General Information

Location: Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is located in Idaho, 18 miles south of Acro, ID. It is accessible from US 20.

Size: Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is approximately 1,117 square miles (750,000 acres).

Climate: Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve has a high desert climate. This means that in the winters it can get extremely cold with average lows staying around 15 degrees F and highs averaging 30 degrees F.

During summer months, the average lows dip to about 45 degrees F with highs in the upper 80s.

Cost: According to nps.gov, on August 2, 2020 the fees to visit Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve are as follows:

History:

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve was established as a national monument in 1924. This was due, in large part, to an early explorer and taxidermist, Robert Limbert, whose highly publicized lectures, which were focused on his three journeys through the area, brought national attention to the unique geological features of this region.

In 2002, congress granted the monument the title of a national preserve.

Throughout its history, this area has provided a wealth of information to geologists and other scientists. This location was even used in 1969 to teach NASA’s APOLLO astronauts basic volcanic geology in preparation for their moon expedition.

Our Experience

For starters, let’s just say we were incredibly lucky to have stumbled upon this place. Prior to our visit we would have never even considered Idaho to be a place that had volcanic activity. The park is filled with jaw dropping rock formations, lava flows, spatter cones, caves, and even beautiful plant life that is able to thrive in this rugged environment.  We found the park to be very easy to navigate. The road system that was very well thought out and allows visitors see all that the park has to offer without needing to hike for miles through the barren landscape.

Pros

-Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve offers dramatic views of landscapes which feature lava flows, mountains, caves, and much more.  

-The majority of the rock formations were created from lava and, as a result, are a deep black color. This gives visitors breathtaking views as the onyx black landscape is juxtaposed with the vibrant colors of plant life and of the sky.

-This park offers many unique views, which were a welcomed break from the more typical landscapes in the area. By the time we stumbled across Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve we were jaded by the constant barrage of canyons and mountains. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve was so unique that it left us in awe at every turn.

-The park itself is one of the most accessible parks that we have been to. The majority of paths were paved and accessible. The paths that were not as accessible provided viewpoints that were accessible.  

-If you are on a tight schedule, you can drive through the park in approximately 30 minutes. This allows visitors the opportunity to visit Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve on their way to their next destination.

-The roads of this park were well maintained with a large number of pullouts, parking lots, picnic areas, and restrooms.

-This park was the least crowded park that we visited.

Cons

-The location of this park is off the beaten path for most people and it is located in a dessert. This means that unless you camp at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve you will need to drive an additional hour to find suitable camping.

-The ground temperature of this park can exceed 200 degrees F making it impossible to walk dogs without putting their health and safety in jeopardy.

-Dogs are only welcomed on main roads and in parking areas.

-Special permits are needed to visit certain sites within the park.

-Camping in the park is a first come, first serve basis. No reservations are accepted.

General Score

We rated Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve 4 out of 5 stars.

This park was absolutely incredible and left us in constant awe of the sights that we were seeing. Neither of us ever expected such a dynamic and incredible feat of nature to appear seemingly out of nowhere in the deserts of Idaho. If you are traveling through the area, you HAVE to make the trip out to see it. It is truly one of a kind and will leave you marveling at the incredible diversity that can be found throughout our planet.

Pet Rating

We rated Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve 1 out of 5 bones on pet friendliness.

While this park is absolutely incredible, it is one that we would recommend leaving your animal sidekicks at home for. There are a lot of restrictions in this park of where pets can and cannot go (which I appreciate as it is for your pet’s safety). If you cannot leave your pets at home, like us, you can always do like we did and leave them in your vehicle with the A/C running, some great tunes playing, and plenty of cool water for them to drink.

If you do this though, please do not leave them for long as the barren landscapes do not offer any shade and your vehicle can still get pretty toasty, even with the air running.