Orchards, ID to Shelley, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Idaho Falls along the way.
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
10h 2m 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 270 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (Bryden Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4 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 20.1 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.
