10 Most Eccentric Towns in Idaho
As Lewis and Clark ventured west through the mountains and prairies of Idaho, many delightful little communities sprang to life in their wake. These towns in Idaho capture the spirit of the state. Amid the beautiful landscapes, their residents never take life too seriously. It's where you can drink soda water right out of the ground in Soda Springs, or find yourself in the center of the universe in Wallace. There’s a potato museum in there, too, because it is Idaho, after all. When you’re ready to get a little weird in Idaho, add these eccentric towns to your next road trip.
Soda Springs
Soda Springs lives up to its name with naturally bubbly mineral water that has surprised travelers since the days of the Oregon Trail. Downtown, you’ll find the peculiar Soda Springs Geyser, which erupts every hour and shoots water 70 feet up into the air! The geyser was discovered completely by accident after a drilling operation in 1937. Today, the geyser operates as a lovely park with a grassy picnic area where you can wait for the geyser to erupt, a boardwalk, and a small visitor’s center. After visiting the geyser, you can walk over to Main Street Diner for a meal before exploring the rest of Soda Springs.
Soda Springs was particularly popular during the days of the Oregon Trail. Travelers would stop to partake in its healing bubbly water, and some even used it to make soda bread! If you want to sample the famous natural soda water, Hooper Springs Park is where to go. It’s free to access, and allows visitors to partake in the natural bubbly water in a lovely park with walking trails that trace Soda Creek. Octagon Springs Park is another place to sample the waters, with informational signs detailing the history of its iconic soda springs.
Arco
On the eastern edge of the Snake River Plain is the small community of Arco, the first city ever lit entirely by nuclear power. While it didn’t have a full-scale nuclear power plant, Arco experimented with small experimental reactors called BORAX reactors and Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR-I) to power the community. While it’s no longer fueled by nuclear energy, visitors can explore the Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR-I) facility during the summer to learn more about its successful nuclear experiments. Year-round, you can check out the Atoms For Peace Historical Marker, a small park marking Arco’s significance as the first town in the world to be lit entirely by atomic power.
Arco’s nuclear experiments give the area a unique sci-fi vibe that doesn’t end with the reactors! It’s also where you’ll find the strange Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. The landscape of the park feels otherworldly and is home to the deepest rift anywhere on Earth. The rift is situated on a volcanic plateau that erupted almost 2,000 years ago, shaping the land. The park has short hiking trails that lead to the rift, which feels like walking on the surface of the moon, and earned Arco the nickname ‘Gateway to the Moon’.
Wallace
If you want to visit the center of the universe, Wallace is as close as you can get…probably. In 2004, the mayor of Wallace declared Wallace the center of the universe because, as the former mayor put it, “if something cannot be disproven, it must be true.” You can even visit the Center of the Universe marker, a manhole cover, at the intersection of Bank and Sixth Street, proving that the residents of Wallace never take things too seriously. Downtown is also where you’ll find fun and funky restaurants like the Fainting Goat Restaurant and Bar, or Fowl Mouths W.T.F. (which stands for Wings, Tea, and Fries).
Before Wallace was ever considered the center of the universe, it was once a thriving mining town in the 19th century. The Burke Ghost Town was built on the side of a steep mountain, and after a series of landslides, mining came to a halt. The ghost town is surprisingly intact, with massive brick structures built into the side of the Coeur d’Alene Mountains. Visitors can explore, with permission, the haunting remains of the town in the lush greenery of the mountains.
Blackfoot
Many believe that Idaho is nothing but potatoes, and the quirky town of Blackfoot leans into the stereotype. It’s the home of the iconic Idaho Potato Museum, where you can bask in the glory of all things potato. The museum worships the potato, but never takes itself too seriously. Visitors can browse through vintage potato farming equipment and potato-related toys (like The Wizard of Oz Mr. Potato Head set), and displays of unusually shaped potatoes. If a stroll through the museum has you hankering for a potato, you’re in luck! There’s also a potato-themed restaurant called the Potato Station Cafe in the museum.
There’s more than just potatoes on the menu in Blackfoot. Downtown has an undeniable vintage feel with classic diners the locals love, like Rupe's Burgers, and historical treasures like the Bingham County Historical Museum. It’s a place where a walk down Main Street may lead to Patriot Field, a wide-open green space with amazing views of the town and benches where you can relax for a moment.
Shoshone
Shoshone proves that when you venture off the highway, there are odd surprises scattered throughout Idaho’s countryside. The Shoshone Bird Museum of Natural History is one of those man-made oddities that feels more at home along Route 66 than hidden away in the high desert of Snake River Plain. The building itself is a marvel, constructed from hand-stacked raw lava rocks and ponderosa pines. Inside, you’ll find taxidermied birds from around the world, as well as fossils, fish, butterflies, and cultural artifacts. Outside the natural history museum are more natural wonders, like Idaho's Mammoth Cave. Visitors can walk through the eerie cave, carved by ancient lava tubes. Unlike erosion-formed caves such as Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave, these lava tubes reveal twisted pathways and volcanic rock where molten lava once flowed thousands of years ago.
