Plan the Perfect Trip to Craters of the Moon:Complete Guide
Planning a trip to Craters of the Moon National Monument? In this guide we are sharing everything you need to know before visiting Craters of the Moon plus a One Day Itinerary.
After leaving the small town of Salmon Idaho, we continued to make our way south toward Utah. But before we left the state, we had a few more epic stops to make. First up, Craters of the Moon National Monument, a place we’d never heard of. Fields of molten rock, volcanic craters, and lava tube caves. As soon as we discovered Craters of the Moon National Monument it immediately went on our Idaho Bucket List.
After all, how many places can you look inside a volcano or walk through massive lava fields?! We spent one sunny summer day exploring Craters of the Moon and it’s by far one of the most unique places we’ve ever seen. If you have just one day or a few days to spare, Craters of the Moon National Monument is totally worth a visit!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
About Craters of the Moon
Getting to Craters of the Moon
When to Visit
What to Bring
Amenities Nearby
Things to Do
One Day Itinerary
ABOUT CRATERS OF THE MOON
Craters of the Moon is a 753,000 acre National Monument & Preserve located in South Central Idaho. It was established in 1924 and is known for The Great Rift, a 52 mile long crack in the earth’s crust where lava spewed as early as 2,000 years ago. The park features fields of lava, caves (lava tubes), craters, spatter cones, and lava-charred trees. The park offers ranger programs, excellent night sky viewing, and winter skiing.
ENTRANCE FEE
$20 per vehicle which is valid for 7 days. You can also use the America the Beautiful National Park Pass to enter for free. It’s important to note that the park accepts card payments only. There are also free days when the park road is closed typically November through April.
PET POLICY
Pets must be leashed at all times and are only allowed on park roads and in campgrounds. They aren’t allowed on any trails. Service animals are welcome.
GETTING TO CRATERS OF THE MOON
Craters of the Moon National Monument is located in South Central Idaho between the small towns of Carey and Arco in the snake river plain. Its central location makes it just a days drive from Boise, Utah, and Wyoming.
Boise 170 Miles or 2.5 Hours
Twin Falls 90 Miles or 1.5 Hours
Idaho Falls 86 Miles or 1.5 Hours
Yellowstone NP 194 Miles or 3 Hours
Grand Teton NP 180 Miles or 3 Hours
Sawtooth Mountains 100 Miles or 2 Hours
NEAREST AIRPORTS
Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey
Idaho Falls Regional Airport
Magic Valley Regional Airport
WHEN TO VISIT
The best time to visit Craters of the Moon National Monument really depends on what activities you’d like to do during your visit. From May to November the parks 7 Mile loop drive is open to vehicles where you can easily access the popular hiking trails and caves.
From November to May the main park road is closed due to snow. However that doesn’t mean you still can’t explore the park. Skiing and snowshoeing make a unique way to experience the park during the cold winter months.
WHAT TO BRING
Plenty of Water
Craters of the Moon is high desert which means hot and dry especially in the summer. Be sure to pack extra water and stay hydrated while exploring. We love using our insulated bottles to have ice cold water for the whole day.
Lunch / Snacks
It is highly recommended to pick a lunch and snacks when visiting Craters of the Moon. Besides the vending machine at the visitor center there is no food in the park. So make sure you pack a good lunch and plenty of snacks.
Hiking Shoes
While there are many paved paths to explore in Craters of the Moon there are a few trails that are on lava rock. To have the most comfortable experience on the trails and exploring the caves we recommend wearing a proper hiking shoe or boot to provide traction and support.
Sun Protectant
There is no shade on any trails in the park so it’s best to bring your favorite sunscreen and wear sun protectant clothing when exploring.
Flashlight
Best for exploring the parks many unique lava tubes (caves).
AMENITIES NEARBY
IN THE PARK
Robert Limbert Visitor Center
Open seasonally and a great place to start your adventure in Craters of the Moon. Load up on info, pick up a park map, and get exploring. Here you can also find water filling stations, restrooms, gift shop, museum exhibit, and permits for backcountry camping and cave tours. Hours and services vary by season so it’s best to check for current conditions before planning a trip.
Lava Flow Campground
Open from May to November and the only place to stay inside the park. The campground has 42 sites on a first come first served no reservations basis. There are no hookups or dump station in the campground. Water and restrooms are available as well as charcoal grills and picnic tables at each site. Wood fires are prohibited and cell signal is minimal.
A campsite in the Lava Flow Campground.
TOWNS NEARBY
Carey/ Picabo
A small agricultural town on the west side of Craters of the Moon known for its angling.
Lodging
BoLo Bungalow
Picabo Angler Silver Creek RV Park
Food
93 Bar & Grill
Arco
A small town on the east side of Craters of the Moon. It’s known for being the first town on earth to run on nuclear energy.
Lodging
Lost River Motel
KOA Journey
Mountain View RV Park & Restaurant
Food
A & A Market
Family Dollar
Pickles Place
Lost River Drive - In
Golden West Cafe
Bellevue/Hailey
The closest city to Craters of the Moon, located 1 hour away. Also known for being the headway to Sun Valley, the first destination ski resort in the U.S.
