The largest cities in Idaho lie in the state's southwest region near the Idaho/Oregon border. Boise is the largest, sitting along the Boise River 41 miles from the border with Oregon. The second-largest city in Idaho, Meridian, lies 10 miles west of Boise and 31 miles from the Oregon border. With fewer than 100,000 in population, Nampa is the third-largest city in the state and is just 21 miles from Oregon.
The travel trailer is the preferred RV rental in Idaho. These units sleep anywhere from two to 10 people and start at $70 per night. They are easy to tow, comfortable to live in, and capable of reaching many of the isolated locations favored by Idahoans as vacation spots.
The Class C motorhome is the second choice of Idaho families to rent for vacations or for long family trips. These self-propelled units have all the comforts of home and can tackle most of Idaho’s roads. Depending on their size, Class C motorhomes sleep from two to eight adults and start around $200 per day.
The first Europeans to pass through Boise were immigrants traveling the Oregon Trail. Pitched battles between Native Americans and pioneers brought the attention of the United States Army, which constructed Fort Boise alongside the Boise River, creating a focal point from which emerging gold mine towns drew supplies. The city developed into a business center and today supports a good number of small businesses in its downtown area. Sidewalk cafes and traditional restaurants line the main road, giving visitors an excellent choice of cuisines.
Meridian, ID, began as a farming community supplying the needs of gold and silver miners in the area. Its location in a fertile valley beneath mountainous peaks was ideal to set up a gravity irrigation system. Today, the town is a commerce center focused on the transportation of fresh goods.
Nampa, ID, began as a trading post along the first railroad line in the area. The community has grown every year since its founding, drawing visitors and settlers from around the country to the natural resources there. One of the additional effects of being a railroad town is that Nampa is full of gift shops like Nancy Ann’s Gifts with unique items covering its shelves.
Bruneau Dunes State Park sits 65 miles south of Boise. The park features the largest single-structure sand dune in North America. At the foot of the dunes are lakes that provide surprisingly good fishing opportunities. The favorite activity that draws visitors to this park is sand sliding. Visitors are permitted to slide down the slopes of select dunes, an exhilarating experience for children and adults. Hiking and biking around the dunes is exhausting but rewarding, with unique views around each bend.
Located 109 miles north of Boise, Lake Cascade State Park is a 500-acre area sitting on the southern shore of Lake Cascade, the fourth largest lake in Idaho. The park provides fantastic views of the deep blue lake, the surrounding forests, and a magnificent horizon of Idaho’s most breathtaking mountains. Miles of hiking trails lead visitors along the shore of the lake and into the coniferous forests beyond.
Located high in the panhandle of Idaho, near the town of Coeur D’Alene, Round Lake State Park sits among mountainous terrain. Carved by glacial action millions of years ago, the waters of the 58-acre lake reflect the beauty found in the forests and mountains that surround it. The park covers 500 acres, including the lake, hills covered in tall pines, and streams full of trout.
Operating out of Boise, ID, the Hi Valley RV Park sits next to Boise’s downtown area and all the amenities it provides. The park reserves 45 of its 164 RV sites for temporary visitors. Every temporary site provides gravel pads, picnic tables, fire rings, and full hookups with a choice of 30-amp and 50-amp service. Features like a heated swimming pool and hot tub make this park one of the most popular in the region.
Another popular RV campground in the Idaho panhandle is the Coeur D’Alene RV Resort. Located within minutes of downtown, this pet-friendly RV Resort provides 191 spaces with full hookups, cable TV, and Wi-Fi. The resort features a swimming pool, laundry facilities, and a camp store that carries groceries, RV supplies, firewood, and ice.
When you stay at Anderson Camp in Twin Falls, ID, you quickly realize why it is one of the favorite campgrounds for RV travelers in the state. Travelers find 62 pull-through sites that are 70-feet long and 30-feet wide, providing more than enough space to deploy any slide-outs. The camp has two geothermal heated swimming pools, a 100-foot waterslide, an 18-hole miniature golf course, and two modern playgrounds for fun for every family member.
