How to Spend One Full Day In Twin Falls
Known as the gateway to the Snake River, Twin Falls lies in Southern Idaho not far from the Nevada border. It has a population just shy of 50K and is home to many amazing attractions.
We recently paid a visit to this cool little city, spending a few days admiring its beautiful scenery and eating delicious food at a handful of its amazing restaurants.
After our trip, we were asked by family members (who were planning to visit) which attractions we would recommend the most as they were only going to be there for one day. That gave us the idea of putting this guide together.
The format will assume you’re spending a full day here. You’ll get a hotel or Airbnb the night before, spend the next day out and about, stay one more night, and head out the next day.
For simplicity sake, we’re going to skip our usual “how to get there” section as there are too many to list (depending where you’re coming from). We’ll also assume you’ll be driving in or will rent a car on arrival.
Let’s get into it!
Breakfast
Norm’s Cafe. Twin Falls, Idaho.
Time: 1 hour or less.
We’re firm believers in starting our day of adventure with a hearty breakfast. We also believe in supporting as many local restaurants as we can when we travel. Enter, “Norm’s Cafe”.
Norm’s was conveniently located just down the road from our Airbnb and had great reviews on Yelp, so it made for the perfect starting point for our day.
Norm’s is family owned and operated with friendly staff, delicious food, and speedy service. Options include omelettes, pancakes, waffles, chicken fried steak, breakfast burritos, and more!
Shoshone Falls
Shoshone Falls. Twin Falls, Idaho.
Time: 1.5 - 2 hours
Easily the most popular attraction in Twin Falls is the natural wonder known as, “Shoshone Falls”. It’s dubbed the, “Niagara of the West”, as it surpasses the height of its New York counterpart at 212-feet.
Due to its popularity, we recommend making it your first stop of the day (after breakfast) so you can beat the crowds. If you’re a sunrise or sunset person, this would make a great spot for either as well.
For information on how to get to the falls and when the best time to go is, read our complete guide here.
Evel Knievel Jump Site
Evel Knievel Jump Site. Twin Falls, Idaho.
Time: 1 hour or more (depending how much you do)
On September 8th, 1974, famed Daredevil Evel Knievel attempted to launch himself across the mile-wide chasm of this section of Snake River Canyon. The stunt failed, as the parachute malfunctioned and caused Evel to plunge into the canyon below.
Fast forward to present day and thanks to the generosity of current land owners, the ramp Evel used has been preserved as a monument, enabling visitors to see both it and the sheer magnitude of this attempted stunt for themselves.
The jump site is part of a local trail that zig-zags along the rim of Snake River Canyon and connects this to other area attractions like Shoshone Falls, Perrine Bridge, and the Visitor Center.
Visitor Center
Twin Falls Visitor Center. Twin Falls, Idaho.
Time: 1 hour or less
Get out of the sun for a bit and pay a visit to the city’s namesake Visitor Center. It’s a small but beautiful building that features local photography, art displays, an information booth, and gift shop.
If you’re looking for more information about the area, the employees are very knowledgable and can give you great tips and advice.
Outside, just beyond the parking lot, you’ll find a stone monument for Evel Knievel and a deck to view the Perrine Bridge. If you’re a Tesla owner, there are half a dozen or so charging stations here as well.
Perrine Bridge + Lunch
Perrine Memorial Bridge. Twin Falls, Idaho.
Time: 1 - 2 hours
Just a stone’s throw from the visitor center is Perrine Memorial Bridge. The bridge is named after L.B. Perrine who is considered to be the main founder of Twin Falls.
It spans 1500-feet across Snake River Canyon and stands at 486 feet above the river. Viewing decks are located on each side connected by pedestrian walkways offering epic views of the river and canyon features.
The south side viewing area is the easiest to access from the visitor center but the one on the north side was our favorite (pictured above). You can either walk across or drive to the small parking lot on the north side.
When you’re done here, simply pick and choose where you want to have lunch. There are many options nearby including Chick-Fil-A, Habit, Texas Roadhouse, and more.
Perrine Coulee Falls
Perrine Coulee Falls. Twin Falls, Idaho.
Time: 30 minutes or less
Shoshone Falls may be the most known of Southern Idaho waterfalls but when it comes to sheer beauty, in our opinion, Perrine Coulee Falls takes the cake.
We found it by pure accident while driving down the canyon into Centennial Park. A bit of luck plays into this as you will have to secure one of the few parking spots on the side of the road.
Perrine Coulee drops 200-feet into a half-bowl shaped portion of the canyon. A short trail takes you behind the falls (backside of water, anyone?) and over to the other side.
Balanced Rock Park
Balanced Rock Park. Southern Idaho.
Time: 2 -3 hours (including drive time and time spent at the campground)
Full disclosure, this one isn’t in Twin Falls. It’s near Buhl. However, it’s still in the same county and it’s too cool to miss, especially if you’re like me and really into weird rock formations.
As mentioned above, Balanced Rock can be found near Buhl, about 30-minutes or so from Twin Falls. The drive takes you through beautiful farm land before dropping you into Salmon Falls Creek Canyon.
Salmon Falls Creek Canyon. Southern Idaho.
The rock in question (pictured above) is wind-carved, 48-feet tall, weighs 40 tons, and sits precariously on a 3 foot by 17 inch pedestal. It’s truly an interesting sight.
There’s a fairly large parking lot with a singular picnic bench on the side of the road. From there, just pick one of the spur trails and head up. Or just check it out from the parking lot.
Balanced Rock Campground. Southern Idaho.
Just down the road from Balanced Rock is the campground of the same name. Simply put, this was one of the most purely beautiful campgrounds we’ve ever seen.
It features picnic tables, plenty of camping spots dotted along the canyon wall (no RV hook-ups), bathrooms, and fishing in Salmon Falls Creek. The best part? It’s first-come, first-serve and free.
Dinner
Scooter’s Chillin & Grillin restaurant. Twin Falls, Idaho.
Time: About 1 hour
You’ve been out and about all day long. Now it’s time for you to sit back, relax, and go to town on the most delicious burger in Twin Falls, “Scooter’s Chillin n’ Grillin”.
This sports bar has far more than just burgers, but it’s what they’re most known for. Add chipotle bacon and habanero cheddar for a kick and finish it off with their savory sweet potato fries. You won’t be sorry.
Conclusion
There it is. Your full day itinerary for Twin Falls. Obvisouly, these are just our suggestions. Feel free to tweak it to your preference and interests. After all, it’s your trip.
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