The drive from Lewiston, ID to Blackfoot, ID covers 523.1 miles and takes about 9h 52m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, US 95, I 86 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is long-distance drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 170.7 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $82.89 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
261.5 miles from Lewiston, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 35m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
9h 52m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
At 523.1 miles and 9h 52m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway and US 95.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 170.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 9h 52m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near 7th Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 523.1 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 0.7 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|7th Avenue
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|21st Street
At end of road, turn left onto 21st Street
Navigation decision point
8
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|US 12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12 toward US 95 South: Missoula, Boise
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 95 South: Missoula, Boise
5
259.3 mi into trip|~5h 31m in|ID 44 / East State Street
Turn left onto ID 44 / East State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
267.4 mi into trip|~5h 48m in
Take the ramp toward I 84 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 84 East
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
170.7 mi
2h 41m
US 95
135 mi
2h 35m
I 86
62.7 mi
59m
South 3rd Street
45.6 mi
1h 1m
ID 55
31.1 mi
46m
I 15 BUS
19.8 mi
18m
Highway 55
15 mi
20m
US 12
10.3 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 170.7 mi, about 2h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lewiston, ID and Blackfoot, ID.
1
Start on this road
105 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Idaho Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Idaho Street
3
Turn right onto 19th Street
288 ft·18 sec·19th Street
4
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·30 sec·7th Avenue
5
At end of road, turn left onto 21st Street
339 ft·10 sec·21st Street
6
Continue on US 12
1.0 mi·2 min·US 12
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
9.3 mi·11 min·US 12
Toward US 95 South: Missoula, BoiseUse the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 95
59 mi·1 hr 8 min·US 95
9
Turn right onto Johnston Road
2.2 mi·5 min·Johnston Road
10
Turn right onto US 95
76 mi·1 hr 26 min·US 95
11
Turn left onto ID 55
11 mi·16 min·ID 55
12
Turn right onto Boydstun Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Boydstun Street
13
Continue on East Deinhard Lane
1.6 mi·2 min·East Deinhard Lane
14
Turn right onto ID 55
46 mi·1 hr 1 min·South 3rd Street
15
Continue on ID 55
18 mi·25 min·ID 55
16
Continue on ID 55
13 mi·17 min·Highway 55
17
Continue on ID 55
1.3 mi·1 min·Horseshoe Bend Road
18
Continue on ID 55
2.0 mi·5 min·ID 55
19
Continue on ID 55
0.4 mi·29 sec·Horseshoe Bend Road
20
Continue on ID 55
2.4 mi·3 min·Highway 55
21
Continue on ID 55
5.9 mi·7 min·Payette River Scenic Byway
22
Continue on ID 55
8.9 mi·12 min·North Horseshoe Bend Road
23
Turn left onto ID 44
2.4 mi·3 min·East State Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Turn right onto ID 44
1.7 mi·3 min·North Glenwood Street
25
Turn left onto North Mountain View Drive
0.2 mi·38 sec·North Mountain View Drive
26
Turn right onto North Cole Road
2.6 mi·5 min·North Cole Road
Use the left lane.
27
Continue on South Cole Road
1.2 mi·2 min·South Cole Road
28
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 84 EastUse the left lane.
29
Merge onto I 84; US 30
171 mi·2 hr 41 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 86; US 30
63 mi·59 min·I 86; US 30
31
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·40 sec
Toward Idaho Falls
32
Merge onto I 15 BUS
20 mi·18 min·I 15 BUS
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 26, ID 39: Blackfoot, Arco
34
Keep slight right at fork
429 ft·10 sec
35
Turn straight onto I 15 Business
0.4 mi·40 sec·Bergener Boulevard
36
Continue on I 15 Business
450 ft·7 sec·West Bridge Street
37
Continue on I 15 Business
0.4 mi·43 sec·West Judicial Street
38
Turn left onto South Ash Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·South Ash Street
39
Turn right onto West Pacific Street
333 ft·14 sec·West Pacific Street
40
Turn left onto North Broadway Street
156 ft·12 sec·North Broadway Street
41
Turn left
35 ft·2 sec
42
Arrive at 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 261.5 miles from Lewiston, ID, or about 5h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 170.7 miles.
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 115 miles or 2h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 261.5 miles or 5h 35m 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 261.5 miles or 5h 35m
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 8h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blackfoot, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lewiston, 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 Lewiston, ID
Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Blackfoot, ID
Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 115 miles from Lewiston, 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.
The longest stretch is on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway for about 170.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 261.5 mi from Lewiston, ID
· 5h 35m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 360.8
Caution: Use Caution with "Fossil Beds Information" Signs
Caution: If You Can't Reach Us By Phone, Please Email Us
Since time immemorial, the valleys, prairies, mountains, and plateaus of the inland northwest have been home to the nimíipuu (Nez Perce) people. Extremely resilient, they survived the settling of the...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 72.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$82.89 one way
$165.79 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg183 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$86.89
$173.78
premium
$4.53
$93.31
$186.63
diesel
$5.61
$115.49
$230.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$83
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$213–$323
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 183 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $55 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
156.9
1
$54.93
$25.11
Efficient EV
130.8
1
$45.77
$20.92
EV Truck/SUV
209.2
2
$73.23
$33.48
Gas CO2
183 kg
EV CO2
61 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
Lewiston, ID
Morning
in Lewiston on Friday
Local time
6:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blackfoot, ID
Morning
in Blackfoot on Friday
Local time
7:14 AM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Eagle, ID
345 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.
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
25 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
9h 52m 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 Lewiston, ID to Blackfoot, ID covers 523.1 miles and takes about 9h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, US 95, I 86. 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 262 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 261.5 miles from Lewiston, ID. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $82.89 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 523.1 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Lewiston, ID to Blackfoot, ID does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument and Nez Perce National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
