10 Picture-Perfect Main Streets In Idaho

Idaho is a state defined by the Sawtooth Mountains, Bitterroot Range, and the confluence of the Snake and Salmon Rivers, yet its towns reveal another dimension of the state through streets that host history, commerce, and community life. The main streets in Idaho are not just roads; they are focal points where riverside views, mountain backdrops, and cultural landmarks converge.

For instance, Stanley brings together restaurants, lodges, and gear shops beneath the Sawtooth Mountains. Idaho City keeps the Gold Rush alive with boardwalks and historic storefronts, while Wallace showcases its silver mining past along preserved brick blocks. Together, these streets demonstrate why Idaho’s small-town main streets rank among the most picture-perfect in the United States.

Lewiston

Main Street in Lewiston runs through the heart of downtown, with many interesting spots concentrated along its stretch. One anchor on Main is the Lewiston Civic Theatre. This is a community theatre housed in the old Bollinger Performing Arts Center, in a building dating from 1907. It hosts plays, musicals, local productions, and events, offering regular programming. Also on Main is The Blue Lantern Coffee House and Wine Bar. It occupies a historic bank building (built in 1905) and mixes café fare (coffee, baked goods, soups), local wines, and artisan gifts. The interior includes a bank vault, rotating art displays, and support for local makers.

Brackenbury Square is a plaza on Main and is a regular hub for events. For instance, the Sound Downtown summer concert series is held there on Friday nights in June & July. And “Pumpkin Palooza,” a fall festival held on Main between 3rd and 5th Streets with artisan vendors, carnival‐style games, etc.

Moscow

Moscow’s Main Street runs north-south through the heart of downtown. With wide sidewalks, there is free diagonal parking along parts, trees, and benches intermittently placed, making it picture-perfect for its walkability. One early stop is BookPeople of Moscow, a well-known used and new bookstore with frequent author readings and local artwork displays. Right next door is Ampersand Oil & Vinegar Tap House, where you can sample flavored vinegars, olive oils, and gourmet spreads, perfect for a light and tasty snack.

Meanwhile, Bucer’s Coffeehouse Pub is your next-door bar/cafe serving coffee, baked goods, and sometimes live music. Events also enliven Main. The Moscow Artwalk is a regular late-afternoon/evening event through downtown where shops stay open, artists display work in windows, local musicians may perform, and people stroll Main as part of it.

Sandpoint

Sandpoint’s Main Street cuts a distinct northwest angle through the historic downtown and functions as its own, addressable retail corridor. One of the highlights on Main Street is 113 Main. This restaurant occupies a restored brick building where you can order house-made pasta and gnocchi, seasonal proteins. If you wish to try wellness trends like acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, or even hormonal balance sessions, then Lake Life Wellness Centers and Yoga Studio is the go-to on Main.

ArtWalk in Sandpoint (June to August) invites galleries and local artists to display works along Main, First Ave, and other downtown blocks. The Bleeding Hearts Tattoo Emporium often gets skipped, but its façade and interior art are interesting when doing ArtWalk.

Bonners Ferry

Main Street in Bonners Ferry traces the core of downtown activity, and foot traffic is visible, especially late morning and early evening. First, the Boundary County Historical Society and Museum is a must. It features three exhibit rooms with original artifacts, period rooms, and displays that cover early settlement, mining, the Indigenous Kootenai Tribe, and life in Boundary County through the 20th century.

Under The Sun is ideal for discovering shopping and café life. The front is a home-decor and gift shop carrying eclectic items, décor pieces, and locally made gifts. Behind the storefront, the café serves lunch and espresso. Folks often stop here mid-morning for coffee or later for a light lunch. The place has window displays and décor that draw attention from the sidewalk.

Froyo Mama, a frozen yogurt shop, opened on the corner of Main and Bonner Street. It occupies a prominent intersection and offers sweet treats. An event worth noting: the Bonners Ferry Farmers Market will move onto Main Street for one day (Saturday, September 27, 2025) as part of Homecoming week. For that day, vendors will line Main Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with produce, handmade goods, and live music.

Hailey

Hailey’s Main Street runs north and south through downtown. The Blaine County Historical Museum is housed in a building from the mid-1880s. It presents displays covering early mining, ranching, pioneer settlements, and local transportation. Visitors can see a replica general store, old hand tools, and the first telephone switchboard used in Idaho. The storefront windows of Christopher & Co. Jewelry Store show local and regional designs. Its window display is among the most detailed and carefully curated for someone walking Main.

Shorty’s Diner remains open for breakfast and lunch daily (7:00 am-3:00 pm Mon-Sat; Sunday 8:00 am-2:00 pm), serving American comfort fare including huevos rancheros, chicken fried steak, and classic diner sandwiches.

