Origin
Idaho Falls, ID
Night in Idaho Falls on Friday
Local time
10:33 PM
MDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Idaho Falls, ID to Saint Maries, ID
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 19m
Distance
491.8 mi
791 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$78
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 12m
★
6 AM
8h 20m
8 AM
8h 35m
10 AM
8h 25m
12 PM
8h 24m
3 PM
8h 26m
5 PM
8h 34m
8 PM
8h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Idaho Falls, ID
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Maries, ID
Sami Aksu
Trip Overview
The drive from Idaho Falls, ID to Saint Maries, ID covers 491.8 miles and takes about 8h 19m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on West Stone Run Lane, Stonebrook Lane, South Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $77.93 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
245.9 miles from Idaho Falls, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 9m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 19m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 8h 19m drive with frequent turns across 491.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Stone Run Lane is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 19m, 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 Idaho Falls, ID to Saint Maries, ID is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Stone Run Lane | — | — |
| Stonebrook Lane | — | — |
| South Boulevard | — | — |
| East 17th Street | — | — |
| Pancheri Drive | — | — |
| South Utah Avenue | — | — |
| West Broadway Street | — | — |
| I15 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Stone Run Lane
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Idaho Falls, ID and Saint Maries, ID.
1
Start on Charleston Lane
151 ft
·
9 sec
·
Charleston Lane
2
Turn right onto West Stone Run Lane
243 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Stone Run Lane
3
Turn left onto Stonebrook Lane
466 ft
·
15 sec
·
Stonebrook Lane
4
Continue on South Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Boulevard
5
Turn left onto East 17th Street
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
East 17th Street
6
Continue on Pancheri Drive
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Pancheri Drive
7
Turn right onto South Utah Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
South Utah Avenue
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Utah Avenue
223 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Utah Avenue
9
Exit the roundabout onto South Utah Avenue
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Utah Avenue
10
Turn left onto West Broadway Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Broadway Street
11
Take the ramp right toward I15 North: Roberts, Butte
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
I15 North: Roberts, Butte
12
Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Highway
198 mi
·
3 hr 6 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
13
Take the exit slight left toward I 90 West: Missoula
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 90 West: Missoula
14
Merge slight left onto I 90 West: Missoula
257 mi
·
4 hr 16 min
·
I 90 West: Missoula
15
Take the exit slight right toward ID 3: Harrison, Rose Lake, Saint Maries
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
ID 3: Harrison, Rose Lake, Saint Maries
16
Turn left onto South Highway 3
33 mi
·
48 min
·
South Highway 3
17
Continue on South 3rd Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
South 3rd Street
18
Turn right onto West Jefferson Avenue
49 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Jefferson Avenue
19
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 245.9 miles from Idaho Falls, ID, or about 4h 9m 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 108 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 245.9 miles or 4h 9m 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 245.9 miles or 4h 9m
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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Maries, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 246 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Saint Maries, ID
Aim for roughly 246 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 miles from Idaho Falls, 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 245.9 mi from Idaho Falls, ID · 4h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
246 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, MTOvernight Options
Night 1
246 mi · about 4.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Thompson Falls, MT after about 246 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 108 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 245.9 miles from Idaho Falls, ID, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 246 miles or 4.2 hours on the road.
Arriving in Saint Maries, ID
The final approach into Saint Maries, 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 Saint Maries, ID.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Saint Maries, 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
$77.93 one way
$155.87 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
172 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $81.69 | $163.38 |
| premium | $4.53 | $87.73 | $175.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $108.58 | $217.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$78
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$208–$318
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 172.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 147.5 | 1 | $51.64 | $23.61 |
| Efficient EV | 123 | 1 | $43.03 | $19.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 196.7 | 2 | $68.85 | $31.48 |
Gas CO2
172 kg
EV CO2
58 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.
Destination
Saint Maries, ID
Night in Saint Maries on Friday
Local time
9:33 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°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
19 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 19m 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 Idaho Falls, ID to Saint Maries, ID covers 491.8 miles and takes about 8h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Stone Run Lane, Stonebrook Lane, South Boulevard. 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 246 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 245.9 miles from Idaho Falls, ID. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $77.93 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 19m, 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 Idaho Falls, ID to Saint Maries, ID is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Idaho Falls, ID to Saint Maries, 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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