Plan the Perfect Road Trip Between Boise and Salt Lake City
If you are local to the Boise area, you have probably done the drive to Salt Lake City at least once in your life. It’s the closest major city by driving miles with an international airport. If you’re local to eastern Idaho, Salt Lake City is even closer! The SLC area gets more major events, like concerts, than Boise does, and the closest IKEA to Boise is in Draper, a suburb of SLC.
Salt Lake City, Utah, is popular destination for folks in southern Idaho because it’s close enough to do the drive in one day yet far enough away to feel like a real vacation. Even though I get that sometimes you just need to do the drive from Boise to SLC without making any additional stops, if you have the time, I highly recommend a sightseeing tour of southern Idaho and northern Utah on your way!
As someone who has lived in both Boise and Salt Lake City and driven between the two cities countless times, this post will help you plan the perfect road trip between Boise and Salt Lake City. I compiled a list of 15 of the best sightseeing stops on your way along with my top recommendations for where to stop for food, gas, and restrooms.
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Plan the Perfect Road Trip Between Boise and Salt Lake City
Typically, it takes about 4.5 to 5 hours to drive between Boise and Salt Lake City, including a stop or two for the restroom. That’s if you make no other stops for sightseeing or a sit-down meal. If there’s road work (a common occurrence, unfortunately) or bad weather (rain, snow, and/or wind), that could make the drive time longer.
It’s no secret to Idaho and Utah locals that the drive between Boise and SLC is one of the longest and most boring drives. It’s a lot of time spent on the interstate, especially through southern Idaho, which is not the most scenic part of Idaho. The drive does get more interesting as you head south into Utah and have mountains to look at in the distance.
Instead of dreading the drive, if you have the time, break up the trip by adding a few fun stops to explore parts of Idaho and/or Utah that you haven’t seen before. Below, I shared my best tips for planning a road trip between Boise and SLC and rounded up 15 of the best places to sightsee between Boise and SLC, so there’s no shortage of options!
How to Plan a Boise to Salt Lake City Road Trip
In general, these tips are most likely the same no matter your starting and ending cities for the road trip you’re planning!
Determine the amount of time you have to make the drive
When do you absolutely need to be in Salt Lake City? From there, calculate when you need to leave Boise. If you have more than five hours to make the drive, consider adding a sightseeing stop or two (or more!) to make what is typically a boring drive more fun and interesting. I rounded up 14 places worth stopping between the two cities below to help you plan!
Open your favorite map website and zoom in along your route, looking for cool things to do or see
One of my favorite things to do before ANY trip is to open Google Maps, set the route you want to take, and then zoom in to see what places of interest pop up. I’ve found a lot of cool roadside attractions that way! You can also set your starting and ending points and add spots you’re interested in to see how out of the way they are (or not).
Consider the time of year and weather forecast
Be sure to consider the time of year you are traveling as well as the weather forecast. If you’re driving from Boise to SLC in the winter, you need to be prepared for winter weather, and some sightseeing stops may be inaccessible because of snow and/or ice. Spring and fall bring breezy conditions and the occasional thunderstorm. Summer brings the heat (and sometimes also thunderstorms)!
Check the local weather forecast right before your trip and prepare to pivot if bad weather makes some of the stops unsafe. You’ll be driving through the NWS Boise, NWS Pocatello, and NWS Salt Lake City forecast areas.
Plan your itinerary by adding stops until you are at your maximum allowable drive time
Look through the list below and add stops until your trip is complete! Take into account operating hours if you want to do any activities or eat at any place in particular. Make sure to account for stops for food, bathroom breaks, and possibly additional gasoline for your car.
It’s also worth keeping an eye on Idaho 511 and UDOT Traffic to check road conditions, road construction, and other things that may impact your drive.
What are the Best Places to Stop Between Boise and Salt Lake City?
Bruneau Dunes State Park
Bruneau Dunes State Park, located about 25 minutes south of Mountain Home, is home to huge sand dunes that you can hike and play on (as well as an observatory if you’re there at night and into viewing the night sky). One of the sand dunes at Bruneau is the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America! There’s little shade, so be careful when it’s hot.
