Origin
Saint Maries, ID
Night in Saint Maries on Friday
Local time
10:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Saint Maries, ID to Idaho Falls, ID
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 42m
Distance
493.5 mi
794 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$78
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 33m
★
6 AM
7h 42m
8 AM
8h 1m
10 AM
7h 49m
12 PM
7h 47m
3 PM
7h 50m
5 PM
8h 0m
8 PM
7h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Maries, ID
Sami Aksu
Idaho Falls, ID
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Saint Maries, ID to Idaho Falls, ID covers 493.5 miles and takes about 7h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South 3rd Street, Highway 3 North, Highway 3 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $78.20 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
246.7 miles from Saint Maries, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 51m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 42m. Total distance: 493.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 42m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 42m drive with frequent turns across 493.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South 3rd Street 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 7h 42m, 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 Saint Maries, ID to Idaho Falls, ID is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 3rd Street | — | — |
| Highway 3 North | — | — |
| Highway 3 | — | — |
| I 15 South | — | — |
| I 15 | — | — |
| West Broadway Street | — | — |
| South Utah Avenue | — | — |
| Pancheri Drive | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South 3rd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Maries, ID and Idaho Falls, ID.
1
Start on West Jefferson Avenue
49 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Jefferson Avenue
2
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South 3rd Street
3
Continue on Highway 3 North
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Highway 3 North
4
Continue on South Highway 3
22 mi
·
32 min
·
South Highway 3
5
Take the ramp right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
6
Merge slight left
256 mi
·
4 hr 13 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls
8
Merge slight left
198 mi
·
3 hr 5 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 15 Business, US 20 West: Historic Downtown, Arco
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 15 Business, US 20 West: Historic Downtown, Arco
10
Continue on West Broadway Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
West Broadway Street
11
Turn right onto South Utah Avenue
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Utah Avenue
12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South Utah Avenue
102 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Utah Avenue
13
Exit the roundabout onto South Utah Avenue
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Utah Avenue
14
Turn left onto Pancheri Drive
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Pancheri Drive
15
Continue on West 17th Street
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
West 17th Street
16
Turn right onto South Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Boulevard
17
Continue on Stonebrook Lane
466 ft
·
15 sec
·
Stonebrook Lane
18
Turn right onto West Stone Run Lane
243 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Stone Run Lane
19
Turn left onto Charleston Lane
151 ft
·
7 sec
·
Charleston Lane
20
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 246.7 miles from Saint Maries, ID, or about 3h 51m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 109 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 246.7 miles or 3h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Idaho Falls, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Maries, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Maries, ID
This is one driving day of about 493.5 miles and 7h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Saint Maries, ID.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 246.7 mi from Saint Maries, ID · 3h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
247 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 109 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 246.7 miles from Saint Maries, ID, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Idaho Falls, ID
The final approach into Idaho Falls, 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 Idaho Falls, ID.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$78.20 one way
$156.40 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
173 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $81.97 | $163.94 |
| premium | $4.53 | $88.03 | $176.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $108.96 | $217.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$78
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 172.7 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 | 148 | 1 | $51.82 | $23.69 |
| Efficient EV | 123.4 | 1 | $43.18 | $19.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 197.4 | 2 | $69.09 | $31.58 |
Gas CO2
173 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
Idaho Falls, ID
Night in Idaho Falls on Friday
Local time
11:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
63°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.
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
19 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 42m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Saint Maries, ID to Idaho Falls, ID covers 493.5 miles and takes about 7h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 3rd Street, Highway 3 North, Highway 3. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 246.7 miles from Saint Maries, ID. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $78.20 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 7h 42m, 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 Saint Maries, ID to Idaho Falls, ID is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Saint Maries, ID to Idaho Falls, 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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