Ready to find out the best places to visit in Idaho? As a local Idahoan, I’m so excited to share my list with you!
For those of you new to my site, I grew up in Idaho, lived in San Francisco for 6 years, and then moved back to Idaho after traveling the world for a year.
I’m now living in Boise, but honestly, while I was gone and wasn’t living here I ALWAYS missed the laid-back atmosphere, the people, and the ease of getting to lakes, rivers, and mountains.
Come say hi and follow along with my adventures on Instagram and Tiktok!
Because I love Idaho so much and want everyone to get a chance to visit in their lives, I’ve created a list of the best places to visit in Idaho in hopes you’ll get to go one day!
Not sure when to travel to Idaho? Check out my post on the best time to visit Idaho or what to pack for your trip.
*These are in no particular order*
What are the best places to visit in Idaho?
1. McCall, Idaho
This probably goes without saying based on my previous posts, here and here, but I’m in love with this mountain town on Payette Lake. It’s small enough to feel like you’re in your “own private Idaho”, but big enough to have enough to do that you’re never bored.
Summertime calls for water sports, huckleberry picking, hiking, and tons of other outdoor activities. In winter you can go to the famous ski lift, Brundage Mountain, cross country ski into a yurt, or go snowmobiling. It has something for everyone.
Near McCall are a few other mountain towns I recommend checking out, both situated on Lake Cascade. Cascade, Idaho, and Donnelly Idaho! Both have great cabin rentals if McCall gets too crowded.
Read more about McCall and surrounding areas:
The Ultimate Girls Weekend in McCall Idaho
Cascade Idaho: The Ultimate 3-Day Winter Itinerary
What to Do in McCall Idaho in the Winter
2. Sun Valley, Idaho
This is a special little mountain town very close to the Sawtooth Mountains and my hometown of Twin Falls. It’s known as the resort town of Idaho with celebs flocking here every summer and winter season.
A lot of people don’t know this, but Sun Valley was the first resort to build a chair lift for skiers! It’s a great town for winter skiing (Bald Mountain), summer hiking/biking and is known as one of the most outdoorsy towns in all of Idaho.
The SV restaurant and bar scene is a lot of fun too. Be sure to look out for celebrities…they are all over the place! I’ve seen my fair share at the restaurants and coffee shops downtown. Also, check out the Sun Valley Lodge and walk through downtown Ketchum. Nothing is better than a day hike and getting a beer and burger on the deck at Lefty’s Bar & Grill.
Read more about Sun Valley:
The Ultimate Girlfriend Getaway Guide to Sun Valley
The 10 Best Winter Activities in Sun Valley Idaho
3. Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho
Coeur d’ Alene or CDA for short is in the skinny panhandle part of Idaho. It’s one of Idaho’s larger towns and is situated right on a massive lake (Lake Coeur d’ Alene). While McCall is more of a vacation lake town, lucky CDA dwellers get to live here all year round!
CDA has a great downtown vibe with fun restaurants and bars and they’re only about a 40 min drive from Spokane, WA, and about an hour from another great lake town in Idaho, Sandpoint.
The ski mountain, Schweitzer, is also close by if you’re into winter sports. If you’re staying in CDA I recommend staying at the Coeur d’Alene Resort right on the water and participating in a cruise on the lake or any of the many water sports the lake has to offer!
Read more about Coeur d’ Alene:
12 Best Things to Do in Coeur d’Alene Idaho + Where to Stay and What to Eat
4. Shoshone Falls
Right outside Twin Falls is the largest waterfall in Idaho, Shoshone Falls. This waterfall is actually higher than Niagara Falls, and many people call it the Niagara of the West! Can you believe it? It’s gorgeous, loud, and spits out TONS of water. It’s located in the Snake River Canyon and is a fun little drive down from Twin Falls. You’ll also see the Snake River as you’re heading down. You can kayak or stand-up paddleboard in the summer right under the falls! I did it last summer, and it was a blast. Kayak to Shoshone Falls yourself with my guide!
Shoshone is also located in southern Idaho near a lot of other fun activities including kayaking to Blue Heart Springs and a visit to Thousand Springs State Park.
Read more about the Shoshone Falls Area:
A Guide to Kayaking to Shoshone Falls in Idaho
9 Things to Do in Twin Falls Idaho
How to Get to Blue Heart Springs Idaho
A Weekend in Thousand Springs State Park [Tips for Camping, Kayaking & Hiking]
The Ultimate Southern Idaho Road Trip Itinerary
5. Bruneau Sand Dunes Idaho State Park
The first time I visited Bruneau Sand Dunes, or Bruneau Dunes State Park specifically, I couldn’t believe I was in Idaho. If you haven’t seen sand dunes before, they’re essentially hills made of sand. You can bring a snowboard and board down them or camp and hike them. Definitely worth a visit if you want to feel like you’re in a different country.
