Things to do in Idaho Falls
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Idaho Falls
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Shoulder sweet spots with cooler Greenbelt walking, thinner park crowds and hotel rates stepping down.
Peak season, zoo and market open, Chukars at home, South Fork dry fly fishing and West Entrance road open.
Cold high desert winter, Yellowstone road access closed, zoo and market out of season, cheapest hotel rates.
What's on
- Idaho Falls Farmers Market Saturdays May to October
Riverfront market on Memorial Drive with local produce, baking, flowers and crafts.
- Liberty on Parade and Riverfest 4 July
Daytime Fourth parade and river festival. The long running Melaleuca fireworks show has ended.
- War Bonnet Round-Up Late July to early August
Idahos oldest rodeo at Sandy Downs Arena over several nights, main performance at 7pm.
- Roaring Youth Jam August
Free youth arts festival with performances and art making for families.
- Eastern Idaho State Fair Early September
Large agricultural fair in Blackfoot, about 30 minutes south, worth a day trip from Idaho Falls.
Best things to do in Idaho Falls
Snake River Greenbelt
A free paved loop on both banks of the Snake River past the falls, gardens and sculptures, best at golden hour.
Idaho Falls
A broad man made cascade across the Snake River in the middle of town, prettiest at spring and early summer flows.
Japanese Friendship Garden
A small, quiet Japanese garden on the river off the Greenbelt, with lanterns, water and shaded benches.
Museum of Idaho
Eastern Idaho history plus large travelling exhibitions, and the best bad weather orientation before the parks.
Idaho Falls Zoo
A compact accredited zoo in shaded Tautphaus Park, sized perfectly for a 90 minute family visit in season.
The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho
A small riverfront art museum of regional work with a hands on childrens art room, ideal on a Greenbelt afternoon.
ARTitorium on Broadway
A downtown interactive art playground for children, with a green screen studio, creation stations and a turbo slide.
Collectors Corner Museum
A private museum of collections in themed rooms, charming for collectors and families with an hour to spare.
Where to stay in Idaho Falls
River Walk
first visit and best all round base
Hotels directly on the Greenbelt by the falls, walkable to downtown dinner and quick onto US-20 north.
Downtown
evenings, dining and theatre
On foot at downtown restaurants, the Colonial Theater and the Saturday farmers market, with limited hotel supply.
Ammon
arena events and chain convenience
Newer hotels by the Mountain America Center and mall with free parking, but you drive to everything else.
Think twice about
- West Broadway I-15 interchange motel strip
Dated traffic dominated motels beside car lots and fast food, unwalkable and far on foot from the Greenbelt and downtown.
- North Yellowstone Highway motel row
Older tired room stock on a highway strip with no evening life and a long bleak walk from everything worth doing.
Best restaurants in Idaho Falls
Copper Rill Restaurant
The town consensus best dinner facing the falls, a scratch kitchen known for crab cakes, steaks and carrot cake.
D'Railed
A small unassuming building hiding serious wagyu, steaks and seafood, the locals splurge when Copper Rill is full.
Jakers Bar and Grill
The reliable steakhouse all rounder for groups and families, with trout, salmon, steaks and coconut shrimp.
Sandpiper Restaurant
The classic anniversary steak and seafood house, calm and competent, without the Copper Rill booking fight.
The SnakeBite Restaurant
Downtown cornerstone since 1994 for burgers, salmon and brunch, pairing perfectly with a Greenbelt walk.
Bee's Knees Pub & Catering
A gastropub with craft cocktails, Bee Sting wings and balsamic fries, plus a popular biscuit slider brunch.
Krung Thep Thai Cuisine
The strongest Thai kitchen in town and the palate reset on night three, with real depth for vegetarian diners.
Pachanga's
Colourful downtown Mexican with a patio, known for Pollo Fundido and fajitas, steps from the Colonial Theater.
Outdoor things to do in Idaho Falls
Pinecrest Golf Course
The friendly municipal 18, walkable and well priced, ideal for a mixed ability group round before lunch downtown.
Sage Lakes Golf Course
The sterner city public 18 north of town, more open with water in play and longer views than Pinecrest.
Idaho Falls Country Club
Private foothills golf of the highest local standard, playable only by member invitation or reciprocity arranged ahead.
South Fork Outfitters
Guided drift boat fly fishing on the blue ribbon South Fork for cutthroat, with peak dry fly action in summer.
St. Anthony Sand Dunes
White quartz dunes up to 400 feet high for riding, walking and sandboarding, best at sunrise or in late light.
Heise Hot Springs
An unpretentious family hot springs resort with hot and warm pools, a slide and riverside picnic ground near Ririe.
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
A vast black lava landscape of cones and tubes on a 7 mile loop, unlike anything on a Yellowstone itinerary.
Mesa Falls
A broad 114 foot waterfall on the Henrys Fork viewed from boardwalks, more impressive than the town namesake falls.
Best hotels in Idaho Falls
Hilton Garden Inn Idaho Falls
The town flagship on the river with Greenbelt access, a pool and a restaurant, best in a river facing room.
Residence Inn Idaho Falls
All suite Greenbelt hotel with full kitchens and free breakfast, the best base for families and longer stays.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Idaho Falls
A modern all suite Marriott on the Greenbelt with free breakfast, a stylish pick for one or two night stays.
Destinations Inn
Fourteen themed suites downtown with breakfast included, the occasion stay for couples who enjoy the concept.
Best Western Driftwood Inn
A well kept riverfront inn in the best location in town at rates a tier below the Hilton and Marriott suites.
Tru by Hilton Idaho Falls
A bright new build budget Hilton on Lindsay Boulevard with free breakfast and a riverfront adjacent location.
Is Idaho Falls expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | $85 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | $175 a person |
| Splurge | $320 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Willard Arts Center: a few days ahead
- Pinecrest Golf Course: a few days ahead
- Sage Lakes Golf Course: a few days ahead
- Idaho Falls Country Club: weeks ahead
- South Fork Outfitters: weeks ahead
- Hilton Garden Inn Idaho Falls: weeks ahead
- Residence Inn Idaho Falls: weeks ahead
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott Idaho Falls: weeks ahead
- Book riverfront hotels weeks ahead for late June to August and for July Fourth and rodeo weekends.
- Book Copper Rill and D'Railed days ahead in summer, and a South Fork guide weeks ahead.
- Book War Bonnet Round-Up tickets early, as Saturday sold out in 2026.
Is Idaho Falls safe?
- Fish and float the South Fork with a guide because of sweepers and cold fast water.
- Slow down on US-20 and park roads at dawn and dusk for wildlife, especially driving home after dark.
- Emergency number is 911.
Idaho Falls travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Do not use Idaho Falls as a five night commuting base for all of Yellowstone, at about two hours each way.
- Avoid making the Ammon chain strip your whole Idaho Falls experience and eat downtown instead.
- Do not visit Craters of the Moon or the dunes on foot at midday in summer without water.
- Expect kitchens to close by about 9pm and downtown to go quiet soon after.
Getting around Idaho Falls: public transport and more
- Walk the combined downtown and riverfront core, about 10 to 15 minutes from hotel row to Park Avenue dinner.
- You need a car for the zoo, Ammon, the airport and every excursion and park departure.
- Rent at Idaho Falls Regional Airport, about two miles from downtown, and ask for all wheel drive in winter.
- Check Idaho 511 road conditions before any winter park or Teton Pass departure.
Who Idaho Falls suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Idaho Falls your trip
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