How far is Idaho Falls, ID from Spirit Lake, ID?

The driving distance from Idaho Falls, ID to Spirit Lake, ID is about 504.7 miles (812.2 km), with a travel time of about 08h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 388.5 miles (625.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 02m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
504.65 mi
08h 31m
Flight
388.48 mi
625.2 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Idaho Falls.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
388.48 mi
Kilometers
625.2 km
Flight Time
00h 46m

Driving Distance

Road route
504.65 mi
Kilometers
812.15 km
Drive Time
08h 31m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 08h 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Spirit Lake
Sun, Apr 19, 8:12 AM PDT
Return by in Idaho Falls
Sun, Apr 19, 5:44 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Idaho Falls
2026-04-19T00:41
Arrive Spirit Lake
Sun, Apr 19, 9:12 AM MDT
Route Timing
08h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:31 PM to 3:01 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
6:58 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Idaho Falls
8:00 PM MDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Salmon
ID

City in Lemhi County, Idaho, United States

From Idaho Falls
252.1 mi
04h 15m
To Spirit Lake
252.6 mi
04h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph ESE
Destination
58°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Idaho Falls and Spirit Lake.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Idaho Falls and Spirit Lake.

  1. 1

    Start on Charleston Lane

    46 m · 9 sec · Charleston Lane

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Stone Run Lane

    74 m · 16 sec · West Stone Run Lane

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Stonebrook Lane

    142 m · 15 sec · Stonebrook Lane

  4. 4

    Continue on South Boulevard

    1.6 km · 3 min · South Boulevard

  5. 5

    Turn left onto East 17th Street

    3012 ft · 53 sec · East 17th Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Pancheri Drive

    1964 ft · 47 sec · Pancheri Drive

  7. 7

    Turn right onto South Utah Avenue

    776 ft · 16 sec · South Utah Avenue

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Utah Avenue

    68 m · 4 sec · South Utah Avenue

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto South Utah Avenue

    2440 ft · 58 sec · South Utah Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn left onto West Broadway Street

    1513 ft · 35 sec · West Broadway Street

  11. 11

    Take the ramp right toward I15 North: Roberts, Butte

    1128 ft · 28 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Highway

    198.2 mi · 3 hr 6 min · Veterans Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight left toward I 90 West: Missoula

    2808 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto I 90 West: Missoula

    283.4 mi · 4 hr 47 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right

    1671 ft · 41 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right

    130 m · 10 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto North Highway 41

    7.5 mi · 12 min · North Highway 41

  18. 18

    Turn left onto West Highway 53 / North Highway 41

    1439 ft · 39 sec · West Highway 53 / North Highway 41

  19. 19

    Turn right onto North Highway 41

    10.2 mi · 15 min · North Highway 41

  20. 20

    Continue on North 5th Avenue

    1.5 km · 1 min · North 5th Avenue

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 5th Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Idaho Falls and Spirit Lake.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
21 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90 West
284 mi · 56%
Veterans Memorial Highway
198 mi · 39%
North Highway 41
17.7 mi · 4%
South Boulevard
0.99 mi
North 5th Avenue
0.91 mi
South Utah Avenue
0.65 mi
Longest Stretch

I 90 West

Merge slight left onto I 90 West: Missoula

283 mi · 04h 47m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
08h 31m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
17h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+116.2 mi
388.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Salmon
04h 15m from Idaho Falls
Leave By
6:58 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Idaho Falls and Mostly Sunny near Spirit Lake.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Idaho Falls to Spirit Lake?

The road trip is about 504.7 miles (812.2 km) and usually takes 08h 31m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Salmon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 252.1 miles from Idaho Falls and 252.6 miles from Spirit Lake.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 388.5 miles (625.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 116.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $69.33 one way or $138.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 158.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Idaho Falls and Spirit Lake, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Idaho Falls and Mostly Sunny near Spirit Lake.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Idaho Falls and Spirit Lake. Straight-line distance: 388.48 mi (625.2 km).

Idaho Falls

#1 Idaho Falls

The most populous city in Bonneville County, Idaho.

Population62,888
Coordinates43.4665800, -112.0341400
Altitude1434
CountryUnited States
Spirit Lake

#2 Spirit Lake

City in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States

Population2,533
Coordinates47.9662900, -116.8685300
Altitude783
CountryUnited States
Start: Idaho Falls (-112.03414, 43.46658)
End: Spirit Lake (-116.86853, 47.96629)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 812 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.81 gal
67.41 L · about $69.33
Round trip
$138.67
35.62 gal · 134.82 L
Estimated CO2
158.3 kg one way
Round trip: 316.6 kg / 698 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $69.33 $138.67
Mid-grade $4.23 $75.35 $150.71
Premium $4.55 $81.02 $162.04
Diesel $5.41 $96.39 $192.78

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Idaho · Apr 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Idaho Falls, ID and Spirit Lake, ID. The current time in Idaho Falls is 00:41:38, although it is 23:41:38 in Spirit Lake.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.