Couple of questions for an upcomin trip. What is worth seeing at Craters of the Moon NM? Good RV parks? How much time to spend there as we head on to Grand Tetons?
It's been a long time since I was there but there was -nothing- around the park for a lot of miles. The CG is nothing special, no services except I think they have water available in CG. Hiking, looking in the lava tube caves and seeing a lot of lava are the attractions. Maybe an overnighter is about what you'd want to spend there. I lived down the road, way down the road, in Arco thanks to the USN for 10 months. Had my only lesson on black ice within a few miles of the park. Got snowed on July the 4th there.
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I've been to Craters of the Moon NM twice. First time back in 1997 with some friends. I thought it was so cool that when we planned a 6 week RV trip out to Montana and back in 2009, I put it in the plan so I could take my husband and kids there to see it.
I think it's a unique place - the highlight for us was climbing up the huge hill of volcanic material and getting the view from up there. It's worth some great photos.
We camped at the KOA campground in Arco for one night. The owner was a very nice woman and the campground was just fine. I don't think you need to spend more than a day checking out the monument.
Yup, it's not a destination stop. That being said, you need to understand it is a LONG way off the main-drag and takes effort to get there from the Grand Tetons.
Well worth it, been there twice over 30 years.
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One day should do it, but it's certainly worth your effort. Be sure to go through some of the lava tubes, something to be remembered. We stayed at an RV park in Arco called Landing Zone, run by a Viet Nam vet I believe, and I think we had full hook-ups. As I recall, it was a nice park and very convenient. We took another day to visit the first nuclear reactor, very interesting. Some beautiful country around there.
We live very close and go through this area sometimes on our way to West Yellowstone, MT. For us, it's a good day's visit, but rather than staying at the CG there, I'd stay in Arco at Mountain View RV Park or at Craters of the Moon KOA, both are nice and have easy in and easy out sites. Since you're in that area, plan to spend a couple of days and head on in to Sun Valley for a good lunch there or take the loop drive from Arco up through Challis, to Stanley and Sun Valley, then back to Arco. This takes you through the Peaks to Craters Scenic Byway and Salmon River Scenic Byway and Sawtooth Scenic Byway. It makes for a long day, but you can do it if you leave your RV back in Arco. If you choose to drive it, there's a hot springs in Challis with RV sites that is very popular and praised. All these scenic byways are well worth seeing. Idaho has a lot to offer including the Eastern side with Upper and Lower Mesa Falls, Big Springs, Johnny Sacks Cabin, and Henry's Fork of the Snake River. Here's a link to information on Idaho's Scenic Byways. Enjoy.
Forgot to mention that between the town of Shoshone and Hailey is a private attraction called Shoshone Ice Caves. For a small fee they will take you down into this lava tube with a natural lake that is frozen over most times of the year. Back when ice was used for food preservation, ice was trucked into Shoshone from this cave. We took our grand-kids there and we all had a great time. If you don't have a jacket, they lend them out because you'll need it no matter how hot a day it is outside.
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edited 04/18/12 08:22pm by ReneeG *
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sparker1 wrote: One day should do it, but it's certainly worth your effort. Be sure to go through some of the lava tubes, something to be remembered. We stayed at an RV park in Arco called Landing Zone, run by a Viet Nam vet I believe, and I think we had full hook-ups. As I recall, it was a nice park and very convenient. We took another day to visit the first nuclear reactor, very interesting. Some beautiful country around there.
Landing Zone RV is now Crater's of the Moon KOA. Still a nice place. Our favorite because it's on the main highway is Mountain View.
agesilaus wrote: It's been a long time since I was there but there was -nothing- around the park for a lot of miles. The CG is nothing special, no services except I think they have water available in CG. Hiking, looking in the lava tube caves and seeing a lot of lava are the attractions. Maybe an overnighter is about what you'd want to spend there. I lived down the road, way down the road, in Arco thanks to the USN for 10 months. Had my only lesson on black ice within a few miles of the park. Got snowed on July the 4th there.
Yes, because of the somewhat desolate landscape people tend to think it's hot there but it's actually just over 7700 ft in elevation.
We visited Craters of the Moon in June 2010 and really enjoyed it. The day before we drove from Missoula MT to Arco on route 93, a wonderful scenic drive. We stayed a night at the Arco KOA and then drove the 20 miles over to Craters and got a site there for the next night.
The campground is on a lava flow, which is pretty neat.
We went into two lava tubes - Beauty Cave, which had ice on the floor and required a flashlight.
We went there once a few years ago and it was sort of interesting, but I felt like I wouldn't have missed anything if I had never gone. Just a desolate looking place, and I didn't care for it. I see that some people think it's great, though, so YMMV.
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