9 Unforgettable Small Towns to Visit in Idaho
The small Pacific Northwest state of Idaho boasts the incredible Sawtooth Mountain Range, and while it is a landlocked state, it is home to a plethora of beautiful bodies of water. While travelers often tend to the larger cities of Boise and Meridian, Idaho's small towns are easy to fall in love with. From access to unforgettable hiking trails, dunes, calm lakes, craft markets, golf courses, and theme parks, tourists can experience the best Idaho has to offer while on a smaller budget compared to a big city trip. Whether it is a solo travel adventure exploring the state by bus or jumping on and off Amtrak’s Empire Builder train, these small towns in Idaho make for a beautiful trip year-round.
Sandpoint
Sandpoint is a beautiful small town on Lake Pend Oreille in the panhandle of Northern Idaho. This walkable town has multiple shopping centers, antique malls, wineries, and nearby hiking trails.
Lovers of the arts must visit the Panida Theater—named after the Panhandle of Idaho—which showcases movies, film festivals, and touring artists throughout the year. The arts community also hosts the Pend Oreille Arts Council’s Arts and Crafts Fair every August at the famous Sandpoint City Beach Park.
Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a variety of sports and trail access year-round. In the summer, campgrounds are accessible near Priest and Pend Oreille Lakes. Take a boat ride or, if you want to remain on land, hit the links and play a round at Sandpoint Elks Golf Course or The Idaho Club.
Travelers looking for local handmade goods, souvenirs, and the town’s favorite restaurants will look no further than 1st Avenue at The Cedar Street Bridge Public Market. This market spans 400 feet across Sand Creek in the heart of downtown, and travelers can find everything from local huckleberry goods to handmade Christmas ornaments. After shopping, tourists should go down the street to recharge at the local favorite Panhandle Cone & Coffee.
Hayden
Forty-five minutes south of Sandpoint is another lakeside town with endless ways to interact with nature year-round.
In the warmer months, Hayden Lake offers a full-service marina, fishing, water sports, and the beloved family-friendly Honeysuckle Beach. Cougar Bay Natural Preserve is a local favorite destination for wildlife viewings for waterfowl, 27-plus species of birds, deer, otters, and moose.
Families with children will love that the Northwest’s largest theme park, Silverwood Theme Park & Boulder Beach, is only 15 minutes away and only charges $25 for a youth or senior ticket. Beat that, Disneyland!
After long days exploring the theme park or relaxing on the lake’s beach, visitors can choose from an array of restaurants along Government Way or treat themselves to a wine tasting at the Couer D’Alene Cellars, Rivaura Estate Vineyards & Winery, or Cranberry Road Winery that are all within a 10-minute drive of the main strip.
Eagle
Set at the base of the colorful Boise Foothills, this small town is renowned for its abundant green spaces. Eagle Island State Park is one of the area’s biggest draws, with an astonishing 545 acres of land. In the winter, visitors can enjoy tubing and other flatter winter sports. In the summer, visitors can access a 19-hole disc golf course, hiking, horseback riding, and waterslides.
Wine connoisseurs will want to check out 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards to sample their distinguished reds, including a merlot, syrah, and cabernet sauvignon, alongside a local cheese plate.
Artists will be entertained by creating their projects at Fusions Glass Studio or taking guided art classes on-site. Prices are accessible between $6 and $55, making it great for both the traveler on a budget and larger families with bigger parties.
Garden City
Another great small town in Idaho that caters to artists is none other than Garden City, a town that used to be only its namesake. In 1890, the garden, now Garden City, was bought and became a town for mostly Chinese immigrants working as laborers and shop owners. Today, the original mission of the town can be seen in today’s Garden City Artisans Pathway Map. This map guides locals and tourists around the city to enjoy the fruits of the labor of local craft breweries, cideries, wineries, and artists. Visitors can look out for signs around the city that say “taste,” “create,” and “play” to know the establishments are a part of the pathway map.
Art-loving tourists staying for a few days should attend one of the free or low-cost workshops at Surel’s Place; this space was once the home to local art legend Surel Mitchell and has since become an organization that fosters the growth of local artists and anyone passing through town. Garden City is Idaho’s first “Bee City,” making the local pollinator garden a must-visit by visitors of all ages. Visitors can educate themselves about bees and how to save them in their communities.
