Eastern Idaho, which covers Southeast and East Idaho, is Idaho’s Research Corridor and the country’s premier region for science, technology and research. Eastern Idaho is a prime location for businesses requiring a large base of educated and trained talent.
There are 75,000 students registered each semester between four major universities and colleges within the region – Idaho State University, Brigham Young University – Idaho, College of Eastern Idaho and a satellite campus of University of Idaho. Businesses and potential new industries looking to tap into a large pool of ready-to-work talent will discover Eastern Idaho to be one of the best places in the nation to find talent.
Eastern Idaho also has the infrastructure businesses require to relocate and expand. Eastern Idaho offers accessibility by air, rail or interstate. Air service is provided by the Idaho Falls Regional Airport. Rail Freight services are provided by Union Pacific Railroad and the Eastern Idaho Railroad. Watco Transportation Services transloading services is also available.
Eastern Idaho is a rapid and aggressive growing region with sixteen diverse Counties. The Region offers a competitive cost of doing business with the lowest electricity rates in the nation. Companies benefit from low taxes, affordable industrial and commercial real estate, low utility costs, as well as access to a highly educated workforce. In Eastern Idaho, residents enjoy clean air, plenty of sunshine, diverse employment opportunities, affordable residential real estate, and an outdoor recreational paradise.
These are just a few reasons why Eastern Idaho is a great fit for companies to expand or relocate. Contact us to learn more.
4th Largest City in Idaho: Idaho Falls
2nd Largest Workforce in Idaho
90.4 Cost of Living Composite for the Region
81.7 Percent of population under 30 (Rexburg is recognized as Millennial City USA with one of the country’s largest group of young talent)
Four Institutions of Higher Education with more than 75,000+ students enrolled each semester
Home to five federal programs – Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), US Navy, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Homeland Security
A Collaborative Computing Center (C3) – host to one of the most impressive supercomputers - the Sawtooth - with approximately 100,000 computer processor cores. One of the 100 fastest supercomputers in the world.
World Class Science, Research, Cybersecurity & Innovation Hub – Home to one of the largest Department of Energy sites - the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.
Data Centers - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Justice (DOJ) Data Center focused on cybersecurity posture for all DOJ components.
8 Key Medical Facilities with the only Burn Center (EIRMC) in Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota
Agriculture Mega Center: #1 Potato Capitol in the World, #1 in Spring Wheat and #1 in Malt Barley
Four beautiful seasons, which equal impeccable Year-Round Outdoor Activities!
Explore over 160+ Trails, 46+ Parks, 12 Museums, 2 National Parks, 12 Golf Courses, 4 Art Centers, 3 Zoos, and 2 regional airports (Idaho Falls & Pocatello.) The possibilities are endless: Replenish your Zen for life with numerous indoor and outdoor activities.
Eastern Idaho’s reputation as being “the place to locate your business and sustain a great quality of life” is backed up by solid data. A few highlights:
National: 3.86%
It's hard to beat the power of benefits Eastern Idaho has to offer. We consistently rank at that top of the nations "most livability" lists.
Eastern Idaho is an exhilarating region with over 440,000 + people and growing. Short commute times means more time for indoor and outdoor activities. Eastern Idaho offers a fresh lifestyle where you can enjoy the activities of a big city without the pressure's city life brings.
These are just few examples why people, and businesses, are relocating to Eastern Idaho.
If you want to be part of a new frontier in your industry, now is the time to join the great career opportunities Eastern Idaho has to offer. As Eastern Idaho continues to grow and expand, there are endless opportunities to advance a career in just about any field. With four top colleges and universities in the region, and five federal programs, including a National Laboratory, Eastern Idaho has become an epicenter for innovative thinkers, a growing entrepreneurial spirit, and forward-looking businesses.
Come to Eastern Idaho and be part of the action. Learn more about our key industries.
Surrounded by beautiful mountains and breathtaking landscape, Eastern Idaho offers spectacular outdoor activities such as skiing, rock climbing, hiking, biking, fishing, river rafting, and camping. The region is truly an invigorating adventure for those who like to play as hard as they work. Click here to download more travel resources.
As diverse as the landscape, Eastern Idaho provides an exciting experience to meet all levels of outdoor enthusiasts.
Eastern Idaho is a short drive to world-class destinations like Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, Targhee Ski Resort and National Forest, Sun Valley Resort, and Sawtooth National Forest, just to name a few. Come and check out Eastern Idaho!
