It’s hard to go to any theme park and not find something to enjoy, and you won’t be disappointed at Silverwood in Athol, Idaho. This park is known as the largest amusement park in the northwest for a good reason. Not only do they have a 191-foot roller coaster named Aftershock, but they also have five more coasters with a total of more than 70 rides. Tremors goes 65 miles per hour and dips underground four times, and the Corkscrew coaster has a 140-foot drop. If you like thrill rides, this is your place to go.
Silverwood has five themed areas that include Coaster Alley, Country Carnival, Garfield’s Summer Camp, Main Street, and Boulder Beach. At Boulder Beach, you’ll find several thrill rides and a variety of waterslides in all different shapes. There is also the Avalanche Mountain ride, wave pools, and a toddler area for the little ones to enjoy.
It’s not all super scary thrills and chills, though. Silverwood has fun rides for the little tikes at Garfield’s Summer Camp. Some of these include the Kiddie Wheel, the Frog Hopper, Flying Elephants, and the Puppy-Go-Round. If you like carnival games, check out the Shooting Gallery, Ring Toss, and the Three-Point Shootout. They even have a section called Midway Games where you can play all kinds of games in one place.
The food is delicious and inexpensive as well with more than 25 eateries. Subs & Spuds at Boulder Beach is well-known for its sub sandwiches, and the Sugar Shack has plenty of sweets, including elephant ears and funnel cake. From snow cones to seafood and pizza to pickles, Silverwood has a plethora of food to help feed your crew.
Stay the night in Silverwood’s RV Park, and do it all over again in the morning. They have 123 RV sites with full hook-ups and many other perks like a playground, volleyball court, and even a trail that leads through the campground.
Visitors to the park always get a better deal on Silverwood Theme Park tickets when they buy them online before the season starts. In recent years, a general admission one-day ticket has been about $45, and a two-day has been around $75. If you wait and get your ticket when you get there, you will likely pay about $50 per one-day ticket and $80 for a two-day ticket. Children under eight and those over 65 get in for half price. Parking and camping are extra.
Located on US-95 in northern Idaho, you can reach Silverwood from the north, east, or west on US-2, or from the south on I-90. Remember to check for road closures in this gorgeous mountain region. The park is only 44 miles to the northeast of Spokane, where you can visit the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture or Riverfront Park, which hosted the 1974 World’s Fair. You may also enjoy stopping for a visit to the small town of North Pole, just three miles to the west. Maybe you will see Santa!
Although your best choice is to stay at Silverwood RV Park while visiting, if you decide to stay elsewhere and park in the lot, you shouldn’t have trouble finding a place for your RV. As a matter of fact, the parking lot is so huge that you are encouraged to check the sign on the nearest light pole so you can find your car when you leave.
The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MRTA) has several bus routes that take you within a short walk of Silverwood Theme Park. The 614, 670, and 698 have all been good choices for bus travel to the park in recent years. They will take you to Old Market and Highway 7 or Delton and Old Market. You may also want to check with the park you are staying at to see if they offer a shuttle.
When the park closes, you don’t have to go home if you reserve a spot at the Silverwood RV Park. Right next to the parking lot, you can choose from over 100 RV campsites with full utilities, including 30 to 50-amp electric. Most of the sites can accommodate rigs up to 60 feet long, but there are several that can handle up to 100 feet.
Families will love this RV park with its playground, volleyball, free Wi-Fi, and even laundry facilities and showers. The walkway to Silverwood Theme Park is underground, so you don’t have to worry about walking across the parking lot or highway.
Farragut State Park just 10 miles from Silverwood Theme Park to the northeast has more than 250 campsites, most with utilities included. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and much more. There is even a museum on-site that you can visit.
Just 25 miles to the south, you will find the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, which has over 25 campgrounds with well over 100 campsites.
If you plan to travel near Spokane, check out the Spokane Valley KOA just 28 miles to the southwest. They have about 100 sites for rigs up to 70 feet with utilities and a ton of recreational activities.
