Idaho State in 2 Days: A Pocatello, Idaho College Visit Fly-In Trip
A parent-first plan for visiting Idaho State University in Pocatello: how ISU's individual campus visits work and where to sign up, free visitor parking at the ICCU Dome and Stephens Performing Arts Center, a Courtyard about 6 minutes from campus plus Budget and Mid-range options, drive times from Pocatello Regional, Idaho Falls and Salt Lake City airports, the Idaho Museum of Natural History and Zoo Idaho for siblings, and Pocatello weather by season, every fact sourced and checked Oct 31, 2026.
Idaho State University sign on the Pocatello, Idaho campus (October 2022). Photo: Tony Webster · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).
The short version
Trip at a glance
School
Idaho State University (ISU, Pocatello, ID)
Days
2 days: arrive in Pocatello and settle in, then an individual ISU campus visit the next day.
Fly into
Pocatello Regional Airport (PIH), about 17 minutes from campus with no traffic. Idaho Falls Regional (IDA) is about 56 minutes away, and Salt Lake City International (SLC) about 2 hours 47 minutes, by car with no traffic.
Best base
Courtyard by Marriott Pocatello, about a 6-minute drive to campus off I-15.
Car or no car
Rent a car. The airport is west of town, and the hotels sit off I-15 a few miles north of campus.
Registration
Pick a date for an individual campus visit on ISU's visit portal. Visits run on weekdays; for a weekend visit, contact the Admissions office.
1. Who this guide is for
This plan is for parents bringing a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see Idaho State University in Pocatello, home of the Bengals.
ISU's individual campus visits are tailored to your student's interests and can include meetings with Admissions, faculty and current students.
Why this order
Day 1: fly into Pocatello Regional and drive about 16 minutes (about 11 miles) to the Courtyard, with no traffic.
Day 2: an individual campus visit that starts at the Pond Student Union, plus time to see the Idaho Museum of Natural History on campus.
With extra time in spring, summer or early fall, Zoo Idaho is about 4 minutes from campus by car.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
Sign up for an Individual Campus Visit on ISU's visit portal: choose an available date on the calendar, then register. Some dates may be unavailable due to holidays or other campus events.
Individual visits are offered Monday through Friday. Need a weekend? Call (208) 282-2100 or email isuamb@isu.edu; weekend visits are limited to a campus tour and a meeting with an Admissions Coordinator, since academic departments are generally unavailable.
Prefer a bigger event? ISU's recruitment events, including Experience the Roar and Bengal Visit Day, have their own RSVP tab on the same portal.
Bringing a school or club group? Use ISU's Group Tour Request form. Can't travel yet? ISU has a virtual tour.
Tour availability varies by season.
Winters are cold and snowy: January averages about 34°F highs and 17°F lows at Pocatello Regional Airport, with about 8.5 inches of snow, and December about 10 inches.
Summers are warm and dry: July averages about 89°F highs and 52°F lows, with about half an inch of rain.
Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable for walking campus: May averages about 69°F highs and September about 77°F.
Check the Bengals schedule before you book if you'd like to catch a game while you're in town.
2. The suggested 2-day plan
Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Campus times are to the Pond Student Union on South 5th Avenue.
We list drive times only; check which airlines serve Pocatello Regional (PIH) for your dates. Idaho Falls Regional (IDA) is about 56 minutes (about 53 miles) from campus and Salt Lake City International (SLC) about 2 hours 47 minutes (about 162 miles), with no traffic.
Day 1: fly into Pocatello and settle in
Pocatello Regional Airport (PIH) → Courtyard by Marriott Pocatello
Driving (no traffic)
~16 min, 11.0 mi
Driving
Rental car
Pocatello Regional Airport (PIH) → Hampton Inn & Suites Pocatello
Pocatello Regional Airport (PIH) → La Quinta Inn & Suites Pocatello
Driving (no traffic)
~13 min, 9.3 mi
Driving
Rental car
Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) → Idaho State University
Driving (no traffic)
~56 min, 52.5 mi
Driving
Rental car
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) → Idaho State University
Driving (no traffic)
~2 hr 47 min, 162.4 mi
Driving
Rental car
Arriving early in the afternoon? The Idaho Museum of Natural History on campus is open every day, with afternoon hours on weekdays and Sunday and a full day on Saturday; the last ticket sale is 45 minutes before closing.
