How far is Spirit Lake, ID from Idaho Falls, ID?

The driving distance from Spirit Lake, ID to Idaho Falls, ID is about 506.5 miles (815.1 km), with a travel time of about 07h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 388.5 miles (625.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 39m 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
506.47 mi
07h 49m
Flight
388.48 mi
625.2 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Spirit Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
388.48 mi
Kilometers
625.2 km
Flight Time
00h 46m

Driving Distance

Road route
506.47 mi
Kilometers
815.08 km
Drive Time
07h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Idaho Falls
Sun, Apr 19, 6:55 AM MDT
Return by in Spirit Lake
Sun, Apr 19, 1:45 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Spirit Lake
2026-04-18T22:05
Arrive Idaho Falls
Sun, Apr 19, 5:55 AM PDT
Route Timing
07h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:50 PM to 4:20 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
8:20 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Spirit Lake
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 Spirit Lake
251.8 mi
03h 54m
To Idaho Falls
254.7 mi
03h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph S
Destination
53°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Spirit Lake and Idaho Falls.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Spirit Lake and Idaho Falls.

  1. 1

    Start on North 5th Avenue

    1.5 km · 1 min · North 5th Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on North Highway 41

    10.2 mi · 15 min · North Highway 41

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Highway 53 / North Highway 41

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

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North Highway 41

    7.7 mi · 12 min · North Highway 41

  5. 5

    Turn left onto East Seltice Way

    94 m · 10 sec · East Seltice Way

  6. 6

    Turn slight left onto I 90, ID 41

    114 m · 16 sec

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 90

    2435 ft · 59 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    282.5 mi · 4 hr 45 min

  9. 9

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

    2694 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    198 mi · 3 hr 6 min

  11. 11

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

    1619 ft · 47 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on West Broadway Street

    2164 ft · 54 sec · West Broadway Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto South Utah Avenue

    2435 ft · 50 sec · South Utah Avenue

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South Utah Avenue

    31 m · 2 sec · South Utah Avenue

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto South Utah Avenue

    781 ft · 23 sec · South Utah Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Pancheri Drive

    1930 ft · 43 sec · Pancheri Drive

  17. 17

    Continue on West 17th Street

    3067 ft · 58 sec · West 17th Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto South Boulevard

    1.6 km · 3 min · South Boulevard

  19. 19

    Continue on Stonebrook Lane

    142 m · 15 sec · Stonebrook Lane

  20. 20

    Turn right onto West Stone Run Lane

    74 m · 16 sec · West Stone Run Lane

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Charleston Lane

    46 m · 7 sec · Charleston Lane

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Charleston Lane

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Spirit Lake 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
22 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90
283 mi · 56%
I 15 South
198 mi · 39%
North Highway 41
17.9 mi · 4%
South Boulevard
0.99 mi
North 5th Avenue
0.91 mi
South Utah Avenue
0.63 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
07h 49m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+118 mi
388.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Salmon
03h 54m from Spirit Lake
Leave By
8:20 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Spirit Lake and Sunny near Idaho Falls.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Spirit Lake to Idaho Falls?

The road trip is about 506.5 miles (815.1 km) and usually takes 07h 49m 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 251.8 miles from Spirit Lake and 254.7 miles from Idaho Falls.

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

The direct path is about 388.5 miles (625.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 118 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 $69.57 one way or $139.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 158.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Spirit Lake and Idaho Falls, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Spirit Lake and Sunny near Idaho Falls.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Spirit Lake and Idaho Falls. Straight-line distance: 388.48 mi (625.2 km).

Spirit Lake

#1 Spirit Lake

City in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States

Population2,533
Coordinates47.9662900, -116.8685300
Altitude783
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: 5th Avenue (-116.86861, 47.966292)
End: Charleston Lane (-112.034479, 43.46658)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 815 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.87 gal
67.65 L · about $69.57
Round trip
$139.14
35.74 gal · 135.3 L
Estimated CO2
158.8 kg one way
Round trip: 317.6 kg / 700 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $69.57 $139.14
Mid-grade $4.23 $75.61 $151.22
Premium $4.55 $81.29 $162.58
Diesel $5.41 $96.71 $193.42

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 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Spirit Lake, ID and Idaho Falls, ID. The current time in Spirit Lake is 22:05:54, although it is 23:05:54 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.