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Create accountDrive Time
8h 12m
Distance
445.1 mi
716 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$71
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Coeur d'Alene, ID
Ghassan Hani
Meridian, ID
Susanne Plank
Traveling from Coeur d'Alene to Meridian spans 445.1 miles across the Mountain West, a journey that typically requires about 8 hours and 12 minutes of drive time. While you could technically complete this in one long push, I strongly recommend splitting the trip over 2 days to maintain your energy. You will navigate via I-90, the Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway, and the Old Oregon Trail Highway throughout the trek. Budgeting around $71 for fuel is a smart move before you head out. Because this route involves a fair amount of turn-heavy local driving, having an overnight stop makes the experience much more manageable than a single grueling stint behind the wheel.
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
222.6 miles from Coeur d'Alene, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 12m into the drive .
Expect a varied driving experience that balances fast-paced highway segments with more technical, local road navigation. With only 21% of the route consisting of major highways, you will spend a significant amount of time on roads that demand your full attention. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 215.2 miles on the Old Oregon Trail Highway, which serves as the backbone of your trip. As you transition between these different road types, the personality of the drive shifts from high-speed interstate travel to more winding, localized conditions. Be prepared for a dynamic environment that keeps you engaged rather than lulled into the monotony of a straight interstate grind.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
3,751 ft
Total Descent
3,337 ft
Highest Point
3,749 ft
~259.7 mi in
Elevation Range
3,332 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near I 90.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 445.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (I 90): Lane positioning matters here; at 92.2 miles (US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 197.1 miles (US 395): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp onto I 90 toward Spokane
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway toward Ritzville, Pasco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 395 toward US 395 south, US 730: Umatilla, Hermiston, Irrigon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward ID 69 South: Meridian, Kuna
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward State Police, Idaho Peace Officers Memorial
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Coeur d'Alene, ID and Meridian, ID, road signs point toward Ritzville, Pasco, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College, Tri Cities Airport and Hermiston - among others.
Ritzville
Pasco
Pendleton
Columbia Basin College
Tri Cities Airport
Hermiston
Irrigon
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Old Oregon Trail Highway | 215.2 mi | 3h 48m |
| I 90 | 90.8 mi | 1h 40m |
| Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway | 73.7 mi | 1h 19m |
| Lewis and Clark Trail Highway | 23.7 mi | 26m |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway | 16.3 mi | 18m |
| Umatilla-Stanfield Highway | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| Lewis and Clark Trail | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| North Main Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Coeur d'Alene, ID and Meridian, ID.
Start on East Garden Avenue
Turn right onto North 4th Street
Take the ramp onto I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; US 395
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
Take the exit onto US 395
Merge onto I 182; US 12; US 395
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
Continue on US 395
Continue on US 395
Take the exit onto US 395
Keep slight left at fork onto US 395
Turn left onto US 395; US 730
Turn right onto US 395
Continue on US 395
Turn left onto East Theater Lane
Turn right onto Northeast 4th Street
Turn left onto US 395
Continue on US 395
Continue on US 395
Take the exit onto US 395
Merge onto I 84; US 30; US 395
Continue on I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30
Continue on I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto ID 69
Continue on South Main Street
Continue on North Main Street
Arrive at destination
Planning for two stops along the way is essential to break up the 8-hour duration and keep your focus sharp. Given the turn-heavy nature of the local sections, I suggest departing early in the morning to handle the more complex driving while you are fresh. Since you are covering nearly 450 miles, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the longer 215.2-mile stretch on the Old Oregon Trail Highway, as service intervals may fluctuate. Use your two planned stops as opportunities to check your route navigation, especially when transitioning between the Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway and local connectors. Taking your time ensures you arrive in Meridian feeling refreshed instead of exhausted from a single-day haul.
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.
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 98 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 222.6 miles or 4h 12m 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 222.6 miles or 4h 12m
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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meridian, ID than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Coeur d'Alene, 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 Coeur d'Alene, ID
Aim for roughly 223 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Meridian, ID
Aim for roughly 223 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 222.6 mi from Coeur d'Alene, ID · 4h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
223 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 College Place, WANight 1
223 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near College Place, WA after about 223 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 98 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 222.6 miles from Coeur d'Alene, ID, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Old Oregon Trail Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 215.2 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 223 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
The final approach into Meridian, 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 Meridian, ID.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Meridian, ID with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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.
Regular Gas
$70.53 one way
$141.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $74.14 | $148.28 |
| premium | $4.53 | $79.36 | $158.73 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $98.89 | $197.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$71
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$201–$311
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 155.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 133.5 | 1 | $46.74 | $21.36 |
| Efficient EV | 111.3 | 1 | $38.95 | $17.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 178 | 2 | $62.31 | $28.49 |
Gas CO2
156 kg
EV CO2
52 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Coeur d'Alene on Sunday
Local time
3:37 PM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Meridian on Sunday
Local time
4:37 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Rain Showers Likely
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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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