How far is Pocatello, ID from Ponderay, ID?

The driving distance from Pocatello, ID to Ponderay, ID is about 574.1 miles (923.9 km), with a travel time of about 09h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 424.1 miles (682.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 19m 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
574.1 mi
09h 39m
Flight
424.17 mi
682.64 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pocatello.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
424.17 mi
Kilometers
682.64 km
Flight Time
00h 51m

Driving Distance

Road route
574.1 mi
Kilometers
923.92 km
Drive Time
09h 39m

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 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ponderay
Tue, May 5, 1:46 AM PDT
Return by in Pocatello
Tue, May 5, 12:25 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pocatello
2026-05-04T17:06
Arrive Ponderay
Tue, May 5, 2:46 AM MDT
Route Timing
09h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:40 PM to 4:10 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
4:40 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pocatello
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 Pocatello
286.8 mi
04h 49m
To Ponderay
287.3 mi
04h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph S
Destination
70°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Pocatello and Ponderay.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pocatello and Ponderay.

  1. 1

    Start on North 7th Avenue

    70 m · 16 sec · North 7th Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Wyeth Street

    1086 ft · 50 sec · East Wyeth Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North 10th Avenue

    1452 ft · 45 sec · North 10th Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East Center Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · East Center Street

  5. 5

    Turn left

    2604 ft · 37 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Highway

    247 mi · 3 hr 53 min · Veterans Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight left toward I 90 West: Missoula

    2808 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto I 90 West: Missoula

    278.5 mi · 4 hr 42 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right

    1277 ft · 35 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right

    44.3 mi · 55 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right

    1667 ft · 51 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Railroad Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Railroad Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right onto 5th Street

    68 m · 15 sec · 5th Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Birch Avenue

    18 m · 3 sec · Birch Avenue

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Birch Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Pocatello and Ponderay.

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
15 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
2.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90 West
280 mi · 49%
Veterans Memorial Highway
247 mi · 43%
Railroad Avenue
1.22 mi
East Center Street
0.92 mi
North 10th Avenue
0.28 mi
East Wyeth Street
0.21 mi
Longest Stretch

I 90 West

Merge slight left onto I 90 West: Missoula

278 mi · 04h 42m

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 39m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
19h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+150 mi
424.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Salmon
04h 49m from Pocatello
Leave By
4:40 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Pocatello and Mostly Sunny near Ponderay.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Pocatello to Ponderay?

The road trip is about 574.1 miles (923.9 km) and usually takes 09h 39m 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 286.8 miles from Pocatello and 287.3 miles from Ponderay.

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

The direct path is about 424.1 miles (682.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 150 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 $78.87 one way or $157.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 180.1 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Pocatello and Ponderay, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Pocatello and Mostly Sunny near Ponderay.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Pocatello and Ponderay. Straight-line distance: 424.17 mi (682.64 km).

Pocatello

#1 Pocatello

The most populous city in Bannock County, Idaho.

Population56,637
Coordinates42.8713000, -112.4455300
Altitude1360
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Ponderay

City in Bonner County, Idaho, United States

Population1,157
Coordinates48.3054800, -116.5338000
Altitude648
CountryUnited States
Start: Pocatello (-112.44553, 42.8713)
End: Ponderay (-116.5338, 48.30548)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 924 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)19h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)14h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)11h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)09h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)08h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)07h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
20.26 gal
76.69 L · about $78.87
Round trip
$157.74
40.52 gal · 153.38 L
Estimated CO2
180.1 kg one way
Round trip: 360.1 kg / 794 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $78.87 $157.74
Mid-grade $4.23 $85.72 $171.44
Premium $4.55 $92.16 $184.33
Diesel $5.41 $109.65 $219.29

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 · May 04, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Pocatello, ID and Ponderay, ID. The current time in Pocatello is 17:06:23, although it is 16:06:23 in Ponderay.

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.