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Trip from Boise, ID to Kamiah, ID

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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 49m ★
6 AM
5h 2m
8 AM
5h 29m
10 AM
5h 12m
12 PM
5h 9m
3 PM
5h 13m
5 PM
5h 28m
8 PM
4h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in and state capital of Idaho, United States

Boise, ID

Wikimedia Commons

city in Lewis and Idaho counties in Idaho, United States

Kamiah, ID

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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 .

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Drive Character

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.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Norris Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 79 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Driving Effort 4/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Capitol Boulevard

At end of road, turn right onto South Capitol Boulevard

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Idaho Street

Turn left onto West Idaho Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
6
0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in | North 15th Street

Turn right onto North 15th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
2 mi into trip | ~5m in | West State Street

Keep slight left at fork onto West State Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: North Norris Avenue — 79 mi, about 1h 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Boise, ID and Kamiah, ID.

1

Start on this road

118 ft · 14 sec · this road
2

Turn left

126 ft · 11 sec
3

At end of road, turn right onto South Capitol Boulevard

0.2 mi · 33 sec · South Capitol Boulevard
4

Turn left onto West Idaho Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Idaho Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
5

Turn right onto North 15th Street

0.2 mi · 29 sec · North 15th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6

Turn left onto West State Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · West State Street
7

Continue on West State Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · West State Street
8

Keep slight left at fork onto West State Street

6.1 mi · 11 min · West State Street
Use the straight lane.
9

Take the ramp

513 ft · 14 sec
Toward SH-55
10

Merge onto ID 55

8.8 mi · 11 min · North Horseshoe Bend Road
11

Continue on ID 55

5.9 mi · 7 min · Payette River Scenic Byway
12

Continue on ID 55

2.4 mi · 3 min · Highway 55
13

Continue on ID 55

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Horseshoe Bend Road
14

Continue on ID 55

16 mi · 24 min · Highway 55
15

Continue on ID 55

18 mi · 25 min · Horseshoe Bend Road
16

Continue on ID 55

46 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Main Street
17

Turn left onto Deinhard Lane

1.6 mi · 2 min · Deinhard Lane
18

Continue on Boydstun Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · Boydstun Street
19

At end of road, turn left onto ID 55

11 mi · 16 min · West Lake Street
20

Turn right onto US 95

79 mi · 1 hr 29 min · North Norris Avenue
21

Turn right onto ID 13

1.1 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
22

Continue on ID 13

25 mi · 28 min · Harpster Grade Road
23

At end of road, turn left onto US 12

7.6 mi · 10 min · US 12
24

Turn left onto ID 64; ID 162

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Hill Street
25

Arrive at destination

Hill Street

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 116 miles from Boise, ID, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79 miles.

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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Boise, ID.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on North Norris Avenue for about 79 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 116 mi from Boise, ID · 2h 47m into the drive

Downtown McCall, ID, ID

Mid-route town

Meal stop

McCall, ID

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Emmett, ID

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

McCall, ID

Meal break

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 check

Top up before North Norris Avenue if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79 miles.

Arriving in Kamiah, ID

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$36.76 one way

$73.53 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 81 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Boise, ID

Morning in Boise on Friday

Local time

7:08 AM

MDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kamiah, ID

Morning in Kamiah on Friday

Local time

6:08 AM

PDT

Current temp

47°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.

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

15 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

5h 2m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Boise, ID to Kamiah, ID covers 232 miles and takes about 5h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Norris Avenue, Main Street, Harpster Grade Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 116 miles from Boise, ID. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.76 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a straightforward 5h 2m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

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.

The route from Boise, ID to Kamiah, ID does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

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.

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