Best Campsites in Idaho
It is summertime. Wondering what to do to escape from hotter days and nights? Worry no more. It is time to go outdoors and enjoy a relaxing environment away from home. If you live or visit Idaho, here are the 15 best campsites that offer everything for all types of campers.
1. Kirkham Campground
Kirkham Campground is located in Lowman, Idaho next to the South Fork Payette River. This campground is very sunny and hot during summer but there are a few Ponderosa pines, which offer a little shade to some campsites. Visitors to this campground enjoy exploring the scenic Kirkham Ridge Trail and soaking in the Kirkham Hot Springs along the shoreline of the river. Other popular activities for campers include kayaking, whitewater rafting, and trout fishing. Nearby attractions include Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway; hot spring pools located along Highway 21 and Canyon Scenic Byway.
2. Lake Cascade State Park Campsites
This park is nestled in the mighty mountains of central Idaho, around 80 miles north of Boise. The park offers a broad range of recreational opportunities throughout the year such as hiking, mountain biking, photography, bird watching, ice fishing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling and all types of boating. There are 12 developed campgrounds with more than 200 individual campsites, some of them with power, water, and sewer. In addition to individual campsites, the park also has the Osprey Point group yurt complex, a group camp, and six boat launch ramps.
3. Hayfork Group Campground
Located approximately 49 miles northeast of Boise, Hayfork Group Campground is a great campground for group camping only. The campsite is in an open area with limited shade. There is a forest nearby comprising of mainly ponderosa pine trees. During your stay, you can explore local trails or enjoy rainbow trout and cutthroat fishing in Mores Creek located around 12 miles from Idaho City. Several trails in the area provide unique opportunities for off-road vehicle riding, horseback riding, biking, and hiking. If you are visiting during winter, the campground is a good spot for snowmobiles and backcountry skiers.
4. Bull Trout Campground
This campground is located in Lowman, Idaho along the shore of the Bull Trout Lake. The lake offers a broad range of recreational opportunities such as canoeing and fishing. Numerous trails in the area offer off-road vehicle riding, mountain biking, and hiking opportunities. The campground contains single, equestrian, and group campsites. Group campsites at this campground can accommodate up to 50 campers. Each equestrian campsite at this campground contains a corral and large parking spur. Trash collection pins, drinking water, and vault toilets are available on this campground.
5. Bad Bear Campground
This campground is located within a scenic Ponderosa pine forest, approximately 50 miles northeast of Boise, Idaho. Visitors enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and forest, summer wildflowers and pristine wildlife. Mores Creek nearby is a great spot for rainbow trout and whitefish fishing. There are six campsites here that can accommodate up to six people each. Each campsite has a fire ring, a charcoal BBQ grill, benches, and picnic tables. Other amenities in this campground include parking spurs, garbage services, and volt toilets. During your stay, expect to hear some noise from passing traffic due to the campsite’s proximity to the highway.
6. Pine Flats Campground
Pine Flat Campground in scenic Oak Creek Canyon is one of the Forest’s most popular campgrounds. The scenery is unmatched, the stream is stocked with trout. If the fishing aren’t biting, you can always go swimming, hiking or birdwatching.
Pine Flats Campground is located in Garden Valley, along the Banks-Lowman Highway. There are several campsites at this campground covered by Ponderosa pine trees, and some dotted by summer wildflowers. Visitors enjoy soaking in the hot springs at the river’s edge. The South Fork Payette River is another spot for a broad range of recreational opportunities such as kayaking, rafting, and trout fishing. The campground is also a good spot for watching or hunting deer and elk. If you love hiking, a 0.25-mile nature trail leads to a natural hot springs pool.
7. Bonneville Campground
This campground is located approximately 19 miles east of Lowman, Idaho. The campground has several single-family campsites and one double family campsite shaded by trees and dotted with summer wildflowers. Each campsite is equipped with BBQ grills, fire rings, and picnic tables along with benches. Other amenities at this campground include trash collection services, drinking water, vault toilets, and campground host center. The South Fork Payette River and the Warm Springs Creek are located next to the campground. Visitors enjoy fishing in the river and creek or soaking at Bonneville Hot Springs.
