Jennifer Grismer, Unsplash License, Source

Craters of the Moon National Monument

Otherworldly volcanic landscape on Earth

Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho displays a landscape shaped by ancient volcanic eruptions. Jagged lava fields stretch across the horizon, creating a stark environment dotted with cinder cones and lava tubes. Visitors can walk through cool rock tunnels formed from solidified magma flows or observe barren plains where few plants grow. The area’s unique geology attracts scientists studying similar terrains on other planets. With clear skies and minimal light pollution, stargazing here reveals vivid constellations above the quiet desert terrain.

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National Park in United States

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$$	Medium
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Safety: 7.2

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	8

Read details

5/5

English is the primary language spoken by all park staff and in surrounding communities. Visitors will have no difficulty communicating in English throughout the area.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Craters of the Moon National Monument Summary

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Unique for volcanic landscapes and lava fields. Walk crater trails, explore lava tubes, photograph unusual rock formations and learn about volcanic geology.

Place score

7.7

Best at:

Natural sites

Spotless

Stargazing

Wildlife

Deserts

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

♻️ 9

Sustainability

❤️ 8

Couples

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

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Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Craters of the Moon National Monument, United States

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Mar

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Apr

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	May, Oct.
Crowdedness:	4 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Seven-mile loop road closes to cars with the first heavy snow, usually November to April, and stays open to skiers and snowshoers

Wildflowers bloom from late May to June, peaking in early June

Don't miss

⛰️ Hike to the top of Inferno Cone for panoramic views
🦇 Explore lava tube caves with a free permit
🚗 Drive and stop along the 7-mile scenic Loop Road
🏛️ Visit the Robert Limbert Visitor Center exhibits
✨ Stargaze in one of the darkest night skies

You've been here?

Why travel to Craters of the Moon National Monument?

Walking across ancient lava fields, climbing up volcanic cones and exploring cool lava tube caves made me feel like a true explorer. The stark contrast between the black volcanic rock and the occasional bursts of wildflowers (if you time it right) creates this surreal, beautiful landscape that photographs incredibly well. What makes this place special is how accessible the otherworldly terrain is. The 7-mile Loop Road takes you to all the major attractions and most trails are relatively short and manageable for average hikers. Just be aware that summer temperatures can soar and there's very little shade on most trails. Also, the park is quite isolated - there are no restaurants nearby, so pack a picnic lunch and plenty of water. Despite these minor challenges, the unique landscape and uncrowded trails make it a refreshing alternative to the busier national parks.

🎡Places for activities

1 Broken Top Loop Trail
2 Buffalo Caves

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Great Rift Wilderness Study Area
2 Tree Molds Trail

🎈Events

Astronomy Programs
Ranger-Led Hikes
Junior Ranger Programs
Wildflower Viewing (Spring)
Star Gazing Events
Geology Talks
Wildlife Watching Programs
Photography Workshops
Cultural History Presentations
Seasonal Interpretive Programs

Explore on map

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Knowledge before you go

Get free cave permit at Visitor Center.
Bring flashlight, sturdy shoes for lava tubes; scramble over loose rocks inside dark caves.
Hike Loop Road trails like Inferno Cone, North Crater Flow for volcanic features and views.
NASA trained Apollo astronauts here due to moon-like terrain; watch for unique desert wildlife adaptations.

How to travel to Craters of the Moon National Monument

Craters of the Moon is relatively isolated but accessible as a day trip from several Idaho cities. The monument is located along US Highway 20/26/93, about 18 miles southwest of Arco, Idaho. The nearest major airports are in Idaho Falls (about 1.5 hours away), Sun Valley/Hailey (about 1.5 hours) and Boise (about 3 hours). Limited air service connects these airports to cities like Salt Lake City, Denver, Las Vegas and Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Access summary

From Hailey/Friedman Memorial Airport: Rental car, about 1.5 hours’ drive.
From Boise: Drive east on US-20, around 2.5–3 hours.
From Idaho Falls or Twin Falls: Direct drive, typically 1.5–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Craters of the Moon National Monument

Accommodation options at Craters of the Moon itself are limited to the Lava Flow Campground within the park, which operates on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground is relatively basic but offers a unique opportunity to stay amidst the volcanic landscape. For hotel accommodations, visitors typically stay in nearby towns like Arco (18 miles away) or more distant cities like Idaho Falls or Sun Valley, both about 1.5 hours away.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

We couldn't find any nearby hotels for now.

How to get around Craters of the Moon National Monument

The best way to experience Craters of the Moon is by driving the 7-mile Loop Road that connects all major attractions and trailheads. This scenic drive provides easy access to the park's highlights, with parking available at each point of interest. Most visitors spend 2-3 hours exploring the various stops along the route, though you could easily spend a half-day or more if you hike all the trails and explore the caves.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-31 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 31% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Pocatello, United States - 93 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£52	£123	£312
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£23	£68	£150
🍝 Food per day	£26	£51	£138
🚕 Transportation per day	£3	£5	£23

Notable additional fees: US$20 (£15.02) per vehicle (7 days). No non-resident surcharge; the America the Beautiful annual pass is US$250 (£187.78) for non-US residents.

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£19
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£11.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£8.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£9
☕ Cappuccino	£3.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.30

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.75
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£15
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.65

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£10.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£65
🤧 Cold medication	£5
💇 Basic haircut	£17

Safety information overview

General safety

Craters of the Moon is generally very safe, with minimal crime. The main safety concerns are natural hazards like uneven terrain, sharp lava rocks and potential for heat exhaustion in summer. Cave exploration requires caution for head injuries and proper footwear.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities are not available within the monument. The nearest medical services are in Arco (18 miles) with more comprehensive care in Idaho Falls or Twin Falls (both 85+ miles away). Carry basic first aid supplies and stay hydrated.

Accessibility

Two trails are fully accessible, but most of the monument presents challenges for those with mobility issues due to uneven volcanic terrain. The Visitor Center is accessible and the Loop Road allows viewing many features from your vehicle.

Tap water

Drinking water is available at the Visitor Center and campground. Bring refillable bottles as there are no water sources along trails. During hot summer months, carry more water than you think you'll need.