Craters of the Moon National Monument

About Craters of the Moon National Monument

Established in 1924, Craters of the Moon National Monument celebrated its 75th birthday in 1999. The area is managed cooperatively by the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management(BLM). The Monument is a geologic wonder cast in a wild and remote landscape. Its central focus is the Great Rift, a 62-mile long crack in the earth's crust. The Great Rift is the source of a remarkably preserved volcanic landscape with an array of exceptional features. Craters, cinder coves, lava tubes, deep cracks, and vast lava fields form a strangely beautiful volcanic sea on central Idaho's Snake River Plain.

How to Get There

From Idaho Falls, follow U.S. Highway 20 west about 68 miles to Arco. Follow U.S. Highway 93 about 18 miles southwest to the Craters of the Moon Visitor Center. Other parts of the monument can be accessed on unpaved roads from the town of Carey, also located on U.S. Highway 93 (25 miles west of the visitor center); from the town of American Falls via Pleasant Valley Road (67 miles west of Idaho Falls); or from two locations on State Highway 24 near the town of Minidoka (132 miles west of Idaho Falls).

Plan Your Visit to Craters of the Moon National Monument

Heading to Craters of the Moon National Monument? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• Park map (PDF)
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)