Pocatello, ID to Hayden, ID is 533 miles and takes about 8h 49m via I 90, Veterans Memorial Highway, and US 95, with a fuel budget near $94 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a long-haul drive that stays within the Mountain West region, connecting two points in Idaho. Given the distance and duration, it's best planned as a two-day trip to avoid excessive fatigue. You'll spend a significant portion of the drive on interstates, making for a generally straightforward transit.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
266.5 miles from Pocatello, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
278.5 mi
4h 41m
Veterans Memorial Highway
247 mi
3h 52m
US 95
3.6 mi
6m
North Government Way
1 mi
1m
East Center Street
0.9 mi
2m
North 10th Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
West Honeysuckle Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
East Wyeth Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 278.5 mi, about 4h 41m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~592 veh/hr typical
· worst 830
Quietest
2 AM
~38 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Pocatello, ID and Hayden, 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
247 mi·3 hr 52 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
8
Merge onto I 90
278 mi·4 hr 41 min·I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
10
Turn right onto US 95
3.6 mi·6 min·US 95
11
Turn right onto West Honeysuckle Avenue
0.2 mi·29 sec·West Honeysuckle Avenue
12
Turn left onto North Government Way
1.0 mi·1 min·North Government Way
13
Arrive at destination
North Government Way
Trip Plan
With a drive time of nearly 9 hours, breaking this trip into two days is highly recommended for safety and comfort. Plan to stop overnight after about half the distance or duration, giving you two 4-5 hour driving days. You'll make 2 planned stops along the way, so use these to refuel and stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you approach the 278.5-mile stretch on I 90, to ensure you don't run low in less populated areas. Departing earlier in the morning on both days will maximize your daylight driving.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 266.5 miles from Pocatello, ID, or about 4h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 278.5 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 117 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 266.5 miles or 4h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 266.5 miles or 4h 15m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hayden, 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.
+
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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pocatello, ID
Aim for roughly 267 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Hayden, ID
Aim for roughly 267 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 117 miles from Pocatello, ID.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 278.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 248.9 — 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
4
248.9 mi into trip|~3h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 90 West: Missoula
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$93.69 one way
$187.39 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg187 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$97.98
$195.95
premium
$4.99
$104.71
$209.42
diesel
$5.35
$112.27
$224.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$94
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$224–$334
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 186.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
159.9
1
$55.97
$25.58
Efficient EV
133.3
1
$46.64
$21.32
EV Truck/SUV
213.2
2
$74.62
$34.11
Gas CO2
186 kg
EV CO2
62 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Pocatello, ID
Afternoon
in Pocatello on Wednesday
Local time
1:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hayden, ID
Afternoon
in Hayden on Wednesday
Local time
12:05 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Chance Rain Showers
NE 3 mph32% 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
6 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
8h 49m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 53% highway driving, meaning you'll be on interstates and major highways for a good part of the trip. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 278.5 miles on I 90. Expect to transition from interstate cruising to surface roads as you approach your destination. The extensive highway share suggests a relatively consistent speed for much of the 8-hour 49-minute drive.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 278.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
At 8h 49m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Wyeth Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 49m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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
5,999 ft2,226 ft
Total Climb
2,817 ft
Total Descent
4,994 ft
Highest Point
5,999 ft
~152.3 mi in
Elevation Range
3,773 ft
Notable High Points
5,999 ft at ~152.3 miles+74 ft prominence
5,710 ft at ~228.4 miles+583 ft prominence
3,404 ft at ~456.9 miles+637 ft prominence
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
The longest stretch is about 278.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 267 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 27 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Hayden, 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 27 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: 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.8 hours each way, a round trip means 17.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hayden, ID before the return drive.
