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Create accountDrive Time
8h 2m
Distance
482.3 mi
776 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$76
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.
Idaho Falls, ID
Wal Saravia
The drive from Idaho Falls, ID to Dalton Gardens, ID covers 482.3 miles and takes about 8h 2m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 90, Veterans Memorial Highway, North 15th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 276.9 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $76.43 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
241.1 miles from Idaho Falls, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 54m into the drive .
The drive from Idaho Falls, ID to Dalton Gardens, ID covers 482.3 miles and takes about 8h 2m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
Total Climb
2,520 ft
Total Descent
4,962 ft
Highest Point
6,093 ft
~100.5 mi in
Elevation Range
3,831 ft
Notable High Points
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 near West Stone Run Lane.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 2m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 14 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Stone Run Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Stonebrook Lane): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (East 17th Street): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto West Stone Run Lane
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Stonebrook Lane
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto East 17th Street
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto South Utah Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the ramp onto I 15 BUS; US 20 toward I15 North: Roberts, Butte
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 276.9 mi | 4h 40m |
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 198.2 mi | 3h 6m |
| North 15th Street | 2.8 mi | 6m |
| South Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Utah Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East 17th Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Pancheri Drive | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Broadway Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Idaho Falls, ID and Dalton Gardens, ID.
Start on Charleston Lane
Turn right onto West Stone Run Lane
Turn left onto Stonebrook Lane
Continue on South Boulevard
Turn left onto East 17th Street
Continue on Pancheri Drive
Turn right onto South Utah Avenue
Enter roundabout onto South Utah Avenue
Continue on South Utah Avenue
Turn left onto I 15 BUS; US 20 BUS
Take the ramp onto I 15 BUS; US 20
Merge onto I 15; US 20
Take the exit
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Turn left onto East Hazel Avenue
Turn right onto North 15th Street
Turn left onto East Hanley Avenue
Arrive at destination
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 106 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 241.1 miles or 3h 54m 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 241.1 miles or 3h 54m
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 6h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dalton Gardens, ID than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Idaho Falls, 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 Idaho Falls, ID
Aim for roughly 241 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Dalton Gardens, ID
Aim for roughly 241 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 241.1 mi from Idaho Falls, ID · 3h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
241 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 Missoula, MTNight 1
241 mi · about 4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Missoula, MT after about 241 miles or 4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 106 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 241.1 miles from Idaho Falls, ID, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 276.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 241 miles or 4 hours on the road.
The final approach into Dalton Gardens, 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 Dalton Gardens, ID.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Dalton Gardens, 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
$76.43 one way
$152.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $80.34 | $160.68 |
| premium | $4.53 | $86.00 | $172.00 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $107.15 | $214.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$206–$316
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 168.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 144.7 | 1 | $50.64 | $23.15 |
| Efficient EV | 120.6 | 1 | $42.20 | $19.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 192.9 | 2 | $67.52 | $30.87 |
Gas CO2
169 kg
EV CO2
56 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 Idaho Falls on Sunday
Local time
3:21 PM
MDT
Current temp
38°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Dalton Gardens on Sunday
Local time
2:21 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Partly Cloudy
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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