Sawtooth National Forest takes in Mountain View Campground, a small drive-in site managed by the US Forest Service near Stanley, Idaho. The campground sits directly on the water, with several sites giving campers immediate river access and the option to wade in without much effort. Fire pits and tables are in good condition, and vault toilets, drinking water, and a dump station are all on-site. The campground runs year-round, though summer fills sites quickly.
Water access is the defining feature here. One camper hung a hammock over the water for sleeping, which gives a sense of how close some sites sit to the edge. The highway runs nearby and generates noise during the day, but the sound of the river offsets some of it, and things tend to quiet down after 10 p.m. The campground has no more than nine sites, and reviewers note it can fill fast, particularly after word spreads that it has reopened or conditions are good.
Amenities are more complete than many Forest Service campgrounds. WiFi, cell service, a camp store, and available firewood make it a functional base for multi-day trips. Chinook Bay Campground sits just north if Mountain View is full. No motorized boats are permitted on the lake, making it well-suited to SUP and kayaking. Note that pets are not allowed. This is a first-come, first-served campground, so arriving early on summer weekends is the most reliable way to secure a site.
Description
Overview
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to__first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival__as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsMountain View Campground is located in Idaho near Stanley
Coordinates
44.161685 N
114.904765 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 7/24/26
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 7/24/26
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Market
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- WiFi
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 37 min from Boise, ID
- 3 hrs from Twin Falls, ID
- 3 hrs 16 min from Idaho Falls, ID
- 3 hrs 31 min from Pocatello, ID
