Idaho Falls

Idaho Falls is a city in Eastern Idaho. Idaho Falls serves as the commercial, cultural, and healthcare hub for Eastern Idaho. The city attracts many tourists visiting nearby Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, Jackson Hole, and fishing on the Snake River. Due to its proximity to high-profile outdoor destinations, in 2009, Idaho Falls was named to National Geographic's list of the "100 Best Adventure Towns".

Understand

It is the county seat of Bonneville County and the largest city in Eastern Idaho. It has a population of about 63,000 (2019) and the metro area has about 145,000 people.

Neighborhoods

• Downtown - Historic downtown Idaho Falls sits on several blocks of the original townsite along the east side of the river. It features restaurants, plazas, shops, and cultural amenities including the Museum of Idaho, Colonial Theatre, Art Museum of Eastern Idaho, Idaho Falls Public Library, and Japanese Friendship Garden. It is home to the Idaho Falls Farmers' Market and many other community events.
• The Numbered Streets - The numbered streets area was the first planned neighborhood in Idaho Falls. The streets run west and east between South Boulevard and Holmes Avenue. Traffic on the odd-numbered streets travels east, and west on the even-numbered streets. Kate Curley Park is located in the neighborhood, as is the Wesley W. Deist Aquatic Center and the Eleventh Street Historic District.
• West Side - The West Side houses Idaho Falls Regional Airport and I-15. It has retained more of a small-town feel than the east side, which has grown and developed much more rapidly since the 1980s.

Snake River Landing - SRL is a large, mixed-use development on the west side of the river near I-15, which includes residential, restaurant, park, and community event space, including a planned mid-sized indoor arena. It now hosts the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration, a large Independence Day event.

Get in

Idaho Falls Temple

By plane

• 1 Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA  ^IATA) (in the northwestern part of town, 3 mi (4.8 km) northwest of downtown Idaho Falls. It can be accessed from via Grandview Dr/US Hwy 20 from I-15 (Exit #119)). It has services from Salt Lake City on Delta Connection; Denver on United Express; Seattle on Alaska Airlines; and Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Orange County, Portland (Oregon) and Phoenix/Mesa with Allegiant Air. (updated Jan 2024)

Often the cost of flying in/out of Idaho Falls is not economical. For this reason, many residents of Idaho Falls drive to Salt Lake City International Airport SLC ^IATA. Salt Lake City is 213 mi (343 km) to the south. Typically, this drive takes about 3 hours, but due to weather and Salt Lake City traffic it can easily take an additional hour. During the winter months the drive time can significantly lengthen due to poor visibility and road conditions.

By car

Idaho Falls can be easily reached by I-15 (North / South) or by Highway 20 (East / West). The Utah border is about 120 miles south, the Montana border is about 75 miles north, the Wyoming border is about 72 miles to the east, and the Oregon border is about 334 miles to the west. Another way is to come in through US-20 from Yellowstone and Rexburg.

By bus

• Salt Lake Express, Bus stop at Idaho Falls Airport (Salt Lake Express sign, curbside near Departures door.), ☏ +1 208 656-8824. Travels primarily on Interstate 15 from Salt Lake City via Pocatello and Idaho Falls to Great Falls. There's also another route from Idaho Falls to West Yellowstone, MT on US Hwy 20. (updated Jul 2015)

Get around

There are several rental car companies, and most have representatives at Idaho Falls Airport.

Idaho Falls is small and the majority of the hotels are located centrally enough that a small walk will get you to most destinations. The distance to some locations would warrant a taxi service. There is fair competition in the taxi business and service is very good for a town this size. You can generally get a ride anywhere in town and even Ammon, which borders Idaho Falls, for under $15 (Idaho Falls city limits, $10). It is more economical to rent a car if you have several destinations over the duration of a day. If you have fewer than five or six stops, taxis are excellent. SafeRide and Easy Way Taxi offer 24/7 service.

See

• 1 Idaho Falls Chukars, 900 Jim Garchow Way, ☏ +1 208 522-8363. Check website for season schedule. Enjoy a minor league baseball game at Melaleuca Field. (updated Aug 2023)
• 2 Idaho Falls Idaho Temple, 1000 Memorial Dr. A temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons). Its single-spire design is unusual for Mormon temples. No admittance to non-Mormons. (updated Mar 2021)
• 3 Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park, 2725 Carnival Way, ☏ +1 208 612-8552, fax: +1 208 528-6256, ifzoo@idahofallszoo.org. Daily 9AM-4PM, closed Nov-Mar. Home to a large population of animals from six continents. $7.50 for age 13–61, $6 for 62+, $4.50 for 4–12, under 4 free.  
• 4 Museum of Idaho, 200 N Eastern Ave (take the Broadway exit (118) east across the river - it is just at Broadway and Yellowstone Highway), ☏ +1 208 522-1400. M Tu 9AM-8PM, W-Sa 9AM-5PM, closed Su. Dedicated to the history of Idaho and receives many famous traveling exhibits. $6 max, many discounts available.  

Do

• Idaho Falls River Walk (The Greenbelt). A five-mile path situated next to the Snake River on both sides, one of the most beautiful sites in Idaho Falls. Free. 
• 1 Idaho Falls Raceway, 8433 W Arco Hwy, ☏ +1 208 716-7360, srscapres@gmail.com. Check website for season schedule. Stock car racing on a dirt track. 
• The Willard Arts Center, the Colonial Theatre and Civic Auditorium host musical concerts, plays, and events.

