Post Falls, ID to Star, ID is 426.3 miles and takes about 7h 55m via Old Oregon Trail Highway, Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway, and I 90, with a fuel budget near $68 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward drive across Idaho. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a solid option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently. The route is predominantly on surface roads, so expect a more leisurely pace than a pure interstate trip. Plan for two stops along the way to break up the drive and refuel.
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
213.1 miles from Post Falls, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Old Oregon Trail Highway
212.9 mi
3h 45m
Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
73.7 mi
1h 19m
I 90
56.6 mi
1h
I 90 Bus
26.2 mi
31m
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
23.7 mi
26m
Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
8.4 mi
9m
Star Boulevard
6.3 mi
10m
Lewis and Clark Trail
5.7 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Old Oregon Trail Highway
— 212.9 mi, about 3h 45m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 53 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~721 veh/hr typical
· worst 935
Quietest
2 AM
~70 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.3×
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 Post Falls, ID and Star, ID.
1
Start on West 10th Avenue
0.2 mi·40 sec·West 10th Avenue
2
Turn right onto North Spokane Street
0.3 mi·59 sec·North Spokane Street
3
Take the ramp onto I 90 Bus
26 mi·31 min·I 90 Bus
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; US 395
57 mi·1 hr·I 90; US 395
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
Toward Ritzville, Pasco
6
Take the exit onto US 395
0.6 mi·1 min·US 395
Toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pendleton
7
Merge onto I 182; US 12; US 395
1.9 mi·2 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
3.8 mi·5 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
Toward US 395: Kennewick, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College, Tri Cities Airport
9
Continue on US 395
1.1 mi·2 min·North US 395
10
Continue on US 395
24 mi·26 min·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
11
Take the exit onto US 395
0.2 mi·22 sec·US 395
Toward US 395 south, US 730: Umatilla, Hermiston, Irrigon
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 395
171 ft·10 sec·US 395
Toward US 395 south, US 730: Umatilla, Hermiston, Irrigon
13
Turn left onto US 395; US 730
0.8 mi·57 sec·Columbia River Highway
14
Turn right onto US 395
3.8 mi·4 min·Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
15
Continue on US 395
0.5 mi·44 sec·North 1st Street
16
Turn left onto East Theater Lane
0.3 mi·40 sec·East Theater Lane
17
Turn right onto Northeast 4th Street
1.6 mi·2 min·Northeast 4th Street
18
Turn left onto US 395
3.2 mi·3 min·Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
19
Continue on US 395
2.0 mi·2 min·North Main Street
20
Continue on US 395
1.4 mi·1 min·Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
21
Take the exit onto US 395
0.5 mi·1 min·US 395
Toward US 395 North: Stanfield
22
Merge onto I 84; US 30; US 395
213 mi·3 hr 45 min·Old Oregon Trail Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward ID 44: Middleton
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·48 sec
25
Turn left onto ID 44
2.7 mi·3 min·ID 44
Use the straight lane.
26
Continue on State Highway 44
0.1 mi·15 sec·State Highway 44
27
Continue on West Main Street
1.3 mi·3 min·West Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
28
Continue on ID 44
6.3 mi·10 min·Star Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
29
Arrive at destination
ID 44
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7h 55m drive, consider an early morning departure from Post Falls to maximize daylight. With two recommended stops, you can easily break up the 426.3 miles into manageable segments. The longest stretch on Old Oregon Trail Highway is over 200 miles, so plan your second stop strategically around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when transitioning from I-90 to the longer surface road sections, as fuel availability can vary in more rural areas. The estimated fuel cost of $68 is a helpful budget point.
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 213.1 miles from Post Falls, ID, or about 4h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 212.9 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 94 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 213.1 miles or 4h 1m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Star, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Post Falls, ID
This is one driving day of about 426.3 miles and 7h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from Post Falls, 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 Old Oregon Trail Highway for about 212.9 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 83.3 and 188.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
83.3 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway toward Ritzville, Pasco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Ritzville, Pasco
5
157 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|US 395
Take the exit onto US 395 toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pendleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pend...
6
159.4 mi into trip|~2h 56m in|US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail toward US 395: Kennewick, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College, Tri Cities Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 395: Kennewick, Pendleton, Columbia B...
5
188 mi into trip|~3h 31m in|US 395
Take the exit onto US 395 toward US 395 south, US 730: Umatilla, Hermiston, Irrigon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 395 south, US 730: Umatilla, Hermisto...
7
188.2 mi into trip|~3h 31m in|US 395
Keep slight left at fork onto US 395 toward US 395 south, US 730: Umatilla, Hermiston, Irrigon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 395 south, US 730: Umatilla, Hermisto...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$74.94 one way
$149.88 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg149 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$78.36
$156.72
premium
$4.99
$83.75
$167.50
diesel
$5.35
$89.79
$179.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$75
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$100–$125
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 149.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
127.9
1
$44.76
$20.46
Efficient EV
106.6
1
$37.30
$17.05
EV Truck/SUV
170.5
2
$59.68
$27.28
Gas CO2
149 kg
EV CO2
50 kg (66% 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
Post Falls, ID
Afternoon
in Post Falls on Wednesday
Local time
12:11 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
E 2 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Star, ID
Afternoon
in Star on Wednesday
Local time
1:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
WNW 5 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.
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
4 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 55m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 21% of your time on I-90, which means the majority of your 426.3 miles will be on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads is 212.9 miles on Old Oregon Trail Highway. This indicates a significant portion of the drive will involve navigating through towns and rural areas rather than high-speed cruising. Be prepared for more frequent intersections and varying speed limits as you transition between these road types.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 212.9 mi on Old Oregon Trail Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 83.3 miles in near US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 426.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 83.3 miles (US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 157 miles (US 395): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 159.4 miles (US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,677 ft537 ft
Total Climb
4,335 ft
Total Descent
4,044 ft
Highest Point
3,677 ft
~243.6 mi in
Elevation Range
3,140 ft
Notable High Points
3,677 ft at ~243.6 miles+888 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Post Falls, ID and Star, ID, road signs point toward Ritzville, Pasco, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College, Tri Cities Airport and Hermiston - among others.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 55m. Total distance: 426.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 55m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 212.9 miles on Old Oregon Trail Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 33 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 Star, 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 33 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 83.3 miles (US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 157 miles (US 395): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 159.4 miles (US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Star, ID before the return drive.
