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Established Camping

Priest River

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Priest River, near Oldtown, Idaho, is a cozy campground that’s perfect for families and those looking to enjoy some time by the water. With sites that offer picnic tables and fire pits, it’s a great place to kick back, roast some marshmallows, and soak in the beautiful views of the river.

The campground is known for its proximity to a public beach, making it a hit with families, especially those with younger kids. Visitors have highlighted the friendly atmosphere and helpful volunteers, which really adds to the experience. One camper mentioned, “The volunteers were amazing, so helpful and friendly!”

For those who enjoy fishing or boating, the location is ideal, sitting right where the Priest River meets the Pend Oreille River. You can expect some stunning sunrises and sunsets, especially from certain sites like number 12, which offers a fantastic view. Just keep in mind that some sites are closer to the road, so a bit of traffic noise might be part of the package.

If you’re looking to explore, you’re just a short drive from Oldtown, where you can find stores and restaurants. The campground also features clean facilities, including restrooms and showers, making it easy to freshen up after a day of fun. Whether you’re here for a quick getaway or a longer stay, Priest River has a welcoming vibe that makes it a solid choice for your next camping trip.

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Location

Priest River is located in Idaho

Detail location of campground

Directions

Priest River Recreation Area is 1 mile east of the town of Priest River on Highway 2. After the river it will be the first road on the right. The park is also known as the \"Mudhole.\"

Address

2376 E HWY2
Oldtown, ID 83822-9243

Coordinates

48.1791667 N
116.8922222 W

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Connectivity

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    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
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    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

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Drive Time

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Connectivity

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  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

Access

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

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations


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Reviews

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4.0

out of 5

11 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 24, 2022

A mix of great and not so great

I am a bit mixed about this campground. Our spot was really incredible. Site 12 is right on the river which provides impressive sunrise and sunsets. The river is calm in the mornings and evenings with fish jumping. However, there are some downsides to the spot and the campground that cannot be ignored. 1) It is very close to the highway so you hear the cars all day. Site 12 is as far away as you can get from it plus it has a great view so helps offset the road noise. Other sites don't have the view so the road noise would be even more annoying. 2) The campground is right next to a public beach. The water was nice in the summer but the river does have a lot of seaweed floating in it. Site 12 also happens to be closest to the beach. The noise from the bench is not bad. However, everyone from the campground walks right next to your site on their way to the beach. Also, site 12 gets full sun from about noon to sunset. There is shade but the tent site and parking are in the sun. 

LTDR - The view on the river here is a 5. The road noise and traffic from the beach goers pull this down to a 3 for me though. So I will give it a 4.

Site12
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Priest River by Todd B., August 24, 2022
  • Review photo of Priest River by Todd B., August 24, 2022
  • View of site 12 including highway in the background.
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Reviewed Jul. 18, 2022

Priest river “ the mud hole” campground

The volunteers were amazing so helpful and friendly! Camp site 12 is where you want to be especially if you like the sunshine. Only site on the river tent site only with bbq pit and picnic table and some shade. Bathrooms are close the fishing dock is closer and you could even swim in your own hole! The public beach is about 30 yards away and great for younger kids. Also from camp site 12 you can see the playground if you were to bring kids! They have free hot showers and firewood for sale on site as well. The rangers come give a presentation every third Friday I went and it was on all the different kinds of pines we have in INW.

Site12
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Priest River by lisa , July 18, 2022
  • Review photo of Priest River by lisa , July 18, 2022
  • Review photo of Priest River by lisa , July 18, 2022
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Sep. 30, 2021

A lot for a little

We love USCOE parks. They are always well maintained and clean. They are always on water for fishing, or boating. Most have services for a great price. And the hosts are always wonderful. The bonus here is that it is close to Sandpoint, one of our favorite places we visited in Idaho.

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Aug. 20, 2021

Nice Shady Sites

Booked a few nights here to meet our son & daughter-in-law from Seattle for a weekend get together. Sites allow one RV & two tents, which is primarily why we chose it. Very shady under large conifers, so not much solar. But, bathrooms/showers kept clean and very pleasant camp host.

Site18
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Priest River by Rick G., August 20, 2021
  • Review photo of Priest River by Rick G., August 20, 2021
  • Review photo of Priest River by Rick G., August 20, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 12, 2021

Very nice quiet campround

We stayed just 1 night in Mid June and the weather was great. The location for us was great , close to Sandpoint but far enough away to enjoy the quiet afternoon and sunset that evening vs. the noise and activity.

The sites were very well maintained. Power, water and on site dump station. The attendant was helpful and very pleasant. No complaints whatsoever!

Highly recommend if you are looking for a quiet spot.

Reviewed Jul. 7, 2021

Priest River

Lots are well spaced, however narrow limiting slide outs and awning extension. Obviously slide out take priority limiting awning extension. There is no fresh drinkable water hook up at sanitation station. The fresh water station carries a warning that it is not suitable for drinking. ( Not sure if this is common in the Western States?) Sanitation station has no water hookup to flush sewer tank only hose to clean sanitation/sewer hose. Vicky Rayes Pizza was good.

