Swimming, fishing, and access to the Palouse River make Laird Park Campground a well-used summer destination in St. Joe National Forest, about 3.3 miles from Harvard. The campground splits into two distinct loops, and the difference between them is worth knowing before you arrive. The east loop has more shade from conifer cover, with wooded sites that offer more separation, though a few spots are tight for tent pitching. The west loop runs more open and exposed, with sites sitting closer together, but it also has a playground and water access at the far end.
Cell service is absent here. Sites cost $12 per night and cannot be reserved, so arriving early matters during summer weekends when the campground sees regular use. Shelly H. describes it as a "very quiet, cozy location," though campers who prioritize privacy may find the west loop in particular feels close-quartered. Each site includes a picnic table, and vault restrooms are distributed throughout the grounds. A grocery store in Potlatch provides a nearby resupply option.
For those wanting more seclusion, dispersed sites further up the road can accommodate larger groups, and Horse Camp Trailhead sits to the northeast for a more backcountry-style stay. Giant White Pine Campground is another established option a few miles north. Laird Park runs seasonally from May through September, and since spots go on a first-come basis, midweek visits give the best chance at securing a site in the east loop.
Description
Laird Park Campground, located in the northwest Idaho town of Potlatch and named in memory of A.W. Laird, a lumberman and early leader in the Potlatch Lumber Co., is a fantastic location to bring your family, friends or maybe even your boy or girl scout troupe for some outdoor fun and swimming. The recreation area has a sandy beach (a result of a swimming beach dam built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933), 2 group picnic areas as well a half-mile interpretive trail.__Fishing is a popular passtime here too, with abundant opportunities for rainbow and brown trout from the Palouse River.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsLaird Park Campground is located in Idaho near Harvard
Coordinates
46.943872 N
116.645914 W
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 8/1/26
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 8/1/26
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
Drive Time
- 1 hr 5 min from Lewiston, ID
- 1 hr 23 min from Coeur d'Alene, ID
- 1 hr 34 min from Spokane, WA
- 2 hrs 32 min from Walla Walla, WA










