San Diego to Kamiah is 1136.2 miles and takes about 21h 48m via Veterans Memorial Highway, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, and I.O.N. Highway, with a fuel budget near $246 and likely requiring an overnight stay. This long-haul drive begins in the Pacific Coast region and heads into the Mountain West, crossing through California and Idaho. Given the recommended 3 days for this trip, you'll have ample time to break up the nearly 22 hours of driving. It's a significant distance, so be prepared for a substantial amount of time on the road.
Trip Pace
Best split across 3 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
6 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
568.1 miles from San Diego, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 11h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
212.2 mi
3h 57m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
156.8 mi
3h 2m
I.O.N. Highway
143 mi
2h 35m
Blue Star Memorial Highway
103.3 mi
2h 3m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
95.1 mi
1h 30m
North Norris Avenue
79 mi
1h 29m
Escondido Freeway
56.6 mi
1h 4m
East Central Boulevard
46.6 mi
1h
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 212.2 mi, about 3h 57m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 90 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~6,884 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~823 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 91 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 San Diego, CA and Kamiah, ID.
1
Start on Front Street
26 ft·6 sec·Front Street
2
Turn left onto West Broadway
0.6 mi·1 min·West Broadway
3
Turn left onto 11th Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·11th Avenue
4
Continue on CA 163
2.4 mi·3 min·Cabrillo Parkway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on CA 163
8.3 mi·9 min·Cabrillo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·35 sec
7
Continue on I 15
1.8 mi·2 min·Semper Fi Highway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 15
3.1 mi·3 min·Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 15
4.6 mi·5 min·Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 15
5.9 mi·6 min·Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15
6.9 mi·7 min·Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 15
22 mi·23 min·Avocado Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 15
6.3 mi·6 min·Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·18 sec
Exit 63Toward I 215Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 215
34 mi·40 min·Escondido Freeway
Toward I 215Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 215
0.5 mi·51 sec·I 215
Toward I 215 North: San Bernardino, BarstowUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 215
5.4 mi·6 min·Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 215
5.5 mi·6 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 215
8.9 mi·9 min·Barstow Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·13 sec
21
Continue on I 15
6.8 mi·7 min·Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist; US 91 Hist; US 395 Hist
5.4 mi·5 min·CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist
2.8 mi·3 min·Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 141Toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
25
Continue on this road
0.9 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 141Toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
26
Continue on US 395
67 mi·1 hr 20 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on US 395
0.9 mi·1 min·Red Mountain Road
28
Continue on US 395
37 mi·42 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
29
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
56 mi·1 hr 4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
30
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
2.2 mi·4 min·South Main Street
31
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
15 mi·17 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
32
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.7 mi·1 min·South Edwards Street
33
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
26 mi·31 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
34
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.2 mi·32 sec·North Main Street
35
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
7.4 mi·8 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
36
Continue on US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
5.0 mi·5 min·El Camino Sierra
Use the straight lane.
37
Continue on US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
3.3 mi·6 min·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
38
Continue on US 6
0.1 mi·16 sec·North Main Street
39
Continue on US 6
52 mi·1 hr·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
40
Turn left onto NV 360
23 mi·26 min·Mina–Basalt Cutoff Road
41
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
8.0 mi·8 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
42
Continue on US 95
1.2 mi·3 min·Front Street
43
Continue on US 95
7.8 mi·8 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
44
Continue on US 95
0.9 mi·2 min·Plymire Street
45
Continue on US 95
23 mi·25 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
46
Take the exit onto US 95 Truck
1.3 mi·2 min·US 95 Truck
47
Take the exit onto US 95 Truck
324 ft·12 sec·US 95 Truck
48
Merge onto US 95
70 mi·1 hr 23 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
49
Take the exit
0.1 mi·20 sec
50
Continue on South Maine Street
1.9 mi·2 min·South Maine Street
51
Continue on US 95
32 mi·34 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
52
Take the exit onto US 95
0.3 mi·20 sec·US 95
Toward I 80, US 95: Elko, Salt Lake City, Boise
53
Merge onto I 80; US 95
95 mi·1 hr 30 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
54
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 178Toward NV 289: Winnemucca
55
Turn left onto NV 289
1.0 mi·2 min·East 2nd Street
Use the straight lane.
56
Turn left onto NV 795
0.6 mi·57 sec·Rhinehart Lane
57
Continue on NV 795
0.6 mi·1 min·Reinhart Lane
58
Turn right onto US 95
71 mi·1 hr 18 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
59
Continue on US 95
100 mi·1 hr 47 min·I.O.N. Highway
60
Continue on US 95
1.2 mi·2 min·Main Street
61
Continue on US 95
1.0 mi·2 min·Bassett Street
62
Continue on US 95
43 mi·48 min·I.O.N. Highway
63
Turn left onto US 95
19 mi·21 min·US 95
64
Take the exit onto US 95
15 mi·18 min·US 95
65
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
66
Merge onto I 84
3.6 mi·3 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
67
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward US 30 East: Fruitland, Payette
68
Turn right onto US 30
0.6 mi·52 sec·East Idaho Avenue
69
Continue on US 30
0.6 mi·54 sec·Northwest 16th Street
70
Turn left onto US 95
2.1 mi·3 min·North Whitley Drive
71
Turn slight right onto US 95
36 mi·44 min·South 16th Street
Use the straight lane.
