The drive from Boise, ID to Blackfoot, ID covers 255.1 miles and takes about 4h 7m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, I 86, I 15 BUS for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 166.5 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.42 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
127.6 miles from Boise, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 255.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Boise, ID to Blackfoot, ID covers 255.1 miles and takes about 4h 7m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 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 166.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 7m drive. You will face about 13 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; at 0.1 miles (South 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (US 20; US 26 / Idaho Medal of Honor Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 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 right
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South 6th Street
Turn right onto South 6th Street
Navigation decision point
6
3.7 mi into trip|~8m in|US 20; US 26 / Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
Take the ramp onto US 20; US 26 / Idaho Medal of Honor Highway toward I 84 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 84 East
5
233.2 mi into trip|~3h 44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Idaho Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Idaho Falls
5
253.7 mi into trip|~4h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 26, ID 39: Blackfoot, Arco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 26, ID 39: Blackfoot, Arco
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 Boise, ID to Blackfoot, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Idaho Falls along the way.
Idaho Falls
233.2 mi in|~3h 44m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
166.5 mi
2h 36m
I 86
62.7 mi
59m
I 15 BUS
19.8 mi
18m
South Broadway Avenue
2.8 mi
5m
West Myrtle Street
0.6 mi
1m
West Judicial Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Bergener Boulevard
0.4 mi
<1m
Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 166.5 mi, about 2h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boise, ID and Blackfoot, ID.
1
Start on this road
118 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn right
263 ft·21 sec
3
Turn right onto South 6th Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·South 6th Street
4
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
0.6 mi·1 min·West Myrtle Street
5
Turn right onto US 20; US 26
2.8 mi·5 min·South Broadway Avenue
6
Take the ramp onto US 20; US 26
0.4 mi·46 sec·Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
Toward I 84 EastUse the left lane.
7
Continue on I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30
166 mi·2 hr 36 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 86; US 30
63 mi·59 min·I 86; US 30
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·40 sec
Toward Idaho Falls
10
Merge onto I 15 BUS
20 mi·18 min·I 15 BUS
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 26, ID 39: Blackfoot, Arco
12
Keep slight right at fork
429 ft·10 sec
13
Turn straight onto I 15 Business
0.4 mi·40 sec·Bergener Boulevard
14
Continue on I 15 Business
450 ft·7 sec·West Bridge Street
15
Continue on I 15 Business
0.4 mi·43 sec·West Judicial Street
16
Turn left onto South Ash Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·South Ash Street
17
Turn right onto West Pacific Street
333 ft·14 sec·West Pacific Street
18
Turn left onto North Broadway Street
156 ft·12 sec·North Broadway Street
19
Turn left
35 ft·2 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 127.6 miles from Boise, ID, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 166.5 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 56 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.6 miles or 2h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blackfoot, 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 255.1 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway for about 166.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 127.6 mi from Boise, ID
· 2h 5m into the drive
The midpoint is around 127.6 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 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 166.5 miles.
Arriving in Blackfoot, ID
The final approach into Blackfoot, 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 Blackfoot, ID.
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.
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
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 96.8
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.42 one way
$80.85 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$42.37
$84.75
premium
$4.53
$45.51
$91.01
diesel
$5.61
$56.32
$112.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.5
0
$26.79
$12.24
Efficient EV
63.8
0
$22.32
$10.20
EV Truck/SUV
102
1
$35.71
$16.33
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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
Late night
in Boise on Saturday
Local time
3:31 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blackfoot, ID
Late night
in Blackfoot on Saturday
Local time
3:31 AM
MDT
Current temp
39°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
23 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
4h 7m 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 Blackfoot, ID covers 255.1 miles and takes about 4h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, I 86, I 15 BUS. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 127.6 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 $40.42 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 4h 7m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (US 20; US 26 / Idaho Medal of Honor Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Boise, ID to Blackfoot, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Idaho Falls along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument.
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.
