9 Reasons Why Idaho Is The Ultimate Road Trip State
Guest Author: Michael Bonocore
If the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we shouldn’t take the age old pastime of the American Road Trip for granted ever again. With air travel becoming nearly obsolete since March, American tourists are choosing to spend their hard earned vacation time driving out of the cities and into nature in record numbers.
The outdoor addict’s dreamland of Idaho has been one of these sought after destinations, and for good reason. With 4,792,969 acres of wilderness, it ranks fourth in the nation in total wilderness. This is especially impressive when you consider Idaho is just the 14th largest state by area. What does this mean? Well, quite simply, once you get out of the capital city of Boise, Idaho is filled with seemingly endless wilderness. And throughout this wilderness, there are plenty of roads, both paved and dirt, to take your campervan through all of those scenic landscapes, making Idaho an incredible destination for a road trip.
Still don’t believe us? Maybe these nine reasons will prove to you that Idaho is indeed the ultimate road trip state.
The Diversity
Idaho hosts a variety of terrain, ranging from the high desert of the south to countless mountain peaks further north, the highest of which, Mt. Borah, clocks in at an impressive 12,662 feet. Idaho also features 107,651 miles of roaring rivers and thousands of pristine lakes, many of which are so remote, they haven’t even been christened with a name.
With four actual seasons, the diverse landscapes carry many unique looks throughout the year. The lava rock filled Craters of the Moon and the snow covered jagged peaks of the Sawtooth Mountains look vastly different as the snow melts and wildflowers become abundant in the springtime.Whether you are a hiker, rock climber, mountain biker, whitewater rafter, or just a plain old lake bum, Idaho truly has something for everyone. In Idaho, the journey on the open road is often as beautiful as the destination.
Hot Springs
Idaho has over 340 hot springs, with 130 of them being deemed ‘soakable’, the most of any state. Hot springs and road trips in a campervan are a match made in heaven. Is your body sore after a nine mile hike? Soaking in one of the steaming pools is as healing as it is relaxing. Considering that almost everywhere in Idaho is photogenic, it’s a sure bet that the hotsprings you discover on your road trip will lead to those Instagram worthy photos that will leave your friends and family jealous of your campervan adventure.
No National Parks
What! No National Parks? If Idaho is so beautiful, how could there not be a national park? Well there is no simple answer, but ultimately, it comes down to the desire of the local communities. Although various efforts have been made over the years to push for National Park designation for the Sawtooth Mountains and Craters of the Moon, ultimately those efforts failed because of strong disapproval. For those of us lucky enough to call Idaho home, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Most road trip planners simply connect the dots between National Parks, leaving Idaho largely off of their radar. Without the overcrowding problem that National Park designation creates, many people feel like they have their own private Idaho when they visit. The benefits that come with a National Park would be nice, but if you ask any local Idahoan, they will most likely tell you that they much prefer the quieter, laid back wilderness experience. One void of selfie sticks and tour buses.
The Rivers And The Roads That Follow Them
As I mentioned before, Idaho has an incredible amount of river coverage. From the Snake to the Salmon, many of Idaho’s rivers cut through deep canyons and picturesque mountains. And most of these wondrous bodies of water have an asphalt river that flows right along side of them. Driving along these long stretches of narrow, empty two lane roads in your campervan, you can’t help but stop repeatedly to stand along the rivershore and gaze in awe. There is nothing like watching the breaking rapids as a Bald Eagle eyes you from the tall pine trees that climb hundreds of feet into the sky. Some of my favorite stretches are along Highway 75 between Stanley and Challis, and Highway 12 along the Lochsa river east of Kooskia, where you may even find a miniature Golden Gate Bridge crossing over its class 3 rapids.
The Mountains
When I was younger, I always found myself drawn to deserts. I don’t know why...maybe it had something to do with my obsession with dusty spaghetti western films. But as I have gotten older and more mature, I have gravitated towards the mountains more and more. Luckily for me, Idaho has some of the most stunning mountains I have ever seen.
My obsession with the Sawtooths is well known, but those aren’t the only mountains in town. The Boulder, White Cloud and Seven Devils mountain ranges rumble through the state. That leaves those of us who love to road trip in a camper van with endless choices when it comes to getting our fix of snow filled peaks. Most people don’t even realize that the Rocky mountains pass right through Idaho. The moral of the story? If you like your road trips to include some dramatic mountain scenery, then there are few places better than Idaho.
The Sporting Adventures
Perhaps the biggest advantage that living the van life has over flying is the ability to bring as much luggage as you want. Having your own camper van makes it easy to bring, and store, all the adventure gear that you may have. In Idaho, no matter what season it is, there is a plethora of gear to be used in your quest for adrenaline. Whether it’s a kayak, mountain bike, or a snowboard, there are plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors while being active. During the summer, I love taking my dog Loki for an afternoon kayak excursion on Stanley Lake. And in the winter, I am obsessed with riding fresh powder at the oldest ski resort in the United States, Sun Valley.
The Night Sky
Idaho has the honor of possessing the only IDA International Dark Sky Reserve in all of the United States, and one of only 16 in the entire world. The Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve is a 1,416 square mile stretch from Ketchum and the famous Sun Valley ski resort to, you guessed it, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. With almost no light pollution, you will find yourself becoming transfixed on the countless stars and the bright Milky Way above, easily visible with the naked eye. If you get lucky, you might even get to witness the next Comet Neowise.
The ‘camping’, Otherwise Known As Sleeping Wherever You Wind Up
The real beauty of a road trip in Idaho is the ability to park your campervan almost anywhere and lay your head down for the night. With thousands of developed campsites and even more primitive campsites scattered throughout the state, you will never find yourself without a place to set up camp. You may even find yourself parking your campervan at an abandoned summer camp for the night. A good majority of these campsites lie in pristine wilderness where you will find yourself sitting by your campfire, engulfed in silence as you stare up at the Milky Way in the crisp dark Idaho sky.
The Solitude
While it is true that the proverbial cat is out of the bag on Idaho’s beauty, there is still plenty of solitude to be found. Idaho is big, and it’s ratio of protected wilderness area to unprotected is massive, so it just requires an adventurous spirit to find the hidden gems of Idaho that you will have all to yourself. Be spontaneous, don’t let yourself get locked into a rigid schedule, and let the Idaho wilderness guide you on your campervan road trip journey.
Idaho is a state like no other. Those of us who live here are well aware of how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful place. The cool, fresh mountain air will make you forget the stress and worry that accompany our everyday lives. And there is no better way to encounter the once-in-a-lifetime experiences that Idaho holds than in a campervan, living in real time the road trip that you will wish would never end.
All images, including feature image, are credited to Michael Bonocore. Michael is a Boise, Idaho-based photographer who has been working in the photography industry for over 10 years. He is the editor in chief of Resource Travel and the Travel Editor for Resource Magazine, a job that often has him jet setting around the world. Michael also leads international photography workshops for The Giving Lens and teaches photography in private and small groups with his company Idaho Photo Workshops.