Scenic Road Trip Routes Around Boise

Practical Tips for Driving These Routes in an RV

Scenery is only half of a good Idaho road trip. The other half is matching the route to your rig, the season and your comfort behind the wheel. A few things are worth knowing before you leave Boise.

Check road grades and curves

Idaho Highway 21, the road to Idaho City and beyond toward Lowman and Stanley, climbs through forested canyons with tight curves and sustained grades. Smaller travel trailers and Class B or C motorhomes usually handle it well. Drivers of long Class A coaches or big fifth wheels should take it slowly, use lower gears on descents to spare the brakes, and pull over at turnouts to let traffic pass. Highway 55 north toward McCall and Payette Lake follows the Payette River canyon. It is scenic but busy on summer weekends, so starting early makes the drive more relaxed.

Mind the seasons

Mountain routes can see snow well into spring and again by early fall. Parts of Highway 21 near Banner Summit are known for winter closures and avalanche risk. Check the Idaho Transportation Department's 511 road reports before you go. Summer brings heat on the Snake River Plain, and wildfire smoke can affect visibility and air quality in late summer.

Plan fuel, water and camping

• Fuel up in town: gas stations get sparse between Idaho City, Lowman and Stanley, and between Mountain Home and the Wood River Valley.
• Book campsites ahead: state parks such as Ponderosa near McCall fill quickly in peak season, and so do the popular Forest Service campgrounds.
• Arrive with fresh water and empty tanks: many forest campgrounds have limited hookups or none at all.
• Check length limits: older campgrounds often have short, tight sites, so confirm the maximum RV length when you reserve.

Prepare your rig before you go

Long climbs and rough forest roads are hard on tires, brakes and cooling systems. Before a mountain trip, check tire pressure and age, look over the brakes and bearings, and make sure the generator and propane system work. A pre-trip inspection from our service and parts team can catch small problems before they turn into roadside headaches.

If you are still choosing a rig for these routes, compare compact and full-size options among our used RVs. A shorter trailer or motorhome makes narrow canyon roads and small mountain campsites far easier to enjoy.