Idaho has a lot going for it, from its greenery-rich urban areas to its unforgettable riverside walks. If you’re up for adventuring, you could take a number of scenic day trips from Boise and enjoy everything the Gem State has to offer.
Any one of these Idaho road trips can keep you busy for a weekend or more. That’s why we’ve taken the time to recommend a bunch of places to stay and eat out. Still, even on a time crunch, you’d be wise to take at least a day to check each one out.
And who knows? With Oregon, Utah, and Nevada right around the corner, you could get inspired and take your journey out of state!
Meridian
- Distance from Boise: 🚗 10 miles (🕧 15 minutes)
- Recommended Route: 🛣️ Interstate 184 (Boise Connector)
- Restaurants/Bars: 🥪 Tango’s Empanadas, 🥪 The Roosevelt
- Accommodation: 🛏️ Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, 🛏️ Cozy In and Out Guest House
Meridian arguably has just as much to offer as the state’s capital—with it being only a fifteen-minute drive from Boise, there’s no excuse not to check it out.
If you’re in the mood for shopping, The Village at Meridian is where it’s at. You can find anything from Chipotle and In-N-Out to H&M and Carhartt, so it’s a great place to kill an afternoon.
If you’re traveling with kids, the Wahooz Family Fun Zone and Roaring Springs Water Park should keep them entertained. So, if it’s a family trip you’re after, it’s hard to find a better place in Idaho!
For our money, though, one place you can’t afford to miss out on is The Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey. It’s not every day you get to see a condor up close, much less get a crash course on falconry from a seasoned professional!
Nampa
- Distance from Boise: 🚗 20 miles (🕧 25 minutes)
- Recommended Route: 🛣️ Interstate 84
- Restaurants/Bars: 🥪 Holy Cow Idaho, 🥪 Brick 29 Bistro
- Accommodation: 🛏️ Best Western Plus Peppertree Nampa Civic Center Inn, 🛏️ Charming Getaway in DT Nampa
There’s a lot of stuff to do in Nampa if you can spare a day or two, and that goes double if you go exploring just out of town. This place is the pride and joy of Canyon County for a reason!
While there’s no shortage of places to shop, the Nampa Farmer’s Market never fails to gather a huge crowd. All the food they sell is locally sourced and of high quality, and you can even get some artisanal items as souvenirs!
Military buffs should visit the Warhawk Air Museum, and its 360° virtual tour gives you a great preview. Not to mention, they offer a scavenger hunt for kids to get them interested. There’s also the Ford Idaho Center, a popular entertainment venue where you can catch some incredible music and sporting events throughout the year.
Once you’ve had your fill, you can also drive out to the nearby Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge over by Lake Lowell. Another option is to drive out to Jump Creek, located in a pet-friendly wonderland rich with hiking trails and scenic swimming spots.
Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area
- Distance from Boise: 🚗 40 miles (🕐 50 minutes)
- Recommended Route: 🛣️ South Swan Falls Road
- Restaurants/Bars: 🛏️ River Six (Kuna)
It’s a bit of a mouthful, sure, but this place is exactly what it says on the box—a deserty wildlife refuge by the river that’s unlike any other.
Some say this is the single most diverse assortment of nesting birds in the entire world, and while it’s hard to confirm or deny those claims, it sure is one of the best!
If you like what you see in the area (which you will), you can enjoy a picnic at the aptly named settlement of Swan Falls and fall in love with nature like never before.
Boise National Forest
- Distance from Boise: 🚗 90 miles (🕝 3 hours)
- Recommended Route: 🛣️ State Highway 21 (Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway)
- Restaurants/Bars: 🥪Lowman Inn
- Accommodation: 🏕️ Big Trinity Lake Campground
Much like its namesake city, Boise National Forest is a must-visit for any half-decent Idaho road trip.
Boasting over 2.2 million acres, this place is sprawling with scenic picture spots, mountain backdrops, and over 1200 miles of dreamlike hiking trails.
If you’re an angler, you can also try your hand at fishing for rainbow trout at Big Trinity Lake. You can even opt for a boat tour and see the forest from some incredible vantage points!
McCall
- Distance from Boise: 🚗 110 miles (🕝 2 hours 15 minutes)
- Recommended Route: 🛣️ State Highway 55
- Restaurants/Bars: 🥪 Lardos Grill & Saloon, 🍻 McCall Brewing Company
- Accommodation: 🛏️ Shore Lodge, 🛏️ Cozy Downtown McCall Cottage
McCall is one of Idaho’s premier resort towns, and a quick look at the map shows you exactly why. It’s positioned along Payette Lake and near Ponderosa State Park, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The area is home to Little Ski Hill, one of the finest beginner skiing spots in these parts of the States. If you’re aiming for the big boy slopes, you can find the Brundage Mountain Resort further up the road.
