Most people associate the state of Idaho with potatoes, and for good reason. Idaho produces about 30% of all potatoes grown in the US. But there is SO MUCH MORE to this amazing state. Our Idaho itinerary offers exciting cities and towns, incredible landscapes, and scenic drives. Some of its natural wonders include spectacular sand dunes, deep gorges, a huge waterfall known as the Niagara of the West, a stunning, austere National Park created by a volcanic eruption, a magnificent mountain range, and stunning glacial lakes.
Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy world class hiking, fishing, boating, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, snow skiing. Idaho has hot springs, some of which can be visited for free or you can indulge in a spa experience. Idaho has something for everyone! Our Idaho itinerary and associated guides cover many of these outdoor activities in depth.
In this post, a suggested trip itinerary is discussed, including routes to destinations. The details for sights, drives, hikes, restaurants, etc. are provided in four Idaho guides listed below.
Organization of our Idaho Itinerary
We have organized our Idaho guides in a roughly south-to-north direction, beginning with the Southern guide, followed by Craters of the Moon, then Scenic Drives, and finally the Northern Idaho guide. We start with Boise in the Southern Idaho post since it’s the most likely destination for those flying in. In a car, it’s about an 8-hour drive from where we started in Boise directly up to Sandpoint in the north. Idaho is a large state! And of course, there were many places to visit, so this itinerary includes quite a bit of time behind the wheel. Idaho can be broken up into regions for travel. Or, in our case, we broke up the travel with our various stops but then had a long drive back down to Boise for our flight home.
An Idaho Itinerary
The following spreadsheet shows our itinerary for our 10 day trip to the “Gem State.” Below the itinerary is a map showing our route and some of the key stops and sights. Note that this itinerary can be reduced or expanded for your schedule and rearranged to suit your interests and arrival/departure particulars. For example, you could fly into Spokane WA and fly out of Boise and roughly reduce the order.
Download as Open Document Sheets and use in Excel or a cloud spreadsheet tool (e.g., GoogleDrive or Office 365). Then, update your arrival date in cell A2. Next, get started on your itinerary (automations/equations are embedded to make a few things quicker). This file can serve as a template for other trip plans as well.
Download as a KML file and use in Google Maps, Google My Maps, OpenMaps, or other mobile apps. Start from the full screen view of the map.
The bulk of Idaho destinations and excursions are covered in our Southern and Nothern Idaho posts. These guides cover cities and towns (e.g., Boise, Twin Falls, Cour d’Alene), excursions (e.g., rivers, lakes), and hikes (e.g., Sawtooth Mountains).
Several routes, connecting Idaho destinations, are detailed in the Scenic Drives of Central Idaho guide. These include the cross-state drive from Stanley to Banks and the north-south Highway 95 through the Salmon River Canyon-“River of no Return.” The dedicated guide to Craters of the Moon describes the hikes and points of interest in the under-rated National Monument and Preserve. (A guide to the Palouse region of Idaho and Washington is also coming soon.)
Prioritizing your Sights and Activities
Here are our star system rankings of destinations/regions and activities in Idaho. Our general scoring for this full itinerary is designed to help you pick what fits your schedule and budget. Naturally, your interests will be the key to what you pick.
- ★★★Snake River/Hells Canyon
- ★★Coeur d’Alene
- ★★Sawtooth Mountains
- ★★Boise
- ★Craters of the Moon
- ★★Twin Falls
- ★★Palouse
- Lake Pend Oreille
Other Idaho destinations not covered
We do not cover the eastern section of the state. We did take a short excursion from Yellowstone into Idaho some years ago but don’t have must direct experience to share. If you have recommendations on eastern Idaho, please share them in comments.