10 Best Family-Friendly Resorts in Idaho – Updated 2024
Did you know Idaho is the gem state? Technically because the state has over 72 precious and semi-precious gemstones, I think the name is just as fitting because Idaho is a hidden gem of the United States. Come enjoy hot springs, national parks, and a variety of other family friendly activities. The first step to planning your perfect vacation? Scrolling through our list of the best family resorts in Idaho to find your perfect homebase of course!
What to do in Idaho?
Some or the best family resorts in Idaho, like Sun Valley Inn and Lodge, are a destination in and of themselves. But for most you are going to want to pick your activities first and then the best family resort in that area. So what exactly is there to do in Idaho? I’ve broken up your activities by region – Northern Idaho, Southwestern Idaho, Southeastern Idaho, and Boise.
Northern Idaho
When most people think of Northern Idaho, they think of Coeur d’Alene which dubs itself the ‘playground of the Pacific Northwest’. Quite a title to live up to but Coeur d’Alene hits its mark! In addition to lakeside activities you should plan a day trip to bike the Trail of the Hiawatha. If you are a real adrenaline junky head to Silverwood theme park.
Southwestern Idaho
It’s easy to venture out on a few day trips from Boise but do yourself a favor and overnight in Southwestern Idaho. Home to dozens of natural hot springs, state parks, and the Sawtooth Mountain range this region couples rugged beauty with luxury family-friendly accommodations. Oh and did I mention world class white water rafting?
Southeastern Idaho
It’s all about national parks in Southeastern Idaho. Base yourself out of Driggs, Idaho and you can enjoy Yellowstone National Park and explore the Grand Tetons. You can even day trip over to Jackson Hole if you want to see what all of the fuss is about.
Boise
Boise is the perfect city-stay for outdoor adventurers who love to relax in the evenings with a good meal and a good glass of wine. Home to the city’s 25-mile greenbelt you can spend your days biking or strolling along the Boise river before checking out one of the city’s best restaurants. You’ll find everything from a James Beard award winning chef to Russian cuisine or our personal favorite Napoletana pizza.
Now that we have what to do covered, let’s talk about where to stay!
Best Family Resorts in Idaho: Northern Idaho
The Coeur d’Alene Resort
Kicking off my list of the best family resorts in Idaho with one of the most iconic hotels in Coeur d’Alene, the Coeur d’Alene Resort, which is known for lakeside luxury. The Coeur d’Alene Resort is the perfect place to beat the summer heat and spend your days boating, kayaking, and jet skiing. But don’t write this hotel off for the holidays! They offer a family Santa package that includes a boat tour around Lake Coeur d’Alene to see all of the Christmas lights and a special visit from Santa’s elves.
Even the most basic rooms in the Lake Tower are perfect for families with large rooms that feature a sunken living room and views of the lake, mountains, or town. Definitely splurge for a lake view! A must for any traveling family, the Coeur d’Alene resort features and outdoor infinity pool right on the edge of the lake and an indoor pool and hot tubs. The outdoor pool seriously might be one of the most beautiful swimming pools ever! You can also reserve an outdoor cabana for maximum relaxation. If the great outdoors is more your speed enjoy the hotels complimentary bikes, rent a pontoon boat, or enjoy golfing on the famous floating green where yes a little boat has to take you out to your ball! There really is something for the whole family!
The resort was recently renovated in 2018 to the tune of $25 million.
What to do nearby: No trip to Coeur d’Alene would be complete without a 30 minute drive north to Silverwood theme park.
Runner up: Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint. Perfect if you are a ski-family!
Red Horse Mountain Ranch
If you haven’t added a dude ranch to your family vacation bucketlist you need to do so immediately! Idaho’s Red Horse Mountain Ranch is seriously the epitome of family inclusivity. Their website boasts mantras like ‘it’s not a vacation if mom has to do the laundry’ (of course they do it for you). And they offer grandparents a discount so they can join in the family fun.
You won’t lack for family activities here! Every all-inclusive family package includes your own horse (ok not to keep!), lodging in their one bedroom suites or something more spacious like a four bedroom cabin, chef prepared meals, snacks and beverages, guided adventures like horseback riding, ziplining, and ropes courses, and non guided adventures like lounging in the pool. There is also nightly entertainment and a kids club in the summer for children ages 3 to 10.
Best Family Resorts in Idaho: Southwestern Idaho
Shore Lodge
Where to start? The Shore Lodge is honestly one of the best family resorts we’ve been to in North America let alone Idaho. Everything about this hotel is designed to make families comfortable. All of the comfortable rooms feature a separate living space with a couch that pulls out into a bed. Absolutely perfect for large families or families who sleep better in separate rooms.
