One of the best parts of living in Southeastern Idaho is the proximity to so many different areas nearby! If you’re looking for some day trips from the Idaho Falls area, here are a few ideas to add to your list!
1. Hot Springs
There are a lot of hot springs all over Idaho, and we’ve got quite a few nearby, too! Two of the most popular around here are Heise Hot Springs (in Ririe, Idaho – about 20 minutes-ish from Idaho Falls), and Lava Hot Springs (about an hour and a half away from Idaho Falls). Lava Hot Springs has several different hot springs to enjoy. Both are great, close options for a relaxing day trip!
2. Island Park, Idaho
Island Park is honestly one of my favorite places to go. It’s only about an hour from Idaho Falls, so it makes for a great day trip if you’re short on time! When it comes to the outdoors, Island Park has pretty much anything under the sun—from hiking, fishing, camping, hunting, snowmobiling, off-roading, and more. Whatever the season, there’s always something to do. Oh, and it’s gorgeous everywhere you look, so that’s just the cherry on top!
3. Yellowstone National Park
Naturally, Yellowstone had to be on my list! I find a lot of people who aren’t familiar with the area don’t know how close we are to Yellowstone here in Eastern Idaho. In reality, Yellowstone is only an hour and a half drive from Idaho Falls (up to the West Yellowstone entrance), or about two hours if you go through the Jackson entrance. My family likes to do a loop through the park, starting in West Yellowstone, going south by Old Faithful, and out through Grand Teton National Park. Whether you only have a day or more time, it’s a beautiful drive with so much to see!
4. Grand Teton National Park
Between Yellowstone and Jackson, Wyoming is Grand Teton National Park. This is, of course, home to the famous Teton mountain range. It takes about two hours to drive from Idaho Falls, and with so many sights to see in the area, it’s well worth a day trip (or longer). The Tetons are incredible in photos, but even more stunning in person.
5. Swan Valley, Idaho
Swan Valley is one of my family’s go-to day trips. The Snake River runs through Swan Valley, and Palisades Reservoir is nearby as well. It’s a 45-minute drive from Idaho Falls, and there’s so much to do: hiking, fishing, camping, hunting, boating, everything. In the winter, you’ll see swans all over the river, which is gorgeous (and how Swan Valley got its name!)
Pro tip: Rainey Creek Store in Swan Valley has an ice cream shop in it that we always stop at. They use a square ice cream scoop, so all of their ice cream comes up as a block. It’s a cute, fun tradition to start when you stop by!
If you’ve been to any of these places, which is your favorite?