I definitely think Bruneau Sand Dunes is one of those unique Idaho places to visit plus. Bring water and a hat cause it gets hot! Plus, if you want to sleep nearby but not camp, you should stay in the Famous Idaho Potato Hotel located in Mountain Home.
6. Craters of the Moon
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I was fascinated with Craters of the Moon National Monument when I first went. It’s technically a National Monument and Preserve in Idaho and is a vast lava field and recreation area filled with lava flows, cinder cones, and sagebrush. Essentially this is home to some really ancient volcanic lava.
I recommend getting a tour and going on a mini hike. Learning about the different types of lava and crawling through the caves is interesting. It looks like you’re walking on the surface of the moon.
7. Thousand Springs Idaho State Park
Thousand Springs State Park is a large recreation area with many fun activities. Don’t be fooled by the title ‘State Park’ since there are towns within the park. It can get a little confusing, so check my weekend guide to Thousand Springs here.
In this area, you’ll find some of the clearest, cleanest springs and rivers in Idaho! Some of my favorite things to do here are hike through Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve and stand up paddleboard/kayak to Blue Heart Springs and Ritters Island. AHHH, they are so amazing I wish I were there right now! You can follow the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway to hit up most of these spots.
Read more:
The Ultimate Southern Idaho Road Trip Itinerary
A Weekend in Thousand Springs State Park [Tips for Camping, Kayaking & Hiking] How to Get to Blue Heart Springs Idaho
8. Sandpoint, Idaho
Sandpoint, Idaho is a hidden gem that not many tourists know about. It’s located on Lake Pend Oreille and has about 7,500 residents. It’s known for the beautiful surrounding mountains, lake activities, and outdoor adventures. Not only is it a picturesque place, but it’s not crowded and you’ll be able to enjoy your adventures all to yourself!
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Read more about Sandpoint:
Sandpoint Idaho: The 10 Best Places to Visit
9. Rolling Hills of the Palouse
The photos below should say it all. The rolling hills of the Palouse are incredible. They roll into Washington and take a good chunk of Idaho as well. Driving through makes you feel like you’re under huge waves because the wheat fields go on and on. It’s fascinating!! If you’re driving on your way to the Palouse from the south of Idaho you’ll drive through Camus Prairie.
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If you want to stay in the most unique hotel ever, check out the famous Dog Bark Inn. You can actually book this inn on Airbnb with my $40 credit for new Airbnb users! Also, my alma mater, the University of Idaho is situated right in the heart of the Palouse in Moscow, Idaho about 8 miles from Washington State University. If you want to check out two schools at once and hit two states in the span of 8 mins, here’s your chance!
Read more about the area:
8 Things to Do in Moscow Idaho
10. Boise, Idaho
The state capital of Idaho is a wonderful city that keeps growing and growing. It is the largest city in Idaho and is known as the “City of Trees”. Boise has become a cultural hub for young professionals, families, and outdoorsmen and women.
With great restaurants, nightlife, and amazing outdoor activities like hiking, river activities, mountain biking in the foothills, biking along the Boise River Greenbelt, and skiing at Bogus Basin, it has something for everyone! Boise is also very central and easy to get to most places in Idaho.
Read more about Boise:
20 Best Road Trips From Boise, Idaho
75+ Things to Do in Boise Idaho (A Local’s Guide)
The 7 Best Hikes Near Boise, Idaho
12 Things to Do in Boise Idaho Winter
The Ultimate Southern Idaho Road Trip Itinerary
11. Sawtooth Mountains & Stanley, Idaho
Half of Idaho is covered in National Parks and a big chunk of that is the Sawtooth National Recreation Area located in central Idaho. If you like hiking or backpacking through wildflower meadows to secluded lakes with barely anyone else around, then this is for you. I went on a 4-day backpacking trip through the Sawtooths and it was one of the best trips I’ve ever been on! You can easily start hiking the Sawtooths starting in Stanley.
Stanley is a mountain town situated at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains. If you want one of the most beautiful places in all of Idaho, make a trip here. You’ll be close to the mountains, the Salmon River, the Frank Church Wilderness, tons of hot springs, and beautiful wildlife. You really can’t go wrong.