No bugs to bother you.

No electric hook ups, no AC at 90 plus degrees!

Site3
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Priest River by Stephen L., July 7, 2021
Reviewed Sep. 7, 2020

Great beach close to town to

This is a nice small campground. It’s extremely close to the edge of town so the road noise is significant no matter what campsite you have, but other than the noise you wouldn’t know you were near a town. Beach is so kid friendly for the little ones; this was the best part for us. Our 3 year old really gained some water confidence while here. Like the other Army Corp sister campground in this area the dishwashing and bathroom areas are great! The playground is fantastic to wear out the kiddos energy too! We will be back!

  • Review photo of Priest River by Nanette C., September 7, 2020
  • Review photo of Priest River by Nanette C., September 7, 2020
  • Review photo of Priest River by Nanette C., September 7, 2020
  • (14) View All
Reviewed Jun. 27, 2020

Large sites in the shade

We were passing through from Glacier to home for a quick one day/night stop. Great little beach and play ground area. Both in full sun, but the campsites in full shade. Nice flush toilet bathrooms with great showers. Fives minutes for a quarter.

Only complaints were the mosquitoes and you can hear some road noise. Note that the entrance gate is closed from 10pm to 7am and you can only reserve online at recreation.gov. No office check in’s.

Reviewed Jun. 1, 2019

Cozy little campground where the Priest and the Pend Oreille rivers meet

This small campground is perfect for fishing/boating being right where the priest  river and the Pend Oreille river meet. It has 20 well spaced campsites nestled in the trees. Each site is drive in and has a picnic table with fire pit. There is access to potable water and flush bathrooms with showers. 

 Next to the campground is the day use facilities which include nice restrooms, a large amount of parking, soccer/baseball field, play equipment/swings, and a small beach with boat launch. I really enjoyed the picnic tables with the old truss bridge in view, very picturesque.

 It seemed like a little known place with some local traffic as the campground was empty but a soccer team of kids were practicing in the field. Overall for the price of $21 I will be coming back and would recommend it to any Dyrt users in the area!

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Priest River by Douglas S., June 1, 2019
  • Review photo of Priest River by Douglas S., June 1, 2019
  • Review photo of Priest River by Douglas S., June 1, 2019
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Aug. 23, 2018

Weekend Getaway

Small campsite ⛺ on the edge of town. Perfect for a few nights relaxation. Hot showers 🚿make for a relaxing night after a day on the river ⛵. While there is no hiking here, it is close to nearby forests 🌲. With it's own boat dock ⚓ you can spend the night fishing before sitting around the 🔥. Great for someone who wants a simple campground.

Site011
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Priest River by Samantha W., August 23, 2018
  • Review photo of Priest River by Samantha W., August 23, 2018
  • Review photo of Priest River by Samantha W., August 23, 2018

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there multiple campgrounds along Priest River and how do they differ?

Priest River Recreation Area is the main developed campground in the area, located at the confluence of the Priest River and Pend Oreille River. This US Army Corps of Engineers park offers well-maintained facilities with electrical hookups, water access, and a dump station. While there are other camping options in the broader region, this particular location stands out for its riverside setting, boat dock access, and proximity to both nature and the town of Priest River. For alternative camping experiences, visitors should check with the local Forest Service regarding dispersed camping opportunities in the surrounding national forest areas.

What camping facilities are available at the Mud Hole Campground on Priest River?

Priest River campground (often referred to as Mud Hole) offers 20 well-spaced campsites nestled among trees providing good shade. Each site includes a picnic table and fire pit, with both drive-in and tent-specific options available. The campground provides flush toilets and hot showers (coin-operated at five minutes per quarter). Facilities include potable water access, although the water station carries a warning about drinking suitability. There's also an on-site dump station for RVs. The sites can accommodate one RV and two tents, though some sites are narrow which may limit full slide-out and awning extension.

What recreational activities can I enjoy at the Priest River Recreation Area?

The Priest River Recreation Area offers numerous recreational opportunities centered around water activities. The campground features its own boat dock perfect for fishing or launching watercraft where the Priest and Pend Oreille rivers meet. A kid-friendly beach area provides swimming opportunities and is ideal for families with young children. The beach and adjacent playground are in full sun, contrasting with the shaded campsites. Fishing is popular, especially during mornings and evenings when the river is calm and fish are jumping. While there aren't hiking trails directly in the campground, nearby forests offer additional outdoor recreation options. The location also provides convenient access to Sandpoint for additional activities.

Where is the Priest River Recreation Area located and how do I get there?

The Priest River Recreation Area is located at the edge of the town of Priest River, Idaho, where the Priest River meets the Pend Oreille River. It's conveniently situated close to town amenities while maintaining a natural setting. The campground is easily accessible by road and is approximately 30 minutes from Sandpoint, Idaho. Being on the edge of town means you'll have quick access to stores, fuel, and restaurants when needed. The proximity to town does mean some road noise may be noticeable, particularly at sites closer to the main road.