Even though the rooms are great you aren’t going to want to stay inside! Make sure to request a room with stunning lake views of Payette Lake so you can enjoy an evening night cap on your balcony. The kids probably won’t let you relax too long though with heated outdoor pools, three hot tubs, a private beach, movie room, and game room they will be jostling to explore the property. The best thing? All of those amenities are free! When you arrive make sure to schedule your own private movie night complete with fountain drinks and theater style popcorn. Young children will love picking from a 20-page list of kid-friendly movies for their private screening.
If all of that weren’t enough to convince you that the Shore Lodge is the perfect place for your Idaho family vacations (yes, plural because you’ll want to go more than once!), don’t forget the nightly s’mores and cookie delivery or the child-sized bathrobes.
The Shore Lodge truly is one of the best hotels we’ve ever stayed at. From the easy access to a sandy beach and the lake to the way they treat their guests. If you go during the summer there is a very good chance you’ll find our family in the hot tub overlooking the lake post s’mores or out on the tennis court doing a little family exercise session.
What to do nearby: In summer, rent a SUP or kayak from the hotel and spend the day on the lake or go hiking in Ponderosa State Park. In winter, plan your trip around the McCall Ice Festival or spend the day on the slopes at Brundage Mountain.
Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch
An all-inclusive for the get out there and go mountain biking crowd not the lounge poolside all day crowd, Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch is a great place to explore everything Southern Idaho has to offer. Although, I must say, Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch does have a pretty stunning natural hot-spring fed pool for those of us who are a bit less active. A short drive away you can also visit the easy accessible Sunbeam, Basin Creek, and Bear Valley hot springs.
Unlike many all-inclusive resorts, Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch really caters to its guests – both young and old. Meal times are flexible and lunch can be taken to go for the busy adventurer. And trust me, you will be adventuring! Mountain bike from the ranch on bikes provided by the ranch, go horseback riding, or try your hand at fly fishing if that’s more your style. On ranch, kids can play cornhole, bocce ball, frisbee, croquet and other games on the front lawn. Or complete a Junior Ranger Badge.
What to do nearby: If you decide to leave the ranch, and I know that’s hard to believe, spend the day kayaking or SUPing at Redfish Lake or on the hiking trails in the Sawtooth wilderness. This area is as stunning as it is remote and you’ll be sure to want to visit again and again.
Redfish Lake Lodge
The Redfish Lake Lodge requires a little, no a lot of, pre-planning! They open their reservations for the upcoming season in the summer prior and you need to have an alarm set and your laptop ready to go. If you can snag a room at the rustic lodge it is totally worth it. Accommodations aren’t glamorous but you can’t beat being situated right on Redfish lake or the views of the Sawtooth Mountain Range.
If you don’t have your own boat, the lodge will rent out small speedboats and pontoons but they don’t allow for any tubing gear. We like to go out for an hour and then spend the rest of the day on our paddleboards or relaxing on the pebbly shore. The lake is insanely shallow so even little kids can wade in pretty far which young girl seem to find fascinating!
The lodge has a restaurant onsite and does live music during the weekends and peak season. We saw one of the best cover bands last summer followed by an impromptu dance party with a bunch of guests ages 2 to 22. It would perfect wholesome family fun!
What to do nearby: Spend the day kayaking or SUPing at Redfish Lake or on the hiking trails in the Sawtooth wilderness. Or visit one of my favorite bakeries the Stanley Baking Company.
Sun Valley Inn & Lodge
Did you know the first chair lift was in Idaho? In 1936 the Sun Valley Inn & Lodge built the first ski chair lift at the iconic resort. They’ve gone on to host Olympians, presidents, and even celebrities. Yes, you read that right, celebrities love the charming mountain town of Ketchum with the likes of Oprah and Tom Hanks owning homes there. For the rest of us there is one of the best luxury hotels, the Sun Valley Inn & Lodge!
Another resort where you only have to leave if you want to, you’ll find restaurants, bowling, arcade games, and two heated pools plus hot tubs all onsite. And the grounds are beyond charming. We enjoy walking around the property just as much as we enjoy hiking and biking in the surrounding area! While there are condos you can rent that will still get you access to all of the amenities we personally like to stay in the lodge and get a queen suite with a separate living room and pull out couch so that we can walk down to the outdoor heated pool in our bathrobes. Talk about convenience!
