Idaho Falls

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

By plane

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. Salt Lake City is 213 mi 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

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.

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.