Silverwood Theme Park has wheelchairs, ECV wheelchairs, and strollers for rent at the information center on a first-come, first-served basis. Of course, you can also bring your own stroller, wheelchair, or ECV wheelchair. Although the park is large, it does not have trams or shuttles for visitors to use. However, the train is an excellent way to get around the park easily.
This part of Idaho does not get too overly warm in the summer, but it does reach the low 80s in July and August. Many visitors wear shorts or long pants with t-shirts. Open-toed shoes are fine, but not flip-flops or anything that can fall off during a ride. Make sure your shoes are comfortable as you will be walking around all day. The lows are typically in the 40s so pack a jacket or hoodie as well for evenings at the campsite.
If you want to bring a cooler with snacks and unopened non-alcoholic drinks, that is okay as long as it is a 12x12x12 soft-sided cooler. Just remember that you have to carry whatever you bring in and that these items are not allowed on many of the rides. Guests do have the option to rent a locker at the General Store on Main Street or near the arcade at the Country Carnival entrance. A fanny pack is a popular choice to keep your necessities when you go on rides.
Even though it does not get too hot in Idaho, the sun can be dangerous, so it is best to bring some sunscreen with you. Travel-sized bottles are excellent since you can easily carry them in a pocket or fanny pack. Be sure to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. Silverwood has a half-dozen water fountains around the park where you can refill them. If you do get overheated and need a break, many of the restaurants and stores are air-conditioned, as well as the shows where you can sit and enjoy a performance while you cool off.
Riverwood RV Park has utilities, so you will be able to cook in your rig more freely, although sometimes people who are on vacation prefer not to spend much time indoors. Freezing and reheating premade meals is a fantastic vacation option, so you’ve got more time to have fun. You can also cook outside on the grill or bring your own grill or camp stove. Be sure to stock up on the essentials like water, foil, cooking spray, and trash bags.
Thinking of taking the family or friends to a full-service restaurant for a treat? Just up the road in Athol, about five miles to the north, you’ll find a few fast food joints and a nice family restaurant tucked into the woods. If you want more variety, try heading south down I-95 where you can choose from Korean cuisine, a Japanese restaurant, several cafés, and a few other eateries of various cultures.
As a theme park, Silverwood is separated into different sections, and they all have their own food vendors. Main Street has a burger restaurant, pizzeria, a saloon, and a sweets shop. Country Carnival boasts six eateries, including country BBQ, an old-time soda pop saloon, ice creamery, pizza, and more.
At Coaster Alley, you may find another ice creamery, sno-cones, and a Mexican food kiosk. Garfield’s Summer Camp has the KidZ Kafe, and Boulder Beach has seven great food joints such as barbecue, Mexican, and chicken. The park also has about a dozen retail shops where you can get souvenirs and other nick-nacks.
You and everyone else will pass through the metal detectors at the gates and have your bags searched before entering the park. Be sure not to bring anything from the prohibited list like glass, alcohol, drugs, or weapons. It will also speed things up if you have all your pocket items out before you get up there. Security can be found in many areas of the park, but their main office is at the information center by the Main Street Stage.
The summers in this part of Idaho are typically quite nice, with the average high at 80 degrees and an average low of 45 degrees. The summer months are usually dry, with only an inch of precipitation in any month between June and September. However, it is always good to be prepared for anything, so keep rain gear in the RV all the time. Consider downloading a weather app for your phone, so you can check the local weather forecast before heading out.
Although no one expects to have an accident or get sick on vacation, it has been known to happen. Especially if you are out running around in the heat and riding roller coasters after eating carnival food. Luckily, the park is prepared with medical personnel at two first aid locations. One is just inside Boulder Beach and the other is between the Caramel Apple kiosk and the Theatre of Illusion. If you need an urgent care or hospital, there are five within 20 miles of the park.
