The drive from Caldwell, ID to Ashton, ID covers 356.8 miles and takes about 5h 52m 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 193.2 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $56.54 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
178.4 miles from Caldwell, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 52m. Total distance: 356.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Caldwell, ID to Ashton, ID covers 356.8 miles and takes about 5h 52m, 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 19 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 193.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 356.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles (I 84; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in|I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22.2 mi into trip|~27m in|I 84; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
257.2 mi into trip|~4h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Idaho Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Idaho Falls
6
304.1 mi into trip|~4h 54m in|US 20
Take the exit onto US 20 toward US 20 East, I 15: Rigby, West Yellowstone
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 119
Toward US 20 East, I 15: Rigby, West Yellowston...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Caldwell, ID and Ashton, ID, road signs point toward Idaho Falls and Yellowstone.
Idaho Falls
257.2 mi in|~4h 9m
Yellowstone
304.1 mi in|~4h 54m|via US 20
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
193.2 mi
3h 6m
I 86
62.7 mi
59m
I 15 BUS
46.3 mi
43m
Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
31.7 mi
34m
Yellowstone Highway
17.2 mi
18m
Rigby Highway
3.1 mi
3m
South 10th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 193.2 mi, about 3h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Caldwell, ID and Ashton, ID.
1
Start on this road
90 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto I 84 Business
72 ft·4 sec·Cleveland Boulevard
3
Turn right
141 ft·12 sec
4
Turn right
150 ft·12 sec
5
Turn right onto South 10th Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·South 10th Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
7
Merge onto I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30
21 mi·24 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 30
172 mi·2 hr 42 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 86; US 30
63 mi·59 min·I 86; US 30
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·40 sec
Toward Idaho Falls
11
Merge onto I 15 BUS
46 mi·43 min·I 15 BUS
12
Take the exit onto US 20
0.3 mi·35 sec·US 20
Exit 119Toward US 20 East, I 15: Rigby, West Yellowstone
13
Continue on US 20
3.1 mi·3 min·Rigby Highway
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on US 20
15 mi·16 min·Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
15
Continue on US 20
17 mi·18 min·Yellowstone Highway
16
Continue on US 20
16 mi·17 min·Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
18
Turn straight onto ID-47
0.3 mi·32 sec·Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
ID-47
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 178.4 miles from Caldwell, ID, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 193.2 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 78 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 178.4 miles or 2h 55m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ashton, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Caldwell, 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 Caldwell, ID
This is one driving day of about 356.8 miles and 5h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Caldwell, 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 193.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 178.4 mi from Caldwell, ID
· 2h 55m into the drive
The midpoint is around 178.4 miles from Caldwell, 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 193.2 miles.
Arriving in Ashton, ID
The final approach into Ashton, 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 Ashton, 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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 123
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
$56.54 one way
$113.08 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg125 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$59.27
$118.53
premium
$4.53
$63.65
$127.30
diesel
$5.61
$78.78
$157.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
107
1
$37.46
$17.13
Efficient EV
89.2
1
$31.22
$14.27
EV Truck/SUV
142.7
1
$49.95
$22.84
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Caldwell, ID
Late night
in Caldwell on Friday
Local time
4:49 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ashton, ID
Late night
in Ashton on Friday
Local time
4:49 AM
MDT
Current temp
69°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
7 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 52m 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 Caldwell, ID to Ashton, ID covers 356.8 miles and takes about 5h 52m 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 178.4 miles from Caldwell, ID. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $56.54 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 356.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.2 miles (I 84; US 30 / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Caldwell, ID and Ashton, ID, road signs point toward Idaho Falls and Yellowstone.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument.
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.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
