In the 1800s, Glenns Ferry was a very dangerous river crossing on the Oregon Trail. The pioneers would try to traverse the Snake River at the Three Island Crossing until Gustavus "Gus" Glenn built a ferry two miles upstream. Doing so eliminated about 20 miles from the previous route. In 1871, Glenns Ferry was incorporated.
Glenns Ferry may only currently have about 1,300 residents, but it’s an excellent place to visit if you want to see part of the Oregon Trail and learn more about the history of the brave pioneers who eventually settled the Wild West. It’s also just an hour away from Boise and Twin Falls, so it’s a wonderful place to camp if you want to visit multiple nearby cities.
You don’t have to leave the Glenns Ferry area to discover some exciting attractions. If you want to do some walking, hiking, or biking without leaving the area, then you can go to places like Three Island State Park and Bennett Mountain. Those in search of a great entry point to the Snake River should visit the Eddie Bostic Recreational Area, which features two boat ramps, two boat docks, and multiple places to picnic and barbecue.
If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the area, you can do so at Three Island State Park, where you can see a portion of the Oregon Trail. There’s also the Historic Opera Theatre, which is a Victorian theater that was built in 1914. You may also want to walk around the World Wide Equine Horse Dentistry Museum, which has a large collection of antique equine dentistry tools and other horse-related artifacts.
Elmore County Fair & Rodeo – Glenns Ferry hosts this fair and rodeo every mid-July. A carnival, live entertainment, a livestock auction, and a rodeo all take place at this fun event.
Boise Music Festival – In late June, Boise hosts this music festival that frequently showcases various acts from many different musical genres. The festival is also home to a carnival that’s full of midway games, carnival rides, and more.
Nampa Festival of the Arts – This festival in Nampa celebrates multiple types of art over two days in mid-August. Maybe you’ll find a piece of art of your own to buy from one of the nearly 200 vendors that set up booths here.
To reach the entrance to Grand Teton National Park, you have to drive about five hours east of Glenns Ferry. If you want to see some of this region’s stunning views and mountain vistas without the crowds of Yellowstone National Park, you should visit this lovely national park. Of course, you can’t visit this area without exploring Yellowstone National Park for its awesome features like Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful, and Fairy Falls. The parks are very close to each other, and you can reach Yellowstone directly from Glenns Ferry in about five hours. If you’re willing to drive south of Glenns Ferry for 7 hours and 20 minutes, you can see the red rock grandeur of Capitol Reef National Park in Utah.
Bruneau Dunes State Park is just half an hour west of Glenns Ferry. If you want to check out America’s largest single-structure sand dune up close and personal, then you should visit this entrancing state park close to the Snake River. Lake Cascade State Park is about 2 hours and 40 minutes north of Glenns Ferry, but getting to spend quality time at this lovely 27,000-acre lake is worth the trip. Massacre Rocks State Park got its name from a grouping of rocks very close together that emigrants feared would be a good place for an ambush. You can travel two hours east of Glenns Ferry to see the intriguing boulders and cliffs on this portion of the Oregon Trail.
You can reach multiple great Idaho landmarks from Glenns Ferry. The Oregon Trail once ran through about 500 miles of Idaho, so you can explore some of the most interesting parts of this fascinating piece of American history. Visiting Shoshone Falls Park is also a must since it’s the best place to view the “Niagara of the West.” If you want to learn more about the nature of prison life during the 1800s and 1900s, then you should stop by the Old Idaho Penitentiary Site. You can tour the regular cellblock, the prison’s cemetery, and even solitary confinement at this interesting landmark.
Some lovely campgrounds are within an hour or so of Glenns Ferry in Twin Falls. One of these is Twin Falls/Jerome KOA Holiday, which is conveniently close to Shoshone Falls and contains an on-site cafe and a pool. You may also want to consider Rock Creek RV Park, which is near Twin Falls and provides full hookups. Another option is Oregon Trail Campground, which has showers, full hookups, and WiFi.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Glenns Ferry, ID, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Glenns Ferry?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Glenns Ferry from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Glenns Ferry?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.