Read more about the area:
16 Epic Things to Do in Stanley, Idaho
The 10 Best Winter Activities in Sun Valley Idaho
The Ultimate Girls Weekend in Sun Valley, Idaho
The Ultimate Southern Idaho Road Trip Itinerary
12. Hells Canyon
Hells Canyon is on the Oregon and Idaho border located in Northern Idaho. and is one of the deepest river gorges in North America! Go here for some great camping, fishing, hiking, rafting, and exploring. The closest towns to Hells Canyon are Riggins and Grangeville, Idaho if you need to get some gear for your excursion!
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Honorable mentions
It’s hard to fit all of my favorite places in Idaho all into a list of 12. Here are a few other honorable mentions that you might want to check out as well!
- Sunnyslope Wine Trail – This is located about 45 minutes from Boise and is where most of Idaho’s wineries reside. It’s a blast if you get your friends together and go wine tasting.
- Idaho City – Are you a lover of history and old ghost towns? This might be the place for you to visit!
- Idaho Falls – Idaho Falls is the second-largest city in Idaho (not counting cities within the Treasure Valley) and has a fun downtown. It’s also a gateway location to Yellowstone, the Tetons, and Eastern Idaho.
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Most of my top attractions in Idaho are outdoorsy spots, but that’s Idaho for you! Strap on your snow gear, hiking shoes, and water skis, and get ready for a blast traveling through the best place to visit in Idaho!
I hope these tips helped you figure out the best places to visit in Idaho! If you have anything else to add, let me know in the comments!
What about Sandpoint? Home or Schweitzer Mountain Resort and lake Pend Orielle?
Those also probably should have made the list! I tried to mention them under the CDA portion so at least they get a shout out 🙂
Yes for sure…better than. Cd’A! Sandpoint is way prettier
I love Sandpoint too! 🙂
Love this Kate! And love you!
Thanks Jen!!! 🙂
Just a correction–the Dog Bark Inn is actually located on the Camas Prairie, not the Palouse.
Thanks April! I need to get my prairies straight!
Dont forget to find some finger steaks!
Of course, those are a must!!
I enjoyed reading this. I can tell that you are Idaho born and love it.
Thanks Juliey! That means a lot 🙂
I’d lived in Oregon all my life and just moved here last summer. I love it here, and you have given me ideas for trips this spring and summer. Wonderful article and photos!
Thanks Steve! I’m glad you love it and can explore! -Katie
Growing up in North Idaho (Bonners Ferry & CDA)…this list is perfect! The only way to make it better would’ve been to make it longer (Hey, Bayview, how you doin…) but you mentioned Sandpoint in the CDA spot and really, most people who visit CDA hit up Sandpoint and Cataldo too, so yeah. All about that #lakelife haha. I would say don’t stay at the CDA resort though. Locals hate that guy & they are pretty awful to their employees from what my friends tell me (I’ve never worked there, but horror stories are a daily feed). It’s better to connect with local people on Couchsurfing or AirBNB- or even look for a sublet/vacation rental on Craigslist. There are some spectacular cabin and lakefront homes & cool little “turn of the century” buildings downtown that have been turned into studio apartments. Visitors will get a waaaay better experience, in my opinion.
Hi Natasha! Thanks for the tips for CDA! I’ve only been there a handful of times, but have always had the best time! I agree on the local spots and AirBnB to find a place! Thanks for reading 🙂
City of Rocks???
I LOVE the city of rocks. If I had 13 I would have to add it 🙂
So which one of these places would be the best to bring my small kids to in the late fall or maybe early winter? I’d like for them to SEE snow, but maybe not be just drenched in it the whole time… I’d like to hike some forests and then let them do some snow activities..but I dont want to necessarily hit up a huge tourist trap. Any suggestions? We’re from Alabama.
Good question!! If you just want to see snow, but also go on a few hikes around the area I would recommend Boise, but you can’t always guarantee they will have snow. If you want the full winter wonderland experience I would say Sun Valley or McCall! Both don’t get a lot of tourists and have amazing hikes and beautiful scenery. They both also have great activities for kids like sledding, tubing etc. Hope this helps! 🙂
We will be travelling in a 39 foot motorhome and am wondering if some of these areas would be to difficult to get to. We will be towing a car however. Any suggestions on RV parks to stay at.
Hi! Yes there are plenty of RV parks in Idaho! The only places that would be harder to get to would be Thousand Springs. The rest of them have areas to camp/park almost all over the state. The state is really meant for camping and RV’s 🙂 Have fun!!
Great blog Karie,
I haven’t spent enough time in ID and now I have a few more places on my ‘must visit’ list.
Thanks Dan! 🙂
Awesome photo and good info thank u a lot !
