Hwy 84 or 20? (Boise, Pocatello, Idaho Falls: hotels, home, movies)

[Fields of Green]

Hello, will be traveling to Jackson Hole the first week of Fall (yes, planning waay ahead, got reservations months ago ) and the second leg of my trip will be between Boise and the Jackson area. Looks like either Hwy 84 or 20 will be approximately the same distance. Is either road significantly better, less remote (not too long between potty breaks!), safer in case of weather, etc?

[grmi66]

I go to Jackson 3-4 times a year for business. Going via I-84 is about 20-30 minutes shorter, but is much more boring. If you take Rte. 20 it is scenic but more remote. You also can stop by Craters Of The Moon on the way as well.

Another detour that I like to take out of Jackson is to go south on Hwy 89 to a little town called Freedom, turn right onto Hwy 34 and keep going to Soda Springs, Lava Hot Springs and finally takes you just south of Pocatello to I-15. This adds 45-60 minutes, but is very scenic as well.

[DESERTRYDER]

You have to make time for Lava Hot Springs to soak in the pool

[skidaho]

I always take Highway 20 when traveling between Idaho Falls & Boise except in the worst winter conditions. It's about 40 miles shorter than I-15 so even with a lower speed limit the time is about the same. I-15 is a pretty boring drive by comparison.

[pw72]

Yeah, same experience here. I-84/86 is faster, but covers more mileage. US 20 is less mileage, but the speed is less, (and yes, still enforced bigtime, especially from Hill City to ID 75), depends on your preferance. US 20 is a more interesting drive, I-84/86 is faster but can lull you to sleep (hopefully not literally!) Secret route from Boise to Jackson is I-84/86 to Poky, down I-15 to Soda, then up 34 to 89 in WY and sneak into Jackson. Some winding roads, but really the most direct route with little traffic. One of my favorite drives.

[Lacerta]

Agreed with everyone else here. I84/86 is faster, HW20/26 is shorter. To Idaho Falls at least. Depends on which route you are going to take to get to Jackson Hole after that. The most direct route would continue east on 26 at that point, so the highway would be the shortest overall, but the route that pw72 described takes off the freeway further south, so the freeway would be shorter, because there would be no backtracking.

I84 is easy, just get on the freeway, head east. Stay on the freeway. Go east.

HW20/26 always reminds me of the movies where people say "You take a left where the old barn burned down 10 years ago, and then keep going until you get to the spot where Mary got a flat tire last year, turn right there". My parents have driven that road literally hundreds of times, and they still take a wrong turn every now and then.

As an admitted lead foot, I will take the freeway every time, since I can't stand to slow down to 35 repeatedly, with local cops eyeing me if I go 37. Some small towns even go slower than that, I've had some I've passed through that were 20 mph going through town. And there are a fair number of small towns on the highway route.

I don't think the first week of fall (end of September) is going to be too much risk in case of weather. Even if a freak storm should happen to occur, I think the highway might be a better option. That stretch of freeway is one of the worst in the country for winter roads. Snow + Wind makes for bad drifts. In September, the snow part isn't likely, but you may have to contend with the wind. The highway route has less wind, I believe.

Both routes are pretty remote. There are numerous small towns on the highway, and in my opinion, a decent number of rest stops/towns on the freeway. But I tend to not stop more often than I have to fill my gas tank, so your opinion of adequate rest stops might be different than mine.

So if your goal is to see the countryside, and take a whole day to get to Jackson Hole, while maybe stopping at scenic locations along the way, take the highway. If your goal is to get to Jackson Hole quickly and do your sightseeing there, take the freeway.

[TohobitPeak]

The Highway is much more scenic and fun to drive than the Interstate, I take that route except for winter, but if you do the Interstate make sure to take the Thousands Springs Scenic Drive before you get to Twin Falls because you will see beauty not seen from the Interstate, and you will not have to deal with manic, rude, selfish Utah drivers breaking the law of the land and the law of their religion as much as on I-84

[grmi66]

I was in Jackson the first week of October last year and it was absolutely perfect. Temps in the 50's at night and in the 80's during the day. Plus most of the summer crowds were gone by then. You may want to check when all of the hotels change their rates. I stay at the same hotel every time I go and if I go in the winter it costs me $60 a night, but in the summer it is $110 a night.

[pw72]

So true about Jackson hotel rates...they are of course high during the winter, and can be high during the summer, but if you can find that "slack" period, usually April or October, you will score! Jackson is a beautiful town year-round. And the Tetons are beautiful year-round as well. (Just my opinion, but the most beautiful mountain range in the lower 48).

[Fields of Green]

I realize this is an old thread now, but am leaving for my trip in a couple of weeks and wanted to thank you for the suggestions! So far looks very unlikely we'll have any weather. :-) Maybe I'll take the scenic route out and then the interstate back when I'm in a hurry to get home to my doggies. :-) The place we're staying is officially in Moran, WY. Do the road/scenic route suggestions still hold true for getting to Moran instead of Jackson?