Then there’s the obvious choice, which is making the drive to Payette National Forest. Extending all the way to Hells Canyon up north, it’s one of those massive forests you have to visit at least once in your life.
Twin Falls
- Distance from Boise: 🚗 130 miles (🕝 2 hours)
- Recommended Route: 🛣️ Interstate 84
- Restaurants/Bars: 🥪 Elevation 486, 🥪 A Taste of Thai
- Accommodation: 🛏️ Hampton Inn Twin Falls, 🛏️ Twin Falls 10-Guest Home
Quite a few day trips from Boise will take you past Twin Falls, a personal favorite of ours when it comes to Idaho.
The city acts as a gateway to the Snake River Canyon, which is arguably the best place to experience one of North America’s most epic rivers. Shoshone Falls might just be the highlight of the experience!
If you’re an extreme sports enthusiast, you could even check out the Evel Knievel Snake River Canyon Jump Site. Footage is one thing, but seeing firsthand what he saw on the way down is enough to make your head spin!
Sawtooth National Forest
- Distance from Boise: 🚗 110 miles (🕝 1 hour 50 minutes)
- Recommended Route: 🛣️ Interstate 84 & U.S. Route 20
- Restaurants/Bars: 🍻 Soldier Creek Brewing Co (Fairfield), 🥪 Wrangler Drive In (Fairfield)
- Accommodation: 🛏️ Home in Fairfield, 🛏️ RNR Getaway, 🛏️ Limelight Hotel Ketchum
Situated in the heart of Idaho, Sawtooth National Forest is a must-see for nature lovers. With around 1500 heritage sites to be explored, you can bet it’s one of America’s finest forests!
Located near the quaint city of Fairfield and the famed ski resort of Soldier Mountain, this place strikes the perfect balance of picturesque and touristy. For summertime visitors, there are also spots like Redfish Lake, ideal for camping under the stars.
Ultimately, what sells this place is how close it is to Sun Valley, which you can access via the breathtaking Sawtooth Scenic Byway. The Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is also only an hour west of Fairfield!
Sun Valley
- Distance from Boise: 🚗 155 miles (🕝 2 hours 40 minutes)
- Recommended Route: 🛣️ Interstate 84 & U.S. Route 20
- Restaurants/Bars: 🍻 Sawtooth Brewery Public House (Ketchum), 🥪 C.K.’s Real Food (Hailey)
- Accommodation: 🛏️ Condo in Ketchum, 🛏️ Limelight Hotel Ketchum
Arguably the king of Idaho resort towns, the Sun Valley region is a mountainous wonderland that spans Ketchum, Bellevue, Hailey, and then some.
It’s hard to pick out a standout attraction in the area, but many would likely vouch for Bald Mountain, a goliath extending over 9000 feet and a favorite among skiing enthusiasts.
There’s so much more to this part of Idaho, though. From Ketchum’s delightful art scene to the innumerable fishing, rafting, and hiking spots, there’s enough here to keep you entertained for a week or more.
Idaho Falls
- Distance from Boise: 🚗 280 miles (🕓 4 hours)
- Recommended Route: 🛣️ Interstate 84
- Restaurants/Bars: 🥪 Krung Thep Thai Cuisine, 🥪 Cast Iron on 17th
- Accommodation: 🛏️ Hilton Garden Inn Idaho Falls, 🛏️ Private Spacious Studio Suite
If you’re only going to visit one city in Southern Idaho besides Boise, Idaho Falls is a good contender.
If you’re into the arts, the Museum of Idaho houses everything from old-timey vehicles to AI-themed exhibits. You also have the Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park, where you can see dozens of beautiful animal species from all over the globe.
There’s something about enjoying a sunset along the Greenbelt Trail that makes the hairs on your neck stand up. It’s probably those hypnotic waterfall sounds, if we had to guess!
There’s enough to do here to make your head spin, but we’ve only scratched the surface of what Eastern Idaho has to offer. Speaking of which…
Caribou-Targhee National Forest
- Distance from Boise: 🚗 240 miles (🕞 3 hours 30 minutes)
- Recommended Route: 🛣️ Interstate 84
- Restaurants/Bars: 🥪 Palate Street Bistro
- Accommodation: 🛏️ Black Swan Inn, 🏕️ Palisades Creek Campground, 🛏️ Hilton Garden Inn Idaho Falls
If you’re going to visit Idaho Falls, Caribou-Targhee National Forest is a stop you can’t afford to miss out on. Split between Idaho and Wyoming, it boasts 3 million acres of natural beauty, all yours to explore.
This place has some incredible views of the Rocky Mountains wherever you look. The Teton Range is an absolute highlight, especially if you commit to the drive in the spring.
If you have a few days to spare, you could turn this road trip into an epic sweep of Western Wyoming. Both Yellowstone National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest are a couple of hours away from Pocatello, and we don’t have to remind you how incredible those are!
