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Trip from Chubbuck, ID to Rathdrum, ID

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

8h 53m

Distance

538 mi

866 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$85

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
8h 46m ★
6 AM
8h 54m
8 AM
9h 10m
10 AM
8h 59m
12 PM
8h 58m
3 PM
9h 0m
5 PM
9h 9m
8 PM
8h 49m

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

city in Bannock County, Idaho, United States

Chubbuck, ID

Wikimedia Commons

city in Koostenai County, Idaho, United States

Rathdrum, ID

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Chubbuck, ID to Rathdrum, ID covers 538 miles and takes about 8h 53m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Idaho Falls, I 90 West, Highway 41 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $85.25 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

269 miles from Chubbuck, ID

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 26m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

8h 53m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Long-distance drive route profile.

Drive Character

At 538 miles and 8h 53m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Idaho Falls and I 90 West.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Idaho Falls is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 8h 53m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 53m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chubbuck, ID to Rathdrum, ID is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Idaho Falls
I 90 West
Highway 41
North McCartney Street
West Main Street
North Mill Street
Highway 53

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Idaho Falls — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chubbuck, ID and Rathdrum, ID.

1

Start on Yellowstone Avenue

0.6 mi · 59 sec · Yellowstone Avenue
2

Take the ramp slight left

0.2 mi · 28 sec
3

Merge slight left

0.8 mi · 53 sec
4

Keep slight left to continue on Idaho Falls

0.6 mi · 40 sec · Idaho Falls
5

Merge slight right

244 mi · 3 hr 49 min
6

Take the exit slight left toward I 90 West: Missoula

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 90 West: Missoula
7

Merge slight left onto I 90 West: Missoula

283 mi · 4 hr 47 min · I 90 West: Missoula
8

Take the exit slight right

0.3 mi · 41 sec
9

Keep slight right

427 ft · 10 sec
10

Turn straight onto North Highway 41

6.7 mi · 10 min · North Highway 41
11

Turn left onto North McCartney Street

0.2 mi · 38 sec · North McCartney Street
12

Turn left onto West Main Street

305 ft · 11 sec · West Main Street
13

Turn right onto North Mill Street

243 ft · 7 sec · North Mill Street
14

Turn right onto West Highway 53

410 ft · 13 sec · West Highway 53
15

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 269 miles from Chubbuck, ID, or about 4h 26m into the drive.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 118 miles or 1h 57m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 269 miles or 4h 26m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 269 miles or 4h 26m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 54m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rathdrum, ID than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Chubbuck, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Chubbuck, ID

Aim for roughly 269 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Rathdrum, ID

Aim for roughly 269 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 118 miles from Chubbuck, ID.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 269 mi from Chubbuck, ID · 4h 26m into the drive

county seat of Missoula County, Montana, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Missoula, MT

178 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

city in Sanders County, Montana, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Thompson Falls, MT

355 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Thompson Falls, MT

Overnight Options

Night 1

Thompson Falls, MT

269 mi · about 4.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Thompson Falls, MT after about 269 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Whitehall, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 118 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Thompson Falls, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 269 miles from Chubbuck, ID, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 269 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.

Arriving in Rathdrum, ID

The final approach into Rathdrum, 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 Rathdrum, ID.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Rathdrum, ID with some flexibility left in the schedule.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$85.25 one way

$170.51 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 188 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $89.36 $178.73
premium $4.53 $95.97 $191.94
diesel $5.61 $118.78 $237.57

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$85

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$215–$325

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 188.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 161.4 1 $56.49 $25.82
Efficient EV 134.5 1 $47.07 $21.52
EV Truck/SUV 215.2 2 $75.32 $34.43

Gas CO2

188 kg

EV CO2

63 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

Chubbuck, ID

Late night in Chubbuck on Saturday

Local time

1:13 AM

MDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rathdrum, ID

Late night in Rathdrum on Saturday

Local time

12:13 AM

PDT

Current temp

45°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

8h 53m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Chubbuck, ID to Rathdrum, ID covers 538 miles and takes about 8h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Idaho Falls, I 90 West, Highway 41. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 269 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 269 miles from Chubbuck, ID. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $85.25 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 53m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chubbuck, ID to Rathdrum, ID is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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