Origin
Boise, ID
Morning in Boise on Friday
Local time
7:08 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 2m
Distance
232 mi
373 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boise, ID
Wikimedia Commons
Kamiah, ID
Wikimedia Commons
This 232-mile journey from Boise to Kamiah, Idaho, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take around 5 hours and 2 minutes. With a fuel cost of approximately $37, it's an economical option for exploring the Mountain West region. The route primarily utilizes local roads like North Norris Avenue, Main Street, and Harpster Grade Road, making it a turn-heavy drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 79 miles on North Norris Avenue. This drive offers a more intimate connection with the landscape compared to a highway-focused route, perfect for those who enjoy varied driving experiences.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
116 miles from Boise, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 2m. Total distance: 232 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (11%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for most of this 232-mile route, with only about 11% of the journey on highways. The character shifts from city streets to more rural and winding local roads. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 79 miles on North Norris Avenue, which will give you a good feel for the local terrain. This isn't a route for setting speed records; instead, it's designed for a more engaging driving experience, allowing you to appreciate the transition between different types of Idaho landscapes as you navigate.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 2m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (South Capitol Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (West Idaho Street): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto South Capitol Boulevard
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Turn left onto West Idaho Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto North 15th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto West State Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Norris Avenue | 79 mi | 1h 29m |
| Main Street | 45.6 mi | 1h 1m |
| Harpster Grade Road | 25.2 mi | 28m |
| Horseshoe Bend Road | 18.9 mi | 25m |
| Highway 55 | 18.4 mi | 27m |
| West Lake Street | 10.6 mi | 16m |
| North Horseshoe Bend Road | 8.8 mi | 11m |
| US 12 | 7.6 mi | 10m |
Step-by-step road directions between Boise, ID and Kamiah, ID.
Start on this road
Turn left
At end of road, turn right onto South Capitol Boulevard
Turn left onto West Idaho Street
Turn right onto North 15th Street
Turn left onto West State Street
Continue on West State Street
Keep slight left at fork onto West State Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto ID 55
Continue on ID 55
Continue on ID 55
Continue on ID 55
Continue on ID 55
Continue on ID 55
Continue on ID 55
Turn left onto Deinhard Lane
Continue on Boydstun Street
At end of road, turn left onto ID 55
Turn right onto US 95
Turn right onto ID 13
Continue on ID 13
At end of road, turn left onto US 12
Turn left onto ID 64; ID 162
Arrive at destination
Given the 5-hour duration, this drive is best tackled in a single day, allowing you to depart Boise in the morning and arrive in Kamiah by the afternoon. Plan for one stop to break up the 232 miles and refuel if needed, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 79 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition onto local roads like Harpster Grade Road, where services might be less frequent. The 'turn-heavy' nature of this route means staying attentive and enjoying the journey itself is key.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 51 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kamiah, ID than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Boise, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Boise, ID
This is one driving day of about 232 miles and 5h 2m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 116 mi from Boise, ID · 2h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 116 miles from Boise, ID, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Norris Avenue if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79 miles.
The final approach into Kamiah, 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 Kamiah, ID.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$36.76 one way
$73.53 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $38.54 | $77.07 |
| premium | $4.53 | $41.39 | $82.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.22 | $102.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.6 | 0 | $24.36 | $11.14 |
| Efficient EV | 58 | 0 | $20.30 | $9.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 92.8 | 1 | $32.48 | $14.85 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Boise on Friday
Local time
7:08 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Kamiah on Friday
Local time
6:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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.
Time zone
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Boise, ID or browse trips ending in Kamiah, ID.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ID road trips.