📷 Photo by Laura Seaman on UnsplashIdaho’s Sawtooth Scenic Byway
Sun Valley, the jagged Sawtooths above Redfish Lake and the lava fields of Craters of the Moon.
- Distance
- approx. 376 km (233 mi)
- Driving
- 4 h 10 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 6
- States
- ID
- Best time to go
- May and September
- Tolls and vignettes
- None expected
- Updated
- June 15, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 376 km (233 mi) with 6 stops, from Boise to Craters of the Moon. About 4 h 10 min of driving in total. Best time to go: May and September. No toll roads expected for a car.
More road trips in Idaho · More road trips from Boise
Photos along the route
Route description
From Boise, ID-21 climbs northeast through Idaho City, an old gold rush town, and follows the Payette River through pine forests over Banner Summit to Stanley. The road is winding and can close in winter because of snow and avalanches. Stanley is a tiny town on the Salmon River at the foot of the jagged Sawtooth Mountains.
Redfish Lake, a few miles south of Stanley, is a deep alpine lake with beaches, campgrounds and a lodge, and a boat shuttle takes hikers across to trails at the far end. ID-75 then heads south along the Salmon River, climbing over Galena Summit, at over 8,700 feet, where an overlook shows the headwaters of the river. The road descends to Ketchum and Sun Valley, a ski resort where Ernest Hemingway lived and is buried.
From Ketchum, ID-75 and US-20 lead south and east through the high desert to Arco, the first town lit by nuclear power, with a nuclear reactor museum nearby. Just to the west, Craters of the Moon National Monument has black lava fields, cinder cones and lava tube caves along a loop road. The free permit for the caves is available at the visitor center.
Nights at Stanley can be cold even in summer, so bring warm clothes. The lava fields at Craters of the Moon get very hot in summer, so bring water and walk early in the day. The best time for this route is from late June to September, when the passes are clear of snow.
Which stops are on Idaho’s Sawtooth Scenic Byway?
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Boise
ID - 2146 km
Stanley
ID - 39 km
Redfish Lake
NatureStanley, IDA deep alpine lake at the foot of the jagged Sawtooth Mountains, with beaches and a lodge.
- 482 km
Ketchum
ID - 5103 km
Arco
ID - 636 km
Craters of the Moon
NatureArco, IDBlack lava fields, cinder cones and caves you can explore with a free permit.
How do you drive Idaho’s Sawtooth Scenic Byway in 3 days?
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Boise → Stanley · 90 mi · 1 h 37 minOvernight nearby, for example: Sunny Gulch Campground (3 mi); Stanley RV + Camp (4 mi).
- Day 2: Stanley → Ketchum · 57 mi · 1 h 01 minOn the way: Redfish Lake.Overnight nearby, for example: Easley Campground (11 mi); North Fork Campground (8 mi).
- Day 3: Ketchum → Craters of the Moon · 86 mi · 1 h 32 minOn the way: Arco.Overnight nearby, for example: Craters of the Moon / Arco KOA Journey (18 mi); Lava Flow Campground (4 mi).
When is the best time for Idaho’s Sawtooth Scenic Byway?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, June and October. Hot in July. Cold, short days in December–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
More routes for the best months
Practical guides for this route
Photo by Malivez on UnsplashDriving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel
Photo by Aleksandr Dalakian on UnsplashFuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers
Photo by Tracy Zhang on UnsplashUS national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms
Themes
Plan this route for your vehicle
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FAQs
How long is Idaho’s Sawtooth Scenic Byway?
3-day road trip of about 376 km (233 mi) with 6 stops, from Boise to Craters of the Moon. About 4 h 10 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Idaho’s Sawtooth Scenic Byway?
We suggest 3 days: about 4 h 10 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Idaho’s Sawtooth Scenic Byway start and end?
It starts in Boise and ends in Craters of the Moon.
Which states does Idaho’s Sawtooth Scenic Byway pass through?
Idaho.
Where can you camp along Idaho’s Sawtooth Scenic Byway?
OpenStreetMap lists 69 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Mountain View RV Park, Boise RV Travel Park and Boise Riverside RV Park.
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