Learn more or visit.
Three Island Crossing State Park
If you’re feeling antsy, get off the interstate at Glenn’s Ferry and head a couple of miles south to Three Island Crossing. It’s a quiet area with trails and a lovely view of the Snake River. Stop by the Oregon Trail History and Education Center to learn more about the indigenous community that called this area home and the settlers that explored via the Oregon Trail.
Learn more or visit.
Malad Gorge
Malad Gorge is a part of Thousand Springs State Park and is located north of Hagerman, west of Exit 147. You actually drive right over Malad Gorge along I-84; the canyon is so narrow that most people don’t realize it! It’s worth a stop to marvel at how deep the canyon is and look for springs coming out of the cliffs. Visit in the spring to see the highest water flow!
Learn more or visit.
Thousands Springs State Park
The Thousand Springs area of southern Idaho is along the Snake River and is comprised of Thousand Springs State Park and Ritter Island. This area is exactly how it sounds: There are thousands of small springs that stream out seemingly out of nowhere along the hillsides surrounding the Snake River. If you have time, rent kayaks and visit Blue Heart Springs!
Learn more or visit.
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
The town of Hagerman is located in the same area as Thousand Springs. The visitors center is shared with Thousand Springs State Park (north of Hagerman) and is where you can visit the Hagerman Horse. This is also the only place where you can see fossils at the monument. Drive south of Hagerman to a lookout of the excavation area across the Snake River.
Learn more or visit.
Balanced Rock
I feel as though every state has its own balanced rock, and Idaho’s is in south Idaho about 30 minutes south of Hagerman (along Balanced Rock Road, of course). You can admire it from the roadside parking area like we did or do the relatively short yet steep scramble to the base of the rock. Avoid hiking in the heat of the day, as there is little to no shade.
Learn more or visit.
Perrine Bridge
If you drive into Twin Falls from the north, you cross Perrine Bridge, which is a whopping 1,500 feet long and situated 486 feet above the Snake River. It’s one of the only bridges in the country that you can BASE jump from. Visit the Twin Falls Visitor Center for quirky souvenirs, history, and restrooms. There’s also an overlook and access to the canyon trail system.
Learn more or visit.
Shoshone Falls
Shoshone Falls, also known as the Niagara of the West, is located east of Twin Falls near Kimberly, Idaho. It is taller than Niagara Falls at 212 feet. The Snake River runs through it, and the best time of year to view the falls is in the late spring when snowmelt runoff is peaking. The falls are only accessible coming in from the south.
Learn more or visit.
Minidoka National Historic Site
The Minidoka National Historic Site is a heart-wrenching yet important historic site located in southern Idaho north of the interstate. Idaho used to be home to one of ten Japanese internment camps, which started after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the historic site is there to teach us to never let something like that happen again. The visitors center is open limited hours.
Learn more or visit.
Cauldron Linn
Upstream of Shoshone Falls is another waterfall in Caldron Linn Canyon. This is a primitive area with no restrooms, and the hike down to the waterfall is through a steep canyon. Visit in the spring for the most spectacular views, as that’s when the snow melt into the river is greatest. Just be sure to NEVER go into the river here; it’s not safe to swim in!
Learn more or visit.
Pomerelle Mountain Resort / Mt. Harrison
If you’re a ski bum, Pomerelle is a lesser-known mountain resort located within the Albion Mountains south of Burley and receives 40 feet of snow per year! If you keep driving past Pomerelle, you’ll end up at the summit of Mount Harrison (at 9,280 feet) with a wildfire lookout and sweeping views of the Magic Valley and beyond on a clear day.
Learn more or visit.
City of Rocks National Reserve
City of Rocks National Reserve is south of Mt. Harrison near the border of Utah. It’s a primitive area filled with granite spires and, therefore, known for its rock climbing. Stop in Almo, Idaho, to check out the visitors center and stamp your national parks passport book. Castle Rocks State Park is just north of Almo and features more beautiful granite features.