8. Big Eddy Campground
Big Eddy Campground is located in Banks, Idaho along Highway 55 on the North Fork of the Payette River. The campground has four campsites, three of which can accommodate a recreational vehicle of up to 300 feet long. Each campsite has a charcoal BBQ, a fire ring and a picnic table with benches. There is no drinking water, garbage services or electricity provided at this campground. During your stay, you can enjoy whitefish and trout fishing along the North Fork of the Payette River. Other activities you can enjoy include boating, and wildlife watching.
9. Creekside Campground Idaho City
This campground is located approximately 6 miles south of Idaho City. There are 10 campsites here for tent and RV camping. Each campsite has picnic tables and BBQ grills. The campground has a central fire pit in common area, a vaulted bathroom, horseshoe pits, and a playground area. Charcoal briquettes and firewood bundles are available for purchase. Otherwise, you can bring your own. The Mores Creek nearby offers campers a good opportunity to cool off during the day or enjoy trout fishing. There is no water or electrical hookups to maintain the campground’s natural habitat and to keep the setting as pristine as possible.
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10. Heyburn State Park Campsites
Heyburn State Park, which includes around 2,300 acres of water and 5,800 acres of land, is located in the Pacific Northwest. The park offers numerous recreational opportunities such as boating, wildlife viewing, bird watching, fishing, swimming, canoeing, sailing and much more. There are three campgrounds at this park: Benewah Campground, Chatcolet Campground, and Hawley’s Landing Campground. The Benewah Campground has several campsites that are available for a first-come-first-served basis. The Chatcolet Campground and Hawley’s Landing Campground are available for reservations. Besides campsites, Heyburn State Park also has three rental cottages, camper cabins, and other several campground amenities.
11. Grayback Gulch Campground
Grayback Gulch Campground is one of the campgrounds located within the Boise National Forest. This is a developed campground with cleared out underbrush and paved roads. There are 16 single campsites, two double family campsites and two group camping sites that can accommodate up to 150 people. Single campsites are equipped with a fire ring, a picnic table, a BBQ grill, and a lantern pole. Double campsites just have two driveways. Several trails and paths in this forest provide an ideal spot for hiking and mountain biking. Other amenities and services include drinking water, restroom, and garbage services.
12. Porcupine Springs Campground
This campground is located on the top of the Magic Mountain. The campground is divided into five loops. Loop A and loop B are sites meant for group camping. Loop C can be reserved for individual or group camping. Loop D and loop E are single campsites for normal camping. Each campsite is equipped with a fire ring, BBQ grill, picnic tables, and benches. There is a host on-site near the entrance of the campground. Other campground amenities and services include potable water, garbage services, a restroom with vault toilets, and a picnic area. There is no electricity on the site.
13. Howers Campground
Howers Campground is located on 1249 S Vinnell Way #200 in western Idaho. There are several campsites in this campground surrounded by a mixed-growth pine forest. The tall trees next to the campsites offer both shade and privacy. The campground offers breathtaking views of the Deadwood Reservoir. A boat ramp located about 5.5 miles away from the campground offers boating, kayaking, and fishing opportunities. Several trails for off-road vehicle riding, mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding wind around the surrounding landscape and the lakeshore.
14. Ponderosa State Park Campsites
This 1,000-acre state park sits next to the beautiful Payette Lake near McCall. Camping is available within this state park in various locations. The Peninsula Campground has 113 campsites surrounded by 150-foot-tall ponderosa pine. 23 of these campsites are double sites with one camper cabin, water, and electric hook-ups, fire rings, dump station, flush toilets, picnic tables with benches and three bathhouses with hot showers. The RV Group Campground near the main entrance to the park has 50 campsites with a variety of campground amenities. The Northwest Passage Campground, located at the northern part of the lake, offers 22 walk-in campsites (non-reservable).
15. Snake River RV Park
Snake River RV Park is a full-service RV park located on 1440 Lindsay Blvd, Idaho Falls, Idaho. This RV Park has several campsites that accommodate tents, RVs and big rig sites up to 85 feet long. The campground features 50 & 30 amp electric service, tent areas, two pet areas, and camping cabins. Some of the park’s amenities include free Wi-Fi, propane, laundry facilities, hot showers, fire pits, firewood, groceries, swimming pools, gift shop, and a hot tub. Since most of the campsites at this park fill up quickly, you will need to make a reservation before the date of arrival.
Conclusion
These are a few campgrounds that made into this list of the best campsites in Idaho. If you have a campground in mind that you want us to feature in this article, feel free to let us know in the comment box below.
