8 Small Towns In Idaho To Visit For A Weekend Getaway

With fall well underway, you have likely found yourself slipping back into the rhythm of the workweek and your usual routines. However, the fall season continues to be an excellent time to travel, with destinations across Idaho often less crowded and local inns and hotels offering some excellent deals! Across the state, you’ll find quiet state parks, mountain resorts, and championship golf courses that await your visit, making them perfect for a weekend escape from your daily routine.

Priest River

Located in the Selkirk Mountain Range, Priest River sits between two rivers, one to the north and one to the south, making it a hotspot for outdoor recreation. There are several places to launch boats from in the area, such as those at Bonner Park West or the Priest River Recreation Area. Round Lake State Park, meanwhile, is just a 20-minute drive east of town, home to a 58-acre lake, hiking trails, and numerous campsites. If you are not much of a camper, you can spend the night with a bit more comfort at the Eagle’s Nest Motel, a cozy and rustic lodge that offers beautiful views from the patio, complimentary wifi, a coffee bar, and other convenient amenities.

Ketchum

Ketchum, often grouped with the nearby ski town of Sun Valley, sits in the Rockies and offers an interesting mix of art and mountain recreation. Downtown, you’ll find attractions like the Sun Valley Museum of Art, which showcases a variety of contemporary pieces through exhibitions, projects, and educational programs. With winter right around the corner, travelers can begin to think about a ski trip to Sun Valley Resort, which offers trails of varying difficulty on both Dollar Mountain and Bald Mountain. To lodge in the heart of Ketchum, consider a weekend at Hotel Ketchum, which has select rooms with mountain-facing balconies and fireplaces, an outdoor heated pool, a fitness center, and more.

Sandpoint

Sandpoint sits on the shores of Idaho’s largest lake, Lake Pend Oreille, and is home to the state’s largest ski resort, making it a great weekend destination all year long. If the weather is nice, travelers can visit Sandpoint City Beach, located right along the lakeshore, for an afternoon stroll or a match of tennis. When it gets cold and snowy, travelers will love visiting Schweitzer, where they can enjoy 92 named trails and 300 inches of annual snowfall. Talus Rock Retreat is one of the town’s most adorable inns, set in a luxurious villa that can be rented by the suite or as a whole.

Idaho City

Idaho City is just an hour’s drive from Boise and is packed with history, perfect for a short weekend away. Travelers can explore much of this history at the Boise Basin Museum, which dives into the town’s gold rush history from the 1860s. The town’s mountain location also makes it wonderful for hiking, with the Charcoal Gulch hike being an excellent option. This hike is just a few minutes from downtown and is about four-miles round trip, largely uphill. To round out your trip, lodge at the Gold Mine Hotel, which is housed in a restored property that dates back to the 1860s.

Driggs

Located less than an hour from Grand Teton National Park, Driggs offers a quieter alternative to Jackson Hole. Travelers can explore the gorgeous Teton Valley via the Teton Valley Trails and Pathways, which offer incredible mountain biking and road riding trails. The area is great for golf as well, exemplified through Tributary, a championship course that winds through 50 acres of wetlands. For a rustic and nature-focused night away, consider lodging at the Teton Valley Cabins, which are a collection of affordable, yet charming log cabins that lie within a cottonwood forest near the base of the mountains.

Salmon

If you are looking for a bit of solitude, you will find it in Salmon, which is a gateway to the largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states. This area, known as the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, spans over 2.3 million acres and is filled with spots to fish, camp, hike, and more. Speaking of fishing, fishing is a popular sport year-round in Salmon! If you are looking for a guided trip, Solitude River Trips offers both fly fishing and rafting excursions. After a peaceful day outdoors, travelers can unwind for the evening at Syringa Lodge, set on 19 acres of a former homestead atop a bluff overlooking the town.

Stanley

Despite having fewer than 300 residents, Stanley offers plenty to see, do, and eat, both outdoors and in town. There are several trails to explore in the surrounding area, such as Fishhook Creek Trail, a 4.5-mile path that winds along a creek, passing through forests and meadows. Travelers can refuel after their hike at the Stanley Supper Club, which serves all kinds of homestyle dishes, including fried chicken, housemade pasta, and homemade sourdough. Conclude the day with a stay at the Redfish Riverside Inn, a gorgeous riverside hotel that has 14 rental units available for reservation.

McCall

McCall is another Idaho classic for an immersive weekend outdoors, featuring state parks and hot springs in the surrounding area. Ponderosa State Park is a popular place for all kinds of outdoor activities, including hiking, swimming, biking, and camping. Much of Payette Lake surrounds the park as well, resulting in some beautiful views of the water. Although the Gold Fork Hot Springs are about a 40-minute drive from town, they are well worth the trip. These springs are ideal as the weather cools, featuring six pristine pools with temperatures up to 110 degrees that gradually decrease in each successive pool. You won’t find a place much more luxurious and gorgeous to spend the night than at the Shore Lodge, which has fine dining establishments, a spa, a heated pool, and plenty of other amenities on site.

Now Is The Time To Plan Your Weekend Trip

There is no time like the present to plan a little weekend trip away. And what better place to do so than in these eight relaxing towns? Depending on the weather, you might be able to enjoy a short hike, an afternoon on the slopes, or a few hours at the nearby hot springs, allowing you to make the most of the fall season. So pack your bags and get ready for a well-needed rest. You deserve it!