Jerome
Nestled along the Snake River in Southern Idaho, the small town of Jerome offers access to hiking trails, country clubs, museums, and food festivals.
Foodies will want to visit Jerome’s yearly Taco Fest, held every August at North Park Jerome. This festival offers an array of booths and taco trucks for Mexican food lovers to sample dozens of treats and tacos at this one event. Those who love a tasty brunch will want to book a meal at Mountain View Barn, as they would get to dine in a historic barn made of lava rocks!
Travelers should take advantage of the Minidoka National Historic Site, as Jerome was the location of internment camps during WWII. Visitors can hear recorded stories from survivors and see some of the original buildings used during the war.
Nature lovers can relax at either Northside Park—a venue for outdoor music, playgrounds, a skate park, and more—or by visiting the Jerome side of Snake River Canyon to hike down to a secret waterfall in Mermaid Cove.
Burley
This next great small town in Idaho is only forty-five miles east of Jerome. The great perk about the Snake River access in Burley is that the river is more comprehensive and peaceful, allowing 26 miles of water for water skiing, wakeboarding, boating, and other fun in the sun. Down by the Milner Stretch of the river, there is available fishing, for which there is also a Dry Creek Outfitters Open Bass Tournament held every year.
History buffs will want to visit the Cassia County Historical Museum as it has preserved treasures from the Oregon Trail and Native Americans who lived in Burley for thousands of years before the settlers.
Burley has a few unique food experiences, such as Morey’s Steakhouse, which has a patio with a gorgeous river view. Another is dining on the Snake River Queen, an old-fashioned paddlewheel boat converted into a restaurant.
Payette
Payette sits at the confluence of the Payette and Snake Rivers alongside the state line of Oregon. This town has a lot of opportunities for both nature and history lovers.
The Weiser River National Recreation Trail is open to bikers, hikers, and horseback riders who want to explore an array of landscapes, including thick forests, desert canyons, and meadows of wildflowers.
A few minutes outside of the city is the Four Rivers Cultural Center & Museum, which houses a museum honoring the settlement patterns of immigrants going back hundreds of years, as well as a Japanese garden called Hikaru Mizu, constructed in honor of the Japanese-Americans who were forced into internment camps in WWII. Additionally, the Payette County Historical Society is another stunning place to visit as its structure is a Gothic Revival Methodist Episcopal Church over 100 years old.
Weiser
If travelers want a place to enjoy agriculture and architecture, look no further than Weiser. Over the summer and into fall, Kelley Orchards offers an array of produce, including stone fruits, grapes, tomatoes, berries, and apples, for purchase and U-pick outings. Those with an even sweeter tooth will need to visit Weiser Classic Candy, where they can indulge in truffles, caramels, ice cream, and other treats; for savory indulgence, this location also operates as a deli and provides salads, soups, and sandwiches.
To prevent going into a food coma, travelers can walk around and view the Queen Anne-style homes in the residential areas and visit many of the historic buildings along Main Street, including the Star Theater, Weiser Post Office, and Knights of Pythias Lodge Hall.
Rexburg
Looking for a perfect destination for an ideal American summer vacation? Rexburg is the ideal destination. On a clear summer night, tourists can enjoy grabbing a shake or sundae at the Frostop Drive Up, an establishment in Rexburg since the ‘60s, and heading to the Teton Vu Drive-In for a drive-in movie experience under the stars. With no tall buildings, viewers can take in the breathtaking view of the starry sky for miles and the lit-up screen. Families will also love taking their group to Fat Cats Rexburg for a fun day of arcade games, bowling, and other games.
Tourists looking for a more relaxing and luxurious experience should venture over to the infamous Lava Hot Springs—a natural underground hot springs packed with odorless minerals with a temperature of around 102˚ to 110˚F.
These small towns in Idaho are some of the Northwest’s most ideal nature destinations. Travelers can experience days luxuriating on the rivers and lakes, ascending trails and dunes, and soaking in natural hot springs. With opportunities for education about the local settlers, food establishments that hark back to the '60s, and artisan marketplaces where tourists can bring back huckleberry treats, it is no surprise Idaho is a sought-after destination by travelers of all types.
