Preston, Idaho, is a small town that is rich in history. Back in 1863, the Bear River Massacre took place in part of Preston and in the rural northern parts of Franklin County. The massacre occurred after many small-scale skirmishes took place between the United States Army and the Shoshone natives in the area over a period of a couple of years. These skirmishes were a result of American immigration; since American immigrants were beginning to move into the Idaho area, the Shoshone natives had less land and food to support their tribes, and many of the tribes stole food and resources from the farms of immigrants for survival. However, during the massacre, the Army attacked and killed hundreds of Shoshone natives, and the Bear River Massacre Site is recognized as a National Historic Landmark today.
Around 1866, Latter-Day Saints pioneers began to move in larger numbers to the Preston area. These pioneers first named the city Worm Creek. In 1881, the name was changed from Worm Creek to Preston to honor the president of a Latter-Day Saints church, William B. Preston.
Inside Preston, there are a total of four sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Bear River Battleground site, the Matthias Cowley House, the Franklin County Courthouse, and the Oneida Stake Academy, which was a secondary school operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the years from 1888 to 1922. Some of these sites are open for the public to visit.
The film "Napoleon Dynamite" was mainly filmed in Preston, and movie buffs can look for area landmarks in the movie. For example, Preston High School was used in the filming of the movie, and the school and town were chosen for filming because the film's creators, Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess, both hailed from Preston. From 2004 to 2008, Preston also held an annual Napoleon Dynamite Festival, and the event included activities that related to the movie, like a tater tot-eating contest and a tetherball tournament.
Preston Festival of Lights - Considered a Preston tradition, the city hosts free live shows and a night parade annually in November.
That Famous Preston Night Rodeo - A tradition for over 83 years, Preston hosts a rodeo week annually in August. The event includes rodeo parades, a sidewalk sale, and a carnival.
Annual Acton Children's Business Fair - Each year in Idaho Falls, children entrepreneurs from ages 6-17 set up their own businesses for the public to shop.
Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is about 165 miles from Preston and is a great park full of mountain and blue lake views. Hiking and biking are extremely popular on Hidden Falls trail and Jenny Lake Loop.
Yellowstone National Park, also in Wyoming, is famous for being the first national park founded in the United States and is home to the Old Faithful geyser. Located about 237 miles from Preston, Idaho, Yellowstone offers options for hiking, fishing, skiing, and sightseeing.
Great Basin National Park encompasses over 77,000 acres of land across Nevada, Oregon, Utah, California, Idaho, and Montana, and it's about 340 miles away from Preston. Known for having the northern hemisphere's southernmost glacier, Wheeler Peak Glacier, Great Basin National Park also offers guided tours through its lesser-known, yet just as impressive, Lehman Cave System.
Bear Lake State Park in Utah borders Idaho and protects Bear Lake. Visitors to this state park love the Bear Lake State Park Marina area, which is open all year long for those who want to take out their boats, canoes, or kayaks. Other beach areas can be accessed during warmer months from around the other sides of the park as well.
Willard Bay State Park is another Utah state park that's popular with those who want to boat, swim, fish, and water ski on warm Willard Bay. The park hosts a campground that's open during the warmer months, though anyone can visit in the winter to see wild eagles nesting in the trees.
Massacre Rocks State Park in Idaho is situated on the Oregon Trail and encompasses an area full of rocky hills. There are three different campground areas at the park, all with options for hookups and water lines.
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho is the place to go for exploring caves, craters, and a unique landscape. Once an ocean of active lava flows, this national monument also has an on-site campground with amenities like seasonal water and group accommodations.
For more local attractions in Preston, check out the official Napoleon Dynamite House, which is located on a Preston county road. The house was used in the filming of the famous movie, and visitors can take pictures of it from outside.
You can check out other landmarks in Idaho, too, that may be farther away, like the Oregon Trail and Old Idaho Penitentiary Site.
Riverside RV Park is a small, family-owned campground that has full hookups, free Wi-Fi, and even a fishing creek. These grounds are located in Preston and have a nightly rate of $35.
Bear River Hot Springs is another campground in Preston that's also home to natural mineral hot springs. With over 20 RV-accessible sites, there's also a small water park to enjoy during your stay.
For state-managed camping, try the Albert Moser Campgrounds in Preston. These grounds offer onsite fishing in Cub River and have no camping fees during the winter months.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Preston, ID, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Preston?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Preston 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 Preston?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.