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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Shelley
Half a day or a stop on US 91: Spud Day in September, otherwise a quick lunch and photo at the potato statue.
Shelley is a small farming town 13 km south of Idaho Falls, best known for its annual Spud Day festival on the third Saturday of September. Outside the festival, the town has a few local eateries and a quiet main street. Most travellers pass through on US 91 between Idaho Falls and Pocatello.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Sep (Spud Day), May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, snow), Jul–Aug (hot)
- Stay
- 0 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 $30–50 · Mid $50–80 · High $80+ (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.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Lunch special at Mr. Pizza | $3 |
| Sandwich at Mick's Cafe | $8–12 |
| Gas (regular, per gallon) | $3.50–4.50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IDA · Idaho Falls Regional Airport
- About 15 min north on US 91; limited flights via Salt Lake City or Denver.
Typical fares
- Idaho Falls to Shelley, taxi
- about $25–35
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
By car: US 91 runs through town. No public transit; walking covers the main street.
See and do
Known for
- Spud Day festival
- Potato-themed town identity
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls | US 91 north, 13 km (8.1 mi), 10 minUS 91 north, 8.1 mi (13 km), 10 min | 10 min |
| Pocatello | US 91 south, about 40 km (25 mi), 30 minUS 91 south, about 25 mi (40 km), 30 min | 30 min |
| Lava Hot Springs | US 91 south to I-15, about 70 km (43 mi), 45 minUS 91 south to I-15, about 43 mi (70 km), 45 min | 45 min |
| Soda Springs | US 30 east from Pocatello, about 80 km (50 mi), 1 hUS 30 east from Pocatello, about 50 mi (80 km), 1 h | 1 h |
| Blackfoot | I-15 north, about 25 km (16 mi), 20 minI-15 north, about 16 mi (25 km), 20 min | 20 min |
Sleep
- Shelley town
- One or two basic motels; most visitors stay in Idaho Falls (15 min north) for more options.
Language
English everywhere, with strong regional accents; Spanish is the second language in the Southwest, Texas, Florida, California and New York. Some words differ from British English: restroom (toilet), check (bill), gas (petrol), trunk (boot), first floor (ground floor).
- Measurements are imperial: miles, Fahrenheit, gallons, pounds. 100 km ≈ 62 miles; 30 °C ≈ 86 °F.
- Small talk with strangers is normal and friendly; it is not a sales tactic.
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
- Spud Day draws crowds: arrive early for parking.
- No ATM in town? Check before you go.
- Winter driving on US 91 can be icy.
Very safe small town; standard precautions at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Shelley yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Spud Day festival
- Potato-themed town identity
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Shelley, revision 5287666 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5287666
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Shelley
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/shelley). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.