While Sun Valley is one of the best ski resorts in North America, our favorite time of year to visit Ketchum and the Sun Valley Inn & Lodge is in the warmer months because we aren’t big ski people. However, if you love to hit the ski slopes then you should definitely plan a trip in winter. You can still enjoy the heated pools after a long day of skiing. I also recommend the sleigh rides for kids. They are magical!
What to do nearby: Stroll around charming Ketchum which is chalk full of amazing restaurants and quaint shops. When you get tired of eating, shopping, and drinking hit one of the nearby hiking trails. Our favorite is the Chocolate Gulch and not just because I’m a lover of all things sweet!
Runner up: Limelight Hotel in Ketchum
Best Family Resorts in Idaho: Southeastern Idaho
Bronze Buffalo Ranch at Teton Springs
When you stay at Bronze Buffalo Ranch you can have your choice of massive (700+ sq ft) one bedroom lodge rooms or even massive-er luxury condos and cabins. Every room includes a kitchenette which is perfect if you travel with picky eaters (me!). We love to splurge on the two bedroom luxury suite which is perfect for large families with a king-bedroom, two queen bedroom, and a murphy bed style bed in the living room.
As with all of these resorts, even though your room is fantastic you are going to want to be outdoors and enjoy the easy access the Bronze Buffalo Ranch offers to some the best attractions the west has to offer. Less than 30 miles away you’ll find the entrance to Grand Teton National Park, just over two hours away you’ll find the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Treat yourself to a well earned soak in the swimming pool after hiking in one of these famed national parks.
While we are more summer adventure people, the Bronze Buffalo Ranch makes an excellent homebase for skiing at Grand Targhee or Jackson Hole. You can also fat-tire bike or snowshoe if that’s more your speed, it is definitely mine!
What to do nearby: If you’ve gotten your fill of National Parks and skiing head to Jackson Hole, WY and see what all the fuss is about with this famous mountain town.
Teton Valley Resort
One of the best family hotels if you are a sucker for rustic charm like I am! The cabins at the Teton Valley Resort are basic but ooze mountain vibes and are the perfect homebase for your kid-friendly adventures. You have easy access to Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole, and a bit further afield Yellowstone National Park.
The amenities are basic but it’s all that you need. There is a swimming pool and hot tub for use in the summer and the front desk will even loan you out pool toys. There is also a tennis court (pickleball) and a delicious restaurant, The Mess Hall.
The Teton Valley Resort proves that not all of the best family resorts in Idaho have to break the bank or have a 5 star rating to be a kid-friendly hotel.
What to do nearby: If you’ve gotten your fill of National Parks and skiing head to Yellowstone Bear World an hour away in Rexburg.
Best Family Resorts in Idaho: Boise
Inn at 500
Located in the heart of downtown, the Inn at 500 is one of the best places to base your Boise vacation out of. The boutique hotel offers comfortable hotel rooms which skew towards very spacious with a double queen coming in at over 500 sq feet. For large families, there is the option to have adjoining rooms to maximize your space and comfort.
Use the Inn at 500 as your homebase for visiting the Boise Zoo, Boise Greenbelt, and visiting some of my favorite restaurants. If you need some pizza recommendations, I’ve got you covered. It’s the perfect place to spend quality time with your family!
What to do nearby: If you’re visiting Boise with kids plan of spending a good amount of time outdoors! From outdoor patios at restaurants to hiking trails in the foothills, we love being outside. Coming in winter? No problem! Just head up to Bogus Basin for a day on our local ski slopes.
Boise Whitewater Villa
The only non-hotel or resort on the list, I couldn’t help but include the Boise Whitewater Villa. A rather iconic rental property, the Boise Whitewater Villa really is the perfect accommodations for families visiting Boise. The outdoor saltwater swimming pool is heated to a toasty 87 degrees year around making it perfect for young children who chill easily.
It’s located not far from the city center, a short three blocks from Boise’s Whitewater Park and then Greenbelt so it’s the perfect homebase for your outdoorsy meets city adventures. To make it even easier for you the home comes with four bikes and helmets so you can easily adventure around Boise.
What to do nearby: Bikes, breweries, and the green belt oh my! If that doesn’t keep you visit some sure to be favorites for older kids and younger kids include the Rapture Center or spending a day boating out at Arrowrock Resevoir.
As a mom to a younger kid (3 years old) and older kid (8 years old) I know how important it is the find the perfect family friendly hotel to base your vacation out of. I promise, you’ll be happy staying at any of these hotels. They really are the best places for families in Idaho!