After exploring the caves, there’s plenty to see in central Shoshone. It’s a quaint little community where you can grab a burger and a malt at darling little restaurants like Shoshone Snack Bar, or shop for treasures at 2nd Time Around Antique Mall. With lovely public parks and stunning scenery of the Snake River Plain, it’s a delightful Idaho escape brimming with unusual surprises around every corner.
Almo
Almo is a tiny little community on Idaho’s southern border. You won’t find a whole lot downtown, except the Tracy General Store, where you can load up on supplies, or the rustic Almo Outpost Steakhouse. Most of Almo belongs to the long stretches of scenery and natural attractions that draw visitors from all over the state. It’s where you’ll find hidden retreats like the Durfee Hot Springs, where the natural hot springs are always a calming 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
The humble skyline of Almo lies in the shadow of the dramatic rock formations of the City of Rocks National Reserve, given its name because the dramatic rock formations resemble a city skyline. It’s one of the best places to rock climb in the state (some argue the best in the country), but it also has plenty of opportunities for photography and hiking. It has a few trails that take you through the rock city, as well as an overlook that will make you feel like you are on top of the world.
Lava Hot Springs
In Lava Hot Springs, you get all the relaxation of soaking in natural mineral water with a slow, small-town vibe. The Lava Hot Springs Foundation World Famous Hot Springs is one of the most happening spots in the area, where you can take a soak in a laid-back setting. While many towns create opulent resorts around their hot springs, Lava Hot Springs keeps the vibes casual and relaxed. It’s a place where, after a good soak, you can head to charming local diners like Chuckwagon Restaurant Lava, or Eruption Brewery and Bistro for a filling meal.
Things are pretty lowkey in Lava Hot Springs until the Fire and Ice Winter Festival rolls around every February! The festival is a local tradition where participants engage in delightfully unhinged activities like the Polar Bear Float, where residents float down the icy Portneuf River on inner tubes. There’s also the Running of the Bulls, where residents run down Main Street in swimsuits and flip-flops before plunging into the hot springs. At night, the sky lights up with fire dancers and fireworks, capping off the very memorable (and chilly!) event.
Hailey
At first glance, the hidden hamlet of Hailey, found within the Wood River Valley, is your typical Pacific Northwestern town. It has beautiful parks, like Lions Park that follows the Big Wood River, and charming locally owned coffee shops like Hailey Coffee Co. There are unusual things about Hailey, like its colorful 1938 Art-Deco style Liberty Theater, which lights up the streets with bright neon at night. Inside is a vintage-style theater with classic red velvet seating, which hosts seasonal live performances and locally beloved 24‑hour theatre marathons.
The most unusual aspect of the darling little hamlet of Hailey, however, isn’t found inside the Liberty Theater. Every fall, Hailey (and the surrounding towns of Ketchum and Sun Valley) host the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival. Over a thousand sheep are herded through the Wood River Valley, right through Hailey, as gathering crowds cheer. The event also includes the Sheep Folklife Fair that harkens back to early days with sheep‑shearing and spinning/weaving demonstrations, traditional dancers, live music, and great food.
St. Anthony
On the eastern edge of Idaho is St. Anthony, a small town with an unusual landscape you would not expect to find in Idaho. While much of Idaho is dedicated to mountains, prairies, and farmland, St. Anthony is home to the St. Anthony Sand Dunes. The white quartz sand dunes were formed almost 10,000 years ago, and some stand over 40 feet tall! It’s a popular place to take off-road vehicles, take photos, or go for a hike to take in the stunning otherworldly scenery.
The sand dunes aren’t the only thing worth checking out when visiting St. Anthony. Downtown has a collection of offbeat restaurants and stores, like Roxy's Sweet Nightmares-A Horror Cafe. The only thing scary in the cafe is the macabre atmosphere and occasional costumed guests! Its coffee and sweet treats are simply scrumptious, especially the bubble waffle cinnamon roll. And if you’re up for a day trip north of central St. Anthony, Henry’s Fork and Island Park is a wonderful escape into the lush greenery of Idaho.
Idaho City
In the heart of the scenic Boise National Forest, you’ll find Idaho City, a major mining town during Idaho’s gold rush. In fact, it was once one of the largest mining communities in the Pacific Northwest, but active mining came to a halt once resources were depleted. Today, it’s a colorful community where many of the old buildings from its mining days still exist. Visitors can head to still-operational relics of its early days at places like The Gold Mine Grill, Saloon, and Hotel, or pop in the Idaho City Visitors Center to learn more about its mining roots.
One of the most popular sights in Idaho City is the Boise Basin Museum. The original building was constructed in the late 1800s as the city’s post office, and it operates as a time capsule of the old mining days in Idaho City. There are multiple rooms and original structures that visitors can explore, furnished with original tools and artifacts from the past.
Expect the Unexpected in Idaho’s Eccentric Towns
The great thing about Idaho is that you never quite know what to expect. Sure, there’s plenty of scenic overlooks and blissful lakes, but the true heart and soul of Idaho is where things can get a little weird. Whether you want to explore a skyline made completely of rocks in Almo or long to take a potato pilgrimage to Idaho’s Potato Museum in Blackfoot, these towns are sure to create memories you won’t soon forget. So, when the open road calls, take a walk on the weird side in Idaho.
