How far is Ponderay, ID from Caldwell, ID?
The driving distance from Ponderay, ID to Caldwell, ID is about 431.6 miles (694.6 km), with a travel time of about 07h 45m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 320.9 miles (516.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
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 07h 45m.
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 Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Ponderay and Caldwell.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ponderay and Caldwell.
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1
Start on Birch Avenue
18 m · 5 sec · Birch Avenue
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2
Turn right onto 5th Street
68 m · 10 sec · 5th Street
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3
Turn left onto Railroad Avenue
1.3 mi · 3 min · Railroad Avenue
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4
Take the exit left
1293 ft · 36 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Sand Creek Byway
44.3 mi · 55 min · Sand Creek Byway
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6
Take the exit right
33.6 mi · 39 min
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7
Keep slight left
56.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
73.7 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pendleton
3076 ft · 1 min
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10
Merge slight left onto Lewis and Clark Trail
1.9 mi · 2 min · Lewis and Clark Trail
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11
Keep slight right to continue on Lewis and Clark Trail
3.8 mi · 5 min · Lewis and Clark Trail
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12
Continue on North US 395
1.1 mi · 2 min · North US 395
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13
Continue on Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
23.7 mi · 27 min · Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward US 395 south, US 730: Umatilla, Hermiston, Irrigon
912 ft · 22 sec
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15
Keep slight left to continue on US 395 south, US 730: Umatilla, Hermiston, Irrigon
52 m · 11 sec
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16
Turn left onto Columbia River Highway
1.3 km · 57 sec · Columbia River Highway
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17
Turn right onto Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
3.8 mi · 4 min · Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
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18
Continue on North 1st Street
2864 ft · 44 sec · North 1st Street
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19
Turn left onto East Theater Lane
1368 ft · 41 sec · East Theater Lane
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20
Turn right onto Northeast 4th Street
1.6 mi · 3 min · Northeast 4th Street
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21
Turn left onto Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
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22
Continue on North Main Street
2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
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23
Continue on Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
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24
Take the exit left toward US 395 North: Stanfield
2590 ft · 1 min
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25
Merge slight left onto Old Oregon Trail Highway
215.2 mi · 3 hr 48 min · Old Oregon Trail Highway
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26
Continue on Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
1.1 km · 48 sec · Idaho Medal of Honor Highway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward City Center, 10th Avenue
1563 ft · 42 sec
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28
Turn right onto North 10th Avenue
1 km · 2 min · North 10th Avenue
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29
Turn left
21 m · 7 sec
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30
Turn right
24 m · 6 sec
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31
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Ponderay and Caldwell.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Old Oregon Trail Highway
Merge slight left onto Old Oregon Trail Highway
215 mi · 03h 48m
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 Sunny leaving Ponderay and Sunny near Caldwell.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Ponderay to Caldwell?
The road trip is about 431.6 miles (694.6 km) and usually takes 07h 45m 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 235.8 miles from Ponderay and 195.8 miles from Caldwell.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 320.9 miles (516.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 110.7 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 PDT. 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 $59.29 one way or $118.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 135.3 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Ponderay and Caldwell, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Ponderay and Sunny near Caldwell.
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 Ponderay and Caldwell. Straight-line distance: 320.85 mi (516.36 km).
#1 Ponderay
City in Bonner County, Idaho, United States
| Population | 1,157 |
| Coordinates | 48.3054800, -116.5338000 |
| Altitude | 648 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Caldwell
The most populous city in Canyon County, Idaho.
| Population | 58,481 |
| Coordinates | 43.6629400, -116.6873600 |
| Altitude | 724 |
| Country | United States |
End: (-116.687278, 43.66289)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 695 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 22m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 47m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 37m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 11m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 09m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 23m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.89 | $59.29 | $118.58 |
| Mid-grade | $4.23 | $64.44 | $128.88 |
| Premium | $4.55 | $69.28 | $138.56 |
| Diesel | $5.41 | $82.42 | $164.85 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.