Camper submitted image from Hells Gate State Park Campground - 1

View Photos

Camper submitted image from Hells Gate State Park Campground - 2
Roads
Camper submitted image from Hells Gate State Park Campground - 3
Facilities
Camper submitted image from Hells Gate State Park Campground - 4
Camping
Camper submitted image from Hells Gate State Park Campground - 5
Nature
Unlock Planning Tools in App

Established Camping

Hells Gate State Park Campground

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Hells Gate State Park Campground, near Lewiston, Idaho, is a fantastic spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors along the scenic Snake River. With a mix of tent sites, RV spots, and even cabins for those who prefer a bit more comfort, there's something for everyone here.

The campground is known for its shady sites, which are a blessing during those hot summer days. Many visitors have praised the cleanliness of the area, with one camper noting, “Even after the holiday, the camping area was very clean.” You’ll find amenities like drinking water, showers, and picnic tables, making it easy to settle in and enjoy your stay.

For adventure seekers, the nearby Lewis and Clark Discovery Center offers a glimpse into history, while the river provides excellent opportunities for swimming and kayaking. Campers have also enjoyed the biking trails around the park, with one reviewer mentioning, “Lots of biking in park and nearby along the riverfront.”

While the campground is close to town for any supplies you might need, it still feels like a peaceful retreat. Just remember, if you’re planning to visit, don’t park on the grass! Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Hells Gate State Park Campground is a solid choice for a memorable outdoor experience.

Suggest an Edit

Location

Hells Gate State Park Campground is located in Washington

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

46.36882036 N
117.05770564 W

Open in Google Maps

The Dyrt Alerts

Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

Learn More
Presented byT Mobile

Detours Nearby

LOCAL FAVORITES PRESENTED BYToyota Trucks
Triple H Mini Ranch

Triple H Mini Ranch

14 min away

Wawawai County Park

Wawawai County Park

34 min away

Drive Time

Presented byToyota Trucks

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Connectivity

Presented byT-Mobile SatelliteT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 2 users
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 1 user

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Cabins
  • Tent Cabin
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Trash
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • 50 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info


2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Reviews

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

45%
45%
12%
0%
0%

4.5

out of 5

18 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 19, 2024

Camping

How much is the tent area from September 15. To 18 morning two people

Sitetent
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Mosley , August 19, 2024
Reviewed Jul. 26, 2022

Excellent as usual

We have tented here several times over the years while motorbike camping, this time was in our 5th with the bikes in garage. We stayed in the Birch Loop with water and hydro hook up. Nice mature shade trees with good clearance. Short walk to a great beach. Staff were great to deal with. Short drive for Costco and such. Great location for a motorbike base camp. So many great roads…especially the Spiral Highway and Snake River. When the jet boats are out playing which seemed mainly on the weekend it could be annoying to some but we really didn't notice it. Birch loop is well shielded from the river by mature trees. Happy Camping. Oh, and don't park on the grass.

Site52
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jul. 19, 2022

Great River Access

Overall a nice park. Some things seem to be in disrepair like broken water pumps, branches down everywhere, a lot of sick trees, etc. Nice beach for swimming and launching kayaks. No real view of the water from the campsites but easy access via walking trail. Lewis and Clark center was pretty sparse but the video was interesting. Campers were all very respectful and it was very relaxing. I would camp here again. Site #15 in the A loop definitely had the best view of the water.

Site17
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed May. 20, 2022

Awesome

Very nice state park on the snake river. Lots of shade, full hook ups.

Site28
Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Sep. 18, 2021

Beautiful

We stayed in a tent site..there was grass & the sites were very spacious. Staff was so kind & the park was very clean.

Site77
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Ember W., September 18, 2021
  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Ember W., September 18, 2021
  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Ember W., September 18, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 23, 2021

Hells Gate is anything but Hell

PROS: *The campground is very shady which is great when it's 102 degrees (record breaking year). *The sites are pretty level and easy in and out.
*They irrigate so there is lush grass everywhere. *Lots of biking in park and nearby along the riverfront. *Very nice Lewis and Clark Discovery Center *Aspen and Birch Loops DO have RV hookups. Cottonwood Loop does not. *Access to the Snake River, with marina close by *Disc golf course *Close to town

CONS: *NO early checkin. 2:00 is it. They say they need the time to water and clean. They were nice about it. *Bathhouses are DESPERATELY in need of updating and the one in Cottonwood Loop mens room smelled of urine. *Can't really see the river from the campground

It was very smoky when we were there due to fires across the river in Oregon, so we cut our visit short. We will return when air quality returns though.

Site46
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Nancy C., July 23, 2021
Reviewed Jun. 17, 2021

Riverfront camping

Camping right on the Snake River with Lewis & Clark Discovery Center. Lots of sites, water restrooms, showers, and fire pits. No hookups.

SiteCottonwood 70
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Jaime B., June 17, 2021
  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Jaime B., June 17, 2021
  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Jaime B., June 17, 2021
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Jun. 17, 2021

Nice spot by the river

Great camping spot. No RV hookups, but fresh water, restrooms, and showers. Next to river but lots of shrubs. Can walk down trail to access river bank.

Sitec70
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Jaime B., June 17, 2021
  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Jaime B., June 17, 2021
Reviewed May. 25, 2021

Great Park and Campsite

Super helpful staff gave us a sweet campsite. Lots of wildlife around and we were camped close to the trailhead. Great hiking and views of the river and canyon. Definitely going back.

