Transportation in Rexburg

My last blog post was about the small town I have grown up for half my life in. Rexburg may not have peaked your interest before, but now that I have convinced you to visit, you are probably trying to decide how to get here and how to get around once you're here.

Rexburg has a very small airport that isn't used for commercial travel. The nearest airport is in Idaho Falls, which is only 30 minutes south of Rexburg. It is a small airport as well, but does fly most places in the U.S. I prefer to fly into Salt Lake City because it is cheaper and is an international hub. It is a 4 hour drive from Salt Lake to Rexburg, but it passes through a Native American reservation, many black rock lava flows, and two beautiful mountain passes through the Rockies. If you don't have a ride from Salt Lake to Rexburg, you're in luck! There is a shuttle company called The Salt Lake Express, that makes trips back and forth from the two cities all the time. The ride isn't too expensive and you will travel in a large van or a tour bus. I have been on it many times and haven't had any problems. It will take you longer than 4 hours though, because they make a variety of assigned stops along the way.

Like most places in the United States, aside from very urban cities, a car is necessary to get around. If you don't have one, you'll want to get one. It is easy to rent or because Rexburg is a college town there are plenty of college students driving for ridesharing businesses like Uber and Lift. You'll want to download their app and book your driver ahead of time because it is very likely that you will have to wait for your driver to arrive since Rexburg and the surrounding area is quite rural and most towns are spread out. There really aren't places you can walk to and there is absolutely zero public transport, so plan ahead to have some form of travel whether it be car, bike, motorcycle, or RV. If you choose a road bike, you will find others who share your love for cycling and will most likely bond over your frustration that there are very few (if any) designated bike lanes. If RVing is your thing, you will not be alone. There are at least 5 RV parks in Rexburg and the surrounding areas. Our RV Park, Wind Willows, is a small secluded park with large trees, green grass, and full hook-up sites. Most other parks in the area are large, mostly gravel, with limited hook-ups. I would advise you to stay away from Teton West in Rigby, they have very negative reviews and I have been informed it isn't as family friendly as the other parks. If you'd like to be close to water, Jefferson County Lake (a.k.a Rigby Lake) has an RV park and puts you right on the water. It is not large enough to boat in, but is great for paddleboarding and playing on the beach. There are three lakes for boating within an hour drive from Rexburg: Ririe Reservoir, Island Park, and Palisades. I highly recommend Island Park and Palisades for water sports, such as skiing, tubing, and wakeboarding. Ririe is in a canyon and can make such sports more dangerous with the blind corners, but it is amazing for boating around and even cliff jumping in some areas.

Winter requires extra caution while traveling, since we do have snow and ice. I recommend that you look up the areas you plan to visit and obey all requirements in the area. That may include, winter tires and/or chains. Snowmobiling is a popular hobby, sport, and chosen form of travel during the winter months. Heading up to Island Park and West Yellowstone to snowmobile is something I suggest everyone gets to do at least once in your life. You will love it!

To conclude, I'd like to ask if you would please respect the area as you travel. Obey speed limits and avoid reckless behaviors while operating any type of vehicle. Pollution is an inevitable outcome of transportation, but it can be minimized by refusing to litter and to properly maintain your vehicles. Thank you for traveling responsibly, and welcome to Rexburg!