Ketchum

Ketchum’s Main Street remains lively, and several businesses and cultural venues are operating. The Argyros Performing Arts Center remains open year-round with a packed calendar of concerts, independent films, theater, and community lectures inside its 25,000-square-foot modern facility. Just up the street, the Pioneer Saloon continues to draw locals and travelers for its mesquite-grilled prime rib, Jim Spud stuffed potatoes, and walls lined with vintage photos that document the valley’s ranching past.

Whiskey’s on Main functions as an upscale pub-fare restaurant and entertainment venue, open daily with indoor and bar seating; its menu features elevated comfort classics and a broad drinks list. Nourish Me store on Main Street hosts a weekly market (“NourishMe Tuesday Farmers’ Market”) where organic produce, deli items, soups, and local goods are sold. It also features prepared food and deli-style fare inside the store.

Wallace

Wallace’s downtown is a historic district listed on the National Register, with a cluster of attractions and shops in its Main / Bank Street area that reflect its silver-mining past. The Wallace District Mining Museum and Visitor Center on Bank Street preserves and displays original mining artifacts, ore samples, and family histories. It includes interactive exhibits and detailed panels about the mining boom, the 1910 wildfire, and the role of railroads in the region. Murals along Bank illustrate mining, forest fires, and local Native American heritage; one especially prominent is the “Center of the Universe” marker at Bank and Sixth Street, commemorating a local proclamation.

Historic shops and restaurants line Bank Street: Wallace Brewing Company pours local lagers and ales themed after historic figures and sites. The 1313 Club operates as a pub and local gathering spot, with solid menu items and preserved interiors that recall early-20th-century taverns. Wallace’s annual Huckleberry Festival and 5K run, held in late summer, uses Bank Street for its vendor booths, parade path, and music stages; the street becomes filled with artisans, locals, and visitors.

Salmon

The Main Street of Salmon gathers daily life under its historic façades about 2.5 hours from Idaho Falls. The Lemhi County Historical Society and Museum opens from Memorial Day through September. Its permanent exhibits include the “River of History Exhibit” (photographs, artifacts, local biographies), Chinese artifact display, Shoshone artifacts, mining roots, ranching moments, and ranching/logging memorabilia. The Salmon City Hall and Library brightens the street visually with its Art Deco sandstone façade, pilasters, and a regal geometric cornice. It also serves as a community gathering point for town announcements and civic meetings.

Highlander Beer doubles as a local microbrewery with restaurant service, serving hand-crafted pizza and pub fare with a friendly, mountain-valley view of the Lemhi range. Meanwhile, Arfmann’s Four Seasons is a long-standing Western wear and shoe store, carrying work boots, outdoor footwear, hats, and seasonal clothing.

Idaho City

Under an hour from Boise, Idaho City’s Main Street is a preserved relic of the gold rush, but still very alive with shops, antiques, and taste-of-Idaho finds. The Visitor Center / Chamber of Commerce operates near Main Street and advises on trails, historic markers, and maps. It is a helpful resource for walking the town, understanding gold-rush history, and planning outdoor time. The Idaho City Trading Post opens daily and carries souvenirs, novelty food items, jewelry carved locally, knives made by regional artisans, and decorative mountain-themed gifts. There is even a photo booth styled as the “Idaho City Jail” with props and cowboy hats. It is a lively first stop for browsing and gifts.

Diamond Lil’s Museum, Steakhouse, and Saloon operates seasonally (Memorial Day through Labor Day), whipping up ribeye steaks, prime rib on Saturdays, burgers, and a full bar in a rustic saloon setting. Local events such as Idaho City Days (first weekend of October) bring vendors, live music, and food booths onto Main Street itself, turning it into a temporary hub.

Stanley

Stanley’s “Main Street,” formed at the junction of Highways 21 and 75, holds the town’s most dependable stops. The Stanley Sawtooth Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (just under the flagpole at the junction) is staffed daily between June and mid-October. It provides maps, trail info, permits, and advice for hiking and river access, making it a key orientation point. Mountain Village Mercantile sits directly at the corner of Highways 21 and 75. It functions as a general store, outfitter, and gear stop. Visitors stock up on groceries, outdoor supplies, and cold drinks here.

Just along the highway at the same junction is Sawtooth Spirit, a small shop with Idaho-made goods, outdoor clothing, and specialty snacks, and in summer, it hosts occasional wine tastings. Rounding out the street is the Mountain Village Resort and Restaurant, a full-service hub with a bar, hearty meals, and nightly lodging, plus a stage that hosts live music through the summer months, making it the liveliest corner of town.

What ties these 10 picture-perfect main streets in Idaho together is how differently each one reflects its town’s identity. Stanley is less a street than the meeting point of Highways 21 and 75, but it frames one of the most iconic views in the United States, the Sawtooth Range towering over rustic lodges and diners. Idaho City’s boardwalk-lined Main Street keeps the Gold Rush alive, while Wallace turns its preserved blocks into a living museum of the Silver Valley. Together, these main streets in Idaho aren’t just scenic; they’re working portraits of history, geography, and community in motion.