Buy

• 1 Idaho Falls Farmers' Market (on Memorial Drive, between A Street and D Street), ☏ +1 208 339-3230, idahofallsfarmersmarket@gmail.com. May–Oct: Sa 9AM–1PM. Fresh local products, on the street along the river by downtown. (updated Nov 2017)

Eat

Despite Idaho Falls' small town environment, there are numerous locations that serve outstanding cuisine, and since most of them are locally owned there is a great customer appreciation found at each of them. Restaurants close to the river include:

• 1 The Sandpiper, 750 Lindsay Blvd, ☏ +1 208 524-3344. M–Sa 4–10PM year round. Also open Sundays from June to September. Serves anything from Rainbow trout to lobster (flown fresh into Idaho Falls) to steak to pasta. Considered by many of the locals to be the best restaurant in town. $25–45. (updated Nov 2017)
• 2 Jakers, 851 Lindsay Blvd, ☏ +1 208 524-5240. M–F 11AM–10PM, Sa 4–10PM, Su 4–9PM. The specialty is steak, but you should also try their seafood dishes. $15 lunch; $20–50 dinner. (updated Nov 2017)
• 3 Smitty, 645 W Broadway St, ☏ +1 208 523-6450, info@smittys-if.com. Opens at 6AM every day. Probably the most popular restaurant in town for breakfast. Nothing fancy is served, but you can count on the traditional breakfast dishes being prepared to perfection. $8–12 breakfast and lunch; $15–20 dinner (Wednesday to Saturday only). (updated Nov 2017)

Some more common restaurants that are close to the river area are Outback Steakhouse, Chilis, Applebees, Olive Garden, and Ruby's Steakhouse. Even more restaurants are located across town near the Grand Teton Mall. These restaurants include Sizzler, TGI Friday, Texas Roadhouse, Perkins, IHOP, Wingers, Johnny Carino's, Red Robin, Chuckarama, and Bajio.

• 4 Mrs. Powell's Bakery and Deli (Mrs. Powell's Rolls), 1813 S 25th E, Ammon (near E 17th St), ☏ +1 208 523-5055, Info@mrspowellsrolls.com. M–Sa 7AM–9PM, closed Sundays. The home of the cinnamon rolls that inspired the Cinnabon bakery chain. Start with the classic, which has creamy frosting with the perfect hint of lemon and cream cheese over a fluffy homemade roll, or consider the gooey, nutty caramel version. Also soups, sandwiches, salads, and other desserts. The "cheesy roll" for their sandwiches is based on the same dough as their famous cinnamon roll, only with cheese instead of cinnamon and sugar. Near the College of Eastern Idaho, on the southeast edge of Idaho Falls. $4–10. (updated Nov 2017)

Drink

• 1 The Celt Pub & Grill, 398 W Broadway St, ☏ +1 208 881-5128, celtidahofalls@gmail.com. M–Th 11AM–10PM, F Sa 11AM–1AM. Live music. Full-service kitchen closes at 10PM each night. meals, $10–20. (updated Nov 2017)
• 2 The Zone Sports Grill, 1505 W Broadway St, ☏ +1 208 524-6106. M-Th 11AM–10PM; F Sa 11AM–1AM; Su 9AM–5PM. This sports bar offers a full bar plus a substantial menu, with televisions on every side. $10–20 meals. (updated Nov 2017)

Sleep

Most of the hotels are located near I-15 and the airport along the river.

• 1 Best Western, 900 Lindsay Blvd, ☏ +1 208 523-6000, fax: +1 208 523-0000. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. $80 - 90. 
• 2 Comfort Inn, 195 S. Colorado Ave. (just west of the West Broadway exit off of I-15), ☏ +1 208 528-2804, fax: +1 208 522-3083, hotelhelp@choicehotels.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. $65 - 135. 
• 3 Fairfield Inn, 1293 West Broadway (Just east of the West Broadway exit off of I-15), ☏ +1 208 552-7378, fax: +1 208 552-7379. $90 - 150. 
• 4 Holiday Inn Express, 2270 Channing Way, ☏ +1 208 542-9800. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. $115 - 190. 
• 5 Le Ritz Hotel & Suite, 720 Lindsay Blvd, toll-free: +1-800-813-9266. $105 - 215. 
• 6 Quality Inn & Suites Idaho Falls, 475 River Parkway, ☏ +1 208 357-4526, fax: +1 208 357-4437. Check-in: 3:00 PM, check-out: 11:00 AM. $62 - 72. 
• 7 Hilton Garden Inn, 700 Lindsay Blvd, ☏ +1 208-522-9500. 

Go next

• Grand Teton National Park is about 100 miles to the east. Heading east out of Idaho Falls on US-26 will go right into the south entrance. This entrance is open year round.
• Yellowstone National Park is about 100 miles to the north east. US-20 goes all the way to the west entrance. Yellowstone can also be entered through the south entrance from the Grand Tetons. Both entrances are closed from November to April.
• Targhee National Forest is about 60 miles to the north east on US-20. The Mesa Falls Scenic Byway goes through the forest and leads to the Upper and Lower lookouts of Mesa Falls.

Routes through Idaho Falls

Butte ← Dubois ←	N  S	→ Shelley → Pocatello
Craters of the Moon ← Arco ←	W  E	→ Rexburg → Yellowstone N.P.
Craters of the Moon ← Shelley ←	W  E	→ Alpine → Grand Teton N.P.
END ←	N  S	→ Shelley → Pocatello