Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
The moon isn’t in Idaho, but Craters of the Moon National Monument—series of three lava fields with cinder cones created from volcanic activity millennia ago—is. Turns out when a good chunk of land gets incinerated by hot lava, you’re left with a landscape reminiscent of what you’d find on the moon. It’s also a really fantastic place to visit in an RV. You can even pretend you’re in a spaceship, if it helps the trip.
There are few places on earth—let alone in the United States—that feel as otherworldly as Craters of the Moon. When you’re outdoors there, you’ll see so much that’s foreign to you that it’s impossible not to be enraptured by the area. Step into your own science fiction movie and visit this one-of-a-kind destination.
The best thing you can do at Craters of the Moon National Monument is get outside. And there are trails galore to help you do just that—ranging from short to on the longer side. You can easily plan your day and the rest of your activities around your hiking. Some are short and easy enough to take in multiple in a day, if you’re feeling particularly active.
In many sections, off-trail hiking is prohibited in order to protect the fragile nature of the lava formations. Other trails—despite being short—have steep climbs. Many of the hikes in this monument recommend sturdy hiking shoes or boots.
The trails include:
There is a total of five caves visitors can explore at Craters of the Moon National Monument. Four of them exist on one trail, and one on another. If you’re new to caving, make sure you learn how to cave carefully and safely, as these are very fragile ecosystems that can easily be destroyed by ill-prepared visitors.
The trails inside the caves are rocky and uneven, and you may need to “boulder” over some obstructions. The two trails leading to the caves are listed as moderate in difficulty, but each of the five caves has its own challenges. The caves include:
If you’re less a hiker and more of a drive-by sight seer, Loop Road is right for you. It has seven stops, including one at the visitor center to get you acquainted with what you’ll find inside the monument. The Loop takes you to several of the area’s unique and interesting sights.
While you can see plenty of interesting sights from the Loop Road, the real beauty is that it makes all of the areas accessible to hike. Especially if you’re able to enjoy shorter hikes, hop in the RV and make your way along the loop to see these stops:
It’s rare to see sights like these in the mainland US. Back when the area was forming—that is, when hot lava was pouring along the ground—it ignited many pine trees in the area, and they burned down. But because the trunks were thick enough, they continued to burn while the lava cooled around them.
This process left what are called “molds” of the trees. On the trail, you’ll find both vertical and horizontal tree molds. Vertical molds formed from the lava cooling around an upright tree. Horizontal molds formed when trees would fall onto still soft lava, leaving interesting imprints in charcoal shapes.
The North End of Craters of the Moon is vastly different from the rest of the park. The cinder cones and lava flows here are older than the rest of the park, so nature has had an opportunity to recover. You’ll find more sagebrush, fir trees, and other plants that have managed to reestablish themselves in this part of the park.
A section of the Oregon Trail, called Goodale’s Cutoff, is located in the North End. It was a route traveled when local relations with Native Americans became strained, and today, it’s explorable by foot.
The entire North End area is restricted to protect the delicate biodiversity of the area, as well as the several freshwater springs in the area. You’ll need to obtain a backcountry permit in order to visit it, but it’s worth the effort.
Lava Flow Campground is inside Craters of the Moon National Monument. And while there are other sites, Lava Flow is the only one that can accommodate your rental RV. Even while you’re camping here in your RV, though, you should be prepared to dry camp—that is, camping without hookups. Because the park doesn’t have any of them. It’s a great way to “rough it” while you’re enjoying the comfort of your RV.
The biggest perk about Lava Flow is that you’ll be up close and personal with all of the wondrous sights within the park and have a quick trip to any you want to visit each day. There is water at the site, but not available to hook up to your RV. Another interesting thing to note is that unlike many other national parks and monuments, camping here is first-come, first-served, so show up early.
Kampgrounds of America (KOA) has a great reputation for lovely camping spots. The Craters of the Moon KOA is just a short 19-mile drive from the monument. And, if you’re trailering ATVs there are several trails nearby for riding. The campground also has a heated swimming pool, space for your pups if you’re traveling with them, and free Wi-Fi throughout the area. Spaces are sizable and pull-through is an option. You can even relax with included cable TV.
It doesn’t get much more descriptive than this. Honey’s Park is free. However, you will be “roughing it” in your RV because, as its name states, the only camping offered is dry with no proper RV hookups. It’s on one man’s property, which he offers up to campers for free; it’s a hard deal to beat. If you’re willing to dry camp and keep things easy-going, you can stay at this dog-friendly park for free.
Mountain View Arco RV Park is glamping at its finest. It offers free, hot showers; fast Wi-Fi throughout the park; and full laundry facilities. More than that, though, there’s also a restaurant on site which serves up pork ribs, crab legs, and more. For your adult travelers, there’s also a beer garden. It’s a highly rated park by most people who stay.
These campgrounds require that you dry camp, as they don’t offer any kind of hookups, but you’ll love the scenery. Located very near Craters of the Moon National Monument, it’s worth noting that turning around can be difficult here, so if your RV is particularly large, you may want to find another site. Otherwise, there’s great trout fishing nearby as well as picnicking.
There are no dining options at Craters of the Moon National Monument. If you’re camping here, plan on bringing your own snacks and food for meals. Many of the campsites do have fire rings and charcoal grills, so you can still make your own gourmet meals, campfire dinners, and grill up some tender steaks.
The main street in Arco (Front Street) has several nice dining options for when you need a good, hot meal. You’ll find several family-friendly diners and cafés perfect for a nice breakfast for quick lunch. A couple of restaurants are open later and offer great comfort food to refuel after a long day hiking. You’ll also find a pizza around.
Arco isn’t a big town, but its size makes it quaint. Its restaurants are perfect local options to enjoy while you’re traveling through, and you’ll no doubt enjoy a good meal whether you’re on your way into the park or out of it.