Twin Falls to Priest River is 599.6 miles and takes about 11 hours 6 minutes via Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $95 and requiring an overnight stay. This long-haul drive crosses the Mountain West region of Idaho, offering a consistent pace for much of the way. With a recommended 2 days for this trip, you'll have ample time to break up the driving and enjoy the expansive Idaho scenery. Plan for a straightforward route that's ideal for those looking to cover significant distance efficiently.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
299.8 miles from Twin Falls, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
361.3 mi
6h 12m
US 395
131.7 mi
2h 23m
North Newport Highway
41 mi
55m
McNary Highway
20.4 mi
21m
US 2
12.2 mi
24m
Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
8.2 mi
9m
Lewis and Clark Trail
4.9 mi
6m
North 3000 East Road
3.7 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 361.3 mi, about 6h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Twin Falls, ID and Priest River, ID.
1
Start on Shoshone Street East
83 ft·3 sec·Shoshone Street East
2
Turn right onto 11th Avenue East
225 ft·16 sec·11th Avenue East
3
Turn sharp right onto US 93 BUS
346 ft·17 sec·Addison Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 93 BUS
2.0 mi·4 min·Blue Lakes Boulevard North
5
Continue on US 93
3.7 mi·5 min·North 3000 East Road
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 84 West
7
Merge onto I 84
361 mi·6 hr 12 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 395
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 395
Toward US 395 North: Stanfield, Hermiston
9
Continue on US 395
1.2 mi·1 min·Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
10
Continue on US 395
2.0 mi·2 min·South Main Street
11
Continue on US 395
3.2 mi·3 min·Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
12
Turn right onto Southeast 4th Street
1.6 mi·3 min·Southeast 4th Street
13
Turn left onto East Theater Lane
0.3 mi·41 sec·East Theater Lane
14
Turn right onto US 395
0.5 mi·38 sec·North 1st Street
15
Continue on US 395
3.8 mi·4 min·Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
16
Turn left onto US 395; US 730
0.7 mi·48 sec·Columbia River Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Take the exit onto US 395
0.2 mi·27 sec·US 395
Toward I 82 West, US 395 North: Kennewick, Yakima
18
Merge onto I 82; US 395
20 mi·21 min·McNary Highway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
3.3 mi·4 min·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
Toward US 395 north to I‑182: Kennewick, Pasco, Spokane
20
Continue on US 395
1.1 mi·2 min·South US 395
21
Continue on US 395
4.9 mi·6 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit onto US 395
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 395
Toward US 395 north, SR 397 south (Oregon Street): Spokane, FinleyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 395
0.3 mi·34 sec·US 395
Toward US 395
24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
131 mi·2 hr 20 min·US 395
Toward US 395 North: SpokaneUse the slight right lane.
25
Merge onto I 90; US 2; US 395
2.9 mi·3 min·I 90; US 2; US 395
26
Take the exit onto US 2; US 395
0.2 mi·32 sec·US 2; US 395
Toward US 395 North, US 2 East: Colville, Newport
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 2; US 395
6.1 mi·14 min·US 2; US 395
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 2
2.2 mi·3 min·North Newport Highway
29
Continue on US 2
212 ft·13 sec·North Newport Highway
30
Enter roundabout onto US 2
161 ft·9 sec·North Newport Highway
31
Continue on US 2
39 mi·51 min·North Newport Highway
32
Turn slight right onto South Union Avenue
251 ft·17 sec·South Union Avenue
33
Turn left onto West 4th Street
0.1 mi·38 sec·West 4th Street
34
Turn left onto ID 41
0.4 mi·40 sec·South State Avenue
35
Turn right onto US 2
5.8 mi·9 min·US 2
Use the straight lane.
36
Turn left onto ID 57
488 ft·13 sec·State Highway 57
37
Turn right onto East Jackson Avenue
0.1 mi·29 sec·East Jackson Avenue
38
Turn right onto 7th Street
288 ft·12 sec·7th Street
39
Continue on Summit Boulevard
386 ft·17 sec·Summit Boulevard
40
Arrive at destination
Summit Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 11-hour drive time, this route is best tackled over two days. Aim to depart in the morning to make the most of daylight for your first leg. With 3 planned stops, you can strategically position them for rest and refueling. Consider splitting the drive roughly in half, perhaps stopping overnight around the 5-6 hour mark. Keep an eye on fuel levels, especially as you move away from major highway corridors towards the latter part of your journey.
