My Perfect Summer Road Trip Route in Southeastern Idaho

Our route begins in Island Park, Idaho. This mountain town is one of my favorite places to spend a summer day, as the variety of activities is extensive. In this one town with approximately 200 residents, you’ll find hikes, multiple state parks to explore, river floats, wildlife watching, and more. I recommend choosing just one or two activities here before beginning your road trip journey. You can even venture into Yellowstone National Park if you wish to add an extra day to your trip.

Both Island Park and the next stop on our road trip, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, are destinations where you can easily spend an entire day. That's why I recommend you spend the night in Idaho Falls, giving you more time at each destination. The Hilton Garden Inn is ideal as you’ll sleep right next to the Snake River and have direct access to the Idaho Falls Greenbelt Trail, a paved riverwalk that takes you directly to downtown Idaho Falls and the city’s famous waterfalls. Keep an eye out for the geese that wander around the property in the summer months. They are fun to watch, but keep your distance.

I recommend you get an early start as you drive toward Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. It is approximately a 90-minute drive from Idaho Falls to this national monument, and it is an excellent day trip destination. Take the short scenic drive around this national monument to experience the remarkable landscape. Keep your hiking boots handy so you can tackle a few trails or explore one of the lava tubes. There's plenty to keep you busy.

If you are up for an overnight adventure, I strongly suggest staying in the Lava Flow Campground. Here, you’ll get to sleep surrounded by lava flow and with extraordinary star shows above you. In fact, this national monument and preserve is a certified International Dark Sky Park.

The next morning, head to Sun Valley, Idaho. During the winter, this area comes alive with skiers and snowboarders, but in the summer, it’s the perfect place for hiking, mountain biking, horseback rides, year-round ice skating, shopping, and more. You may want to make this stop short, where you walk around the lodge, admire the dozens of pictures that line the halls, and grab some yummy food.

Stanley, Idaho, is a teeny tiny town big on beauty. This small town is an outdoor lover’s paradise with gorgeous lakes like Stanley Lake, countless hikes in the Sawtooth Mountains, and primitive hot springs that are just short drives away (my favorites are Kirkham Hot Springs and Goldbug Hot Springs). It’s easy to fall in love with this area of the state.

Near Stanley is one of my favorite alpine lakes for a summer day — Redfish Lake. Here, you can fish, swim, kayak, and so much more. The Redfish Lake Lodge is also an excellent place to spend the night. This historic lodge is breathtaking — one night might not even be enough time here.

Located just a few miles from downtown Salmon, Idaho, is the Sacajawea Center. This road trip stop is a bit unique as you’ll step back in time and learn more about the people who lived in and explored this area decades ago. While the center’s exhibits are fascinating, if you time your visit right, you can attend summer concerts, annual historical events, cookouts, festivals, and historical programs.

It’s now time we make our way into Montana, and our first stop in the Treasure State is a destination where you’ll certainly want a sturdy pair of hiking boots and a good water bottle. The Sawtooth Lake Trail in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest will be a bit challenging. This hike is approximately 6.5 miles, and you will climb approximately 1,500 feet. However, you’ll trek through forests and mountains to an alpine lake with crystal-clear water. It’s truly dreamy.

Keep in mind that due to the challenge of this trail, if you do have young children or struggle with challenging climbs, you may want to skip this stop on your road trip.

The last stop on our summer road trip is Big Sky, Montana. Here, you can head to the Big Sky Resort and participate in activities that will get your heart racing, like mountain biking and ziplining, or have more relaxing experiences, like on a scenic chair lift ride. Stay for a few days and enjoy the beauty, adventure, and excitement of Big Sky or explore for only a few hours before you head back home. 

This summer road trip will take multiple days to complete, and that’s okay — there are so many incredible things to see and do in this area of the country. You can easily customize this adventure to best fit your time, availability, and desired activities. And, of course, if you have a few road trip stops along this route that you think I should add, let me know by filling out this nomination form. I’d love to hear from you.

Photo Credits (from top to bottom): Mindy via Flickr, Photo Courtesy of Hilton, Mark Newman / The Image Bank via Getty Images, MichaelSvoboda / E+ via Getty Images, Ron and Patty Thomas / E+ via Getty Images, Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr, Janet Nead/AllTrails, DenisTangneyJr / iStock / Getty Images Plus