There is 1 drive-thru wildlife park in Idaho, plus 1 free scenic byway where you can watch wild elk, deer, and bald eagles from roadside pull-outs in winter.
- Yellowstone Bear World (Rexburg)
- Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway (Garden Valley)
YELLOWSTONE BEAR WORLD
Type: Drive-thru wildlife park with a petting zoo, amusement rides, and a dinosaur exhibit
Location: 6010 S 4300 W, Rexburg, ID 83440 (5 miles south of Rexburg off US Hwy 20)
Phone: (208) 359-9688
Website: yellowstonebearworld.com · Rates & Tickets · FAQs
Social Media:
Animals: American black bears, grizzly bears, Rocky Mountain elk, bison, white-tail deer, mule deer, and Rocky Mountain goats. There are 40+ bears in the park.
Drive Time: You can re-enter the drive-thru as many times as you want during your visit.
Proximity: An easy stop between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. It’s reachable from both Jackson Hole, WY and West Yellowstone, MT.
Admission (2026):
- Adults (11–64): $27.95
- Seniors (65+): $26.95
- Children (3–10): $14.95
- Ages 2 & under: Free
- Carload, up to 7 people in a private vehicle: $139.95
- Group rates are available for 15 or more people, plus special rates for motor coach tours.
- National Parks and Golden Age passes are not accepted.
Season Passes:
- Adult (11+): $140
- Child (3–10): $85
- Carload (up to 7 people): $600
Included with admission: The drive-thru, petting zoo, amusement rides, and the Jurassic Creek animatronic dinosaur exhibit
Add-On Experiences:
- Bear Cub Bottle-Feeding: $75 per person, admission not included.
- Offered daily at 11 AM, 2 PM, and 5 PM.
- Ages 5 and up, and reservations are recommended.
- Wildlife Excursion: A guided tour, formerly called the Curator Tour. It costs extra.
Hours: Daily 9 AM – 5 PM. The 2026 season ends October 18 and reopens in spring.
Vehicle Rules:
- Drive slowly and keep your windows up in the bear areas.
- RVs, travel trailers, and tour buses can drive through. A trailer parking area is available if you’d rather unhook.
- Semi-trucks and motorcycles can’t drive through, but the park provides a free loaner vehicle.
Pets: Pets must ride inside the cab. Free kennels are available. No pets or service animals are allowed in the walk-around areas.
Payment: Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover, and traveler’s checks. No personal checks.
Tips: Mornings are usually the best time to see the animals, especially on hot days.
Other: The park has the Hungry Bear Cafe and the Three Bears Gift Shop.
WILDLIFE CANYON SCENIC BYWAY
Type: Free roadside winter wildlife viewing along a state highway
Location: ID-17 (Banks–Lowman Hwy), Garden Valley, ID (between Banks and Lowman, about 1.5 hours north of Boise)
Phone: (208) 465-8465 (Idaho Fish & Game, Southwest Region)
Website: Idaho Fish & Game
Social Media: None
Size: About 33 miles of highway, running through Boise National Forest
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service (Boise National Forest) and Idaho Fish & Game
Animals: Large herds of wintering elk, plus mule deer, bald eagles, and wild turkeys
Admission: FREE
Best Time: Winter, at dawn and dusk. Elk gather here because it’s a lower-elevation winter range with south-facing slopes.
Hot Spot: A 5-mile stretch near the Danskin Station river access in Garden Valley
Viewing Rules:
- Watch only from the plowed pull-outs. Don’t stop in the road or watch wildlife while driving.
- Keep your distance. If the animals start walking or running away, you’re too close.
- Don’t feed the wildlife.
- Drive slowly on icy roads, because elk and deer collisions are common here.
Make it a day trip: The full Boise loop is about 150 miles. Take ID-21 north to Lowman, ID-17 west through Garden Valley, then ID-55 back to Boise. The route passes hot springs, the historic gold rush town of Idaho City, and Nordic ski trails.
Explore Drive-Thru Wildlife Parks in Neighboring States:
Washington · Oregon · Nevada · Utah · Wyoming · Montana