Site72
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Carl , May 25, 2021
  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Carl , May 25, 2021
Reviewed Mar. 28, 2021

Clean, convenient, near water

We stayed in Birch Loop for 2 nights. This was our maiden voyage so we opted for something close to a city as we were still setting up our camper coming out of winter.

Our spot was plenty long enough, but not as wide as I would have liked. There are two big trees on passenger side that prevent setting up a comfy patio. That said, the fire pit area is perfect size.

The center of the loop is for groups, so noise is centralized. Other than that, good space between sites and all are pretty level and paved.

The hiking trails are great with lots of options for easy hikes by the water or tougher ones up the mountain. Either way, you can’t go wrong. The noise on the river from jet boats was mild as it is only end of March.

Great Verizon coverage at site and on trails.

  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Kyle G., March 28, 2021
  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Kyle G., March 28, 2021
  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Kyle G., March 28, 2021
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Oct. 29, 2019

Accessible

Very family friendly place and the trail is wheelchair accessible. Great trek along the river. Watch for rattlesnakes in the area!

Reviewed Jul. 14, 2019

Loud

Overall, a nice state park campground, but a little too close to the city. The bathrooms were decent, with free showers. We arrived around 6pm and the weather was weird, light rain then hail, but it stopped after about an hour. We started to settle in and then a group of maybe 30 teenage boys with a handful of “leaders” arrived around dark taking up 4 spots near us. The kids were rowdy throwing firecrackers until midnight. The leaders did absolutely nothing to stop them and neither did the campground. Luckily they slept and then all took off early around 8am after morning prayers. In hindsight, nothing against the campground other than close proximity to each other and the city and the camp host didn’t break up the “fun”

Reviewed Jun. 21, 2019

Great hide away

Awesome camp ground right on the river. We saw lots of different wild life. The only down side is a out of state fishing license is kind of expensive.

Reviewed Jul. 7, 2017

Great location

Was a very clean campground! Space between campers were great!

Site87
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Jan. 22, 2017

Riverside

Hells Gate is a great campground, but know what you are getting into. The park is VERY parklike with some trees, but overall there is little privacy on the loops. We stayed for just overnight, but enjoyed our time. You are right on the Snake River (minimal view) and close to Lewiston, ID (maybe too close). Great place to base for river adventures!

  • Review photo of Hells Gate State Park Campground by Erin S., January 22, 2017
Reviewed Jun. 17, 2015

Plenty to do

This is a large campground for the area and there is plenty to do around the state park. Fishing, hiking, swimming, boating, disc golf, volleyball mountain biking. The camp spots are very close to each other and there is not much privacy. It is also very hot in the summer. It would be a great place to take younger children if you are looking for lots of activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do campers say in reviews about Hells Gate State Park?

Campers consistently highlight Hells Gate State Park's cleanliness, helpful staff, and spacious sites with lush grass areas. The shady campground is particularly appreciated during hot weather, with many enjoying the mature trees throughout the property. Wildlife sightings are common, and the park's location on the Snake River is a major draw. The accessible trail system, swimming beach, and Lewis and Clark Discovery Center receive positive mentions. Some visitors note the campground's proximity to Lewiston as both a convenience and drawback, depending on preference. While most appreciate the park-like setting, a few mention limited privacy between sites and advise watching for rattlesnakes in the area.

Is there a map of Hells Gate State Park campground?

Yes, maps of Hells Gate State Park campground are available. The official Idaho State Parks website provides downloadable maps showing the various camping loops (including Birch Loop), trail systems, and facilities. Physical maps can be obtained at the park entrance station or visitor center upon arrival. The maps show campsite layouts, amenities, the Snake River access points, hiking trails, and the Lewis and Clark Discovery Center location. For planning purposes, checking the Idaho State Parks website or calling the park directly is recommended to access the most current campground map.

What camping facilities are available at Hells Gate State Park?

Hells Gate State Park Campground offers a variety of camping facilities along the Snake River. The campground features both tent sites with grassy areas and RV sites with full hookups (water and electric). Amenities include restrooms with free showers, water pumps, and fire pits at campsites. The park has multiple camping loops including Birch Loop, with many sites offering shade from mature trees. Beyond camping facilities, the park provides access to hiking trails, a beach area for swimming, boat launches, fishing spots, disc golf, volleyball courts, and mountain biking trails. The Lewis and Clark Discovery Center is also located within the park.

How can I see photos of campsites at Hells Gate State Park?

Photos of Hells Gate State Park campsites can be viewed on the Idaho State Parks official website, where they maintain galleries of their facilities. The Dyrt app and website also feature numerous campsite photos uploaded by actual campers, showing the shaded sites, grass areas, and river views. Additionally, the park's social media accounts occasionally share updated images of the campground. When making reservations through Idaho's reservation system, some sites include photo previews of specific campsites, particularly useful for seeing the layout, shade coverage, and proximity to amenities before booking.

How do I make reservations for Hells Gate State Park camping?

Reservations for Hells Gate State Park can be made through the Idaho State Parks Reservation System online or by phone. The reservation window typically opens 9 months in advance, and securing spots early is recommended, especially for summer weekends and holidays. When booking, you can select specific sites in different camping loops based on your needs (tent sites with grass or RV sites with hookups). The reservation process requires information about your planned arrival/departure dates, camping equipment type, and group size. Some sites may be available on a first-come, first-served basis during off-peak seasons, but calling ahead to check availability is advised.