Nampa, ID to Saint Maries, ID is 360.6 miles and takes about 7h 47m via North Norris Avenue and US 95, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, connecting two points in Idaho. The profile suggests a mix of highway and surface roads, so expect some variation in driving pace. With 2 recommended stops, you'll have opportunities to break up the nearly 8-hour trip. This route is best suited for a single, dedicated driving day.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
180.3 miles from Nampa, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Norris Avenue
76.4 mi
1h 26m
US 95
59.9 mi
1h 9m
East Central Boulevard
46.6 mi
1h
South 16th Street
35.9 mi
44m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
35.7 mi
35m
Highway 3
20.2 mi
29m
State Highway 6
15.9 mi
24m
Highway 3 South
14.3 mi
25m
Longest stretch:
North Norris Avenue
— 76.4 mi, about 1h 26m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 124 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,345 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,789
Quietest
2 AM
~147 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 105 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 Nampa, ID and Saint Maries, ID.
1
Start on Stony Meadow Drive
183 ft·13 sec·Stony Meadow Drive
2
Turn left onto Sunny Ridge Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Sunny Ridge Road
3
Continue on Holly Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·Holly Street
4
Continue on East Bird Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·East Bird Avenue
5
Continue on Fern Street
0.3 mi·37 sec·Fern Street
6
Continue on East Sheridan Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·East Sheridan Avenue
7
Continue on Holly Street
0.3 mi·46 sec·Holly Street
8
Continue on 16th Avenue South
0.2 mi·37 sec·16th Avenue South
9
Turn left onto 7th Street South
0.8 mi·1 min·7th Street South
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on North Yale Street
0.4 mi·39 sec·North Yale Street
11
Continue on Northside Boulevard
1.1 mi·2 min·Northside Boulevard
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Use the left lane.
13
Merge onto I 84; US 30; ID 55
36 mi·35 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward US 30 East: Fruitland, Payette
15
Turn right onto US 30
0.6 mi·52 sec·East Idaho Avenue
16
Continue on US 30
0.6 mi·54 sec·Northwest 16th Street
17
Turn left onto US 95
2.1 mi·3 min·North Whitley Drive
18
Turn slight right onto US 95
36 mi·44 min·South 16th Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 95
8.5 mi·10 min·Railroad Street
20
Take the exit onto US 95
365 ft·12 sec·Superior Street
21
Merge onto US 95
47 mi·1 hr·East Central Boulevard
22
Turn left onto US 95
76 mi·1 hr 26 min·North Norris Avenue
23
Turn left onto Johnston Road
2.2 mi·5 min·Johnston Road
24
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
60 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 95
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·57 sec
Toward US 12 East
26
Merge onto US 12
4.1 mi·4 min·US 12
27
Turn left onto ID 3
156 ft·7 sec·State Highway 3
28
Continue on ID 3
6.3 mi·11 min·State Highway 3
29
Continue on ID 3
2.4 mi·4 min·Highway 3
30
Continue on ID 3
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
31
Continue on ID 3
2.9 mi·5 min·Highway 3
32
Continue on ID 3
1.2 mi·2 min·Main Street
33
Continue on ID 3
15 mi·20 min·Highway 3
34
Continue on Wyoming Street
0.4 mi·55 sec·Wyoming Street
35
At end of road, turn left onto 2nd Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue
36
Continue on ID 8
0.2 mi·17 sec·State Highway 8
37
Turn right onto ID 9
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 9
38
At end of road, turn right onto ID 6
7.7 mi·10 min·State Highway 6
39
Continue on ID-6
9.3 mi·16 min·ID-6
40
Continue on ID 6
8.0 mi·14 min·State Highway 6
41
Keep slight left at fork onto ID 6
0.2 mi·22 sec·State Highway 6
42
Turn straight onto ID 3
14 mi·25 min·Highway 3 South
43
Continue on ID 3
0.1 mi·22 sec·East College Avenue
44
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
359 ft·17 sec·South 3rd Street
45
Turn right onto West Jefferson Avenue
49 ft·2 sec·West Jefferson Avenue
46
Arrive at destination
West Jefferson Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7h 47m drive, aim to depart Nampa in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight. With 2 recommended stops, consider planning one around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel. The estimated fuel cost is around $55, so check your tank before leaving and factor in a stop for gas. Given the mixed highway and surface road profile, pay attention to changing speed limits, especially as you transition off US 95 onto other roads.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 180.3 miles from Nampa, ID, or about 3h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.4 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 79 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.3 miles or 3h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Maries, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Nampa, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Nampa, ID
This is one driving day of about 360.6 miles and 7h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Nampa, ID.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on North Norris Avenue for about 76.4 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 321 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in|7th Street South
Turn left onto 7th Street South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5 mi into trip|~11m in|I 84; US 30; ID 55 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 84; US 30; ID 55 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
40.7 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward US 30 East: Fruitland, Payette
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 East: Fruitland, Payette
5
213.9 mi into trip|~4h 20m in|US 95
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
Navigation decision point
5
321 mi into trip|~6h 40m in|ID 6 / State Highway 6
At end of road, turn right onto ID 6 / State Highway 6
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.95 one way
$129.90 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg126 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$67.83
$135.67
premium
$5.11
$72.49
$144.98
diesel
$6.18
$87.72
$175.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.2
1
$37.86
$17.31
Efficient EV
90.2
1
$31.55
$14.42
EV Truck/SUV
144.2
1
$50.48
$23.08
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Nampa, ID
Afternoon
in Nampa on Monday
Local time
12:39 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 5 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Saint Maries, ID
Morning
in Saint Maries on Monday
Local time
11:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
37°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 1 mph2% 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.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
7 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
7h 47m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 211.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 40% of this drive is on highways, meaning you'll encounter roughly 144 miles of higher-speed travel. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads is 76.4 miles on North Norris Avenue. You'll transition from highway cruising to more varied surface road conditions, so be prepared for changes in speed limits and road types. Expect to navigate some urban merging as you depart Nampa and approach Saint Maries.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
46 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.4 mi on North Norris Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near 7th Street South.
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 360.6 miles you will encounter 21 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 2.4 miles (7th Street South): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (I 84; US 30; ID 55 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
4,196 ft959 ft
Total Climb
7,017 ft
Total Descent
7,342 ft
Highest Point
4,196 ft
~206.1 mi in
Elevation Range
3,237 ft
Notable High Points
4,119 ft at ~128.8 miles+877 ft prominence
4,196 ft at ~206.1 miles+658 ft prominence
3,411 ft at ~334.9 miles+631 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 Nampa, ID to Saint Maries, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Payette along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 47m. Total distance: 360.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 47m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.4 miles on North Norris Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 Saint Maries, 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 10 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 2.4 miles (7th Street South): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (I 84; US 30; ID 55 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Saint Maries, ID before the return drive.
