Sitting along the eastern shore of Bear Lake in St. Charles, Idaho, this state park campground is one of several options spread across the lake's Idaho side, managed by Idaho Parks and Recreation and open year-round. The lake's unusually vivid coloring draws most of the attention. "Water is a turquoise color very cool like your in the Caribbean," notes John M., and that description comes up repeatedly across reviews. The sandy beach has a very gradual slope, reaching waist depth only after 50 to 60 yards out, which makes it particularly workable for families with young children.
Sites vary considerably. Pull-through spots sit directly on the lake, and most have fire pits and picnic tables. The individual sites are largely sand and sagebrush with little to no shade, while the group area has grass and trees along with full hookups and a pavilion. RVs up to 60 feet are accommodated, with electric, water, and sewer hookups available, plus a dump station on site. Not every site is tent-friendly, so it pays to check specific site layouts before booking. Reservations are accepted, and the campground does not allow pets.
Crowd levels shift noticeably by day and season. Summer weekends bring heavy use, with the nearby beach area drawing additional day visitors who can rent water sport equipment. Weekday visits and late-season trips see significantly less traffic. Campers looking at campgrounds around Bear Lake State Park will find other options along the eastern shore, including Border Campground and Rainbow Cove Campground a few miles south on the Utah side.
Access is straightforward if you take Highway 30 to Montpelier and then Highway 89 to St. Charles. Avoid the shorter route that navigation apps sometimes suggest. That road involves several miles of dusty unpaved driving. Bathrooms are maintained adequately during slower periods, though high-traffic weekends can stretch upkeep. The restrooms near the day-use area tend to see less use and stay cleaner. Boat-in and walk-in access round out the entry options for those arriving by water or on foot.
The lake's color and direct water access are the main draws here, and a site on the shoreline makes both easy to appreciate from camp.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsBear Lake State Park Campground is located in Idaho near Fish Haven
Directions
From town: Go 11 mi E on N Beach Rd. Follow signs to east side of lake.
Address
5637 East Shore Rd
St Charles, ID 83272
Coordinates
42.03211968 N
111.25746528 W
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 10 usersLast on 8/19/26
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 5 usersLast on 8/19/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 7 usersLast on 8/19/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 10 usersLast on 8/19/26
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 5 usersLast on 8/19/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 7 usersLast on 8/19/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
Features
For Campers
- Market
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- WiFi
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 1 hr 44 min from Logan, UT
- 2 hrs 28 min from Ogden, UT
- 2 hrs 30 min from Pocatello, ID
- 2 hrs 55 min from Salt Lake City, UT































