How far is Priest River, ID from Idaho Falls, ID?

The driving distance from Priest River, ID to Idaho Falls, ID is about 531 miles (854.6 km), with a travel time of about 08h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 401.4 miles (646 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 41m 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
531.02 mi
08h 20m
Flight
401.38 mi
645.96 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Priest River.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
401.38 mi
Kilometers
645.96 km
Flight Time
00h 48m

Driving Distance

Road route
531.02 mi
Kilometers
854.59 km
Drive Time
08h 20m

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 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Idaho Falls
Thu, Apr 23, 8:48 AM MDT
Return by in Priest River
Thu, Apr 23, 4:08 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Priest River
2026-04-22T23:27
Arrive Idaho Falls
Thu, Apr 23, 7:48 AM PDT
Route Timing
08h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:21 PM to 4:51 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
7:18 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Priest River
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
Salmon
ID

City in Lemhi County, Idaho, United States

From Priest River
264.9 mi
04h 10m
To Idaho Falls
266.1 mi
04h 10m

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 6 mph SW
Destination
50°F
Thursday

Rain And Snow Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
18 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Priest River and Idaho Falls.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Priest River and Idaho Falls.

  1. 1

    Start on Summit Boulevard

    648 ft · 31 sec · Summit Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 4th Street

    74 m · 9 sec · 4th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Albeni Road

    6.2 mi · 10 min · Albeni Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto North State Avenue

    2173 ft · 37 sec · North State Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Highway 41

    19 mi · 28 min · Highway 41

  6. 6

    Continue on North 5th Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · North 5th Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on North Highway 41

    10.2 mi · 15 min · North Highway 41

  8. 8

    Turn left onto West Highway 53 / North Highway 41

    1439 ft · 39 sec · West Highway 53 / North Highway 41

  9. 9

    Turn right onto North Highway 41

    7.7 mi · 12 min · North Highway 41

  10. 10

    Turn left onto East Seltice Way

    94 m · 10 sec · East Seltice Way

  11. 11

    Turn slight left onto I 90, ID 41

    114 m · 16 sec

  12. 12

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 90

    2435 ft · 59 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    282.5 mi · 4 hr 45 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 15 South: Dillon, Idaho Falls

    2694 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    198 mi · 3 hr 6 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 15 Business, US 20 West: Historic Downtown, Arco

    1619 ft · 47 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on West Broadway Street

    2164 ft · 54 sec · West Broadway Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto South Utah Avenue

    2435 ft · 50 sec · South Utah Avenue

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South Utah Avenue

    31 m · 2 sec · South Utah Avenue

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto South Utah Avenue

    781 ft · 23 sec · South Utah Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Pancheri Drive

    1930 ft · 43 sec · Pancheri Drive

  22. 22

    Continue on West 17th Street

    3067 ft · 58 sec · West 17th Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto South Boulevard

    1.6 km · 3 min · South Boulevard

  24. 24

    Continue on Stonebrook Lane

    142 m · 15 sec · Stonebrook Lane

  25. 25

    Turn right onto West Stone Run Lane

    74 m · 16 sec · West Stone Run Lane

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Charleston Lane

    46 m · 7 sec · Charleston Lane

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Charleston Lane

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Priest River and Idaho Falls.

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
27 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90
283 mi · 53%
I 15 South
198 mi · 37%
Highway 41
19 mi · 4%
North Highway 41
17.9 mi · 3%
Albeni Road
6.16 mi · 1%
North 5th Avenue
1.51 mi
Longest Stretch

I 90

Merge slight left

282 mi · 04h 45m

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 20m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
16h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+129.6 mi
401.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Salmon
04h 10m from Priest River
Leave By
7:18 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Priest River and Rain And Snow Likely near Idaho Falls.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Priest River to Idaho Falls?

The road trip is about 531 miles (854.6 km) and usually takes 08h 20m 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 264.9 miles from Priest River and 266.1 miles from Idaho Falls.

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

The direct path is about 401.4 miles (646 km), while the road route adds roughly 129.6 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 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 $72.95 one way or $145.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 166.5 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Priest River and Idaho Falls, 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 Priest River and Rain And Snow Likely near Idaho Falls.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Priest River and Idaho Falls. Straight-line distance: 401.38 mi (645.96 km).

Priest River

#1 Priest River

City in Bonner County, Idaho

Population1,893
Coordinates48.1809700, -116.9115700
Altitude652
CountryUnited States
Idaho Falls

#2 Idaho Falls

The most populous city in Bonneville County, Idaho.

Population62,888
Coordinates43.4665800, -112.0341400
Altitude1434
CountryUnited States
Start: Summit Boulevard (-116.911578, 48.181175)
End: Charleston Lane (-112.034479, 43.46658)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 855 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)17h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)13h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
18.74 gal
70.93 L · about $72.95
Round trip
$145.91
37.48 gal · 141.86 L
Estimated CO2
166.5 kg one way
Round trip: 333.1 kg / 734 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $72.95 $145.91
Mid-grade $4.23 $79.29 $158.58
Premium $4.55 $85.25 $170.50
Diesel $5.41 $101.42 $202.84

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 Priest River, ID and Idaho Falls, ID. The current time in Priest River is 23:27:11, although it is 00:27:11 in Idaho Falls.

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.