Overview
Nampa is Idaho's second largest city with a population of approximately 80,000. It is located in the Treasure Valley of Southwest Idaho.
3 sights · 5 things to do · 1 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Nampa
Nampa Train Depot Museum
A museum inside a quaint, old-fashioned train station.
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
A protected bird habitat along Lake Lowell created by none other than Teddy Roosevelt that affords the chance to do a lot of hiking and exploration.
Ford Idaho Center
A major event center located near I-84. It hosts a wide variety of musical performances, athletic competitions, livestock exhibitions, and other events. It includes a 120,000 square foot arena, an outdoor amphitheatre, a…
The Warhawk Air Museum
A 20,000 square foot museum featuring World War II era aircraft.
The Curve
Nampa is fairly unique in that the streets in the historic downtown area are oriented to be parallel and perpendicular to the railroad tracks rather than to cardinal directions. Thus, at a certain point in town, the road…
The Snake River Stampede
One of the 12 major rodeos recognized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. It is held every year in July. It is accompanied by a festival, Snake River Dayz.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Summer highs reach about 93°F; winter lows dip to about 25°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Cold months (Jan, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Dec. (climate data from nearby Boise)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BOI Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field, Boise — 17 mi away (major hub). Directions
- MYL McCall Municipal Airport, McCall — 94 mi away. Directions
Nampa is located on Interstate 84 West between Caldwell and Meridian. It is about 20 miles west of Boise on I-84. It is about 40 miles east of Ontario, Oregon on I-84.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $21–$21 a night (typical $28), from 2 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$60, mid-range ~$100, comfortable ~$190.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Ford Idaho Center, The Warhawk Air Museum
- Lunch Le Baron's Honker Cafe
- Afternoon The Curve, The Snake River Stampede
Day 2
- Morning Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge, Nampa Train Depot Museum
- Afternoon Nampa Farmer's Market, The Nampa Civic Center
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
Nampa is located on Interstate 84 West between Caldwell and Meridian. It is about 20 miles west of Boise on I-84. It is about 40 miles east of Ontario, Oregon on I-84.
By bus
Greyhound operates long-distance buses to Nampa. You can catch the connecting 52 Valley Ride bus to the Nampa Downtown Inn in the morning. Take the 53 bus to the Greyhound Stop from downtown. If you arrive at night, you will need to take a taxi to go downtown.
Go Nampa Greyhound bus stop
By plane
There is a small municipal airport in Nampa, but the closest place to catch large commercial flights is the Boise Airport (BOI).
Get around
Nampa does not have much in the way of public transit, but the historic downtown area is very walkable.
Valley Regional Transit has several routes that serve the city and some shopping centers outside. Buses run between 6:30AM and 7PM, Monday through Friday. Be aware that buses run every hour or two depending on the time of day.
See
See The Curve
Nampa is fairly unique in that the streets in the historic downtown area are oriented to be parallel and perpendicular to the railroad tracks rather than to cardinal directions. Thus, at a certain point in town, the roads curve from a cardinal orientation to the new orientation. The most obvious part of the curve is on 12th Avenue South and East Roosevelt Avenue, near the Hasbrouck House.
Do
Do Ford Idaho Center
A major event center located near I-84. It hosts a wide variety of musical performances, athletic competitions, livestock exhibitions, and other events. It includes a 120,000 square foot arena, an outdoor amphitheatre, a 100,000 square foot sports center, and the 97.500 square foot Idaho Horse Park.
Buy
Downtown Nampa also has a variety of other small shops and businesses.
Eat
Eat Le Baron's Honker Cafe
An informal family restaurant in the downtown area that is particularly good for breakfast.
Sleep
Go next
- Lake Lowell and the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge - an 11,000 acre wildlife refuge, excellent for birding
Nearby
My experience
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