Lodging
Wood River Inn & Suites
Silver Creek Hotel
High Country Motel
The Inn at Ellsworth Estate
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
Food
Albertsons
Natural Grocers
Atkinson’s Market
Lucy’s Breakfast
South Valley Pizzeria
Mama Inez
Mahoney’s Bar & Grill
plus so much more
Picabo Angler RV Park, 30 minutes from Craters of the Moon National Monument.
THINGS TO DO
Visitor Center & Museum
Start your adventure in the park at the Robert Limbert Visitor center. Check out the park film and museum exhibits to learn all about how Craters of the Moon came to be. Permits for the cave area and ranger programs can also be picked up here. Don’t forget to grab a souvenir!
7 Mile Loop Drive
The 7 mile scenic loop drive gives you a taste of what is a giant 750,000 acre lava field. Along the drive is where you will find the parks main attractions, scenic viewpoints, hiking trails, and caves. There are also great places to have a picnic and marvel at the forces of nature at work. The drive takes about 30 minutes to complete without stops so you can definitely see most of it in one day if that’s all you have.
Explore a Cave
Step into an underground world of lava tubes on one of the 500 caves found in the park. Free permits are required and can be picked up at the visitor center. Currently Dewdrop and Indian Tunnel are the only caves open to the public and can be accessed via the 1.6 mile Caves Trail.
Experience the Dark Skies
Designated a International Dark Sky Park in 2017, Craters of the Moon National Monument provides spectacular viewing of the night sky. For a memorial experience join an evening ranger program or stay overnight in the campground and experience what a truly dark sky looks like.
Devils Orchard Nature Trail
Take a 0.5 mile trail on a paved path through a field of lava fragments and native plants. It’s pretty cool to see plants growing out of lava rock. This is also a great way to learn how humans impact the area.
Hike to the Top of Inferno Cone
This short and steep walk to the top of Inferno Cone is a must do when visiting Craters of the Moon. Hikers who reach the top are rewarded with 360 degree views of the Great Rift, the Snake River Plain, and the Pioneer Mountains. On a clear day you may even be able to see the Teton Range 100 miles in the distance.
Spatter and Snow Cone
Peer inside a mini volcano on the short walk to Spatter Cone and Snow Cone. These unique formations were created at the end of a volcanic eruption as hot clumps of lava where thrown into air and fell back around a small vent.
Big Crater
For a view like no other take the steep 0.25 mile hike via the North Crater Trail from Spatter Cone up to Big Crater. Get ready to be WOWED! Big Craters will have you in complete awe.
Tree Molds & Broken Top Trail
Continue your exploration in Craters of the Moon on the Tree Molds and Broken Top Loop Trail. Observe every unique feature of Craters of the Moon on the Broken Top Loop Trail. And see how trees have withstood the once hot flowing lava on the Tree Molds Trail.
Backpack the Wilderness
For a more in depth exploration of Craters of the Moon pick up a backpacking permit and tour the parks remote wilderness. This is a great way to avoid the crowds and experience the incredible night sky.
Winter Sking and Snowshoing the Park Road
From November to May when the main park road is closed a cross country ski track is groomed where visitors have the chance to ski or snowshoe their way around the park. The groomed track is 4 to 7 miles and is mostly flat with some hills. Snowshoe rentals are available at the visitor center. This is also a great time to take advantage of the visiting the park for free, as there is no fee when the park road is closed to vehicles! Be sure to check for current conditions before planning a visit.
Virutal Junior Ranger Program
If you’re not able to plan a visit to Craters of the Moon National Monument then this is great way for you’re kids to still learn about the park without actually being there. The Virtual Junior Ranger Program consists of a series of videos and activities to complete with a Virtual Badge to be given at the end.
Parks as Classrooms
What better way to learn then by bringing the classroom to the park! The National Park System provides a series of curriculum covering topics such a math, science, social studies, and language arts for elementary and middle school learners. A great option for homeschooling or field trips.
ONE DAY ITINERARY
Stop 1. Check out the visitor center, watch the park film, grab a permit for cave area and secure a campsite in the Lava Flow Campground if available.
Stop 2. Explore the 0.5 mile Devils Orchard Nature Trail.
Stop 3. Jump on the 7 mile loop drive and take the first stop to Inferno Cone. If you’re feeling courageous take the short but steep 0.2 mile hike up to the top.
Stop 4. Take a peek inside Spatter Cone, Snow Cone, and 0.25 mile trail to Big Crater.
Stop 5. Explore the 1 mile Trails to Tree Molds & 1.8 mile Broken Loop Trail..
Stop 6. Explore Dewdrop & Indian Tunnel Lava Tubes. Don’t forget to pick up a free permit from the visitor center.
Stop 7. If staying overnight enjoy the incredible dark skies.
Let us know if you’ve been to Craters of the Moon National Monument in the comments below!
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HEY THERE!
WE’RE MIKE & DEANDRA.
Two adventure seekers traveling the U.S in our 37 FT. travel trailer with our two companions, Griffin & Lucy. We share our life on the road and travel guides to our favorite destinations.
This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
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