The drive from Caldwell, ID to Soda Springs, ID covers 316.5 miles and takes about 5h 16m 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, East Merrill Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly surface roads.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 193.2 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.15 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
158.3 miles from Caldwell, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
193.2 mi
3h 6m
I 86
62.7 mi
59m
East Merrill Road
31.6 mi
37m
Veterans Memorial Highway
24.3 mi
23m
US 30
2.6 mi
3m
South 10th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Cleveland Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
West 2nd South Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
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 Soda Springs, 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 right at fork
0.5 mi·36 sec
Toward Salt Lake
11
Merge onto I 15
24 mi·23 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 15 Business, US 30 East: Mc Cammon, Soda Springs, Montpelier
13
Turn left onto I 15 Business; US 30
32 mi·37 min·East Merrill Road
14
Continue on US 30; ID 34
2.6 mi·3 min·US 30; ID 34
15
Arrive at destination
US 30; ID 34
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 158.3 miles from Caldwell, ID, or about 2h 36m 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 70 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.3 miles or 2h 36m 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 Soda Springs, 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 316.5 miles and 5h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 282 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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 right at fork toward Salt Lake
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Salt Lake
5
282 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 15 Business, US 30 East: Mc Cammon, Soda Springs, Montpelier
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 15 Business, US 30 East: Mc Cammon, So...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.15 one way
$100.31 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$52.57
$105.14
premium
$4.53
$56.46
$112.92
diesel
$5.61
$69.88
$139.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95
1
$33.23
$15.19
Efficient EV
79.1
0
$27.69
$12.66
EV Truck/SUV
126.6
1
$44.31
$20.26
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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 15, 2026
Origin
Caldwell, ID
Morning
in Caldwell on Saturday
Local time
11:26 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Soda Springs, ID
Morning
in Soda Springs on Saturday
Local time
11:26 AM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Kimberly, ID
158 mi in
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
4 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 16m 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.
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 120.1
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
316.5 mi in 5h 16m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 193.2 mi on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 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 316.5 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.
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 Soda Springs, ID, road signs point toward Salt Lake and Montpelier.
Salt Lake
257.2 mi in|~4h 9m
Montpelier
282 mi in|~4h 34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 16m. Total distance: 316.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (21%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 193.2 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ID can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
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.
Yes — Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Soda Springs, ID before the return drive.
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.
