Idaho RV Camping and Campgrounds

Recreational Vehicle Camping and Campgrounds in Idaho

Famous potatoes isn't all you'll find when searching for RV camping sites in Idaho. Private RV parks and public campgrounds offer facilities from primitive campsites to full service RV resorts. Free dispersed camping (boondocking) is widely available on BLM, Forest Service, and State Wildlife Management Areas.

Idaho Resources for RV Camping Information

• Private RV Parks - Research tools for finding private RV parks and campgrounds in Idaho.

• National Park Service - NPS information about camping in Idaho. Most National Parks and Monuments have RV camping facilities.
• US Forest Service USFS information about US Forest Service administered lands in Idaho. Thousands of campsites in developed campgrounds, and for adventure, try dispersed camping (boondocking) to find the best campsites. This link covers the lower section of Idaho.
• Idaho Panhandle National Forests is the northern Idaho link for USDA Forest Service camping and campground information.
• Bureau of Land Management - BLM information and links to each Idaho BLM Field Office. Official recreation and camping information.
• US Fish and Wildlife Service - FWS information about National Wildlife Refuges in Idaho.

• Idaho State Tourism Website - Where to go, and what to do in Idaho.
• Idaho State Parks - Great RV camping is available at Idaho's State Parks.
• Idaho Fish & Game - Information and directions to Idaho's Wildlife Management Areas...many allow RV camping.

• Camping Reservations - Idaho Federal Campground Reservations.

• Current Weather - From the National Weather Service
• Historical Weather - Know what to pack. Includes monthly average highs, lows, mean temperature,GPS location and elevation.

• RV Dump Stations

• RVDumps.com - Places to dump in Idaho.
• Sanidumps.com - RV dump stations in Idaho listed  by town.
  
  

RV Camping pages with more information

• USFS (US Forest Service) - Describes USFS policies and rules about RV camping. Information about dispersed camping, and tips on how to find great free RV camping sites.
• BLM (Bureau of Land Management) - Vast areas of the western USA are available for free RV camping on lands managed by the BLM. Rules and policies about recreation and RV camping.
• USACE/COE (Army Corp of Engineers) - USACE (perhaps better know as COE) manages water recreation areas throughout the USA. Information about finding USACE lakes, RV camping possibilities, and rules and policies for use of these water based recreation areas is included.
• NPS (National Park Service) - General information about RV camping and campgrounds in US National Parks. With campgrounds in the most historic and scenic places in the country, the NPS offers some of the best places for RV camping.
• Boondocking - Learn the rules and regulations of free dispersed camping on public lands.  Find out how to find the best camping locations.

Idaho Free Camping

Public Lands in Idaho offer virtually unlimited free "dispersed camping" locations. You can get free RV camping location tips from the USFS (US Forest Service) Ranger Districts and the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Field Offices. Use the above links to find their contact information and web sites.

Our Public Lands and Boondocking Section have more information about finding remote free RV camping locations, and Free RV Camping has ideas about overnight parking you may not have thought about.

Free RV Camping Locations in Idaho

The following free RV camping locations are just a few examples of public land campgrounds and resources available in Idaho.

CHALLIS

Free RV camping is allowed at the Deadman Hole Recreation Site. Drinking water, vault toilet, boat ramp, and dispersed camping sites.

CLARKIA

Two BLM administered campgrounds are available for free RV camping. These campgrounds have no facilities, and are well off the beaten path. Suitable for smaller RV's.

• Crater Peak Camp
• Crater Lake Camp

ELMIRA

10 day limit RV camping is allowed on the McArthur Lake WMA. This wildlife management area has designated an an area just north of the dam for camping.

HOWE

50 miles from the nearest town, the Summit Creek Recreation Site has 7 campsites with fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets. Great wildlife viewing and fishing area.

OAKLEY

Primitive RV camping (boondocking) is permitted at the Big Cottonwood WMA. This wildlife management area offers stays of no more than 10 days in any 30 day period.

To find the best RV camping sites in Idaho, you need good maps. We recommend the Idaho Atlas & Gazetteer by DeLorme Publishing Company to find RV camping locations. This Idaho topographic atlas offers comprehensive detail including trails, back country roads, lakes and streams, boat ramps, forests, wetlands, campgrounds, public lands, and hunting and fishing locations. Information about family trips, wilderness outing possibilities, and more are included. Put that together with DeLorme Topo 6.0 Software and you have a powerful set of tools to find great RV camping sites

SILVER CITY

Don't let the ghosts frighten you away from great free RV camping at the Silver City Campground. This partially restored ghost town offers free camping off the beaten path. Check road conditions before heading into unfamiliar areas.

TENDOY

Located along the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway, the BLM Agency Creek Campground offers 4 campsites with biking, fishing, OHV riding, wildlife viewing and more. Primitive campground with vault toilet.

Idaho Public Campgrounds

ALMO

Camping is managed for the City of Rocks National Reserve by the State of Idaho. Campsites amid granite spires makes for a unique RV camping experience.

ARCO

Camp among volcanic rock outcroppings at Craters of the Moon National Monument. The campground has water and RV dump.

COEUR d'ALENE

20 campsites are available at the Beauty Creek Campground. This USDA Forest Service campground is fully accessible. and has potable water. No reservations.

DUBOIS

A short distance off I-15 is the Stoddard Creek Campground. Running water, restrooms, hiking trails, and each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, barbecue grill.

ISLAND PARK

Just outside Yellowstone, the Henrys Lake State Park offers 44 campsites. Boating, hiking, and great scenery.

LEWISTON

Standard and water/electric campsites are available at Hells Gate State Park. This is the gateway to Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America. Camping reservations recommended.

McCALL

Over 1000 acres on a peninsula make up Ponderosa State Park. Water and electric campsites. RV dump available.

MOUNTAIN HOME

RV camping is available at Bruneau Dunes State Park. The highest sand dune in North America is located in this park near the 82 water and electric campsites.

PINEHURST

9 miles north of I-90 is the Bumblebee Campground. USDA Forest Service campground has 25 campsites with potable water.

More Idaho Public Campgrounds

Besides the public RV camping information listed above, some Idaho counties have camping facilities, some of them free. Idaho Power also has campgrounds in the Hell's Canyon area. Try a Google search such as...

Idaho county park camping (no quotation marks) - which will show you many RV camping alternatives not mentioned above.