Moreland, ID to Meridian, ID is 267.1 miles and takes about 4h 19m via Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway and I 86, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, connecting two points in Idaho. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll primarily be on surface roads, making it a straightforward cruise. Expect a relaxed pace, suitable for those who prefer a less hurried travel experience.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
133.6 miles from Moreland, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
176.9 mi
2h 48m
I 86
62.7 mi
59m
Veterans Memorial Highway
19.7 mi
18m
US 26
4.4 mi
5m
South Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
North 740 West
0.6 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.4 mi
1m
Moreland Riverside Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 176.9 mi, about 2h 48m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 111 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,666 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,066
Quietest
2 AM
~176 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Moreland, ID and Meridian, ID.
1
Start on North 740 West
0.6 mi·1 min·North 740 West
2
Continue on Moreland Riverside Road
0.2 mi·28 sec·Moreland Riverside Road
3
Turn right onto US 26
4.4 mi·5 min·US 26
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
5
Merge onto I 15
20 mi·18 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·43 sec
Exit 72Toward I 86 West: Chubbuck, Twin Falls
7
Continue on I 86
63 mi·59 min·I 86
8
Continue on I 84; US 30
177 mi·2 hr 48 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 44Toward ID 69 South: Meridian, KunaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
310 ft·9 sec
Use the right lane.
11
Turn slight right onto ID 69
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Meridian Road
12
Continue on South Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Main Street
13
Continue on North Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 19m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning is ideal to ensure you arrive with ample daylight. While there's only one recommended stop, the drive is manageable enough to complete without needing an overnight stay. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the transition from the longer highway segment to surface roads, as fuel availability might vary. The $43 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you depart.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 133.6 miles from Moreland, ID, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.9 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 59 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.6 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meridian, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Moreland, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Moreland, ID
This is one driving day of about 267.1 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Moreland, ID.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway for about 176.9 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 265.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|US 26
Turn right onto US 26
Navigation decision point
3
5.2 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
25.2 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward I 86 West: Chubbuck, Twin Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 72
Toward I 86 West: Chubbuck, Twin Falls
8
265.4 mi into trip|~4h 15m in
Take the exit toward ID 69 South: Meridian, Kuna
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 44
Toward ID 69 South: Meridian, Kuna
6
265.8 mi into trip|~4h 15m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.63 one way
$83.26 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$43.88
$87.76
premium
$4.47
$47.05
$94.09
diesel
$4.80
$50.43
$100.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.1
0
$28.05
$12.82
Efficient EV
66.8
0
$23.37
$10.68
EV Truck/SUV
106.8
1
$37.39
$17.09
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Moreland, ID
Morning
in Moreland on Sunday
Local time
10:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Slight Chance Light Rain
NE 7 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Meridian, ID
Morning
in Meridian on Sunday
Local time
10:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Clear then Patchy Smoke
S 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
92°F
Kimberly, ID
134 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
9 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
4h 19m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 165.8
Caution: Use Caution with "Fossil Beds Information" Signs
Caution: If You Can't Reach Us By Phone, Please Email Us
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 25% highway travel, with the longest stretch on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway measuring 176.9 miles. After this significant highway portion, you'll transition to mostly surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Be prepared for more frequent intersections and varied speed limits as you move from highway cruising to local roads.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.9 mi on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near US 26.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 19m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (US 26): Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 25.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
4,548 ft2,607 ft
Total Climb
707 ft
Total Descent
2,566 ft
Highest Point
4,548 ft
~19.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,941 ft
Notable High Points
4,548 ft at ~19.1 miles+83 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 Moreland, ID to Meridian, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Twin Falls along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 176.9 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 0.9 miles (US 26): Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 25.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Meridian, ID, but most travelers stay overnight.
