The drive from American Falls, ID to Lewiston Orchards, ID covers 473.6 miles and takes about 9h 7m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, North Norris Avenue, US 95 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 171.2 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $75.05 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
236.8 miles from American Falls, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
9h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 9h 7m drive with frequent turns across 473.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 171.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 210.8 miles in.
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 473.6 miles you will encounter 20 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: at 210.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 408.2 miles (US 95): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
210.8 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward Cole Road, Overland Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 50A
Toward Cole Road, Overland Road
8
211 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Cole Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward Cole Road
5
408.2 mi into trip|~7h 44m in|US 95
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
Navigation decision point
5
472.5 mi into trip|~9h 4m in|Thain Road
Enter roundabout onto Thain Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
473.6 mi into trip|~9h 6m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
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 American Falls, ID to Lewiston Orchards, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Sh-55 along the way.
Sh-55
218.7 mi in|~3h 37m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
171.2 mi
2h 41m
North Norris Avenue
76.4 mi
1h 26m
US 95
52.6 mi
1h
Main Street
45.6 mi
1h 1m
I 86
36.4 mi
34m
Horseshoe Bend Road
18.9 mi
25m
Highway 55
18.4 mi
27m
West Lake Street
10.6 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 171.2 mi, about 2h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between American Falls, ID and Lewiston Orchards, ID.
1
Start on this road
175 ft·14 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Fort Hall Avenue
0.5 mi·56 sec·Fort Hall Avenue
3
Continue on I 86 Business
0.4 mi·37 sec·Lincoln Street
4
Continue on I 86 Business
2.0 mi·2 min·South Frontage Road
5
Take the ramp onto I 86 Business
0.2 mi·29 sec·I 86 Business
6
Merge onto I 86; US 30
36 mi·34 min·I 86; US 30
7
Continue on I 84; US 30
171 mi·2 hr 41 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 50AToward Cole Road, Overland RoadUse the right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
232 ft·12 sec
Toward Cole RoadUse the left / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto South Cole Road
0.8 mi·1 min·South Cole Road
11
Continue on North Cole Road
2.6 mi·5 min·North Cole Road
Use the left lane.
12
At end of road, turn left onto North Mountain View Drive
0.2 mi·39 sec·North Mountain View Drive
13
Turn right onto North Glenwood Street
1.7 mi·3 min·North Glenwood Street
14
Turn left onto ID 44
2.3 mi·3 min·West State Street
15
Take the ramp
513 ft·14 sec
Toward SH-55
16
Merge onto ID 55
8.8 mi·11 min·North Horseshoe Bend Road
17
Continue on ID 55
5.9 mi·7 min·Payette River Scenic Byway
18
Continue on ID 55
2.4 mi·3 min·Highway 55
19
Continue on ID 55
0.4 mi·29 sec·Horseshoe Bend Road
20
Continue on ID 55
16 mi·24 min·Highway 55
21
Continue on ID 55
18 mi·25 min·Horseshoe Bend Road
22
Continue on ID 55
46 mi·1 hr 1 min·Main Street
23
Turn left onto Deinhard Lane
1.6 mi·2 min·Deinhard Lane
24
Continue on Boydstun Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Boydstun Street
25
At end of road, turn left onto ID 55
11 mi·16 min·West Lake Street
26
Turn right onto US 95
76 mi·1 hr 26 min·North Norris Avenue
27
Turn left onto Johnston Road
2.2 mi·5 min·Johnston Road
28
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
53 mi·1 hr·US 95
29
Turn left onto Webb Road
6.0 mi·8 min·Webb Road
30
Continue on Tammany Creek Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Tammany Creek Road
31
Continue on Tammany Creek Road
2.6 mi·4 min·Tammany Creek Road
32
Turn straight onto Barr Road
0.6 mi·57 sec·Barr Road
33
Continue on Ripon Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Ripon Avenue
34
Turn slight right onto Thain Road
366 ft·6 sec·Thain Road
35
Continue on 14th Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·14th Street
36
Enter roundabout onto Thain Road
131 ft·3 sec·Thain Road
37
Continue on Thain Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Thain Road
38
Turn sharp right onto Bryden Avenue
192 ft·12 sec·Bryden Avenue
39
Turn left
62 ft·9 sec
40
Turn left
145 ft·10 sec
41
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 236.8 miles from American Falls, ID, or about 4h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 171.2 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 104 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 236.8 miles or 4h 1m 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 236.8 miles or 4h 1m
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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewiston Orchards, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving American 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 American Falls, ID
Aim for roughly 237 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Lewiston Orchards, ID
Aim for roughly 237 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 104 miles from American Falls, 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 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway for about 171.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 236.8 mi from American Falls, ID
· 4h 1m into the drive
The midpoint is around 236.8 miles from American Falls, ID, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 171.2 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stop
For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 237 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
Arriving in Lewiston Orchards, ID
The final approach into Lewiston Orchards, ID usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lewiston Orchards, ID.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Lewiston Orchards, ID with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Locking Horns Riverside Restaurant
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Horseshoe Bend, Idaho
Around the midpoint, right off the route
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 236.8
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 114.3
Caution: Use Caution with "Fossil Beds Information" Signs
Caution: If You Can't Reach Us By Phone, Please Email Us
Since time immemorial, the valleys, prairies, mountains, and plateaus of the inland northwest have been home to the nimíipuu (Nez Perce) people. Extremely resilient, they survived the settling of the...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 408.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$75.05 one way
$150.10 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg166 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$78.67
$157.33
premium
$4.53
$84.48
$168.97
diesel
$5.61
$104.56
$209.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$75
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$205–$315
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 165.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
142.1
1
$49.73
$22.73
Efficient EV
118.4
1
$41.44
$18.94
EV Truck/SUV
189.4
2
$66.30
$30.31
Gas CO2
166 kg
EV CO2
55 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
American Falls, ID
Late night
in American Falls on Saturday
Local time
5:24 AM
MDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lewiston Orchards, ID
Late night
in Lewiston Orchards on Saturday
Local time
4:24 AM
PDT
Current temp
62°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
1 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
9h 7m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from American Falls, ID to Lewiston Orchards, ID covers 473.6 miles and takes about 9h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, North Norris Avenue, US 95. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 237 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 236.8 miles from American Falls, ID. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $75.05 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 473.6 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 210.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 408.2 miles (US 95): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from American Falls, ID to Lewiston Orchards, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Sh-55 along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument and Nez Perce National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
