How far is Ponderay, ID from Meridian, ID?

The driving distance from Ponderay, ID to Meridian, ID is about 428.7 miles (689.9 km), with a travel time of about 08h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 324.4 miles (522 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
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
428.67 mi
08h 03m
Flight
324.35 mi
521.99 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ponderay.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
324.35 mi
Kilometers
521.99 km
Flight Time
00h 39m

Driving Distance

Road route
428.67 mi
Kilometers
689.88 km
Drive Time
08h 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 08h 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Meridian
Thu, Apr 23, 9:02 AM MDT
Return by in Ponderay
Thu, Apr 23, 4:06 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ponderay
2026-04-22T23:59
Arrive Meridian
Thu, Apr 23, 8:02 AM PDT
Route Timing
08h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:03 PM to 4:33 PM MDT

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

Leave by
7:54 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ponderay
8:00 PM PDT
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 Ponderay
244.3 mi
04h 01m
To Meridian
184.4 mi
04h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
54°F
Wednesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph SW
Destination
57°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Birch Avenue

    18 m · 5 sec · Birch Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 5th Street

    68 m · 10 sec · 5th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Railroad Avenue

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Railroad Avenue

  4. 4

    Take the exit left

    1293 ft · 36 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Sand Creek Byway

    44.3 mi · 55 min · Sand Creek Byway

  6. 6

    Take the exit right

    33.6 mi · 39 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    56.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway

    73.7 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pendleton

    3076 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Lewis and Clark Trail

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Lewis and Clark Trail

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Lewis and Clark Trail

    3.8 mi · 5 min · Lewis and Clark Trail

  12. 12

    Continue on North US 395

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North US 395

  13. 13

    Continue on Lewis and Clark Trail Highway

    23.7 mi · 27 min · Lewis and Clark Trail Highway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 395 south, US 730: Umatilla, Hermiston, Irrigon

    912 ft · 22 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on US 395 south, US 730: Umatilla, Hermiston, Irrigon

    52 m · 11 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Columbia River Highway

    1.3 km · 57 sec · Columbia River Highway

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Umatilla-Stanfield Highway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Umatilla-Stanfield Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on North 1st Street

    2864 ft · 44 sec · North 1st Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto East Theater Lane

    1368 ft · 41 sec · East Theater Lane

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Northeast 4th Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Northeast 4th Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Umatilla-Stanfield Highway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Umatilla-Stanfield Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on North Main Street

    2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Umatilla-Stanfield Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Umatilla-Stanfield Highway

  24. 24

    Take the exit left toward US 395 North: Stanfield

    2590 ft · 1 min

  25. 25

    Merge slight left onto Old Oregon Trail Highway

    215.2 mi · 3 hr 48 min · Old Oregon Trail Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on Idaho Medal of Honor Highway

    1.1 km · 48 sec · Idaho Medal of Honor Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    16.3 mi · 19 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward ID 69 South: Meridian, Kuna

    1819 ft · 24 sec

  29. 29

    Keep slight left to continue on State Police, Idaho Peace Officers Memorial

    125 m · 13 sec

  30. 30

    Turn left onto South Meridian Road

    1177 ft · 30 sec · South Meridian Road

  31. 31

    Continue on South Main Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · South Main Street

  32. 32

    Continue on North Main Street

    2197 ft · 1 min · North Main Street

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
33 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Old Oregon Trail Highway
215 mi · 50%
Sand Creek Byway
135 mi · 31%
Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
73.7 mi · 17%
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
23.7 mi · 6%
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
16.3 mi · 4%
Umatilla-Stanfield Highway
8.36 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

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.

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 03m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
16h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+104.3 mi
324.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lewiston
04h 01m from Ponderay
Leave By
7:54 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Ponderay and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers near Meridian.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 428.7 miles (689.9 km) and usually takes 08h 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 244.3 miles from Ponderay and 184.4 miles from Meridian.

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 104.3 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 $58.90 one way or $117.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 134.5 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Ponderay and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers near Meridian.

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 Ponderay and Meridian. Straight-line distance: 324.35 mi (521.99 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Ponderay

City in Bonner County, Idaho, United States

Population1,157
Coordinates48.3054800, -116.5338000
Altitude648
CountryUnited States
Meridian

#2 Meridian

The most populous city in Ada County, Idaho.

Population114,161
Coordinates43.6121100, -116.3915100
Altitude794
CountryUnited States
Start: Birch Avenue (-116.533917, 48.305481)
End: North Main Street (-116.391572, 43.61211)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 690 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 08m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.13 gal
57.26 L · about $58.90
Round trip
$117.80
30.26 gal · 114.52 L
Estimated CO2
134.5 kg one way
Round trip: 268.9 kg / 593 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $58.90 $117.80
Mid-grade $4.23 $64.02 $128.03
Premium $4.55 $68.83 $137.65
Diesel $5.41 $81.88 $163.77

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 Ponderay, ID and Meridian, ID. The current time in Ponderay is 23:59:28, although it is 00:59:28 in Meridian.

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.