Lava Hot Springs: a quick stop along the way

After leaving our Harvest Host at the Hideout Motel in Wyoming, we were on our way towards the Sawtooth Mountsins of Idaho. Along our route we found Lava Hot Springs, offering a unique experience with its natural hot springs. While it may be considered a tourist trap by some, it's undeniably fun for a quick stop, providing relaxation and a chance to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the springs, which were very hot, especially in a summer setting. The town is charming, if not a bit cheesy, hosting a main drag full of accommodations, restaurants, bars, and cutesy shops. The surrounding scenic beauty adds to the overall appeal.

The main attraction is of course the hot springs, but I thought the Portneuf River was cooler (literally). There are several little stands along the main road that rent out tubes and give you advice on where to put in. They then have a shuttle that picks you up and you can get in a few runs in an hour or so. You will not be alone, you'll be sharing the river with hundreds of other vacationers. And note that this is not a "lazy river", there are some dips and rapids which get the adrenaline pumping!

Lava has a rich history, once frequented by Native American tribes and the near the Oregon Trail, the hot springs gained popularity in the 1920s when the town developed into a health resort. Over the years, it evolved into a tourist destination.

Although we wouldn't make this a final destination, it was certainly a wonderful little stop to break up our day. The boys loved the springs and Elliot (our oldest) and I really had a blast on the river. It was a little too fast to to take Jacob on the river, who was only 3 and a half at the time. There's plenty of places to find food. We loved the little cook stand called "The Shack" with it's made to order burgers, fries, and shakes and it's outdoor seating. It was really great American food.

Again, we wouldn't want to camp here...the KOAs and other RV Parks resembled parking lots more than camping spots, but their proximity to the towns attractions will bring appeal to certain campers.

If you're hauling a camper or in a larger RV, skip the parking lots downtown and head out of the main area, past the grocery store and you should have better luck with street parking as it gets more residential. It's still only a few blocks to walk into town, but saves a lot stress trying to find parking in the narrow streets. If all else fails, there a city park about 4 blocks past the grocery market which should have bigger areas to find parking. And skip getting gas in Lava. There's bigger stations and truck stops a few miles out of town at the junction of Interstate 15.

Check out our videohttps://youtube.com/shorts/8_iLFx-qnFA?si=mD958t7FzijkP6a9