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Trip from Salmon, ID to Lewiston Orchards, ID

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 31m

Distance

337.2 mi

543 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$53

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
7h 21m ★
6 AM
7h 31m
8 AM
7h 52m
10 AM
7h 38m
12 PM
7h 36m
3 PM
7h 39m
5 PM
7h 51m
8 PM
7h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Lemhi County, Idaho, United States

Salmon, ID

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lewiston Orchards, ID, ID

Lewiston Orchards, ID

Ritvars Garoza

Trip Overview

The drive from Salmon, ID to Lewiston Orchards, ID covers 337.2 miles and takes about 7h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 12, US 93, Lolo Creek Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 172.6 miles on US 12. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.43 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

168.6 miles from Salmon, ID

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 39m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 31m. Total distance: 337.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 31m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 7h 31m highway drive covering 337.2 miles, with most of the trip on US 12 and US 93. The longest continuous stretch is about 172.6 miles on US 12.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 12 is the longest continuous segment at about 172.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and US 93. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 93 / Main Street.

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 31m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 93 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 93): Lane positioning matters here; at 325.1 miles (US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 93 / Main Street

Turn left onto US 93 / Main Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 93

Turn slight right onto US 93 toward US 93: Missoula

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward US 93: Missoula
5
325.1 mi into trip | ~7h 11m in | US 12

Take the exit onto US 12

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
332.6 mi into trip | ~7h 21m in | US 12

Keep slight left at fork onto US 12 toward Lewiston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward Lewiston
5
337.1 mi into trip | ~7h 31m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 12 172.6 mi 3h 54m
US 93 128.7 mi 2h 50m
Lolo Creek Road 32.6 mi 39m
Thain Road 1.9 mi 4m
21st Street 1.1 mi 2m
Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
Bryden Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
South Saint Charles Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 12 — 172.6 mi, about 3h 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Salmon, ID and Lewiston Orchards, ID.

1

Start on South Saint Charles Street

206 ft · 14 sec · South Saint Charles Street
2

Turn left onto US 93

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Main Street
3

Turn slight right onto US 93

129 mi · 2 hr 50 min · US 93
Toward US 93: Missoula Use the straight lane.
4

Turn left onto US 12

33 mi · 39 min · Lolo Creek Road
5

Continue on US 12

164 mi · 3 hr 41 min · US 12
6

Take the exit onto US 12

7.5 mi · 9 min · US 12
Use the straight lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto US 12

1.5 mi · 3 min · US 12
Toward Lewiston
8

Continue on 21st Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · 21st Street
9

Continue on Thain Road

1.9 mi · 4 min · Thain Road
10

Turn left onto Bryden Avenue

207 ft · 13 sec · Bryden Avenue
11

Turn left

62 ft · 9 sec
12

Turn left

145 ft · 10 sec
13

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 168.6 miles from Salmon, ID, or about 3h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 172.6 miles.

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 74 miles or 1h 38m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 168.6 miles or 3h 39m 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 6m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewiston Orchards, ID than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Salmon, 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 Salmon, ID

This is one driving day of about 337.2 miles and 7h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Salmon, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 12 for about 172.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 168.6 mi from Salmon, ID · 3h 39m into the drive

Downtown Hamilton, MT, MT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hamilton, MT

169 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

Hamilton, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 74 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hamilton, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 168.6 miles from Salmon, ID, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 12 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 172.6 miles.

Arriving in Lewiston Orchards, ID

The final approach into Lewiston Orchards, 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 Lewiston Orchards, ID.

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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Jeffrey's Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lewiston, Idaho

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 337.2

Hours: 5 am–2:30 pm

+12087469482

Visit website

5T Taco @ 406

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Victor, Montana

1.3 mi

Applebee's Grill + Bar

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lewiston, Idaho

1.6 mi

Jeffrey's Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 337.2

Lewiston, Idaho

Hours: 5 am–2:30 pm

+12087469482

Visit website

5T Taco @ 406

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 96.3

Victor, Montana

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+14069610124

Visit website

Applebee's Grill + Bar

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately mile 337.2

Lewiston, Idaho

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+12087468000

Visit website

Zany Graze

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 337.2

Lewiston, Idaho

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12087468131

Visit website

Wendy's

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour Inexpensiv mile 337.2

Lewiston, Idaho

Hours: 6:30 am–11 pm

+12087431212

Visit website

Mandarin Pine Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 337.2

Lewiston, Idaho

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12087464919

Visit website

El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 337.2

Lewiston, Idaho

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+12087461205

Visit website

Southway Pizzeria & Deli

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 337.2

Lewiston, Idaho

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+12087430400

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Salmon, Idaho

Visit website

EvGateway Charging Station

1.4 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 96.3

Hamilton, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19499452000

Visit website

Clearwater Canyon Cellars

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 337.2

Lewiston, Idaho

Hours: 12–5 pm

+12088164679

Visit website

Claudia Driscoll Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 96.3

Hamilton, Montana

Hours: 5 am–8 pm

+14063632101

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$53.43 one way

$106.87 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 118 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $56.01 $112.02
premium $4.53 $60.15 $120.30
diesel $5.61 $74.45 $148.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$53

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$78–$103

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 118 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 101.2 1 $35.41 $16.19
Efficient EV 84.3 0 $29.50 $13.49
EV Truck/SUV 134.9 1 $47.21 $21.58

Gas CO2

118 kg

EV CO2

39 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

Salmon, ID

Afternoon in Salmon on Friday

Local time

1:51 PM

MDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lewiston Orchards, ID

Afternoon in Lewiston Orchards on Friday

Local time

12:51 PM

PDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

43°F

Hamilton, MT

169 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.

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

2 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

7h 31m 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 Salmon, ID to Lewiston Orchards, ID covers 337.2 miles and takes about 7h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 12, US 93, Lolo Creek Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 168.6 miles from Salmon, ID. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.43 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 31m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 93 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 93): Lane positioning matters here; at 325.1 miles (US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Salmon, ID to Lewiston Orchards, 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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