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Back to Arco

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Voykit pocket guide · United States

Arco

Spend a half‑day visiting the nuclear sites and Number Hill; stay one night at Lost River Motel if you want a relaxed evening.

Arco is a small Central Idaho town famous for being the first fully nuclear‑powered city and for nearby nuclear‑science attractions. A quick visit covers the key sights; an overnight lets you explore the surrounding desert landscape.

New YorkAbbeville, LouisianaAbbeville, South Caro…AbercrombieAberdeenAberdeenAberdeenAberdeenAbernathyAbilene, KansasAbileneAbington TownshipAbiquiuAbita SpringsArco500 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
United States
Best months
Jun–Sep (check)
Avoid
Winter snow can close roads (check)
Stay
1 night

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
USD
Money
Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
Daily spend
Budget $40–60 excl. bed · Mid $60–100 excl. bed · High $100+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
Emergency
Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
Plugs
Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
Tipping
Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
Water
Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
Toilets
Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.

Get in

By air

BOI · Boise Airport
About 80 km (50 mi) (1 h 15 min) north via US‑20

Typical fares

Boise → Arco (rental car, 1 day)
≈ US$45–60, 80 km (50 mi) round trip (check)
Arco → Craters of the Moon (fuel)
≈ US$5–8 for 30 km (19 mi) one‑way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Car is essential; US‑20 runs through town and connects to Craters of the Moon and Idaho National Laboratory. No public transit.

See and do

Known for

  • First city lit by nuclear power
  • Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR‑1)
  • Number Hill
  • USS Hawkbill display

Day trips

WhereHowTime
Craters of the Moon National MonumentDrive west on US‑20, 18 mi (≈30 min)≈45 min round trip
Idaho National Laboratory (guided tour)Drive southeast on US‑20, 20 mi (≈35 min)≈1 h including travel

Sleep

Lost River Motel
Rooms; basic amenities; near downtown

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
Excuse me / SorrySorrysor‑ree
Thank youThank youthank‑you
How much is it?How much is it?how much is it
Where is the restroom?Where is the restroom?where is the restroom

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
  • Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
  • Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
  • Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
  • Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned

Scams and watch-outs

  • Limited dining and fuel options; fill up before heading out.
  • EBR‑1 tours are seasonal (Memorial Day to Labor Day).
  • Check road conditions in winter; snow can close US‑20.

Arco is low‑crime; main risks are remote‑area wildlife and winter road closures.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Arco yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • First city lit by nuclear power
  • Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR‑1)
  • Number Hill
  • USS Hawkbill display

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Arco

To this address, please

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

  • Police / Fire / Ambulance911

US citizens can contact the nearest US consulate in Boise (check address).

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/arco-idaho). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.