Need Idaho expertise please. Planning to visit Idaho from June 15 to July 30, 2015 ( 5 or 6 weeks) and would appreciate any and all information regarding our tentative route / plans. Realize this is early but would like to include suggestions / recommendations etc from fellow rv'ers before making any reservations. Also no experience with Idaho roads and would like to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Last, would appreciate any and all suggestions regarding campgrounds (50 amp with full hook up preferred) or things to see/do. Posted this request in both routes and campsites, to reach out for as much Idaho expertise as possible. Our thoughts for tentative ( we are flexible ) route / planEnter Idaho via route 93 (coming from Nevada). Stop at Twin Falls area. - Twin Falls 93 park?Continue on 93 north to Arco - see Craters of the Moon - Mountain View RV park?Continue on 93 north to Salmon - explore Lewis and Clark area and Lehmi pass - Century 2? Or Wagonhammer? Or Salmon River?Return ( head back south) on 93, then 75 then 21 to Boise - explore Boise and Boise mountains No idea where to stay??Continue 21 to I-84 head north, take route 55 north to McCall - explore Hells canyon and area McCall RV resort?Continue 55 north, then 95 north to Grangeville - explore northern Hells canyon and area Bear Den RV?Take route 13 north, then route 12 north to Missoula MT Jim and Mary's?40 ft diesel pusher, 4 slides - towing full size toadNot in a rush, want to enjoy our first ever Idaho experience. Our appreciation to all that respondRose and Noel

What would constitute an unpleasant surprise? You will encounter some grades in the Idaho mountains, but nothing difficult.ID17 connects ID21 to 55. That will take you to the McCall area, bypassing Boise. I've only seen Boise from I84, so can't say much about it - except that the surrounding area is flat irrigate farmland.75,21,17 wind through the core of the south Idaho mountains, mostly following river valleys, with numerous hot springs and small campgrounds.McCall is a lake vacation land for Boise residents. So the drive between the 2 can be busy on summer weekends.North of New Meadows, the landscape is dominated by the Salmon, Snake and Clearwater river valleys, with uplands between. Most of the grades climb in and out of those valleys.Another drive in the Grangeville area is ID14 up the South Fork Clearwater to Elk City. In a suitable vehicle (not an rv), this continues east as the Macgruder Corridor between two major wilderness areas all the way to US93 in Montana.https://picasaweb.google.com/105634639868707713567/IdahoThis is an album of photos from a May loop around Idaho several years ago. It was a cool wet spring, so we encountered some snow (north of McCall, Lost Trail Pass, and back Washington). We entered at Lewiston and looped around to Missoula and back through northern Idaho.

I can only tell you about 93 We stayed there a few years ago and thought it was pretty nice, the staff was great and really friendly and as we mostly had it to ourselves, we had lots of room. (It was like November)They suggested we to go Jakers for dinner and THAT was a treat. Broke my rule not to eat seafood away from the ocean and had the Salmon. It was wonderful. The only time we ever camped around Missoula we stayed at Square Dance Center and Campground, (no we don't, didn't, can't square dance) in Lolo. It was really nice and we enjoyed our stay.

Friends and I stayed at Mountain View RV Park about 10 days ago. Nice place, 18 miles from Craters of the Moon. Internet was excellent, no cable but received several channels with antenna. Had the nicest bathroom I've ever seen-spacious, warm, carpeted. Cold and rainy at Craters of the Moon, but still enjoyed it. Beautiful area with good roads.

Noel and Rose wrote:Also no experience with Idaho roads and would like to avoid any unpleasant surprises. 40 ft diesel pusher, 4 slides - towing full size toadNot in a rush, want to enjoy our first ever Idaho experience. Our appreciation to all that respondRose and NoelI'm not sure what you mean by "unpleasant surprises" but if it happens to be steep, narrow, curvy roads you may want to avoid Hwy. 21 from Lowman to Boise. From Stanley to Lowman is 58 miles & that is a good highway. From Lowman, take the "Lowman to Banks" highway ( 35 miles ) to highway 55, then South to Boise. If you were intending on seeing Idaho City, once you are in Boise, then take your toad & drive to Idaho City from Boise ( 40 miles ) The best RV park to stay at in Boise is "Boise Riverside RV Park". It's very easy access from Hwy 55 coming into Boise from Banks.Here's a link to the RV park.http://www.boiseriversidervpark.com/PS: I'm a Boise resident since 1953 & I still remember when the Stanley to Lowman route was a gravel road !!!!

