Nampa, Idaho has a population of 106,186 as of 2021 and is the third-largest city in the state. Nampa came to be in the early 1880s due to the Oregon Short Line Railway's efforts to install train tracks throughout the west to make traveling easier for emigrants. Nampa was a town that sprang up along the tracks.
Today, Nampa is a thriving city with plenty of recreational opportunities for visitors to enjoy. Not only is Nampa within driving distance of national parks like Yellowstone and Great Basin, but it has some of the state's best recreation facilities. These facilities include Lions Park, South Fork Park, and City Acres. Families enjoy Lions Park because it has family-friendly amenities like a playground and a swimming pool. There are also several picnic shelters. After a day of play, check out the area's local food scene at restaurants like Brick 29 and Shige Express Meridian. If you're a fan of cinnamon rolls, you'll definitely want to stop by Le Baron's Honker Cafe.
Visitors interested in learning more about Nampa's local history will want to stop into one of Nampa's many museums. The Warhawk Air Museum has an impressive display of World War II planes and gives visitors information about how the war affected local residents. If you like trains, stop by The Canyon County Historical Society. In 1903, it was a train depot and has since been transformed into a museum that houses local artifacts. Children will enjoy the Children's Museum of Idaho, which has hands-on train displays and a mock Boise airport exhibit.
Campgrounds Near Nampa, Idaho
Mountain View RV Park is located 20 miles from Nampa in the heart of Boise, Idaho. People stay at this RV park because they like its proximity to all the amenities downtown Boise offers. It's also right off the highway, with easy access to I-84. The park has back-in and pull-through spots with full hookups and 20/30/50 amp service. WiFi is available, and cell reception is strong. There's also a coin-operated laundry facility at the park.
Boise Riverside RV Park is located in Garden City, Idaho, 18 miles from Nampa. It's a great RV park to bring the family to because of its proximity to local activities in the Treasure Valley area. The RV park has full hooks up, 30/50 amp service, WiFi, and laundry facilities. Each site has propane available as well.
Country Corners RV Park is in Idaho's wine-country region. It's also close to I-84 for easy on-and-off access to the highway. Daily rates start at $39 for both back-in and pull-through sites. Each site has full hookups and 30/50 amp service. The park also has a dog run, a seasonal community garden, and fire pits.
State Parks Near Nampa, Idaho
Bruneau Dunes State Park is in Bruneau, Idaho, 78 miles southeast of Nampa. Visitors can climb North America's tallest freestanding sand dunes at this state park. The tallest dune reaches 470 feet high. Many visitors rent sandboards and enjoy "sand sledding" down the dunes. The boards can be rented at the park. The park also has excellent fishing opportunities and an onsite equestrian facility that includes corrals and water spigots.
The Cascade Dam is the focal point of Lake Cascade State Park, 87 miles north of Nampa in the Boise National Forest. The park covers 500 acres and is part of the Boise and Payette River Basins reservoir. Cascade Lake is 27,000 acres and is a perfect spot for enjoying any water activity you can imagine. The winds make the lake especially appealing for windsurfing and sailing. Kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals are available at the Van Wyck Boat Ramp.
Ponderosa State Park is located on the deeply forested 1,000-acre peninsula in Payette Lake, rough;y 118 miles northeast of Nampa. For visitors who want to see the lake from an overlook, check out Osprey Point. If you're coming to Ponderosa State Park to hike, you'll enjoy the extensive trail network. Not only are the trails suitable for hiking, but the Huckleberry and Fox Run mountain bike trails are also outstanding, and, in the winter, many of the trails are used for cross-country skiing. Take advantage of the campgrounds in the park and stay for several days to enjoy all the recreational opportunities available at Ponderosa State Park.
National Sites Near Nampa, Idaho
The Old Idaho Penitentiary was built in 1870 and is only one of four public prisons open for public access today. It was in operation for 101 years and has a rich history of scandal and escapes. The penitentiary is in Boise and is open year-round, although winter hours are shorter than summer hours. Guided tours are available for $2 per person, or you can take a self-guided tour for free.
Nez Perce National Historic Park is a unique national site because it has visitor centers and exhibits in Spalding, Idaho and also in Wisdom and Chinook, Montana. The various locations tell the story of the 1,200-mile flight of the Nez Perce people as they were evading capture from the United States Army in the late 1800s. At the Spalding location, four and half hours north of Nampa, you'll discover many historic sites such as the Indian's Agency's cabin, the Watson's store, and the remains of a gristmill sawmill.
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, 118 miles southeast of Nampa, contains fossils of one-toed horses and massive mastodons from when they roamed the Idaho valleys over three million years ago. In the 1930s, one of the most famous fossils ever unearthed was found in Hagerman, Idaho. The fossil was of the Hagerman Horse. This national monument continues to produce fossils as modern-day excavations continue. Unfortunately, you can't view these fossil beds because of their remote locations, but many of the findings are displayed at the visitor's center. While you're at the monument, consider hiking the only accessible trail at the site, Emigrant Trail, and get a feel for what it was like for early pioneers traveling along the area's Oregon Trail.
National Forests Near Nampa, Idaho
The Boise National Forest contains 2.2 million acres with elevations ranging from 2,800 to 9,730 feet. Seventy percent of the forest is tree-covered, and the U.S. Forest Service encourages visitors to boondock responsibility. If you plan to camp in your RV in the forest, there are numerous towns within the boundaries where you can refresh your supplies as needed. There are five well-traveled trails in the state forest with varying lengths and levels of difficulty.
Sawtooth National Forest is in southern Idaho and parts of Utah and contains over 750,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness. The forest has plenty of opportunities for fishing, especially along the Salmon River, where anglers fish for salmon and trout. Boat rentals are available for people who want to fish in Redfish Lake. If you like to do geocaching, you'll find some of the best geocaching along the Snake River Canyon Rim Trail. Set up camp at the Smokey Bear Campground and enjoy stargazing at night. The forest is far from the city lights, so you'll have plenty of chances to see the stars in the dark skies. The forest also has a few trails worth exploring.
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is located in Baker City, Oregon, 110 miles northwest of Nampa. The forest includes awe-inspiring grasslands, spectacular canyons surrounding the Snake River, and the majestic alpine peaks of Elkhorn, Seven Devils, and Wallowa Mountains. It consists of 2.4 million acres of public lands, four wilderness areas, and ten scenic and wild rivers and is home to the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.
