The drive from Soda Springs, ID to Lewiston, ID covers 560.4 miles and takes about 10h 35m 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, North Norris Avenue, US 95 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is long-distance drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 171.2 miles on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $88.80 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
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
280.2 miles from Soda Springs, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 35m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
10h 35m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
At 560.4 miles and 10h 35m 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 North Norris Avenue.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 33 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 171.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 10h 35m, 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 58.7 miles in.
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 19 significant decision points across 560.4 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 58.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 293.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 293.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
58.7 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 86 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 72
Toward I 86 West
8
293.2 mi into trip|~4h 47m in
Take the exit toward Cole Road, Overland Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 50A
Toward Cole Road, Overland Road
8
293.4 mi into trip|~4h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Cole Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward Cole Road
7
490.6 mi into trip|~9h 11m in|US 95
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
558 mi into trip|~10h 30m in|US 12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12 toward Lewiston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Lewiston
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Soda Springs, ID to Lewiston, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Sh-55 along the way.
Sh-55
301.1 mi in|~5h 4m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
171.2 mi
2h 41m
North Norris Avenue
76.4 mi
1h 26m
US 95
67.5 mi
1h 18m
I 86
62.7 mi
59m
Main Street
45.6 mi
1h 1m
West 2nd South Street
33.9 mi
41m
Veterans Memorial Highway
23.9 mi
23m
Horseshoe Bend Road
18.9 mi
25m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
— 171.2 mi, about 2h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Soda Springs, ID and Lewiston, ID.
1
Start on US 30; ID 34
34 mi·41 min·West 2nd South Street
2
Take the exit onto I 15 Business; US 30
0.4 mi·21 sec·I 15 Business; US 30
3
Merge onto I 15; US 30; US 91
24 mi·23 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·13 sec
5
Continue on I 15 BUS
0.2 mi·14 sec·I 15 BUS
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 72Toward I 86 West
7
Continue on I 86
63 mi·59 min·I 86
8
Continue on I 84; US 30
171 mi·2 hr 41 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 50AToward Cole Road, Overland RoadUse the right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
232 ft·12 sec
Toward Cole RoadUse the left / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto South Cole Road
0.8 mi·1 min·South Cole Road
12
Continue on North Cole Road
2.6 mi·5 min·North Cole Road
Use the left lane.
13
At end of road, turn left onto North Mountain View Drive
0.2 mi·39 sec·North Mountain View Drive
14
Turn right onto North Glenwood Street
1.7 mi·3 min·North Glenwood Street
15
Turn left onto ID 44
2.3 mi·3 min·West State Street
16
Take the ramp
513 ft·14 sec
Toward SH-55
17
Merge onto ID 55
8.8 mi·11 min·North Horseshoe Bend Road
18
Continue on ID 55
5.9 mi·7 min·Payette River Scenic Byway
19
Continue on ID 55
2.4 mi·3 min·Highway 55
20
Continue on ID 55
0.4 mi·29 sec·Horseshoe Bend Road
21
Continue on ID 55
16 mi·24 min·Highway 55
22
Continue on ID 55
18 mi·25 min·Horseshoe Bend Road
23
Continue on ID 55
46 mi·1 hr 1 min·Main Street
24
Turn left onto Deinhard Lane
1.6 mi·2 min·Deinhard Lane
25
Continue on Boydstun Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Boydstun Street
26
At end of road, turn left onto ID 55
11 mi·16 min·West Lake Street
27
Turn right onto US 95
76 mi·1 hr 26 min·North Norris Avenue
28
Turn left onto Johnston Road
2.2 mi·5 min·Johnston Road
29
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
67 mi·1 hr 18 min·US 95
Use the straight lane.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto US 12
1.6 mi·3 min·US 12
Toward Lewiston
31
Turn right onto Idaho Street
0.8 mi·2 min·Idaho Street
32
Turn left
105 ft·7 sec
33
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 280.2 miles from Soda Springs, ID, or about 4h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 171.2 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 123 miles or 2h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 280.2 miles or 4h 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 280.2 miles or 4h 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 9h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewiston, ID than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Soda Springs, 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 Soda Springs, ID
Aim for roughly 280 miles and 5.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Lewiston, ID
Aim for roughly 280 miles and 5.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 123 miles from Soda Springs, ID.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway for about 171.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 280.2 mi from Soda Springs, ID
· 4h 35m into the drive
The midpoint is around 280.2 miles from Soda Springs, ID, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 171.2 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stop
For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 280 miles or 5.3 hours on the road.
Arriving in Lewiston, ID
The final approach into Lewiston, 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, ID.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Lewiston, 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.
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 193.2
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...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 502.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$88.80 one way
$177.61 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg196 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$93.08
$186.17
premium
$4.53
$99.97
$199.93
diesel
$5.61
$123.73
$247.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$89
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$219–$329
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 196.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $59 in charging
· 2 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
168.1
2
$58.84
$26.90
Efficient EV
140.1
1
$49.04
$22.42
EV Truck/SUV
224.2
2
$78.46
$35.87
Gas CO2
196 kg
EV CO2
66 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Soda Springs, ID
Morning
in Soda Springs on Saturday
Local time
6:44 AM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lewiston, ID
Late night
in Lewiston on Saturday
Local time
5:44 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Eagle, ID
185 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
6 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
10h 35m 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 Soda Springs, ID to Lewiston, ID covers 560.4 miles and takes about 10h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, North Norris Avenue, US 95. 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 280 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 280.2 miles from Soda Springs, ID. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $88.80 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 3 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 19 significant decision points across 560.4 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 58.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 293.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 293.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Soda Springs, ID to Lewiston, ID, road signs begin pointing toward Sh-55 along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument and Nez Perce National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