Hi all,I have embedded my responses below in red.Noel and Rose wrote:Need Idaho expertise please. Planning to visit Idaho from June 15 to July 30, 2015 ( 5 or 6 weeks) and would appreciate any and all information regarding our tentative route / plans. Realize this is early but would like to include suggestions / recommendations etc from fellow rv'ers before making any reservations. Also no experience with Idaho roads and would like to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Last, would appreciate any and all suggestions regarding campgrounds (50 amp with full hook up preferred) or things to see/do. Posted this request in both routes and campsites, to reach out for as much Idaho expertise as possible. Our thoughts for tentative ( we are flexible ) route / planEnter Idaho via route 93 (coming from Nevada). Stop at Twin Falls area. - Twin Falls 93 park?Continue on 93 north to Arco - see Craters of the Moon - Mountain View RV park?Continue on 93 north to Salmon - explore Lewis and Clark area and Lehmi pass - Century 2? Or Wagonhammer? Or Salmon River?US 93 is good all the way from Nevada to Montana border - road follows the Salmon River from Challis to North Fork and gets twisty. Only mountain pass is from North Fork to the Montana border.Mountain View in Arco is good. Check out River's Fork Lodge and RV Park in North Fork - about 2 miles north of Wagonhammer.Return ( head back south) on 93, then 75 then 21 to Boise - explore Boise and Boise mountainsID 21 is a pretty drive, but it is a windy mountain road that will challenge your driving skills in a 40' DP - might want use the toad for a day trip. Consider taking ID 75 through Ketchum and then US 20 to Mountain Home, then I-84 to Boise. There is a pass on ID 75 (Galena Summit) but it is only a few miles. The Sawtooth Mountains are worth seeing from Stanley to Galena Summit on ID 75. No idea where to stay??Continue 21 to I-84 head north, take route 55 north to McCall - explore Hells canyon and area McCall RV resort?ID 55 is a good road, but heavily traveled and twisty along the Payette River. One pass at Horseshoe Bend, just north of Boise/Eagle. Plan on taking longer than planned.Ponderosa State Park in McCall is very popular and has Water/Electric at most sites. No recommendations on private RV parks in the area.Continue 55 north, then 95 north to Grangeville - explore northern Hells canyon and area Bear Den RV?Take route 13 north, then route 12 north to Missoula MT Jim and Mary's?US 12 is a gorgeous drive - again, no speed records but you'll be looking at the scenery so much that you'll want to go slow.Jim and Mary's is popular - I've not stayed there, though.40 ft diesel pusher, 4 slides - towing full size toadNot in a rush, want to enjoy our first ever Idaho experience. Our appreciation to all that respondRose and Noel

Idaho expertise needed | Good Sam Community

paulj
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2014
What would constitute an unpleasant surprise? You will encounter some grades in the Idaho mountains, but nothing difficult.

ID17 connects ID21 to 55. That will take you to the McCall area, bypassing Boise. I've only seen Boise from I84, so can't say much about it - except that the surrounding area is flat irrigate farmland.

75,21,17 wind through the core of the south Idaho mountains, mostly following river valleys, with numerous hot springs and small campgrounds.

McCall is a lake vacation land for Boise residents. So the drive between the 2 can be busy on summer weekends.

North of New Meadows, the landscape is dominated by the Salmon, Snake and Clearwater river valleys, with uplands between. Most of the grades climb in and out of those valleys.

Another drive in the Grangeville area is ID14 up the South Fork Clearwater to Elk City. In a suitable vehicle (not an rv), this continues east as the Macgruder Corridor between two major wilderness areas all the way to US93 in Montana.

https://picasaweb.google.com/105634639868707713567/Idaho
This is an album of photos from a May loop around Idaho several years ago. It was a cool wet spring, so we encountered some snow (north of McCall, Lost Trail Pass, and back Washington). We entered at Lewiston and looped around to Missoula and back through northern Idaho.
Roy_Lynne
Explorer
Sep 04, 2014
I can only tell you about 93 We stayed there a few years ago and thought it was pretty nice, the staff was great and really friendly and as we mostly had it to ourselves, we had lots of room. (It was like November)
They suggested we to go Jakers for dinner and THAT was a treat. Broke my rule not to eat seafood away from the ocean and had the Salmon. It was wonderful.
The only time we ever camped around Missoula we stayed at Square Dance Center and Campground, (no we don't, didn't, can't square dance) in Lolo. It was really nice and we enjoyed our stay.
Selkie
Explorer
Sep 04, 2014
Friends and I stayed at Mountain View RV Park about 10 days ago. Nice place, 18 miles from Craters of the Moon. Internet was excellent, no cable but received several channels with antenna. Had the nicest bathroom I've ever seen-spacious, warm, carpeted. Cold and rainy at Craters of the Moon, but still enjoyed it. Beautiful area with good roads.
Dakota98
Explorer
Sep 04, 2014
Noel and Rose wrote:
Also no experience with Idaho roads and would like to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

40 ft diesel pusher, 4 slides - towing full size toad
Not in a rush, want to enjoy our first ever Idaho experience.

