How far is Meridian, ID from Ponderay, ID?
The driving distance from Meridian, ID to Ponderay, ID is about 488 miles (785.4 km), with a travel time of about 09h 06m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 324.4 miles (522 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 09h 06m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Nez Perce County, Idaho, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Meridian and Ponderay.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meridian and Ponderay.
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1
Start on North Main Street
17 m · 6 sec · North Main Street
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2
Turn right onto East Pine Avenue
528 ft · 25 sec · East Pine Avenue
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3
Turn left onto North Meridian Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · North Meridian Road
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4
Take the ramp slight right
2667 ft · 1 min
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5
Merge slight left onto Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
231.9 mi · 4 hr 8 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward US 395 North: Stanfield, Hermiston
1706 ft · 42 sec
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7
Continue on Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
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8
Continue on South Main Street
2 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
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9
Continue on Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
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10
Turn right onto Southeast 4th Street
1.6 mi · 3 min · Southeast 4th Street
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11
Turn left onto East Theater Lane
1368 ft · 42 sec · East Theater Lane
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12
Turn right onto North 1st Street
2864 ft · 39 sec · North 1st Street
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13
Continue on Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
3.8 mi · 4 min · Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
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14
Turn left onto Columbia River Highway
1.1 km · 49 sec · Columbia River Highway
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15
Take the exit right toward I 82 West, US 395 North: Kennewick, Yakima
1130 ft · 28 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto McNary Highway
20.4 mi · 22 min · McNary Highway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
3.3 mi · 5 min · Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
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18
Continue on South US 395
1.1 mi · 2 min · South US 395
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19
Continue on Lewis and Clark Trail
4.9 mi · 7 min · Lewis and Clark Trail
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20
Take the exit slight right toward US 395 north, SR 397 south (Oregon Street): Spokane, Finley
859 ft · 21 sec
-
21
Keep slight left to continue on US 395
1416 ft · 35 sec
-
22
Keep slight right to continue on US 395 North: Spokane
130.7 mi · 2 hr 21 min
-
23
Merge slight right
33.4 mi · 39 min
-
24
Take the exit slight right toward US 95: Sandpoint, Moscow
1313 ft · 32 sec
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25
Keep slight left
85 m · 9 sec
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26
Turn left
44.4 mi · 56 min
-
27
Take the exit slight right
1667 ft · 51 sec
-
28
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
1.2 mi · 2 min · Railroad Avenue
-
29
Turn right onto 5th Street
68 m · 15 sec · 5th Street
-
30
Turn left onto Birch Avenue
18 m · 3 sec · Birch Avenue
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31
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Birch Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Meridian and Ponderay.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge slight left onto Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
232 mi · 04h 08m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers leaving Meridian and Chance Light Rain near Ponderay.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Meridian to Ponderay?
The road trip is about 488 miles (785.4 km) and usually takes 09h 06m 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?
Lewiston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 243.8 miles from Meridian and 244.3 miles from Ponderay.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 324.4 miles (522 km), while the road route adds roughly 163.6 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 $67.04 one way or $134.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 153 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Meridian and Ponderay, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers around Meridian and Chance Light Rain near Ponderay.
Stop Ideas Near Lewiston
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lewiston.
Lewiston, Idaho
Moscow, Idaho
Pullman, Washington
Colfax, Washington
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Meridian and Ponderay. Straight-line distance: 324.35 mi (521.99 km).
#1 Meridian
The most populous city in Ada County, Idaho.
| Population | 114,161 |
| Coordinates | 43.6121100, -116.3915100 |
| Altitude | 794 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Ponderay
City in Bonner County, Idaho, United States
| Population | 1,157 |
| Coordinates | 48.3054800, -116.5338000 |
| Altitude | 648 |
| Country | United States |
End: Ponderay (-116.5338, 48.30548)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 785 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 15m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 12m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 45m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 58m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 05m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.89 | $67.04 | $134.07 |
| Mid-grade | $4.23 | $72.86 | $145.72 |
| Premium | $4.55 | $78.33 | $156.67 |
| Diesel | $5.41 | $93.19 | $186.39 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.