Overview
Pocatello is a college town in Southeastern Idaho. About 57,000 people lived there in 2021.
3 sights · 1 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Pocatello
Idaho Museum of Natural History
St. Joseph's Chapel
Built in 1897, it is the oldest surviving church and is a rare 19th-century example of a church built of stone.
Museum of Clean
Founded by Donald Andrew Aslett, notable sights include a dog treadmill-powered washing machine from the late 1800s.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 7°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Dec and Jan. (climate data from nearby Craters of the Moon National Monument)
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.
- PIH Pocatello Regional Airport, Pocatello — 8 mi away. Directions
- IDA Idaho Falls Regional Airport, Idaho Falls — 48 mi away. Directions
- SLC Salt Lake City International Airport, Salt Lake City — 146 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Idaho Museum of Natural History, St. Joseph's Chapel
- Lunch Sandpiper Restaurant
- Afternoon Museum of Clean
- Evening First National Bar
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.
Understand
Named after a noted 19th-century Shoshoni chief, Pocatello is a working-class town with a strong railroad and trade union heritage. As such it has more of a blue-collar feel to it than the other major Idaho cities. At one time the city boasted the largest rail yard west of the Mississippi River. The city has a reputation for being a (slightly) more progressive enclave in otherwise conservative, Mormon-dominated Eastern Idaho.
Although the presence of Idaho State University in Pocatello unquestionably makes it a college town as well, student life is somewhat more sedate than in other college towns in the region such as Moscow, Idaho, or Missoula, Montana. The bar scene can be lively on the weekends, but don't expect to find too many raging frat house keggers here.
You might have also heard of this town from the flag it has used in the past, with it being named one of the worst flags of all time, and the worst US city flag. Don't worry, they changed it back in 2017 to a much better one.
Get in
Go Pocatello Regional Airport (PIH)
Is served by regular flights from Salt Lake City on SkyWest Airlines. There are no scheduled commercial flights to or from other locations in Idaho. The airport in Idaho Falls, 45 minutes away, offers a more robust schedule.
- Pocatello can be accessed by car via Interstate 15 from Idaho Falls in the north and Salt Lake City in the south. Pocatello is the eastern terminus of Interstate 86, which connects the city to the Twin Falls area in the west.
- Intercity bus service is provided by Salt Lake Express and Greyhound.
- Despite its railroad heritage, Pocatello now has no passenger rail service. For decades the railroad tracks have been used only for freight trains.
Get around
Pocatello Regional Transit offers limited bus service.
See
See St. Joseph's Chapel
Built in 1897, it is the oldest surviving church and is a rare 19th-century example of a church built of stone.
Do
Deleta - A rollerskating rink open at nights and during the day on non school days. Also has laser tag, a play area, video games, and a food court.
Outer Limits - Video games, small indoor roller coaster, laser tag, food and a play area.
McKee's - A pet store that also has an outdoor petting zoo. One can pet goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, donkeys, turtles, see ostriches, emus, miniature horses, and even a deer along with lots of chickens.
Fort Hall Casino - Owned and operated by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, and located on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation north of Pocatello, Fort Hall Casino is the only legal gaming facility in southern Idaho. Unlike in many Nevada casinos, where a minimum age of 21 is strictly enforced, 18-year-olds are allowed to gamble (but not drink) here.
Learn
Idaho State University is an important part of Pocatello.
Eat
Eat Sandpiper Restaurant
Hand-cut steaks, seafood flown in daily, large selection of scotches and specialty cocktails.
Drink
Drink First National Bar
In downtown Pocatello, this is a perennial favorite among ISU students and locals alike. Known locally as simply the "First Nash," the bar often features live blues music on the weekends.
Drink Goody's
Doubles as a deli in the front and the bar in the back, both student favorites. If someone says they're going to the "Hindenburg," (the bar's former name), they certainly mean here.
Sleep
Most national chains available.
Camping
Stay safe
Pocatello tends to have more snow and more severe snowstorms than the other major cities in Idaho (although not as severe as places like Stanley). Given that and the city's hilly landscape, driving can be a challenge in the winter.
The Pocatello area is also subject to inversions in the winter months. This, combined with the output of nearby fertilizer plants, can make air quality an issue.
Go next
Surrounded by mountains, Pocatello has many hiking trails and ski areas.
- Cherry Springs Nature Area within Caribou-Targhee National Forest for excellent birding and wildlife viewing
Nearby
Blackfoot
City / town · 4 listings · 22 mi away
Lava Hot Springs
City / town · 9 listings · 28 mi away
Shelley
City / town · 38 mi away
Soda Springs
City / town · 11 listings · 46 mi away
Idaho Falls
City / town · 22 listings · 46 mi away
Craters of the Moon National Monument
Park · 10 listings · 58 mi away
Arco
City / town · 7 listings · 68 mi away
Burley
City / town · 6 listings · 72 mi away
My experience
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