Day 2: Idaho State campus visit
Courtyard by Marriott Pocatello → Idaho State University
Driving (no traffic)
~6 min, 2.2 mi
Driving
Drive
Hampton Inn & Suites Pocatello → Idaho State University
Driving (no traffic)
~6 min, 2.1 mi
Driving
Drive
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Pocatello → Idaho State University
Driving (no traffic)
~7 min, 2.4 mi
Driving
Drive
La Quinta Inn & Suites Pocatello → Idaho State University
Driving (no traffic)
~8 min, 3.6 mi
Driving
Drive
Idaho State University → Zoo Idaho
Driving (no traffic)
~4 min, 1.8 mi
Driving
Drive
Idaho State University → Pocatello Regional Airport (PIH)
Driving (no traffic)
~17 min, 10.2 mi
Driving
Drive
ISU's registration page lists the Pond Student Union Building, 1080 South 5th Avenue, as the location for Individual Campus Visit Days.
Free visitor parking is at the ICCU Dome and the Stephens Performing Arts Center (it may be redirected during large events). General lots elsewhere need a visitor permit (T2 MobilePay in select lots, or a temporary day permit).
Your visit can include meetings with Admissions, faculty and current students. Spots ISU suggests seeing include the Pond Student Union, the Idaho State Bookstore, the Idaho Museum of Natural History, Hutchinson Quad, Swanson Arch, the Rendezvous, Reed Gym (the Student Rec Center), the ICCU Dome, the Stephens Performing Arts Center and Red Hill.
Flying out the same day? Pocatello Regional is about 17 minutes from campus with no traffic.
3. Campus by campus
Idaho State University sign on the Pocatello, Idaho campus (October 2022). Photo: Tony Webster · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Individual Campus Visit Days are held at the Pond Student Union Building, 1080 South 5th Avenue, Pocatello.
Visits are tailored to your student's interests and can include meetings with Admissions, faculty and current students.
Visitor parking
Free visitor parking: the ICCU Dome and the Stephens Performing Arts Center (may be redirected during large events). Elsewhere, park in a General lot with a visitor permit (T2 MobilePay in select lots, or a temporary day permit).
Visiting the Idaho Museum of Natural History? Museum visitors can park free in lot G01 with a validation code (through TEZPARK).
Getting there
ISU is about 17 minutes by car from Pocatello Regional with no traffic, and about 6 to 8 minutes from the hotels off I-15.
What to know
ISU's suggested stops include the Pond Student Union, Hutchinson Quad, Swanson Arch, the Rendezvous, Reed Gym, the ICCU Dome, the Stephens Performing Arts Center and Red Hill.
Campus dining is open to the public: eateries in the Student Union and the Rendezvous, and buffet-style meals at the Turner dining hall.
Contact
ISU Admissions: (208) 282-2100, info@isu.edu; weekend visit requests to isuamb@isu.edu.
Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
4. Where to stay: Pocatello hotels off I-15, a few minutes from campus
Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Hotel · Our pickMid-range
Courtyard by Marriott Pocatello
290 Vista Dr., Pocatello, ID 83201
Why here
It's off I-15 north of campus, about a 6-minute drive with no traffic, and about 16 minutes from the airport.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Good to know
Expedia lists an on-site bistro and bar, an indoor pool, a gym, EV charging and free self-parking; pets aren't allowed. The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
It's just down Vista Drive from the Courtyard, about a 6-minute drive to campus with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists a free breakfast, an indoor pool, a hot tub, free self-parking and pet-friendly rooms (fee). The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
It's about a 7-minute drive to campus with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists a free breakfast buffet, an indoor pool, a hot tub, a 24-hour gym and free self-parking; pets aren't allowed (service animals welcome). The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
It's the closest of these to the airport, about 13 minutes away, and about 8 minutes from campus with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists a free breakfast buffet, an indoor pool, a hot tub, a gym, free self-parking and pet-friendly rooms (fee). The minimum check-in age is 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Pocatello has no 4-star hotels on Expedia, so there's no Upscale pick. The Courtyard, Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express sit together off I-15 about 6 to 7 minutes from campus, and the La Quinta is closest to the airport.
