Red Rocks Parking Area, I-15 Southbound
0 mi from route
Trip from Rathdrum, ID to Ammon, ID
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 17m
Distance
495.7 mi
798 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$77
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 10m
★
6 AM
8h 18m
8 AM
8h 33m
10 AM
8h 23m
12 PM
8h 21m
3 PM
8h 24m
5 PM
8h 32m
8 PM
8h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rathdrum, ID
Wikimedia Commons
Ammon, ID
Shots by Kevin
Trip Overview
Rathdrum, ID to Ammon, ID is 495.7 miles and takes about 8h 17m via I 90 and I 15, with a fuel budget near $88 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, primarily on interstate highways. Given the recommended 2-day pace, you'll have ample time to enjoy the drive without feeling rushed. Expect a straightforward drive with minimal detours, making it a good option for those prioritizing efficiency.
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
247.8 miles from Rathdrum, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 15m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 282.5 mi | 4h 44m |
| I 15 | 198 mi | 3h 5m |
| North Highway 41 | 6.9 mi | 10m |
| East Sunnyside Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| West 17th Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| South Holmes Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Utah Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Broadway Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 282.5 mi, about 4h 44m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 58 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~981 veh/hr typical · worst 1,230
Quietest
2 AM
~52 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Rathdrum, ID and Ammon, ID.
1
Start on ID 53
381 ft
·
14 sec
·
West Highway 53
2
Turn left onto North Mill Street
315 ft
·
13 sec
·
North Mill Street
3
Turn left onto West Main Street
306 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Main Street
4
Turn right onto North McCartney Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
North McCartney Street
5
Turn right onto ID 41
6.9 mi
·
10 min
·
North Highway 41
6
Turn left onto ID 41
308 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Seltice Way
7
Turn slight left onto ID 41
373 ft
·
15 sec
·
ID 41
Toward I 90, ID 41
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 90
9
Merge onto I 90
282 mi
·
4 hr 44 min
·
I 90
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
11
Merge onto I 15
198 mi
·
3 hr 5 min
·
I 15
12
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS; US 20
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
I 15 BUS; US 20
Toward I 15 Business, US 20 West: Historic Downtown, Arco
13
Continue on I 15 BUS; US 20
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
West Broadway Street
14
Turn right onto South Utah Avenue
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Utah Avenue
15
Enter roundabout onto South Utah Avenue
103 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Utah Avenue
16
Continue on South Utah Avenue
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Utah Avenue
17
Turn left onto Pancheri Drive
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Pancheri Drive
18
Continue on West 17th Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West 17th Street
19
Turn right onto South Holmes Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Holmes Avenue
20
Turn left onto East Sunnyside Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
East Sunnyside Road
21
Turn left onto Central Avenue
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Central Avenue
22
Turn right onto Molen Street
135 ft
·
6 sec
·
Molen Street
23
Arrive at destination
Molen Street
Trip Plan
For this 8-hour drive, splitting it over two days is recommended to break up the mileage. Consider departing Rathdrum in the morning to maximize daylight hours. With only 2 planned stops, ensure they are strategically placed for fuel and rest, especially before the 282.5-mile stretch on I 90. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest highway segment might mean fewer immediate services. Planning your overnight stop around the halfway point will make for a more relaxed experience.
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 247.8 miles from Rathdrum, ID, or about 4h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 282.5 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 109 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 247.8 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 247.8 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ammon, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rathdrum, 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 Rathdrum, ID
Aim for roughly 248 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Ammon, ID
Aim for roughly 248 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Rathdrum, 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 282.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
248 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Frenchtown, MTOvernight Options
Night 1
248 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Frenchtown, MT after about 248 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 109 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 247.8 miles from Rathdrum, ID, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 282.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 248 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Quartz Flat
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Bearmouth Rest Area, I-90 Eastbound
0 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0 mi from route
Red Rocks Parking Area, I-15 Northbound
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Quartz Flat
0.1 mi from route
Huetter Rest Area, I-90 Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Huetter Rest Area, I-90 Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Bearmouth Rest Area, I-90 Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Gold Creek Parking Area, I-90 Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Gold Creek Parking Area, I-90 Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Dubois Rest Area, I-15
0.1 mi from route
Lima Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Divide Rest Area, I-15 Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Divide Rest Area, I-15 Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Muralt's Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Anaconda Rest Area
0.8 mi from route
Town Pump Flying J Travel Center
1.3 mi from route
Town Pump Flying J Travel Center
1.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 495.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Mill Street
Turn left onto North Mill Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Main Street
Turn left onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
290.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 57m 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
5
488.9 mi into trip
|
~8h 5m in
|
I 15 BUS; US 20
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS; US 20 toward I 15 Business, US 20 West: Historic Downtown, Arco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 15 Business, US 20 West: Historic Down...
5
495.6 mi into trip
|
~8h 17m in
|
Molen Street
Turn right onto Molen Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$77.26 one way
$154.53 round trip
$3.96/gal
25.4 MPG avg
173 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.17 | $81.44 | $162.88 |
| premium | $4.47 | $87.31 | $174.63 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $93.60 | $187.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$77
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$207–$317
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 173.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 148.7 | 1 | $52.05 | $23.79 |
| Efficient EV | 123.9 | 1 | $43.37 | $19.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 198.3 | 2 | $69.40 | $31.72 |
Gas CO2
173 kg
EV CO2
58 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.
Origin
Rathdrum, ID
Evening in Rathdrum on Saturday
Local time
6:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
100°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 5 mph
29% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 3:43PM PDT until July 16 at 4:15PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:36PM MDT by NWS Boise ID
Destination
Ammon, ID
Evening in Ammon on Saturday
Local time
7:26 PM
MDT
Current temp
92°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 5 mph
17% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 3:43PM PDT until July 16 at 4:15PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:36PM MDT by NWS Boise ID
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
8 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
8h 17m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 98% of the travel occurring on interstates. You'll experience a longest stretch of 282.5 miles on I 90, offering long stretches of uninterrupted cruising. The transition to surface roads, specifically North Highway 41, will happen towards the end of your trip. You can anticipate a mix of open highway speeds and potentially some merging traffic as you approach populated areas.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 282.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 15. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Mill Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
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 17m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 18 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Mill Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 290.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,027 ft
2,206 ft
Total Climb
5,008 ft
Total Descent
2,497 ft
Highest Point
6,027 ft
~389.4 mi in
Elevation Range
3,821 ft
Notable High Points
3,844 ft at ~70.8 miles
+1,187 ft prominence
5,222 ft at ~318.6 miles
+1 ft prominence
6,027 ft at ~389.4 miles
+66 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Rathdrum, ID to Ammon, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Idaho Falls along the way.
Idaho Falls
290.4 mi in
|
~4h 57m
About the Cities
Starting in Rathdrum, ID
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • St. Stanislaus Kostka Mission — historic church in Rathdrum, Idaho, United States
Arriving in Ammon, ID
Full guide →Founded 1888
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 282.5 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 248 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 24 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 Ammon, 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 24 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 0.1 miles (North Mill Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 290.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.3 hours each way, a round trip means 16.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ammon, ID before the return drive.
How this page is built
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Ammon, ID
More from Rathdrum, ID
More trips to Ammon, ID
Explore more options from Rathdrum, ID or browse trips ending in Ammon, ID.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ID road trips.