Some great cities here: I love Dresden and went to Koblenz, Cologne and Aachen last year. I love travelling with Deutsche Bahn too but it’s just so expensive – even compared to back home in the UK. Still, train travel is definitely my favourite mode of transport.
Fall in love with this place after seeing this post, specially Sun Valley looks one of the greatest ski resorts. I wish I could visit this beautiful places.
You’re missing #8.
HAHA I’ve had this post up for almost a 1 1/2 and you’re the first person to notice that! Thanks for telling me 🙂
Redfish Lake is gorgeous – I spent a week camping there in August. The drive north from Redfish to Challis is also beautiful, and there are a few ghost towns on the way that are neat to explore.
I agree! I love Redfish so much! I need to go back again and explore more. 🙂
Hi Kate,
Great article! We are just starting to plan a trip to Idaho in our new RV for the spring.
We’ll probably do a lot on your list.
We definitely want to see Shoshone Falls. What do you mean when you say it’s fun to drive down the canyon & see the river?
I hate to miss a pretty drive! ha ha!
Thanks,
Chris
Thanks Christine!! 🙂
That’s amazing! I’m just talking about the drive down to the falls! It’s in the canyon so you’ll see the snake river on your way down! 🙂
Thanks for the excellent tips and advice. Idaho is certainly a great state to explore.
Cheers Sharon…
Sharon recently posted…2018 Scuba Emergency Spare Air backup. You Refill, not the Dive Shop!
Yes, it really is one of the best!
Please send me a travel guide to Idaho
Great thank you!!
I’ve only driven through CDA (I was moving to another location at the time) and knew right away that Idaho was something special. After reading the Top 12 places, I’m planning on going back and spending some serious time in the state. Your list was excellent, Katie, and your enthusiasm infectious. I’m hoping that someday I might be able to call Idaho home. Cheers!
Great!! That’s so nice to hear. It really is an amazing place and I’m so glad you liked it! 🙂
Hi, what is your recommendation for traveling memorial weekend or 4th of July, thanks!
Either weekend is great! I love the 4th of July in McCall or Coeur d’ Alene on the lake!!
HI i am writing a state report, its due May 8, and i cited this website, i need it for my bibliography, and one thing i need was the sponser and full name of author, if found.
Hi! I’m the author, Katie Williams, The Traveling Spud. Thanks!
Hello, Katie!
Hi.. enjoyed reading all your info.
I have planned a 16 day girl trip (retired teachers) and every place you mentioned we are going.. plus teton scenic byway, Missoula, spokane for 2 nights and mc call for 2 nights, also hopefully city of rocks byway..so lookinging forward to our trip .. be there this coming tuesday.. this is my question..
We have planned to drive from boise to teton scenic byway and if time permits. Include city of rocks byway on the way back to boise .. we leave boise at 7:30 am and back by 9pm .. what do you think? .. thanks..
I like traveling. Thank you for sharing your stories.Very helpful.
My wife and I wanna stay 3 nights in Idaho on our way to Tetons/ Yellowstone on our way from the Sierras. Stream Fish, mountains and fall scenery 2nd week of October. The more we research the more we cant decide. A cabin on a river and solitude is what we need. Help!
Oh fun! Try maybe staying in Stanley or Sun Valley!
We need a cabin on a river for 3 nights on our way to Tetons/ Yellowstone early october. Want a cabin on a river with fall colors and mountains and fishing. Overwhelmed with so much beauty to choose from. Solitude and scenery a must, no touristy spots. Help!
Try Stanley!
Hi Traveling Spud!
I am going to spend 9 days in ID-arriving in Spokane. I will be planning a couple a day in CDL, a couple days in Lake Pend Oreille, then traveling south heading through McCall for the 4th of July, then onto spend a couple days going through the Sawtooth Mountains into Sun Valley/Ketchum. I have to drive back to Spokane to fly back to MI. Yes, I know it is a long drive, but between mult. flights and car rentals, the cost is ridiculous not to fly/get car rental from one location. Because I am so far south in ID, I am hoping I do not regret not getting to visit Shoshone Falls, Crater of the Moon, Thousand Springs, City of Rocks, the city of Boise etc. On your bucket list, you mentioned most of these places. In you opinion, am I going to greatly miss out on some of the most epic spots? Is driving back to Spokane a crazy plan? I appreciate any advice.
Gloria
I don’t think you’ll miss out because you’ll get to spend time in northern Idaho! I think I missed replying to this post before you actually came, but I hope you had so much fun!
I’ve got a trip coming up and this really helps!
My husband and I leave for a trip in 2 weeks! I’m so glad I found your site!!! Can’t wait to explore.