Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
61.3 mi
99 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Payette, ID
Wikimedia Commons
Boise, ID
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning to travel from Payette to Boise, you are looking at a manageable 61.3-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting approximately $10 for fuel should be sufficient to cover the distance between these two Mountain West locations. Because the drive is relatively short and direct, it offers great flexibility for your schedule. You can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to plan for formal stops along the way.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Old Oregon Trail Highway | 27.7 mi | 26m |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway | 21.7 mi | 25m |
| Boise Connector | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| South Main Street | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| East Idaho Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Idaho Medal of Honor Highway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| West Myrtle Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Northwest 16th Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Payette, ID and Boise, ID.
Start on 3rd Avenue North
Continue on North Main Street
Turn right onto Center Avenue
Turn left onto ID 52
Continue on US 95 Spur
Take the exit
Continue on US 30
Continue on US 30
Turn left
Merge onto I 84
Continue on I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30
Continue on I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 184
Continue on US 20; US 26
Turn left onto South 5th Street
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.6 miles from Payette, ID, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 61.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Center Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto ID 52 / South 7th Street
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto I 184 / Boise Connector
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto South 5th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 20; US 26 / West Front Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$9.71 one way
$19.43 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
| premium | $4.53 | $10.94 | $21.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.53 | $27.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $2.94 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.36 | $2.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.58 | $3.92 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Payette on Saturday
Local time
8:44 PM
MDT
Current temp
56°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Evening in Boise on Saturday
Local time
8:44 PM
MDT
Current temp
56°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you make your way toward the capital. You will navigate via the Old Oregon Trail Highway, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, and the Boise Connector, transitioning between these routes as you progress. While this drive features a mix of highway segments, the longest uninterrupted stretch is 27.7 miles on the Old Oregon Trail Highway. The character of the road changes as you move through these different sections, shifting from local highway driving into the more structured flow of the Boise Connector. It is an engaging ride that requires your attention due to the frequent turns compared to a standard interstate cruise.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Center Avenue.
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 61.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.3 miles (Center Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (ID 52 / South 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 55.7 miles (I 184 / Boise Connector): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
800 ft
Total Descent
257 ft
Highest Point
2,743 ft
~56.2 mi in
Elevation Range
587 ft
Boise is the capital and largest city of Idaho. Boise offers numerous recreational opportunities, including extensive hiking and biking in the foothills to the immediate north of downtown. Boise is a regional hub for jazz, theater, and indie music, and is home to several museums.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 61.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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