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 299.8 miles from Twin Falls, ID, or about 5h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 361.3 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 132 miles or 2h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 299.8 miles or 5h 13m 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 299.8 miles or 5h 13m
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 9h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Priest River, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Twin 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 Twin Falls, ID
Aim for roughly 300 miles and 5.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Priest River, ID
Aim for roughly 300 miles and 5.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 132 miles from Twin Falls, ID.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway for about 361.3 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 411.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 93 BUS / Addison Avenue
Turn sharp right onto US 93 BUS / Addison Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
381.6 mi into trip|~6h 41m in|US 395
Take the exit onto US 395 toward I 82 West, US 395 North: Kennewick, Yakima
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 82 West, US 395 North: Kennewick, Yaki...
6
402.2 mi into trip|~7h 4m in|US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail Highway toward US 395 north to I‑182: Kennewick, Pasco, Spokane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 395 north to I‑182: Kennewick, Pasco,...
7
411.5 mi into trip|~7h 18m in|US 395
Take the exit onto US 395 toward US 395 north, SR 397 south (Oregon Street): Spokane, Finley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 395 north, SR 397 south (Oregon Stree...
7
411.9 mi into trip|~7h 19m in|US 395
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395 toward US 395 North: Spokane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 395 North: Spokane
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$95.02 one way
$190.03 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg210 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$99.59
$199.19
premium
$4.53
$106.96
$213.92
diesel
$5.61
$132.38
$264.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$95
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$225–$335
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 209.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $63 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
179.9
2
$62.96
$28.78
Efficient EV
149.9
1
$52.46
$23.98
EV Truck/SUV
239.8
2
$83.94
$38.37
Gas CO2
210 kg
EV CO2
70 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Twin Falls, ID
Late night
in Twin Falls on Tuesday
Local time
4:27 AM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
SSE 6 to 12 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Priest River, ID
Late night
in Priest River on Tuesday
Local time
3:27 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
20 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
11h 6m 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.
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
During the Pliocene, this place looked quite different. Lush wetlands, forests, and grasslands provided excellent habitat for a variety of animals. From fascinating, now-extinct creatures like the sab...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 41.4
Caution: Use Caution with "Fossil Beds Information" Signs
Caution: If You Can't Reach Us By Phone, Please Email Us
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 25% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch covering 361.3 miles on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. After this extensive highway segment, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. Expect periods of rural cruising with fewer exits, especially once you leave the main highway system. The overall feel is one of steady forward progress across the state.
25% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 361.3 mi on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
At 11h 6m, 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 0.1 miles in near US 93 BUS / Addison Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
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 27 significant decision points across 599.6 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 0.1 miles (US 93 BUS / Addison Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 381.6 miles (US 395): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 402.2 miles (US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail Highway): 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.
Between Twin Falls, ID and Priest River, ID, road signs point toward Hermiston, Yakima, Pasco, Spokane, Finley and Newport.
Twin Falls is the largest city in South Central Idaho and the seventh-largest city in the state. The geology of the Magic Valley is also notable, considering that it once sat atop the hotspot that is under Yellowstone National Park. There are dormant shield volcanoes littered everywhere, and basalt as far as the eye can see, making this a prime spot for anyone interested in geological history. Its proximity to outdoor activities and to casino gaming in nearby Nevada give it a regional tourist flair.
Top landmarks
•Twin Falls Downtown Historic District — historic district in Idaho, United States
•Twin Falls Original Townsite Residential Historic District — historic district in Idaho, USA
•Burton Morse House — single-family detached home in Twin Falls, Idaho
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 361.3 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. 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 300 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 46 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 Priest River, 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 3 meaningful breaks. There are 46 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 (US 93 BUS / Addison Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 381.6 miles (US 395): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 402.2 miles (US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 11.1 hours each way, a round trip means 22.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Priest River, ID before the return drive.
