10 Idaho Town Names That’ll Make Your GPS Have an Existential Crisis

Idaho is famous for its wild landscapes, but its town names are just as quirky and unpredictable. Here are ten of the state’s most bizarre, confusing, or outright hilarious town names—each one guaranteed to make your GPS (and maybe you) do a double-take.

1. Slickpoo

A real place in Idaho’s northern panhandle, Slickpoo was named after Josiah Slickpoo, a local Nez Perce man who helped missionaries settle the area. The name, however, never fails to provoke a reaction.

2. Good Grief

Located near the Canadian border, Good Grief sounds more like an exclamation than a destination. It’s a tiny community that’s become a punchline for travelers and locals alike.

3. Santa

Yes, there’s a Santa in Idaho, and it even once changed its name to SecretSanta.com for a year as part of a promotional stunt. The town’s holiday spirit is year-round, and it’s not far from another oddly named spot: North Pole.

4. Dickshooter

This remote spot in Owyhee County is named after a pioneer named Richard “Dick” Shooter. The name is infamous for obvious reasons and never fails to get a chuckle (or a blush).

5. Bone

Located in eastern Idaho, Bone is a ghost town whose name conjures up images of the Wild West—or maybe just a pile of skeletons.

6. Squirrel

A small rural community, Squirrel’s name is as nutty as it sounds. It’s the kind of place where you’d expect to see more critters than people.

7. Dingle

Rumored to be named after the sound of cowbells or passing trains, Dingle is a quiet town with a name that’s hard not to giggle at.

8. Chubbuck

Named after a railroad conductor, Chubbuck’s name has been described as “horrible and hilarious.” It’s a sizable suburb, but the name remains a source of local amusement.

9. Freeze

Whether it refers to the chilly weather or a command, Freeze is a town name that might make you shiver—or just stop in your tracks.

10. Beer Bottle Crossing

Often cited as Idaho’s weirdest town name, Beer Bottle Crossing is a tiny community whose name conjures up images of a wild frontier party—or a very confusing road sign.

Bonus Oddities

Ozone: A town with a name that’s out of this world.
Keuterville: Hard to pronounce and even harder to explain.
Princeton & Harvard: These two towns are just five miles apart, giving Idaho its own Ivy League rivalry.

Idaho’s town names are a testament to its quirky history and the sense of humor (or perhaps exhaustion) of its early settlers. Whether you’re traveling through Good Grief or trying to find Slickpoo on a map, your GPS may need a reboot—and you’ll have a story to tell.

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