How far is Meridian, ID from Sandpoint, ID?

The driving distance from Meridian, ID to Sandpoint, ID is about 486.1 miles (782.3 km), with a travel time of about 09h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 322.4 miles (518.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 06m 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
486.11 mi
09h 03m
Flight
322.38 mi
518.82 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Meridian.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
322.38 mi
Kilometers
518.82 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
486.11 mi
Kilometers
782.32 km
Drive Time
09h 03m

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 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sandpoint
Thu, Apr 23, 12:21 PM PDT
Return by in Meridian
Thu, Apr 23, 10:24 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Meridian
2026-04-23T04:17
Arrive Sandpoint
Thu, Apr 23, 1:21 PM MDT
Route Timing
09h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:03 PM to 3:33 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
5:54 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Meridian
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
Lewiston
ID

City in Nez Perce County, Idaho, USA

From Meridian
242.8 mi
04h 31m
To Sandpoint
243.3 mi
04h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
57°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph NW
Destination
56°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
6 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Meridian and Sandpoint.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Meridian and Sandpoint.

  1. 1

    Start on North Main Street

    17 m · 6 sec · North Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Pine Avenue

    528 ft · 25 sec · East Pine Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Meridian Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Meridian Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right

    2667 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    231.9 mi · 4 hr 8 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 395 North: Stanfield, Hermiston

    1706 ft · 42 sec

  7. 7

    Continue on Umatilla-Stanfield Highway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Umatilla-Stanfield Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on South Main Street

    2 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Umatilla-Stanfield Highway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Umatilla-Stanfield Highway

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Southeast 4th Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Southeast 4th Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto East Theater Lane

    1368 ft · 42 sec · East Theater Lane

  12. 12

    Turn right onto North 1st Street

    2864 ft · 39 sec · North 1st Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Umatilla-Stanfield Highway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Umatilla-Stanfield Highway

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Columbia River Highway

    1.1 km · 49 sec · Columbia River Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit right toward I 82 West, US 395 North: Kennewick, Yakima

    1130 ft · 28 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto McNary Highway

    20.4 mi · 22 min · McNary Highway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Lewis and Clark Trail Highway

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Lewis and Clark Trail Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on South US 395

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South US 395

  19. 19

    Continue on Lewis and Clark Trail

    4.9 mi · 7 min · Lewis and Clark Trail

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward US 395 north, SR 397 south (Oregon Street): Spokane, Finley

    859 ft · 21 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on US 395

    1416 ft · 35 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on US 395 North: Spokane

    130.7 mi · 2 hr 21 min

  23. 23

    Merge slight right

    33.4 mi · 39 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward US 95: Sandpoint, Moscow

    1313 ft · 32 sec

  25. 25

    Keep slight left

    85 m · 9 sec

  26. 26

    Turn left

    42.9 mi · 53 min

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right

    1895 ft · 1 min

  28. 28

    Turn straight onto East Superior Street

    702 ft · 12 sec · East Superior Street

  29. 29

    Turn slight right onto South 1st Avenue

    1921 ft · 34 sec · South 1st Avenue

  30. 30

    Continue on Cedar Street

    1381 ft · 27 sec · Cedar Street

  31. 31

    Turn right onto North 5th Avenue

    55 m · 6 sec · North 5th Avenue

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 5th Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Meridian and Sandpoint.

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
32 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
232 mi · 48%
US 395 North
165 mi · 34%
McNary Highway
20.4 mi · 4%
Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
8.2 mi · 2%
Lewis and Clark Trail
4.94 mi · 1%
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
3.29 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

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.

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
09h 03m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
18h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+163.7 mi
322.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lewiston
04h 31m from Meridian
Leave By
5:54 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers leaving Meridian and Chance Rain Showers near Sandpoint.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Meridian to Sandpoint?

The road trip is about 486.1 miles (782.3 km) and usually takes 09h 03m 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 242.8 miles from Meridian and 243.3 miles from Sandpoint.

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

The direct path is about 322.4 miles (518.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 163.7 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 $66.76 one way or $133.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 152.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Meridian and Sandpoint, 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 Rain Showers near Sandpoint.

Stop Ideas Near Lewiston

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lewiston, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lewiston.

BUS

Lewiston, Idaho

1 mi away
1920 Highway 128
BUS

Moscow, Idaho

35 mi away
120 West 6th St.
BUS

Pullman, Washington

38 mi away
1002 Northwest Nye St.
BUS

Colfax, Washington

58 mi away
610 South Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Meridian and Sandpoint. Straight-line distance: 322.38 mi (518.82 km).

Meridian

#1 Meridian

The most populous city in Ada County, Idaho.

Population114,161
Coordinates43.6121100, -116.3915100
Altitude794
CountryUnited States
Sandpoint

#2 Sandpoint

City in Idaho

Population8,931
Coordinates48.2765900, -116.5532500
Altitude639
CountryUnited States
Start: Meridian (-116.39151, 43.61211)
End: Sandpoint (-116.55325, 48.27659)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 782 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.15 gal
64.93 L · about $66.76
Round trip
$133.53
34.3 gal · 129.86 L
Estimated CO2
152.4 kg one way
Round trip: 304.8 kg / 672 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $66.76 $133.53
Mid-grade $4.23 $72.56 $145.12
Premium $4.55 $78.02 $156.03
Diesel $5.41 $92.82 $185.63

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Meridian, ID and Sandpoint, ID. The current time in Meridian is 04:17:50, although it is 03:17:50 in Sandpoint.

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.