72
Continue on US 95
8.5 mi·10 min·Railroad Street
73
Take the exit onto US 95
365 ft·12 sec·Superior Street
74
Merge onto US 95
47 mi·1 hr·East Central Boulevard
75
Turn left onto US 95
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·North Norris Avenue
76
Turn right onto ID 13
1.1 mi·1 min·West Main Street
77
Continue on ID 13
25 mi·28 min·Harpster Grade Road
78
At end of road, turn left onto US 12
7.6 mi·10 min·US 12
79
Turn left onto ID 64; ID 162
0.1 mi·14 sec·Hill Street
80
Arrive at destination
Hill Street
Trip Plan
With a total driving time of nearly 22 hours, this trip is best split over at least 3 days to avoid fatigue. Plan to depart early each morning to maximize your daylight hours for driving and finding accommodations. You'll make about 6 stops on this route, so factor those into your daily mileage goals. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially when you're on longer stretches of road like the 212.2 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent. Aim to complete roughly a third of the total mileage each day to maintain a comfortable pace.
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 3-day trip.
Plan roughly 6 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 568.1 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 11h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 212.2 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 220 miles or 4h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 568.1 miles or 11h 10m 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 378.7 miles or 7h 28m
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 20h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kamiah, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Diego, CA 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 3-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from San Diego, CA
Aim for roughly 379 miles and 7.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 379 miles and 7.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Finish the approach into Kamiah, ID
Aim for roughly 379 miles and 7.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from San Diego, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 3-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 6 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Highway for about 212.2 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 35
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.3 and 132.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
27.3 mi into trip|~32m in|I 15 / Escondido Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15 / Escondido Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
62.4 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 215
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 63
Toward I 215
8
97.1 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|I 215
Keep slight right at fork onto I 215 toward I 215 North: San Bernardino, Barstow
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 215 North: San Bernardino, Barstow
5
97.6 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|I 215 / Riverside Freeway
Merge onto I 215 / Riverside Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
132.8 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 141
Toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$278.06 one way
$556.11 round trip
$6.22/gal25.4 MPG avg398 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.40
$286.33
$572.66
premium
$6.57
$293.71
$587.42
diesel
$6.18
$276.40
$552.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$278
Hotel (2n)
$160–$280
Meals
$75–$150
Total
$513–$708
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 397.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $119 in charging
· 4 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
340.9
4
$119.30
$54.54
Efficient EV
284.1
3
$99.42
$45.45
EV Truck/SUV
454.5
5
$159.07
$72.72
Gas CO2
398 kg
EV CO2
133 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 4 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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 18, 2026
Origin
San Diego, CA
Late night
in San Diego on Monday
Local time
2:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
W 0 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 8:33AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 17 at 7:32PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Kamiah, ID
Late night
in Kamiah on Monday
Local time
2:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Sunny
NW 1 mph1% 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
16 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
21h 48m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cabrillo National Monument
National Monument
In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo climbed out of his boat and onto shore, becoming the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Cabrillo National Monument not only...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 13% of this drive is on major highways, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads like Veterans Memorial Highway, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, and I.O.N. Highway. The longest continuous stretch without a significant break is 212.2 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. This suggests a significant portion of the drive involves rural cruising rather than high-speed interstate travel. You can expect a mix of conditions as you transition between these main routes.
13% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
80 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 212.2 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 21h 48m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.3 miles in near I 15 / Escondido Freeway.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 35 significant decision points across 1136.2 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 27.3 miles (I 15 / Escondido Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.1 miles (I 215): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,577 ft39 ft
Total Climb
7,387 ft
Total Descent
6,186 ft
Highest Point
6,577 ft
~405.8 mi in
Elevation Range
6,538 ft
Notable High Points
6,577 ft at ~405.8 miles+2,476 ft prominence
4,406 ft at ~730.4 miles+68 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between San Diego, CA and Kamiah, ID, road signs point toward Barstow, Bishop, Salt Lake City, Boise and Payette.
From balmy beaches with a laid-back attitude to a gleaming modern image, San Diego offers much for the tourist to enjoy. Situated on the Southern California seacoast, San Diego is the second largest city in the state, with 1.4 million residents (2020), and has long attracted travelers for its ideal climate, miles of beaches, and location on the Mexican border right across from Tijuana.
But there's much more here than surfer culture and a quick hop across the border. A rich maritime and military heritage lives on in San Diego, which is home to the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy. The city has also become known for its part in the wildlife conservation movement, owing to the presence of the world-renowned San Diego Zoo and Safari Park and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Natural scenery abounds from rocky tidepools and seaside cliffs to desert hills and canyons inland.
Top landmarks
•San Diego Zoo — zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, United States
•Balboa Park — historic park in San Diego, California
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 212.2 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 3-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 379 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 23 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 Kamiah, 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 6 meaningful breaks. There are 23 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 27.3 miles (I 15 / Escondido Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.1 miles (I 215): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cabrillo National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 21.8 hours each way, a round trip means 43.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kamiah, ID before the return drive.
