Idaho Road Closures
Idaho road closures occur annually in eastern Idaho to protect wildlife and can also occur on a temporary basis.
Written by Sara Brody
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
In
Idaho
, road closures can be caused for a variety of reasons, including road maintenance, construction, and severe winter weather. Sometimes these closures are temporary, lasting just days or hours, while others last for entire seasons, requiring drivers to navigate creatively in the winter. If you’ve made your way down I-84 in sub-zero weather, you know how challenging it is to drive in the winter in Idaho. The fact is, road closures are just part of life in the Gem State, especially during seasons with snowfall.
To help you plan for Idaho road closures, we're here to help with this guide to highway shutdowns in Idaho.
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversHow to check for road closures in Idaho
Road closures occur in every state for a variety of reasons—including accidents, road maintenance, or weather conditions. But if you don’t expect a road closure, you can wind up seriously delayed, and road closures can be difficult to anticipate.
You can stay on top of road closures by going to the
Idaho 511
website—it issues travel alerts and is managed by the Idaho Transportation Department (IDT)
. The site offers live information on Idaho road closures, as well as details about the cause, information on closed and open lanes, and predictions of when closures will end. To get live updates easily, you can make an account on the IDT website to receive alerts. Calling 511 is another way to get updates.
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Idaho regions where roads close in the winter
The majority of road closures in Idaho, such as ones caused by construction or accidents, are temporary. However, Idaho’s large wildlife population requires the IDT to schedule long-term road closures in eastern Idaho in the winter.
1. Stinking Springs & Egin Area
Closed from: December 15 to May 1 for Stinking Springs, January 1 to April 1 for roads south of Elgin-Hamer, and January 1 to May 1 for roads north of Elgin-Hamer
The Stinking Springs area near the South Fork of the Snake River is home to a variety of wildlife, including mule deer. To protect this animal population from the negative impact of human influence, including passage through the area in cars, the road is closed to motorized vehicles, and human entry through the winter. The Egin-Hamer Area is also closed to protect wintering deer, elk, and moose.
2. Challis area
Closed from: December 16 to May 1
The area surrounding Challis, Idaho is rich with nature and is subject to annual road closures implemented by the Bureau of Land Management. The areas impacted are Second Spring Basin, Carlson Hills, Fuller Gulch, Willow Creek, Donkey Hills, and Birch Creek.
The closures are intended to protect local populations of elk and bighorn sheep, and the closures extend to ATVs, snowmobiles, pickups, and motorcycles. However, there are designated routes you can follow to navigate the area during the closure.
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Why you need the best (and cheapest) car insurance in Idaho
Road closures in Idaho can make it tricky to drive through the state in winter, particularly in the eastern parts. If you’re visiting the Gem State in the snowy months, you’ll want to be prepared with the best possible car insurance policy.
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FAQs
Can you drive through Idaho in the winter?
The short answer is yes, but you’ll want to take some precautions. This includes equipping your vehicle with
snow tires
if possible and checking the IDT’s website for pointers on driving in the winter
.Is there an app for Idaho road conditions?
If you’re interested in receiving notifications about Idaho road conditions, you can make a MyIDT account on the IDT website to sign up for alerts.
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