Idaho is home to some of the most breathtaking and majestic mountain ranges in the country. These mountains are not only fabulous places to explore in Idaho, but they are also home to some of the most beautiful mountain towns. If you want to visit some of these amazing places, hop in your car and drive away! We’ve created this road trip that takes you just under 600 miles to many of Idaho’s best mountain towns. It’s a beautiful and adventurous road trip!

While there are some amazing mountain towns in northern Idaho like Wallace and Bonner’s Ferry, for this trip we’re only focusing on towns in the downstate. This trip will take you approximately 590 miles and requires over 11 hours of driving time. Plan several days for driving, sightseeing, and just admiring the beautiful mountains of Idaho.

Our road trip begins in the mountain town of Island Park. Located in eastern Idaho, near the Montana-Idaho border and just outside of Yellowstone National Park, this mountain town is a nature lover’s paradise. During your visit, walk down Main Street, which holds the title of “America’s Longest Main Street.” You can also visit nearby Harriman State Park, float down the river, hike, fish, and more.

Driggs is an often overlooked small town in southeast Idaho, but it definitely deserves your attention. Driggs is located in the beautiful Teton Valley and is nestled next to the Teton Mountain Range. Downtown Driggs is a fun place to explore with all types of shops and restaurants and the recreational opportunities around this little town are endless with Teton Canyon, Darby Canyon and Horseshoe Canyon all close by.

Ketchum is an Idaho mountain town you won’t want to miss! In fact, this city has been named one of the coolest cities in America and we agree. Every season of the year there is a long list of activities to keep you busy. Of course, in the winter you can visit the popular ski resort of Sun Valley, and in the summer there are plenty of opportunities for fishing, hiking and mountain biking.

Stanley is one of Idaho’s most popular and well-known small mountain towns. That’s because this city is not only beautiful, but offers more outdoor recreational activities than any other place in the state. While certainly a small town, Stanley is located at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains and next to the Salmon River, allowing you to fish, hike, camp, and more. But, we also recommend that you just drive and admire the beauty of this area. It is one of the most breathtaking small towns in the entire Gem State.

Idaho City, ID 83631, United States

When you think of the best mountain towns in the Gem State, Idaho City isn’t usually the first town you think of, but it’s definitely worth a visit! This small town, with around 550 residents, has a cutting-edge Wild West vibe. When visiting, stroll down Main Street and enjoy the architecture and slower pace of life. Just be sure to stop by Trudy’s Kitchen and try a slice of her award-winning, world-famous pie!

McCall is a small town that has it all. With the mountains surrounding it and sitting on the shores of Lake Payette, this Idaho mountain town is beautiful. McCall is considered a resort town with plenty to do, number of places to stay, and delicious restaurants all around town. This is a stop on our road trip where you can stay a whole day – or two!

Riggins is not just a small mountain town in Idaho, but it has quite a history. About 300 residents live in this mountain town, located next to the Salmon River and adjacent to Hell’s Canyon. If you like a little adventure, this might be your favorite stop on our road trip because Riggins is known as the whitewater capital of Idaho. Rafting and tubing are popular activities in this small town and if you’re up for a thrilling experience, give yourself plenty of time to get in the water.

What do you think of our road trip to the best mountain towns in Idaho? Are there any you would add to this trip? Let us and your fellow travelers know in the comments!