Idaho Taxis and Car Rental
Taxis provide a useful means of transport in Idaho’s main cities such as Boise, Idaho Falls, Moscow, and Pocatello and can also be found moving tourists around Sun Valley. But outside of these major travel centers, there is often no taxi service, which is why having your own car is vital to really exploring any part of Idaho in depth. In Boise, Boise City Taxi (+1-877-499-9994) and Sun Valley’s A-1 Taxi (+1-208-726-9351) are available 24 hours.
All of the major car rental companies are on hand at Boise Airport and in the main resort towns like Ketchum, Coeur d’Alene, and Sandpoint. Avis, Hertz, Budget, and the other big names maintain a solid fleet of vehicles suitable for Idaho’s mountainous terrain. Unless you plan to stay in your resort the entire time, a car or SUV is necessary to reach trail heads, scenic points, and national parks. During the peak summer and winter travel periods, the most popular models sell out early so book your rental in advance to ensure you get the car or SUV you want.
Idaho Trains and Buses
There is no viable form of public transportation in Idaho outside of the main cities of Boise, Moscow, and Idaho Falls. Even in these areas, the modest public bus system helps residents move around the center, but are fairly useless for tourists. Nearly everyone in the state relies on a car to get anywhere. In resorts like Sun Valley and Sandpoint, transport isn’t an issue since you can walk, but in larger cities like Boise, you’ll need to use a car, taxi, or figure out the bus system to move about.
The only long-distance train stop in Idaho is in Sandpoint, at the extreme northern end of the state. Amtrak’s Empire Builder line runs through here on its coast to coast trek from Seattle to Chicago. It arrives in Sandpoint just after midnight, and is a scenic train ride. It is also very slow, but fortunately the seats on the train are large and comfortable, and the fares are reasonable.
A more convenient form of long-distance transportation to and around Idaho is the Greyhound bus. This popular national bus company covers every corner of Idaho, with its main entry points at Boise and Idaho Falls. The tickets are very cheap and the seats are reasonably comfortable.