Post Falls, ID to Malad City, ID is 591.3 miles and takes about 9h 40m via I 90 and I 15, with a fuel budget near $105 and enough daylight to finish in a day if you start early. This trip stays within the Mountain West region and is a solid choice for a long-haul drive. It's a straightforward path across Idaho, mostly on interstates, making it efficient for covering ground. Given the duration, most drivers will plan for an overnight stop, breaking the nearly 10-hour drive into two manageable days.
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
295.6 miles from Post Falls, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 15
303.4 mi
4h 46m
I 90
285.1 mi
4h 47m
Bannock Street
0.4 mi
<1m
North Spokane Street
0.4 mi
1m
50 North
0.3 mi
<1m
200 West
0.2 mi
<1m
West 10th Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
South Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 15
— 303.4 mi, about 4h 46m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 116 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~944 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,226
Quietest
2 AM
~52 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Post Falls, ID and Malad City, ID.
1
Start on West 10th Avenue
0.2 mi·40 sec·West 10th Avenue
2
Turn right onto North Spokane Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Spokane Street
3
Turn left
0.4 mi·51 sec
4
Merge onto I 90
285 mi·4 hr 47 min·I 90
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
6
Merge onto I 15
303 mi·4 hr 46 min·I 15
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward ID 38: Malad
8
Continue on ID 38
0.3 mi·30 sec·50 North
9
At end of road, turn right onto South Main Street
220 ft·3 sec·South Main Street
10
Continue on Bannock Street
0.4 mi·40 sec·Bannock Street
11
Turn right onto 200 West
0.2 mi·42 sec·200 West
12
Arrive at destination
200 West
Trip Plan
Since this drive is nearly 10 hours, it's best split over two days. Aim to leave early on your first day to cover about half the distance, allowing for a comfortable overnight stop. You'll have two planned stops, which is a good pace for a longer drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on I 15, as services can be spread out. The 100% highway share means you can maintain consistent speeds, but be aware of potential construction delays during peak travel seasons.
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 295.6 miles from Post Falls, ID, or about 5h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 303.4 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 130 miles or 2h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 295.6 miles or 5h 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 295.6 miles or 5h
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 8h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Malad City, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Post Falls, 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 Post Falls, ID
Aim for roughly 296 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Malad City, ID
Aim for roughly 296 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 130 miles from Post Falls, 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 15 for about 303.4 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 590.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|North Spokane Street
Turn right onto North Spokane Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
286 mi into trip|~4h 50m in
Take the exit toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
4
589.9 mi into trip|~9h 37m in
Take the exit toward ID 38: Malad
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward ID 38: Malad
4
590.7 mi into trip|~9h 39m in|South Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$106.50 one way
$213.01 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg207 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$111.23
$222.46
premium
$5.11
$118.87
$237.73
diesel
$6.18
$143.84
$287.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$107
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$237–$347
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 206.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $62 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
177.4
2
$62.09
$28.38
Efficient EV
147.8
1
$51.74
$23.65
EV Truck/SUV
236.5
2
$82.78
$37.84
Gas CO2
207 kg
EV CO2
69 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Post Falls, ID
Morning
in Post Falls on Sunday
Local time
6:41 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 3 to 16 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Malad City, ID
Morning
in Malad City on Sunday
Local time
7:41 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
SSE 2 to 8 mph0% 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
1 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
9h 40m 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?
You'll be on interstates for 100% of this drive, covering 591.3 miles. The longest continuous stretch on the interstate is 303.4 miles, primarily on I 15. Expect a consistent interstate cruising experience with frequent exits for services. This route is characterized by long stretches of rural highway with limited services between major towns, so plan your fuel stops accordingly.
100% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 303.4 mi on I 15.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 15 and I 90. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Spokane 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 9h 40m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Spokane Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 286 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,909 ft2,179 ft
Total Climb
4,826 ft
Total Descent
2,454 ft
Highest Point
5,909 ft
~380.1 mi in
Elevation Range
3,729 ft
Notable High Points
5,822 ft at ~295.6 miles+640 ft prominence
5,909 ft at ~380.1 miles+6 ft prominence
4,648 ft at ~549.1 miles+97 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 Post Falls, ID to Malad City, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Idaho Falls along the way.
The longest stretch is about 303.4 miles on I 15. 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 296 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 32 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 Malad City, 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 32 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 0.2 miles (North Spokane Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 286 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.7 hours each way, a round trip means 19.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Malad City, ID before the return drive.