1000 Hours Outside | Must see places near East IdahoStory and Photos by Tatiana Crandall PhotographyDid you know that by simply going outside for just 17 minutes a day, you can reduce stress, boost your mental health, and even get better sleep? According to a 2019 study of over 19,000 participants, going outside for a total of 2 hours a week significantly improved their overall well-being. I was introduced to the benefits of being outside when I heard about the 1,000 hours outside challenge. At first, 1,000 hours outside seemed out of reach since we have two small kids and live in a state where there is a chance of snow 6 months out of the year. However, as I researched more about the health benefits of being outdoors (especially for kids), we decided to give the challenge a try. This will be our third year attempting 1,000 hours outside. I would love it if you joined us on our journey to get outside more this year and see for yourself the amazing benefits that await you. Here are some of our favorite destinations to get those much-needed hours outside. Grand Teton National Park - Tatiana Crandall Photography I had to start with my favorite one first, the Tetons. Not only does this park have some of the most photographed mountains in the nation, but you can also find several crystal clear lakes, miles of lovely walking trails, opportunities for all kinds of recreation, and epic views to enjoy and photograph. If you’re really lucky, you might spot some wildlife around the park. This place is heaven on earth. One of the most peaceful and breathtaking places in the park is Schwabacher Landing at sunrise. (You can go at sunset as well, but if you get to the park early you will be rewarded with fewer crowds). Our family loves the easy but beautiful trails around Taggart Lake and String Lake hikes or taking the shuttle across Jenny Lake and hiking back for some more gorgeous views. On especially hot days, we like renting inflatable paddle boards in town and taking them to String Lake for a relaxing afternoon. I also recommend visiting Oxbow Bend, Mormon Row barns, and the Snake River Overlook to really get a taste of the beauty of the Tetons. If you’re more of a thrill-seeker, nearby Snow King Resort has a fun alpine slide and cowboy coaster that you can ride down the mountain. If you’re looking for a unique experience, take the Jackson Tram up to Corbet’s cabin for some delicious hot chocolate and waffles. If you have a mountain bike, bring it along for some awesome downhill trails. (Teton Visitors Center and Yellowstone National Park - Tatiana Crandall Photography With over 3 million visitors a year, Yellowstone is a pretty obvious choice. In this massive park, you can find 500 active geysers, 10,000 hydrothermal features, 290 waterfalls, 67 species of mammals, 285 species of birds and 1000 miles of hiking trails. There are not many places in this world where you can drive down the road and see bison, grizzly bears, wolves, moose, and elk all in one day. If you take advantage of being a local and visit during their shoulder seasons (April, September, and October) you can avoid the crowds and inevitable traffic jams. For those looking for unique features, Grand Prismatic Spring is the and the third largest in the world. You can get a better view of this colorful hot spring by taking a short hike along the Fairy Falls trail. For those looking for unique features, Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. You can get a better view of this colorful hot spring by taking a short hike along the Fairy Falls trail. Obviously, there is the famous Old Faithful, which got its name from its reliable eruptions. The average eruption is every 92 minutes, but you can go to the National Park website for predicted eruptions. Be sure to do your research before you go because there is hardly any service in the park. If you’re a fan of waterfalls, make sure you visit the Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It is twice as tall as Niagara Falls and in the spring 63,500 gallons a second flow over the falls. We love seeing this beauty from Artist’s Point but you can also see it up close by visiting the platform at the Brink of the Lower Falls. If you’re looking for wildlife like wolves and bears, bring a spotting scope and drive around Lamar valley. If you’re not lucky enough to see a wolf or grizzly in the park, stop by The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in Yellowstone to see them up close. (The West Yellowstone entrance opens for the season April 19th.) If you haven’t made a trip to this volcanic field, it is a must-see! Walking around the vast black landscape with its lack of vegetation and dormant cinder cones almost makes me feel like I’m on another planet. If you or your kids have any interest in rocks, volcanoes, caving, and/or photography this is such a fun location to explore. The visitors center has a great video on the types of lava found in the park and there are a lot of easy hikes and interesting features like the Spatter Cones (they look like mini volcanoes), Inferno Cone (beautiful views from the top of this cinder cone), and lava tubes like dewdrop cave and Indian Tunnel. If you want to explore the caves, you must check in to the visitors center for a free cave permit to prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome, a disease that kills bats. Cell service and food are not easily found here, so we like to grab dinner from Pickles Place in Arco on the way home. The preserve is always open, but Loop Road is usually closed due to snow until mid-April. If you’re looking for closer volcanoes to hike, the 10,000-year-old Menan buttes are two of the world’s largest tuff cones. The North Menan Butte Trail is commonly known as “R Mountain” and is open to the public to hike. Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve - Tatiana Crandall Photography St Anthony Sand Dunes - Tatiana Crandall Photography Just 40 minutes north of Idaho Falls you can find 10,000 acres of sand dunes and hours of entertainment for adults and children alike. These dunes are a hotspot for ATVs and dirt bikes, summer sledding, and thanks to the lack of light pollution–amazing stargazing. Our kids love to play in the sand and the shallow water of Egin Lake, and end the day with a marshmallow roast while looking for shooting stars. (Pro tip, avoid this area on windy days.) The dunes are closed from January 1-April 1st to protect wintering elk. Henry’s Fork of the Snake River - Tatiana Crandall Photography Starting at Big Springs in Island Park, the Henry’s Fork provides all sorts of water recreation. About 120 million gallons of water flow out of Big Springs every day, making it one of the largest springs in the country. There is a bridge near the spring that you can watch and feed the protected trout (no fishing in this area) and visit the historic John Sack cabin. A short drive from the springs is Big Springs Boat Launch where you can start a 3-hour float to Macks Inn via canoe, kayak, tube or paddle board. Keep an eye out for the wildlife that frequent the area like moose, bald eagles, cranes, elk, and even grizzly bears. Starting around Macks Inn and continuing down the tributary, you can find some of the best fishing in the nation. Continuing further south, Henry’s Fork meanders through Harriman State Park, which is a fun place to spend a day hiking, horseback riding and fly fishing. Following Henry’s Fork southeast of Harriman, you’ll find Mesa Falls, an incredible 10-story high waterfall very easily accessible thanks to the walking paths and boardwalk. You can walk right up to the Upper Falls and experience its power and beauty up close. The Lower Falls can be seen from a second location a short drive down the road. The road to Mesa Falls (Idaho Scenic Byway 47) is closed at Bear Gulch in the wintertime for snowmobiling and Nordic skiing and opens around May. Wildflowers - Tatiana Crandall Photography One of my absolute favorite things about our area in late spring and summer are finding wildflowers Starting in late May and continuing through June and July, if you do a little exploring you can find fields of them, especially Wyethias (or Mule’s Ears). If you are visiting the Tetons, there are thousands of these bright yellow flowers off of Antelope Flats road, in the Northern part of the park by Jackson Lake near the Colter Bay visitors center, and on top of Signal Mountain. In Yellowstone we have seen a lot of flowers in the open fields and hills in the NorthEast side of the |
Golf one or all of Eastern Idaho’s prime golf courses. Whether you are a beginner or a Pro, you will find beautifully groomed courses and lots of sunshine. Come and check out one or all of our many golf courses in Eastern Idaho!
Hit the Slopes or the Lakes. From the first-time skier to the thrill seeker, Eastern Idaho provides ski slopes to fit all levels of skiers. In addition, Eastern Idaho provides 5-Star resorts to escape to.
Eastern Idaho is also well known for its beautiful lakes and reservoirs surrounded by tall, majestic mountains, and beautiful forests. If you love to camp, boat, or fish, Eastern Idaho should be the #1 location on your list.
Hike & Bike. Whether you’re looking for a challenging climb or a scenic weekend stroll, there’s unlimited options on the trails of Eastern Idaho. Check out these sites!
Experience the culture of Eastern Idaho by visiting local hot-spots and engaging in unique events, such as:
Learn
In Eastern Idaho, we are lucky to have unlimited resources for gaining an education or continuing your education. Between our four universities and colleges, over 75,000 students of all ages have access to the best educators offering hands-on real-world learning experiences - crucial to meeting the needs of current employers and employers seeking to locate their business to Eastern Idaho.
Eastern Idaho residents enjoy clean air, plenty of sunshine, diverse employment opportunities, and great outdoor recreational activities.
With a diverse economy, inexpensive land, low taxes, abundant resources, a ready workforce, great colleges and universities, and a low cost of living, Eastern Idaho has become one of the best places to live - and work!
If you are tired of getting stuck in traffic, and spending allot of time in your car to get to work each day, then Eastern Idaho is the place for you. In Eastern Idaho, it’s all about putting on your favorite tunes, setting the cruise control, and enjoying a quick commute.
No matter where you are in Eastern Idaho, you will find welcoming people with strong work ethics and innovative spirits – people developing cutting-edge processes and creating new technologies – helping their communities grow and thrive.