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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Island Park
Use Island Park as a base for Yellowstone and the Centennial Valley, not a destination: 2–3 nights, or a day-trip from Idaho Falls for fishing and hiking.
Island Park is a 53-km-long strip of lodges and cabins along US 20, incorporated in 1947 to sell liquor outside dry towns. It has no real centre, but its location between Idaho Falls and West Yellowstone makes it a practical base for fishing the Henrys Fork, hiking the Centennial Mountains and day-tripping into Yellowstone. Most visitors stay 2–3 nights.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (summer activities); Feb–Mar for snowmobiling
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (most lodges closed, deep snow, limited services)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
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 $80–120 excl. bed · Mid $120–200 excl. bed · High $200+ 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 · Fremont County Sheriff (non-emergency) 208-624-4482
- 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.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (diner) | $2–4 |
| Burger and fries | $12–18 |
| Dinner entrée (lodge restaurant) | $20–35 |
| Beer (bottle) | $4–7 |
| Gallon of petrol (gas) | $3.50–4.50 |
| Cabin per night (mid-range, 2 people) | $180–250 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IDA · Idaho Falls Regional Airport
- About 45 min drive south on US 20; rental cars available.
- JAC · Jackson Hole Airport
- About 2 h drive via US 191 and US 20; seasonal flights.
Typical fares
- Idaho Falls → Island Park (US 20)
- about 45 min, no tolls
- Island Park → West Yellowstone
- about 20 min, US 20 east
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 the length of the city; SH-87 branches northwest to Montana. No public transit within Island Park.
See and do
Known for
- Longest Main Street in the world (53 km)
- Henrys Fork of the Snake River (blue-ribbon trout fishing)
- Access to Yellowstone National Park (west entrance)
- Heavy winter snow (average 215 inches / 546 cm)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone National Park (West Entrance) | US 20 east, about 20 min to West Yellowstone gate | 30 min |
| Idaho Falls | US 20 south, about 45 min | 50 min |
| Grand Teton National Park | US 20 south then US 26 east, about 1.5 h | 1.75 h |
| Driggs / Teton Valley | SH-33 west, about 40 min | 50 min |
Sleep
- US 20 corridor (the 'Main Street')
- Most lodges and cabins are strung along the highway; no walkable centre, you need a car.
- Near Henrys Lake
- Closer to Yellowstone (15 min to West Yellowstone); quieter, fishing focus.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much? | How much? |
| 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
- Most businesses close by 21:00; stock up on groceries in Idaho Falls or West Yellowstone.
- Winter: US 20 can close for hours during storms; carry chains or winter tyres.
- Liquor is sold only inside city limits (the strip); no sales on Sundays in some years — check local rules.
- Cell service is patchy along the corridor; download offline maps.
Very low crime. Risks are wildlife on the road (elk, deer, moose at dusk), sudden snowstorms in winter and hypothermia from cold water in the river. Carry bear spray if hiking in the Centennials.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Island Park yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Longest Main Street in the world (53 km)
- Henrys Fork of the Snake River (blue-ribbon trout fishing)
- Access to Yellowstone National Park (west entrance)
- Heavy winter snow (average 215 inches / 546 cm)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Fremont County Sheriff: www.fremontcountyidaho.gov/sheriff
- Wikivoyage: Island Park, revision 4319381 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4319381
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Island Park
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, Fire, Ambulance911
- Fremont County Sheriff (non-emergency)208-624-4482
The nearest US embassy is in Ottawa, Canada; consular services for US citizens are available at the US Embassy in London, UK. For non-US citizens: contact your country's embassy in Washington, DC.
No public transport; cell service is patchy. Download offline maps before you arrive.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/island-park). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.