• I spent the night in a giant, potato-shaped Airbnb in Idaho.
  • I was surprised by how roomy and stylish it was.
  • The “potato” has enough space to fit a queen-sized bed and cozy lounge area. It also has a spa-like bathroom in a converted silo.
  • The Big Idaho Potato Hotel in Boise, Idaho, is listed on Airbnb for $250 a night (or $150 a night depending on when you book) but my one-night stay ended up costing around $400 including fees.
  • This story is part of our Next Stop series, in which Insider visits the 10 hottest US destinations for 2020. Click here to read more and see all the places we’re exploring.
  • Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Idaho is known for potatoes. So much so, that you can spend the night in one.

That’s exactly what I did on a recent trip to Boise, Idaho, staying in the Big Idaho Potato Hotel listed on Airbnb. Because, when in Rome, right?

While she doesn’t look like much from the outside, the Airbnb rental is super chic on the inside. The steel, plaster, and concrete structure is 28 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 11.5 feet tall, with enough space inside for a queen-size bed and cozy lounge area.

The six-ton spud was built in 2012 to celebrate the Idaho Potato Commission’s 75th anniversary, traveling around the country on the back of a semi for seven years before being converted into a stylish place to stay that went viral.

Keep scrolling to see what a night in the quirky room is like.


The Big Idaho Potato Hotel is about 30 minutes south from downtown Boise. There's no public transportation there, so I took a cab, which cost around $25.

Foto: The potato is about 30 minutes from downtown Boise.sourceGoogle Maps

It's in the middle of nowhere.

Foto: It is surrounded by farmland.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

To put into perspective just how middle-of-nowhere the potato is, when I booked my stay, I was sent instructions to "drive over the railroad tracks" since the GPS can't really find it — even though it has a complete address.

Foto: It is pretty close to some railroad tracks and a busy-ish road.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

I got there after dark, and while everything was nicely lit up by little solar path lights, I realized that I was truly in farm country when a cow made its way towards me, moo-ing loudly.

Foto: Dolly the cow was my favorite part.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

Her name is Dolly. She basically comes with the Airbnb, which was probably the best part of my stay. Every time she saw me she would moo a friendly greeting and come to the fence for a pet.

Foto: Dolly and I became fast friends.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

From the outside, the Airbnb looks… well, just like a big potato, which is the point I guess, even if it isn't the most photogenic.

Foto: She's not much to look at from the outside.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

The inside, however, is wholly unexpected.

Foto: The potato is filled with fun little touches. See Mr. Potato Head on the bottom right shelf?sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

Despite not having any windows, the inside of the potato is bright and airy, with plenty of room for two.

Foto: The potato is well-lit.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

There's a full-sized bed …

Foto: The bed was soft and comfortable.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

… two little makeshift nooks that act as nightstands filled with cute tchotchkes ...

Foto: Nooks take the place of nightstands.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

... and two comfortable armchairs.

Foto: There's plenty of room for two.sourceAirbnb

The potato is full of thoughtful touches, like cups, coffee, tea, cocoa, and an electric kettle …

Foto: There's coffee, rea, and cocoa, as well as an electric kettle.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

… a record player with a few records to choose from …

Foto: The record player is a nice touch.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

… as well as Idaho chocolates, little potato pins, and a binder with information on the potato and recommendations for things to do.

Foto: The binder is full of practical information.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

There's also a sink area and tiny fridge with a pitcher full of filtered water.

Foto: Like everything in the potato, the sink is small but stylish.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

The geometric wood floor is heated, and features electrical outlets throughout.

Foto: There are more than enough outlets throughout the potato.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

The bathroom is about 50 feet from the potato, in a converted silo.

Foto: The bathroom is beautiful.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

Honestly, the bathroom was the best part, filled with houseplants and stylish touches.

Foto: The fake potato has a fake fireplace.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

There's a giant round metal tub with room for two, underneath three stylish basket lamps …

Foto: The tub takes about 20 minutes to fill.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

... an array of bath salts with plants showing you what they smell like ...

Foto: The bath salts are a nice touch.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

… and even a (faux) fireplace.

Foto: A "crackling" fire.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

The shower is huge, and there's shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel ...

Foto: The water pressure was great.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

... as well as robes and slippers.

Foto: These were a nice touch.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

The only issue I had during my stay was that the faucet was somehow connected to the toilet, and I found it difficult to figure out how to turn it on. I washed my hands in the tub for the most part. That said, the toilet was heated.

Foto: I didn't love leaning over the toilet to use the sink.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

I slept like a rock in the potato. The bed was comfy and the sheets were soft.

Foto: Here's a view of the potato from bed.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

The next morning I woke up, made myself a coffee, and stepped outside to views of the Owyhee Mountains.

Foto: I enjoyed my morning coffee outside in the mild Idaho winter.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

One annoying thing was how close the potato was both to a busy road and the railroad tracks, which frequently saw trains barreling by, honking loudly.

Foto: The train tracks are pretty close by.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

However, the owner thoughtfully provides earplugs, a sound machine, and nighttime essential oils to combat the noise.

Foto: I made use of the earplugs and slept soundly.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

The other downside — and this may just be because I'm a non-driving New Yorker — was that I was sort of stuck there the next morning as Lyfts and Ubers weren't available.

Foto: You're totally fine if you have a car, and there's plenty of parking right out front.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

After 30 minutes of searching, I finally found a taxi driver who came from Boise to pick me up, but also charged me 50% extra for driving out.

Foto: There's also a nice picnic table for guests to use.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

While it's listed for an average of $250 a night (and $150 some nights, depending on when you book), with fees that added up to $392.94 for my one-night stay.

Foto: The potato is full of plants.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

This Airbnb was clearly designed with love, and the attention to detail is obvious. The way it maximizes its small space is also impressive.

Foto: These lamps hang above the tub in the bathroom.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider

This was great for a quirky night's stay, but I personally probably wouldn't make a whole weekend out of it.

Foto: It really had a surprising amount of space.sourceSophie-Claire Hoeller/Insider