Craters of the Moon National Monument

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a U.S. national monument and national preserve in the Snake River Plain in central Idaho. The protected area’s features are volcanic and represent one of the best-preserved flood basalt areas in the continental United States.

The Monument and Preserve encompass three major lava fields and about 400 square miles of sagebrush steppe grasslands to cover a total area of 1,117 square miles. The Monument alone covers 343,000 acres. All three lava fields lie along the Great Rift of Idaho, with some of the best examples of open rift cracks in the world, including the deepest known on Earth at 800 feet. There are excellent examples of almost every variety of basaltic lava, as well as tree molds (cavities left by lava-incinerated trees), lava tubes (a type of cave), and many other volcanic features.

Where it is:

Craters of the Moon is in south-central Idaho, midway between Boise and Yellowstone National Park. The lava field reaches southeastward from the Pioneer Mountains. Combined U.S. Highway 20–26–93 cuts through the northwestern part of the monument and provides access to it. However, the rugged landscape of the monument itself remains remote and undeveloped, with only one paved road across the northern end.

Craters of the Moon’s visitor center is located 18 miles southwest of Arco, Idaho on U.S. Highway 20/26/93. It is 24 miles northeast of Carey, Idaho on U.S. Highway 20/26/93. The physical address is 1266 Craters Loop Road.

Maps:

Interactive Google Map

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GPS:

Latitude: 43° 27.711’N
Longitude: 113° 33.791’W

Cost:

Standard Entrance Fees

The following 7 day passes apply to private, non-commercial vehicles. The fee covers the driver and any passengers.

Vehicle $20

Motorcycle $15

Walk in/ Bicycle $10 (15 and under free)

National Park passes are accepted

Whenever the Loop Road is not fully open to automobile travel, there is a Fee Free day! Depending on weather, this occurs roughly from November through April.

Hours:

The Monument and Preserve is open every day of the year, 24 hours a day. Winter snows usually prevent automobile access around the Loop Road from mid-November through mid-April.

Visitor Center Hours
Winter Hours (December through February): 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
Closed on the following federal winter holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, & New Years Day with an early closure on December 31 at 1:30 p.m
Summer, Spring, and Fall Hours (March through November): 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily

Facilities:

There is no lodging available in the park. The nearest lodging and other services are available in Arco, 18 miles east of the visitor center.

Aside from vending machines in the visitor center, there is no food service available in the park. Picnic tables are available on the east side of the visitor center and at various locations around the Loop Road.

The nearest restaurants are located in the town of Arco.

A campground with

42 sites are available on a first come-first served basis; no reservations are accepted.

Location Contact Information:

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
National Park Service
P.O. Box 29
Arco, ID 83213

Physical Address
Craters of the Moon National Monument
1266 Craters Loop Road
(18 miles west of Arco on U.S. Highway 20/26/93)

By Phone
Visitor Information
(208) 527-1335
Headquarters
(208) 527-1300

By Fax
208-527-3073


Craters of the Moon National Monument Photo Gallery

Click Here for full page gallery

 

More Photographic Destinations in Idaho:

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Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.

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All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.  

Great Places for Great Photos

 

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Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.

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