Traveling from Pocatello to Ashton covers 103.5 miles through the Mountain West, making for an efficient journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 49 minutes. Because this is a relatively short distance, it serves perfectly as a straightforward day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You should budget approximately $16 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Idaho locations. Navigating this route involves utilizing the Veterans Memorial Highway, the Idaho Medal of Honor Highway, and the Yellowstone Highway. Whether you are heading north for recreation or business, the quick turnaround time allows you to keep your schedule flexible.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.7 miles from Pocatello, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
48.9 mi
46m
Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
31.7 mi
34m
Yellowstone Highway
17.2 mi
18m
Rigby Highway
3.1 mi
3m
East Center Street
0.9 mi
2m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North 10th Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
US 20
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 48.9 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pocatello, ID and Ashton, ID.
1
Start on North 7th Avenue
229 ft·15 sec·North 7th Avenue
2
Turn left onto East Wyeth Street
0.2 mi·49 sec·East Wyeth Street
3
Turn right onto North 10th Avenue
0.3 mi·45 sec·North 10th Avenue
4
Turn left onto East Center Street
0.9 mi·2 min·East Center Street
5
Turn left
0.5 mi·36 sec
6
Merge onto I 15
49 mi·46 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit onto US 20
0.3 mi·35 sec·US 20
Exit 119Toward US 20 East, I 15: Rigby, West Yellowstone
8
Continue on US 20
3.1 mi·3 min·Rigby Highway
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on US 20
15 mi·16 min·Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
10
Continue on US 20
17 mi·18 min·Yellowstone Highway
11
Continue on US 20
16 mi·17 min·Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
13
Turn straight onto ID-47
0.3 mi·32 sec·Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
ID-47
Trip Plan
Since this 103.5-mile drive is compact, you have the advantage of choosing your departure time without needing to worry about complex overnight logistics. Although there are no formal stops listed, the manageable duration means you can easily pace the drive according to your own comfort level. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before setting out, as the $16 estimate is based on the full 1-hour and 49-minute duration. Because the route is turn-heavy, prioritize checking your tire pressure and vehicle fluids before departing Pocatello. Use the flexibility of this short trip to your benefit by planning your arrival in Ashton around your specific daily goals.
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 51.7 miles from Pocatello, ID, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.9 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 23 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.7 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ashton, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pocatello, ID so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pocatello, ID
This is one driving day of about 103.5 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Pocatello, 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 48.9 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 50.8 — 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|East Wyeth Street
Turn left onto East Wyeth Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|North 10th Avenue
Turn right onto North 10th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|East Center Street
Turn left onto East Center Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip|~4m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
6
50.8 mi into trip|~51m in|US 20
Take the exit onto US 20 toward US 20 East, I 15: Rigby, West Yellowstone
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 119
Toward US 20 East, I 15: Rigby, West Yellowston...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.40 one way
$32.80 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$17.19
$34.38
premium
$4.53
$18.46
$36.93
diesel
$5.61
$22.85
$45.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31
0
$10.87
$4.97
Efficient EV
25.9
0
$9.06
$4.14
EV Truck/SUV
41.4
0
$14.49
$6.62
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Pocatello, ID
Evening
in Pocatello on Saturday
Local time
7:26 PM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 6 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ashton, ID
Evening
in Ashton on Saturday
Local time
7:26 PM
MDT
Current temp
69°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
27 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 49m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience as you transition away from faster thoroughfares. While the route does not feature a high percentage of interstate highway, you will find your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 48.9 miles along the Veterans Memorial Highway. The road's personality is defined by its local character, requiring your full attention as you navigate through various turns. Moving through this corridor feels more like a regional connector than a monotonous interstate grind. Prepare for a steady, hands-on drive that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
Only 0% 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: 48.9 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 early in the drive near East Wyeth Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Pocatello, ID to Ashton, ID is easy. At 1h 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Wyeth Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North 10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (East Center Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,261 ft4,461 ft
Total Climb
1,036 ft
Total Descent
239 ft
Highest Point
5,261 ft
~103.5 mi in
Elevation Range
799 ft
Notable High Points
4,662 ft at ~8.6 miles+59 ft prominence
4,650 ft at ~38.8 miles+9 ft prominence
4,886 ft at ~69 miles+29 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 Pocatello, ID to Ashton, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Yellowstone along the way.
Yellowstone
50.8 mi in|~51m|via US 20
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 103.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 48.9 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: near the start (East Wyeth Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North 10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (East Center Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ashton, ID before heading back.