Our appreciation to all that respond
Rose and Noel

I'm not sure what you mean by "unpleasant surprises" but if it happens to be steep, narrow, curvy roads you may want to avoid Hwy. 21 from Lowman to Boise. From Stanley to Lowman is 58 miles & that is a good highway. From Lowman, take the "Lowman to Banks" highway ( 35 miles ) to highway 55, then South to Boise. If you were intending on seeing Idaho City, once you are in Boise, then take your toad & drive to Idaho City from Boise ( 40 miles ) The best RV park to stay at in Boise is "Boise Riverside RV Park". It's very easy access from Hwy 55 coming into Boise from Banks.

Here's a link to the RV park.

http://www.boiseriversidervpark.com/

PS: I'm a Boise resident since 1953 & I still remember when the Stanley to Lowman route was a gravel road !!!!
j3ff9ack
Explorer
Sep 04, 2014
Hi all,

I have embedded my responses below in red.

Noel and Rose wrote:
Need Idaho expertise please. Planning to visit Idaho from June 15 to July 30, 2015 ( 5 or 6 weeks) and would appreciate any and all information regarding our tentative route / plans. Realize this is early but would like to include suggestions / recommendations etc from fellow rv'ers before making any reservations. Also no experience with Idaho roads and would like to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Last, would appreciate any and all suggestions regarding campgrounds (50 amp with full hook up preferred) or things to see/do.

Posted this request in both routes and campsites, to reach out for as much Idaho expertise as possible.

Our thoughts for tentative ( we are flexible ) route / plan
Enter Idaho via route 93 (coming from Nevada). Stop at Twin Falls area. -
Twin Falls 93 park?
Continue on 93 north to Arco - see Craters of the Moon -
Mountain View RV park?
Continue on 93 north to Salmon - explore Lewis and Clark area and Lehmi pass -
Century 2? Or Wagonhammer? Or Salmon River?

US 93 is good all the way from Nevada to Montana border - road follows the Salmon River from Challis to North Fork and gets twisty. Only mountain pass is from North Fork to the Montana border.

Mountain View in Arco is good. Check out River's Fork Lodge and RV Park in North Fork - about 2 miles north of Wagonhammer.

Return ( head back south) on 93, then 75 then 21 to Boise - explore Boise and Boise mountains

ID 21 is a pretty drive, but it is a windy mountain road that will challenge your driving skills in a 40' DP - might want use the toad for a day trip. Consider taking ID 75 through Ketchum and then US 20 to Mountain Home, then I-84 to Boise. There is a pass on ID 75 (Galena Summit) but it is only a few miles. The Sawtooth Mountains are worth seeing from Stanley to Galena Summit on ID 75.

No idea where to stay??
Continue 21 to I-84 head north, take route 55 north to McCall - explore Hells canyon and area
McCall RV resort?

ID 55 is a good road, but heavily traveled and twisty along the Payette River. One pass at Horseshoe Bend, just north of Boise/Eagle. Plan on taking longer than planned.

Ponderosa State Park in McCall is very popular and has Water/Electric at most sites. No recommendations on private RV parks in the area.

Continue 55 north, then 95 north to Grangeville - explore northern Hells canyon and area
Bear Den RV?
Take route 13 north, then route 12 north to Missoula MT
Jim and Mary's?

US 12 is a gorgeous drive - again, no speed records but you'll be looking at the scenery so much that you'll want to go slow.

Jim and Mary's is popular - I've not stayed there, though.

40 ft diesel pusher, 4 slides - towing full size toad
Not in a rush, want to enjoy our first ever Idaho experience.

Our appreciation to all that respond
Rose and Noel
paulj
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2014
Dakota98 wrote:
...
PS: I'm a Boise resident since 1953 & I still remember when the Stanley to Lowman route was a gravel road !!!!

I drove through those mountains in 1991 when moving from Chicago to Seattle, including Stanley to McCall to Oxbow dam. My map from that era shows Lowman-Banks as gravel, though I don't have memory of driving it, nor a journal entry to remind me.