5. Meals between tours
Hours change, so check before you go.
At the hotels
The Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express and La Quinta include a free breakfast. The Courtyard has an on-site bistro and bar.
On campus
All ISU dining options are open to the public: eateries in the Student Union and the Rendezvous, and buffet-style meals at the Turner dining hall.
6. Things for siblings along the route
With siblings
Idaho Museum of Natural History
Idaho State University campus, Building #12, Pocatello, ID 83209
ISU's natural history museum, right on the ISU campus. Open daily (afternoons Monday to Friday and Sunday, all day Saturday); the last ticket sale is 45 minutes before closing, and kids 3 and under get in free. Visitors can park free in lot G01 with a validation code.
A zoo of North American wildlife, including bison, cougars, eagles, pronghorn and grizzly bears, about 4 minutes from campus. It's seasonal: in 2026 it opened weekends in April, daily from May 1 to September 7 and weekends again into October, with admission ending at 3:30 p.m. Check the zoo's site for next season's dates.
Head for the Pond Student Union at 1080 South 5th Avenue. Free visitor parking is at the ICCU Dome and the Stephens Performing Arts Center.
Flying in and out
Pocatello Regional (PIH) is about 17 minutes from campus with no traffic. Idaho Falls Regional (IDA) is about 56 minutes away and Salt Lake City (SLC) about 2 hours 47 minutes, so leave plenty of time if you fly out of Salt Lake City.
Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Pocatello Regional Airport)
Spring: March averages about 51°F highs and 28°F lows, April about 59°F/33°F and May about 69°F/40°F; May is the wettest month at about 1.4 inches.
Summer: June averages about 79°F/46°F, July about 89°F/52°F and August about 88°F/51°F, with about half an inch of rain in July and August.
Fall: September averages about 77°F/42°F, October about 62°F/33°F and November about 46°F/24°F, with about 4 inches of snow in November.
Winter: December averages about 34°F/17°F with about 10 inches of snow, January about 34°F/17°F with about 8.5 inches and February about 39°F/20°F with about 7.6 inches.
Parent checklist
Pick a date and register for an Individual Campus Visit on ISU's visit portal (or contact Admissions for a weekend visit).
Book flights into Pocatello Regional (or Idaho Falls or Salt Lake City, with the longer drive) and plan a rental car.
Book the Courtyard, the Hampton Inn, the Holiday Inn Express or the La Quinta in Pocatello.
Plan to park free at the ICCU Dome or the Stephens Performing Arts Center.
After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.
8. Student-athlete recruiting visits
For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.
Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.
Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.
1 Division I
Athletics
Idaho State University
NCAA Division I Big Sky Conference
RecruitingWe found no department-wide recruiting page. Look for a questionnaire on your sport's team page at the athletics site ↗, or email the coaches.
Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
Division I (Idaho State University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.
Planning around the season
Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.
Add your dates and how you're getting there, and we'll pull this guide into one plan: tour sign-up links, the hotel base, parking or airport notes, the route and meals.
Coming soon
Planning more college trips?
Visit-season reminders and new trip guides from College Visit Guides. Newsletter coming soon.
Sources
All checked Oct 31, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.
Expedia listing: Courtyard by Marriott Pocatello (star class, amenities and policies, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Pocatello-Hotels-Courtyard-BY-Marriott-Pocatello.h93196662.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Hampton Inn & Suites Pocatello (star class, amenities and policies, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Pocatello-Hotels-Hampton-Inn-Suites-Pocatello.h1683621.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Pocatello (star class, amenities and policies, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Pocatello-Hotels-Holiday-Inn-Express-Suites-Pocatello.h8114888.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Pocatello (star class, amenities and policies, checked 2026-10-31) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Pocatello-Hotels-La-Quinta-Inn-Suites-By-Wyndham-Pocatello.h50512.Hotel-Information)
