Discover Idaho’s 5 Best Small Towns: Your Ultimate Guide (2024)

The beautiful state of Idaho is home to many beautiful natural wonders, one of which is its beautiful small towns. With majestic snowcapped mountains and roaring rivers that are home to adventurous activities like river rafting, the state of Idaho offers many getaways from the hustle and bustle of city life. The many beautiful small towns of Idaho offer a perfect scenic getaway with many activities on offer from whitewater rafting to mountain climbing, and even soaking in the many hot springs.

Discover Idaho’s 5 Best Small Towns: Your Ultimate Guide

Here are some of the best small towns to explore in Idaho.

1. Preston

The charming little town of Preston is located on the border of Idaho and Utah. This is the perfect getaway if you want to have fun and enjoy the great outdoors. While in Preston, the first place to begin your adventures from is at the White Pine Lake located in the heart of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. For nature lovers, this is the perfect place to visit, especially for the 8.4 miles out and back hike trail that is there. The town is also home to many excellent fishing spots.

If you are looking to enjoy watersports, you should head off to the Bear Lake State Park and the Hyrum State Park where watersports are carried out throughout the summer.

Even for those who do not enjoy outdoor activities, the streets of Preston are home to many other activities and many delightful restaurants and cafes that you can choose from, including the Tattles Bar and Grille, El Tapatio Restaurante, and Mis Amores Restaurant, which are ideal to enjoy a meal with the entire family.

One of the best times to visit the small and beautiful town of Preston is during the Moon Boot Dance and the famous Preston Night Rodeo.

2. Sun Valley

The next small town you must not miss out on in Idaho is Sun Valley. Nestled on all sides by the magnificent landscapes of the Rocky Mountains, the quaint little town of Sun Valley is famous for being America’s first destination ski resort. Known as one of the best ski resorts in the country, the town has much more to offer than just skiing and snowboarding. The natural beauty of this town attracts many celebrities and other citizens to Sun Valley throughout the year.

In fact, once you arrive in this charming little town, you will see that it has been aptly named Sun Valley. With bright blue skies and sunny weather around the year, the weather of Sun Valley attracts tourists all around the year. The sunny climate also means there is no end of outdoor activities to indulge in in this town. The nearby Sawtooth National Forest offers many adventures for visitors including mountain biking, golfing, trail running, fly fishing, fishing, and even horseback riding – and all of these adventures can be enjoyed just in the summer months. Now imagine what the winter months have to offer.

While visiting Sun Valley, don’t forget to take a trip to the nearby community of Ketchum. This entire region has many housing facilities and you will find the Sun Valley Lodge to be one of the most sought-after destinations for lodging. In fact, the legendary writer Ernest Hemingway used to spend a lot of time at the lodge while he was in Ketchum, where he ended his career. You can even visit a memorial dedicated to the writer located on Sun Valley Road.

3. Stanley

Stanley is perhaps the smallest and most beautiful town in Idaho. Being home to not even a hundred residents, the beautiful town of Stanley is surrounded by snow-tipped mountains and is home to many adventures. The best part of visiting Stanley is that you can choose to either sleep in the wilderness as you camp out or in a cozy hotel. Many visitors use the town of Stanley as a base for mountain climbing, hiking, river rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, and for enjoying the hot springs nearby. Many visitors simply come to Stanley to explore the surrounding lush green forests that the town is famous for.

Due to the abundant natural beauty of this town and the friendly community, many of the visitors who come to Stanley never want to leave this beautiful town and go back.

4. Salmon

The name of this small town might sound funny, but the quaint little town of Salmon is an amazing place to visit, especially for those who want to get a feel of being in the Old West. With the marvelous architectural styles all around, you get to take in the scenic views of many natural sights and also numerous uniquely built buildings.

One way to make this trip even more memorable is to take a trip to the magnificent Solitude River to experience professional rafting and enjoy fishing.

If you plan to visit Salmon in the winter months, make sure to visit the Lemhi County Museum. This museum is home to many exhibitions and numerous interesting artifacts related to the entire region. If you want to learn more about the area’s history, opt for taking a guided tour at the museum.

For those wanting to take a break from their daily lives, it can be a wonderful experience to indulge in the delicious cuisine and drinks at some of the famous places in Salmon, including For the Love of Food, Fiesta en Jalisco, and Bertram’s Brewery.

5. Sandpoint

Sandpoint surely stands out as being a small town that is known for its stunning natural vista. Located in between three majestic mountain ranges, Sandpoint is famous for the many recreational activities that are available throughout the year. This stunning mountain town sits on the shores of the mesmerizing Lake Pend Oreille.

Sandpoint remains a very sought-after vacation destination all around the year owing to its friendly community and a town personality that is full of art, culture, and rich history. If you visit the town in the summer months, you will be treated to exciting activities like camping, mountain biking, hiking, or exploring the magnificent Lake Pend Oreille. The lake is one of the highlights of this town, not only being the best lake in the state, but also the biggest lake in Idaho.

From the lake, let us move on to exploring the forests of Sandpoint. The beautiful tiny town of Sandpoint is home to the fascinating Idaho Panhandle National Forest, which is spread out over thousands of acres of lush greenery to explore. In the winter months, this stunning town becomes a hub for downhill skiing which takes place at the nearby Schweitzer Mountain Resort, just 15 miles away from the city center.

For the visitor who loves to shop, Sandpoint offers a wide array of shopping options, along with dining and lodging places that attract thousands of tourists every year. One of the best times to visit this beautiful little town is in August every year when the Festival at Sandpoint takes place, featuring eight nights of back-to-back live music.