ID21 between Stanley and Lowman is not difficult. It crosses a broad pass that is barely higher than Stanley. The rest of it follows a river. It's south of Lowman that 21 has to climb over a steeper pass.
Idahoan
Explorer
Sep 04, 2014
While in Twin Falls area be sure to go to Shoshone falls. Depending on the snow pack they should still be flowing pretty good in June. Also, after Craters of the Moon I'd head toward Stanley. As mentioned there is a good pull going over Galena Summit but the drive is worth it. Also be sure to stop by Red Fish Lake, and the less popular but just as scenic Alturus Lake.
paulj
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2014
From US20 there are 3 NW routes up broad valleys to the South Fork of the Salmon River - to Salmon, Challis, and directly to Stanley. Since one of the OP's interests is L&C travels, the one to Salmon makes most sense. Lehmi pass might better in the toad than the RV.
Dakota98
Explorer
Sep 04, 2014
paulj wrote:
Dakota98 wrote:
...
PS: I'm a Boise resident since 1953 & I still remember when the Stanley to Lowman route was a gravel road !!!!

I drove through those mountains in 1991 when moving from Chicago to Seattle, including Stanley to McCall to Oxbow dam. My map from that era shows Lowman-Banks as gravel, though I don't have memory of driving it, nor a journal entry to remind me.

ID21 between Stanley and Lowman is not difficult. It crosses a broad pass that is barely higher than Stanley. The rest of it follows a river. It's south of Lowman that 21 has to climb over a steeper pass.

Paulj,

The Stanley to Lowman road was a paved highway when you traveled it in 1991.
ReneeG
Explorer
Sep 04, 2014
Just a few thoughts and some feedback on what I know:

Noel and Rose wrote:
Need Idaho expertise please. Planning to visit Idaho from June 15 to July 30, 2015 ( 5 or 6 weeks) and would appreciate any and all information regarding our tentative route / plans. Realize this is early but would like to include suggestions / recommendations etc from fellow rv'ers before making any reservations. Also no experience with Idaho roads and would like to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Last, would appreciate any and all suggestions regarding campgrounds (50 amp with full hook up preferred) or things to see/do.

Posted this request in both routes and campsites, to reach out for as much Idaho expertise as possible.

Our thoughts for tentative ( we are flexible ) route / plan
Enter Idaho via route 93 (coming from Nevada). Stop at Twin Falls area. -
Twin Falls 93 park?
Continue on 93 north to Arco - see Craters of the Moon -
Mountain View RV park? Mountain View is nice and so is the KOA in Arco. Mountain View has all pull throughs and with our fiver, we like this place better than the KOA for turning room.
Continue on 93 north to Salmon - explore Lewis and Clark area and Lehmi pass -
Century 2? Or Wagonhammer? Or Salmon River?
Return ( head back south) on 93, then 75 then 21 to Boise - explore Boise and Boise mountains - What the other guy said about taking the Banks Lowman Highway. DO NOT take Hwy 21 between Idaho City and Lowman, it's almost unbearable just alone in a passenger vehicle. If you're coming on Highway 75 near Clayton, there is a nice RV park on the Salmon River with full hookups - Torrey's Burnt Creek Inn. You can easily pull up off the highway in front of their office and check their sites. There are three long ones, full hookup, you'd fit in. It's quiet out there and this time of year the weather will be chilly but nice.
No idea where to stay??
Continue 21 to I-84 head north, take route 55 north to McCall - explore Hells canyon and area
McCall RV resort? McCall RV Resort is nice. If they are full, they have a sister resort in Donnelly - about 17 miles south on Hwy 55 - Chalet RV Park. They have pull throughs in the back. Ponderosa State Park is a good suggestion, in the RV loops. When they were adding that section, our governor at the time, who owned an RV, had them redo the turning angles of the road for large RV's. He said they just didn't understand what it was like to drive a big rig in. If you want to stay in a more campground like area, Poison Creek on Lake Cascade has water and electricity at all sites and you can get in and out easily. You'll just need to make sure to make reservations at least 6 months in advance, even for Ponderosa as these parks are popular with the locals. How do I know? Because I have not managed to get in yet!
Continue 55 north, then 95 north to Grangeville - explore northern Hells canyon and area
Bear Den RV?
Take route 13 north, then route 12 north to Missoula MT
Jim and Mary's?

40 ft diesel pusher, 4 slides - towing full size toad
Not in a rush, want to enjoy our first ever Idaho experience.

Our appreciation to all that respond
Rose and Noel

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