Idaho Camping
Because we have never done any camping in Idaho before, we really didn’t know what to expect. Our three stops were all wonderful, but vastly different. We visited a state park, an RV park in Boise (the state capital and biggest city), and Arco, a small town near Craters of the Moon, a National Monument. Each stop was certainly a uniquely memorable experience.
Farragut State Park
Our Idaho camping began with Farragut State Park. But, I must admit, I had a bad attitude about it before we arrived. I wanted to stay in an Idaho State Park and Farragut is one of its most popular. It also worked well with our route. But, when booking, I learned that out-of-State visitors pay double the rate of state residents. I felt that was excessive, but booked it anyway. I’m so glad I did because it was worth every penny.
We had a very nice pull-through site in this beautiful campground. The park was well-maintained and our stay was most pleasant.
Farragut is in Athol, which is the northern part of the state and the whole area looks much like Montana with beautiful mountains all around. It is in the top, skinny part of the state called the panhandle.
The Lake
Lake Pend Orielle access is in the park. The water was a clear, topaz blue with mountains all around. It was incredibly windy while we were there.
Most importantly, the lake is 1,158 feet deep, the fifth deepest lake in the United States. It covers a lot of territory with 111 miles of shoreline. I took a short hike along the shoreline enjoying the view. It was cool that day and my long sleeves felt good.
Coeur D Alene
Coeur D Alene is a highly popular city in Idaho that is known for water sports and golf. It was a very cute, super clean city. Our pup with us, so we were looking for outside seating. Collective Kitchen was in the heart of downtown with the seating we needed. However, it was so cold! The food was good, but our server gave us a bit of attitude because she had to come out in the cold to wait on us. She was not charming!
There is a really nice park in the city. I liked the Blue Heron statue dedicated to a popular local physician. It’s a cute city.
Farragut Naval Center Museum
A visit ti the museum is free to Farragut State Park visitors and it was definitely worth the time. The 4,000 acres that is now the state park was once owned by several families. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the United States had to ramp up its Navy immediately. They bought the land and built enormous barracks. The Navy ultimately housed and trained over 200,000 sailors at the facility. They tore the barracks down many years ago. The only original building that remains is the brig, which now houses the museum.
Teaching sailors who lived in land locked areas to swim was the major training objective and there were multiple training pools for that purpose. The museum has a lot of information about the times and how the facility was built in record time to ready the United States Navy for WW II. We really liked it and learned a lot.
Boise
Our second Idaho camping stop was Boise, the largest city in Idaho and its capital. We loved the city! It was very clean and easy to get around. Boise is very rapidly growing, but is not yet a big city. Its population was approximately 237 thousand in 2021. If it wasn’t so far from family, I could envision living there.
However, we were in southern Idaho now and it was mid-August. So, it was very hot!
State Capital Building
We try to visit State Capitals whenever possible because I love the architecture and the history of such buildings. At this capital, there was a film about the building and visitors can access most of the building. They completed the building in 1912 for just over $2 million. In 2000, a major restoration cost $64 million.
The building is very ornate with a gorgeous dome. A major focus of the building is marble and something called scagliola, a laborious process to create a marble look with a goal of “ A Capital of Light.”
There are several important pieces of art at the capital that you would expect to see in a prestigious art museum. The French gave the State of Idaho a famous piece, “Winged Victory”, which was once on display at the Louvre in Paris. The statue is 11 feet tall and was discovered in 190 B. C. in Greece. The statue was a part of the Merci Train to thank the United States for its efforts in WW II.
In addition, new artwork on the lawn commemorates 100 years of women’s suffrage. The statue represents past, present, and future Idaho women and she walks in the footsteps of those who have gone before. I loved it!
Best Idaho Meal
Idaho is known for its potatoes and our favorite meal in the state was at Boise Fry Company. We had already discovered that hamburgers in the area were outstanding because of the sourcing of local meat. This combo was a home run. The burgers were excellent and the fries were next level! They also had a wide selection of dipping sauces. The owner came to our table and chatted for a long while and offered suggestions for how we could best enjoy the city. Additionally, we had a fantastic waffle dessert from Waffle Me Up located in the same building.
Mountain View RV
Our campground was in the city. The good was convenience, excellent management, an immaculate bathhouse, lovely trees and landscaping. The negative was it was right beside the interstate. It was noisy, but with the A/C on to address the heat, we were less aware of it.
Idaho Territorial Prison
We visited the Yuma Territorial Prison a few years ago. It surprised me how interesting it was, so we checked out this one. There are only four in the United States.
So, why would this be interesting? To me, it tells the story of our civilization and how we deal with problem residents. Above all, this country has criminal justice issues today and knowing the history of how the issues have been addressed in the past is relevant to me. The stories about specific inmates and how the system evolved in Idaho was fascinating.
Many of the buildings have cell blocks on display. The courtyard is peaceful and well manicured today, but it must have been a miserable place in its day.
One of the more modern buildings had a single, disastrous execution by hanging. I think it was the last death by hanging in the state. They closed the prison and converted it to a museum over fifty years ago. Our tour guide did a wonderful job of telling the stories of the prison and its inmates.
Craters of the Moon
Our last Idaho camping was to visit Craters of the Moon, a National Monument and Preserve. The landscape has been described as a wierd combination of lava and sagebrush. It did look otherworldly.
The volcanos that dominated this area erupted many thousands of years ago and left this barren 52-mile system of fissures. I walked the loop and enjoyed it.
The photo below is a Cinder Cone. Many people were walking to the top, but I was feeling the elevation (5,900 feet) and didn’t attempt it.
Meanwhile, nature finds a way to spring forth new life in several different types of flowers in this desolate land.
The seven volcanos that erupted and whose remains can be seen inside the park can be viewed at a lookout on the road outside the park. The oldest is on the left and is believed to have erupted 15,000 years and the most recent on the right about 2,000 years ago.
Craters of the Moon is off the beaten track, but I am so glad we had the opportunity to see it.
Arco, Idaho
Our home for three nights while visiting the monument was in nearby Arco, Idaho. It is a quaint little town with friendly people.
So, Arco is near a decommissioned nuclear reactor and it was the first city in the world to be powered by atomic energy. They were having a festival while we were there called Atomic Days with a rodeo and live music. But, we were too tired to participate. Late nights are not our thing these days.
This mountain in Arco has the class year of each graduating class going back 102 years. Our server at a local restaurant said her mother told her the students were lowered on a tire to paint their year. I have since wondered about upkeep. Do they go back to freshen the paint?
Pickle’s Place is one of very few places to eat and the locals favor it. We had atomic burgers one afternoon and a big breakfast there one morning.
Craters of the Moon KOA
The remote KOA was very nice with a most friendly staff. After the heat of Boise, we enjoyed its temperatures in the eighties instead of sweltering in the nineties. Our pup enjoyed lounging in the shade, something it was too hot to do in Boise.
Free pancake breakfasts and ice cream socials for a dollar made this a fun place and they had huckleberry ice cream! Also, we met some interesting people and enjoyed the shade while doing some laundry.
Another special moment was when Sophie got to meet a horse up close. She always gets excited when we are driving and they are nearby. However, she didn’t know quite what to do with it this close.
Idaho Camping in Conclusion
Idaho camping was so much more spectacular than I anticipated. It is a very beautiful place with lovely people and an awesome variety of terrain and things to do. I feel so blessed that I was able to experience it! If you would like to read about visits to other states, check out States Visited, a Campsite Resource.
Happy and safe travels!