Learn more or visit.
Golden Spike National Historic Park
If you’re headed to the Spiral Jetty, you’ll pass by the Golden Spike National Historic Park. This is a great place to stop if you or a fellow road tripper loves trains! (Hi, that’s me.) This site celebrates the completion of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States. Check out the original railroad grade and replicas of Victorian-era locomotives!
Learn more or visit.
Spiral Jetty
The Spiral Jetty is an earthwork sculpture located on a remote northern shore of the Great Salt Lake. This famous piece of “land art” consists of over 6,000 tons of basalt rock, salt, and sand found at the site. The Spiral Jetty used to be completely covered by the lake, but in recent years, drought has exposed the jetty. FYI: It’s at the end of a nearly 16-mile dirt road.
Learn more or visit.
Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island looks less like an island these days because of the current drought conditions, but it’s still a great place to view a variety of wildlife (antelope, yes, but also bison, bighorn sheep, mule deer, and lots of birds). Enjoy a walk along the beach and views of the Great Salt Lake. It’s also open for horseback riding!
Learn more or visit.
Where to Stop for for Food, Gas, and/or Restroom Breaks
These stops are intermixed and listed in order from Boise to Salt Lake City. We have made stops at all of these places (and more) and recommend these options. There are also rest stops along the interstates, but they are not the cleanest. Avoid the rest area in Perry, Utah, at all costs!
Dutch Bros in Mountain Home
If you don’t already have a coffee or other fun drink and need one to sustain you during the long drive, stop at the Dutch Bros just off I-84 (Exit 95) in Mountain Home.
Eat in Twin Falls
If you want to grab lunch or dinner in between stops, there are lots of yummy options in Twin Falls, Idaho—approximately two hours from Boise! We love Scooter’s Chillin’ -N- Grillin’, which is a bar and grill located downtown. Their salads (and fries) are amazing!
Elevation 486 overlooks the Snake River and is an absolutely beautiful location for a meal and drinks. Want something to-go? Pick up a sandwich from The Twin Falls Sandwich Company.
Garden of Eden Truck Stop in Eden
If you’re familiar with Buc-ee’s, the Garden of Eden is like the dollar store version of that store/gas station. Ha. It’s a large truck stop located off of Exit 182 in Eden, Idaho, with a larger selection of snacks, fast food options, nice restrooms, and, of course, gas. We prefer stopping in Burley but this is also a fine option if you need the break.
Gas in Burley
Depending on the stops you add, if you don’t need gas or a restroom break in Eden, Burley is almost exactly halfway between Boise and Salt Lake City. Exit 208 has some options, and the Maverik is typically just fine with clean restrooms and lots of snack and drink options!
Sublett Fuel Stop
After Burley, there is exactly one gas station along the interstate before you reach Utah (about an hour’s drive away), and that is at Sublett…in the middle of nowhere (it actually says “welcome to the middle of nowhere” on the window of this gas station!).
I’ve never stopped here for gas, but be prepared to pay a premium for it. There is also a small convenience store…and I’m not sure if their restrooms are available for customers, so I wouldn’t plan on it. You can feed the alpacas on the property, though. It sounds quirky and fun but it’s not, really… I don’t recommend stopping here unless you absolutely need to!
Gas in Snowville
The first town you’ll reach after crossing the Utah border (seven miles in) is Snowville. It’s a popular stop for gas and restrooms if you don’t want to stop at the rest area just before the border.
Gas in Brigham City
The least expensive gas we saw on our most recent drive from Salt Lake City to Boise was in Brigham City, Utah, about an hour north of SLC.
Lucky Slice in Ogden or Clearfield
Our trips to Utah always require a stop at one of our favorite pizza places, Lucky Slice. There are restaurants in historic downtown Ogden in a cute area along 25th Street and in Clearfield. We stopped at Ogden for a while before we realized the Clearfield location is much closer to the interstate, which is better if we are running short on time. Grab a slice or two of pizza, and I also recommend the breadsticks!
