Connecting Malad City to Idaho Falls, this 107.1-mile journey takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Budgeting around $17 for fuel should cover your travel costs, leaving you with plenty of flexibility for your schedule. You will navigate through the Mountain West, transitioning between two Idaho hubs via a route that relies on local roads rather than major interstates. It is a practical, efficient drive that gets you from point A to point B without any mandatory stops required along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.5 miles from Malad City, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
102.4 mi
1h 37m
West Sunnyside Road
2.6 mi
3m
Bannock Street
0.5 mi
<1m
50 Street South
0.3 mi
<1m
50 North
0.3 mi
<1m
I 15 BUS
0.3 mi
<1m
200 West
0.2 mi
<1m
Stonebrook Lane
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 102.4 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Malad City, ID and Idaho Falls, ID.
1
Start on 200 West
0.2 mi·45 sec·200 West
2
At end of road, turn left onto Bannock Street
0.5 mi·47 sec·Bannock Street
3
Turn left onto ID 38
0.3 mi·29 sec·50 North
4
Continue on ID 38; US 191 Old
0.3 mi·37 sec·50 Street South
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
6
Merge onto I 15
102 mi·1 hr 37 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS; US 26
0.3 mi·35 sec·I 15 BUS; US 26
Toward I 15 Business, US 26: Ammon, Jackson
8
Turn right onto I 15 BUS; US 26
2.6 mi·3 min·West Sunnyside Road
9
Turn right onto Stonebrook Lane
466 ft·14 sec·Stonebrook Lane
10
Turn right onto West Stone Run Lane
241 ft·16 sec·West Stone Run Lane
11
Turn left onto Charleston Lane
152 ft·6 sec·Charleston Lane
12
Arrive at destination
Charleston Lane
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 107.1-mile trek, you have the advantage of total flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily head out in the morning or afternoon without feeling rushed, as there are no required stops to break up the 1 hour and 45-minute duration. While the route is simple, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Malad City to ensure you stay within your $17 budget for the entire trip. Because the route relies heavily on local roads like Bannock Street and West Sunnyside Road, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersection turns as you approach Idaho Falls. Prioritize checking your route map ahead of time to navigate the turn-heavy sections with confidence.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 53.5 miles from Malad City, ID, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.4 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 24 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.5 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Idaho Falls, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Malad City, ID so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Malad City, ID
This is one driving day of about 107.1 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Malad City, ID.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Highway for about 102.4 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 107 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Bannock Street
At end of road, turn left onto Bannock Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
104 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|I 15 BUS; US 26
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS; US 26 toward I 15 Business, US 26: Ammon, Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 15 Business, US 26: Ammon, Jackson
5
107 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|West Stone Run Lane
Turn right onto West Stone Run Lane
Navigation decision point
5
107 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|Charleston Lane
Turn left onto Charleston Lane
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.97 one way
$33.94 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$17.79
$35.58
premium
$4.53
$19.11
$38.21
diesel
$5.61
$23.65
$47.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.1
0
$11.25
$5.14
Efficient EV
26.8
0
$9.37
$4.28
EV Truck/SUV
42.8
0
$14.99
$6.85
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Malad City, ID
Evening
in Malad City on Saturday
Local time
8:50 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Idaho Falls, ID
Evening
in Idaho Falls on Saturday
Local time
8:50 PM
MDT
Current temp
63°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
20 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
1h 45m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, favoring local thoroughfares like Veterans Memorial Highway, Bannock Street, and West Sunnyside Road. You will spend the vast majority of your time—specifically 102.4 miles—on Veterans Memorial Highway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip. The road's personality is defined by these technical, winding local segments, so be prepared for constant adjustments rather than just cruising in a straight line. It is a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged as you navigate the regional terrain.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.4 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Bannock Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Malad City, ID to Idaho Falls, ID is easy. At 1h 45m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Bannock Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 104 miles (I 15 BUS; US 26): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,475 ft4,436 ft
Total Climb
1,467 ft
Total Descent
1,313 ft
Highest Point
5,475 ft
~13.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,039 ft
Notable High Points
5,475 ft at ~13.4 miles+627 ft prominence
4,815 ft at ~22.3 miles+2 ft prominence
4,770 ft at ~31.2 miles+49 ft prominence
4,629 ft at ~49.1 miles+69 ft prominence
4,693 ft at ~58 miles+74 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 107.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 102.4 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 0.2 miles (Bannock Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 104 miles (I 15 BUS; US 26): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Idaho Falls, ID before heading back.
