Idaho Falls City Guide
Image by Bobjgalindo via wikidata

United States

Idaho Falls City Guide

Idaho

Idaho Falls is a small city in eastern Idaho, set along the Snake River with a waterfall downtown. It blends outdoor activities with a calm, community feel. The pace here is slower than in big cities, making it nice for work and relaxation.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
7

The city offers regional American food with focus on potatoes and growing international options. Vegetarian and vegan choices are available. Late-night food is mostly fast food.

Local Dishes:
Potato-based dishes
International Cuisine:
Mexican, Asian, Italian
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Limited
5

Nightlife is modest with local bars and breweries, but no big club scene.

Coffee Culture
Good
7

Local and chain coffee shops with good Wi-Fi and community feel. Specialty coffee is present but not strong.

💰
Tipping
Required
18%

Tipping is expected across service industries, typically 15-20%.

Top Attractions
Idaho Falls Riverwalk and Greenbelt
nature
Scenic paths along the Snake River for walking and biking.
Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park
family
Family-friendly zoo within a large park.
Museum of Idaho
culture
Local history and cultural exhibits.
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
nature
Unique geological site less than an hour away.
Heise Hot Springs
nature
Natural hot springs nearby for relaxation.
Kelly Canyon Ski Resort
sports
Skiing and snowboarding about 30-40 minutes from town.
SIM Cards

Buy SIM cards at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or UScellular stores. ID required. eSIM depends on provider and device.

Available at:
AT&T
Verizon
T-Mobile
UScellular
Recommended Apps
Google Maps(navigation)
Uber/Lyft(transportation)
DoorDash/Grubhub(food)
AllTrails(outdoor)
Yelp(local services)
ParkMobile(transportation)
Local weather apps(weather)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Excellent
8

Streets are generally clean with regular waste collection and recycling.

24/7 Services
Limited
4

Few 24/7 services. Some minimarts are always open, pharmacies usually not. Emergency rooms operate round the clock.

Groceries
Albertsons
WinCo Foods
Broulim's Fresh Foods
Walmart

Supermarkets like Albertsons, WinCo, Broulim's, and Walmart cover most needs. Farmers' markets run in warmer months. International items are limited but increasing.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Most places accept credit and debit cards, so carrying cash isn’t necessary for daily expenses.

ATMs

ATMs are common in banks, credit unions, and stores. Some out-of-network withdrawals can cost $2.50 to $5 plus your bank's fee.

Schools
Local only

Local public schools are under Idaho Falls School District 91. No international schools present. Instruction is mainly in English.

Available Schools:
Idaho Falls School District 91

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
6
Available Spaces:
The Hub
Flexible memberships and meeting rooms.
Idaho Innovation Center
Startup focus with office and shared spaces.
The Hive
Community-oriented coworking spot.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Good
The Coffee & Chaos Cafe
Comfortable with free Wi-Fi, good for working.
Starbucks
Multiple locations, reliable Wi-Fi.
City Bagels & Bakery
Casual, works for short work sessions.
Great Harvest Bread Co.
Quiet and Wi-Fi enabled.
Alternatives:
Idaho Falls Public Library
Quiet spots with internet access.
Hotel lobbies
Some larger hotels have Wi-Fi-friendly areas.
University Place Library
Good for focused work and study.
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
3

The remote work community is small and informal, with some nomad-friendly cafes.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
9

The Riverwalk, Tautphaus Park, and Freeman Park offer green and shaded spaces for walking and running.

Running
Excellent
8

The Riverwalk and local parks provide safe, scenic routes. Local running clubs are active.

Gyms
Available

Multiple gyms and centers offer standard equipment and classes.

Available Gyms:
Idaho Falls YMCA
Planet Fitness
Gold's Gym
Anytime Fitness
Local community recreation centers
Tennis
Good
6

Public courts at parks are available, mostly hard courts, often first-come-first-served.

Padel
Poor
0

Padel is not common here.

Yoga
Good
7

Several studios offer various yoga styles with English-speaking instructors.

Martial Arts
Good
6

Gyms offer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, Karate, Judo, boxing, and kickboxing with English-speaking instructors.

Skiing
Excellent
8

Kelly Canyon Ski Resort is 30-40 minutes away. Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole are within 2 hours. Resorts offer varied terrain and equipment rentals.

Water Sports
Good
6

Kayaking and paddleboarding on the Snake River and nearby lakes. Rentals and guided tours available in warmer months.

Surfing
Poor
0

No surfing opportunities here.

Diving
Poor
0

No diving or snorkeling options.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
8

Hospitals like Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center serve the area. English is spoken widely. Pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS carry OTC meds and run regular hours.

Hospitals:
Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center
Pharmacies:
Walgreens
CVS
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water meets all federal and state safety standards and is safe to drink.

Common Scams
Online phishing, Phone scams impersonating IRS or tech support, Grandparent scams

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
8

Parks like Tautphaus and Freeman have playgrounds. The zoo and Museum of Idaho offer family activities. Baby supplies are easy to find.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Limited
5

Acceptance is growing but the scene is limited. Pride events are small or absent.

Pet Friendly
Good
7

Pet-friendly parks and accommodations exist. Veterinary services and stores are available.

Communities
Idaho Falls Community (Facebook Group) (social)
Idaho Falls Rants & Raves (Facebook Group) (social)
Idaho Falls Events (Facebook Page) (events)
Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce (business)
Nextdoor (social)

Quick Facts

Population
64,818
Power Reliability
Excellent
9/10

Power is reliable with few outages, managed by Idaho Falls Power and fixed quickly if they happen.

Mountains
Available

Mountains are accessible within an hour, including the nearby Caribou-Targhee National Forest with various trails.

Languages
English(90%)
Emergency
911
Emergency
1-800-222-1222
Poison Control

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
0
🏔️
Earthquake
Moderate Risk
6

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Extreme heat
July, August
Summer can have temperatures in the 90s°F (30s°C).
Winter cold and snow
November, December, January, February, March
Winters are cold with significant snowfall.
Wildfire smoke
August, September, October
Smoke haze can impact air quality during late summer and early fall.

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