While planning an RV trip through Idaho, make sure to look ahead for the all-important dump stations along the way. Dump stations are essential elements for a successful RV trip. Not only do these facilities accept the stuff from your waste tanks, but they also provide potable drinking water and non-potable wash water. Most RV parks and campgrounds in Idaho provide dump stations for their guests. However, there are times when you must find a dump station outside an RV facility. In cities like Boise, Coeur D’Alene, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, and Twin Falls, businesses provide this service. To find where you can clean your waste tanks and fill your water containers, check out this list of dump stations in Idaho.
Float the Boise River – This party takes place on six miles of the Boise River, running alongside the parks and businesses of Boise. Families have fun competing while riding the river in rented rafts on sunny days.
The Spirit of Boise Classic – This annual event takes place in the center of the city in 153-acre Ann Morrison Park and is free for anyone to attend. Hosted every year by creators Scott and Laura Spencer in cooperation with the city of Boise and Townsquare Media Radio Stations, the Classic is awash with hundreds of colorful balloons, music, and the laughter of children. Visitors frequently comment about the number of balloons cascading onto Boise's buildings, streets, and sidewalks during this event.
Hot Pepper Challenge – Few people realize that the “hot” in hot pepper is not an acid or alkali; it is an enzyme that triggers the sense that detects heat. Take the time to visit this upcoming Nampa event and see the largest and most robust men fall to the effects of the enzyme; it is fun for everyone in the family.
Although part of Yellowstone National Park is in Idaho, only 1% of the park preserve sits in the state. Yellowstone is the first national park ever established. Protecting 3,500 square miles, the park is a beautiful mix of geological formations, wildlife, and forests. Its wonders, like the predictable geyser Old Faithful, are legendary.
Grand Teton National Park is only 24 miles east of Victor and is on Idaho’s eastern border with Wyoming. Approaching the Grand Tetons for the first time is a startling event. The mountains appear to spring from the earth with little or no foothills to mark their beginnings. The highways that pass below the mountains are called "scenic" highways for this very reason. Wildlife is protected in the park, and grizzly bears, elk, bald eagles, hawks, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep call the park home. Hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails take visitors to astonishing views. Anglers find streams and lakes full of native fish in this park.
A four-hour drive east of Coeur D’Alene, ID, in the northern panhandle of the state, lies Glacier National Park. Situated along the northern reaches of western Montana, this park’s high latitude and elevation have preserved much of the original flora and fauna from outside invaders. The park covers over one million square acres and straddles the Montana/Canada border. Organized events include whitewater adventures, ski trips, fishing expeditions, and hiking excursions that may run for days.
One of the most iconic pathways in the United States is the Oregon Trail, 500 miles of which travels through Idaho. Parts of the trail still exist close to Boise. Visitors can walk where the pioneers walked with the advantage of signs and markers along the way describing the incredible journey. Though named for another state, the trail is listed as an Idaho landmark.
Visiting the Old Idaho Penitentiary, located on the east side of Boise, gives you a glimpse of the old west. Opened in 1872, this prison held some of the most desperate criminals in the region. Inside, visitors see the cells in which these criminals lived, the solitary confinement area, and the gallows.
Bogus Basin is one of the hidden skiing jewels tucked in the Rocky Mountains. Located near Boise, this ski area offers 2,600 acres of incredible ski slopes meticulously groomed with pines dotting the landscape. Those uninterested in skiing can find plenty of other things to do here. Riding the scenic chairlifts provides stunning views. Snowshoeing and tubing during a snowfall provide insight into what the early settlers experienced during their first winters in the area.
On average expect to pay $165 per night in Idaho.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Idaho?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Idaho from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Idaho?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
Do you need a special license to drive an RV in Idaho?No. You don’t need a special license or CDL to drive an RV in Idaho.
