Lava Hot Springs, ID
Lava Hot Springs - Hot Pools on Main Street
So this was a trip we planned with 2 families who we are very close friends with. Our total group size was 6 adults, 7 kids (ages 0-5 years), 13 people total. We love getting together so the kids can play and hang out while the adults all catch up and play games and chat, but none of us have a great space for us to do this for more than a few hours. Fast forward to finally planning this trip, we picked this location for its simplicity, relatively low costs, and location distance. We made this a weekend trip, a Friday to Sunday adventure over Mother’s Day weekend.
We all traveled here by car, which was around 4 hours drive from Boise. Our friends drove in from the Salt Lake City, Utah valley, which was around 2.5 hours drive.
Where we stayed
Viva La Vida Lava
This Airbnb home was in a great location; we were walking distance to most everything. This is a bit further from the actual hot springs than other hotels, but close enough to still walk in under 10 minutes.
This home has 4 closed bedrooms, 3 upstairs and 1 downstairs. The two family rooms have futon couches that can be used for extra bed space, and there was a plethora of extra bedding and blankets. There was a travel crib on site, as well as a twin cot and an extra foam bed cushion that we used for the kids. Their 2 bathrooms are well-thought out for their space, with open shelving that makes finding everything you need quite simple. Each floor has its own kitchen that is cooking ready with a great table space for gathering. Outside on the covered patio is a grill that can be used on request.
The host was gracious, eager to help, and very communicative.
Our only wishes/what we would change:
We should have brought noise machines for all the bedrooms as the walls are a bit thin.
As of our stay, there were no blackout curtains in the bedrooms, which our kids are used to the dark and woke up much earlier than we hoped.
Some WD40 to the doors would also help, we did mention this to the owners so hopefully the doors can close a bit less squeakily.
We did share all of our thoughts with the host in our post-stay review, and they were very kind + accepting of our feedback.
What we ate
78 Main
A fun + delicious family dining experience. We enjoyed their Mother’s Day breakfast together, and our kids devoured their french toast. Their veggie omelet was well made, and the skillet breakfast was perfect for my husband. The time from order to eating was a bit longer than other places, but it seemed from the food that everything was cooked fresh to order.
Chuck Wagon
We had dinner here our first night in. The restaurant is quite small, but they also have a bar area with indoor and outdoor seating. The food was well priced, with a comprehensive kids meal and plenty of options for different tastes. Their house made fry bread with honey butter was a top favorite.
Riverwalk Thai Restaurant
Although Thai is not a staple of our family’s dining, our friends were eager to give this a try. The restaurant was created out of the old gas station, but did not feel like a gas station on the inside. The staff were friendly and very accommodating for our large group, and the food was delicious. Their Pad Thai was excellent. The Lettuce Wraps and Currys received excellent praise as well. As there is no specific kid menu, we ordered our kids a garden salad to share and let them eat off our plates as they felt inclined.
Sweet Spot
This little sweets + ice cream shop was a fun stop. We walked down one night after the kids were in bed. This small shop packed a lot of punch, with nostalgic + unique candies (Bob Ross themed Fun Dips, anyone?) and their unique ice cream scooper delivers square/rectangular shaped scoops!
What we did
Hot Springs
Of course, the main attraction. This hot spring has been divided into several smaller pools in order to negotiate the flow of the spring, as well as to give different temperatures of hot springs to the waters. Running anywhere from 105-112 degrees F, these pools are shallow enough for soaking with plenty of bench/walkway to help keep smaller children from being too deep. The area is surrounded by beautiful gardens and covered to prevent sunburn while in the pools. Attached is a gift shop, massage parlor, locker + dressing rooms, bathrooms, and some convenience snacks + swim gear items for purchase. As always with hot water, be advised of all health warnings for adults and for children, and ensure to plan on ways to cool down between soaks.
Majestic Park
A great park across the main street from the hot springs and next to the river, this was a fun way to let the kids run out their energy and enjoy the day. It would be a great picnic area as well, with a covered patio area available. There is river access as well, so be prepared for kid water safety in this area.
Purple Moon Giftshop
This eclectic store did not disappoint. Whether you are window shopping or looking for the perfect souvenir from the trip, this is a great local business with quite the selection of goods. Keep in mind that kids will need to be supervised inside, but there also is a small area that was great for our kids to be more hands on. The shop employees were especially helpful + kind, and pricing was just right.
Main Street view of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho
Some additional fun activities we missed this trip:
Olympic Swimming Complex + Indoor Aquatics Center with Kiddie Cove
This beautiful facility includes multiple ways to play. The outdoor facilities boast multiple water slides, a zero entry area for young children, diving platforms, and plenty of grassy area to stretch out and enjoy. Indoors includes a climbing wall, diving board, and indoor kids playground. Both pools are filled by the hot springs water and kept open year round. We were hoping to swim here but the pools were closed for maintenance during our trip. Next time!
Sunken Gardens
A beautiful small walking trail just above the hot springs pools, free of charge. This is a great little walk to see beautiful native and imported plants and learn about the history of the area. We also missed this as we had a longer drive home, but one of our friend’s family went and they loved it.
Other Tips + Tricks:
Salt Lake City is also the nearest airport for if you plan to fly to this area, so expect to rent a car and drive.
The drive in is beautiful, green, and mountainous. Expect road construction during the early end of the season as they repair from winter conditions.
If you plan to purchase groceries, know that there is only one small grocery store in town, Mike’s. I recommend that you stock up in Pocatello on your drive in, where there are multiple grocery store options, and travel your supplies in.
For more information on the hot springs, to see upcoming events, or to purchase tickets, click here.
