Saint Anthony, ID to Coeur d'Alene, ID is 483.9 miles and takes about 8h 10m via I 90, with a fuel budget near $77 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Idaho, connecting the Mountain West region with itself. It's a significant drive, best suited for an overnight stop to break up the 8+ hours of travel. You'll experience a mix of highway and surface road driving, so plan accordingly for a comfortable pace. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct path across a large portion of the state.
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
241.9 miles from Saint Anthony, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
275.7 mi
4h 38m
Veterans Memorial Highway
173.8 mi
2h 43m
West Main Street
19.2 mi
28m
Yellowstone Highway
9.6 mi
10m
Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
1.9 mi
2m
East Sherman Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
US 20 Business
0.4 mi
<1m
North 4th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 275.7 mi, about 4h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Anthony, ID and Coeur d'Alene, ID.
1
Start on East Main Street
87 ft·11 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 20 Business
0.2 mi·25 sec·South Bridge Street
3
Take the ramp onto US 20 Business
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 20 Business
4
Merge onto US 20
1.9 mi·2 min·Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
5
Continue on US 20
9.6 mi·10 min·Yellowstone Highway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward ID 33: Salmon, Rexburg
7
Keep slight right at fork
267 ft·8 sec
Toward ID 33: Salmon, Rexburg
8
Turn straight onto ID 33
19 mi·28 min·West Main Street
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward Butte
10
Merge onto I 15
174 mi·2 hr 43 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
12
Merge onto I 90
276 mi·4 hr 38 min·I 90
Toward I 90 West: Missoula
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Toward Sherman Avenue
14
Turn left onto East Sherman Avenue
1.4 mi·2 min·East Sherman Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto North 4th Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·North 4th Street
16
Turn right onto East Garden Avenue
139 ft·6 sec·East Garden Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
East Garden Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 10m drive time, this is definitely an overnight trip. Aim to start your first day early to cover a good portion of the 483.9 miles, targeting a stop around the halfway point. This allows you to split the driving into two more manageable days. Pay attention to your fuel levels, especially during the longer stretches on I 90, and budget around $77 for gas. The longest continuous stretch is 275.7 miles, so ensure you're well-fueled before embarking on that segment.
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 241.9 miles from Saint Anthony, ID, or about 4h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 275.7 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 106 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 241.9 miles or 4h 3m 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 241.9 miles or 4h 3m
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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coeur d'Alene, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Anthony, 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 Saint Anthony, ID
Aim for roughly 242 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Coeur d'Alene, ID
Aim for roughly 242 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 106 miles from Saint Anthony, 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 275.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 483.9 — 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|US 20 Business / South Bridge Street
Turn left onto US 20 Business / South Bridge Street
Navigation decision point
5
12.1 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward ID 33: Salmon, Rexburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward ID 33: Salmon, Rexburg
7
12.4 mi into trip|~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward ID 33: Salmon, Rexburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward ID 33: Salmon, Rexburg
6
482.1 mi into trip|~8h 6m in|East Sherman Avenue
Turn left onto East Sherman Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
483.9 mi into trip|~8h 10m in|East Garden Avenue
Turn right onto East Garden Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$76.68 one way
$153.36 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg169 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$80.38
$160.75
premium
$4.53
$86.32
$172.64
diesel
$5.61
$106.84
$213.68
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: 169.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
145.2
1
$50.81
$23.23
Efficient EV
121
1
$42.34
$19.36
EV Truck/SUV
193.6
2
$67.75
$30.97
Gas CO2
169 kg
EV CO2
57 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Saint Anthony, ID
Morning
in Saint Anthony on Tuesday
Local time
8:05 AM
MDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Coeur d'Alene, ID
Morning
in Coeur d'Alene on Tuesday
Local time
7:05 AM
PDT
Current temp
60°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.
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
4 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 10m 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 spend about 57% of your time on I 90, covering a substantial 275.7 miles on this freeway. The remaining miles will be on Veterans Memorial Highway and West Main Street, offering a different driving experience. Expect to transition from high-speed highway cruising to navigating surface roads as you get closer to your destination. The shift from the interstate to local roads will be noticeable.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 275.7 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 20 Business / South Bridge Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 483.9 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 20 Business / South Bridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Saint Anthony, ID to Coeur d'Alene, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Butte along the way.
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 10m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 275.7 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 242 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Coeur d'Alene, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 (US 20 Business / South Bridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Coeur d'Alene, ID before the return drive.
