Best Tent Camping near American Falls, ID

Tent camping options near American Falls, Idaho include dispersed areas and established campgrounds within driving distance of town. McClendon Spring Campground offers primitive tent sites amid a small grove of trees with mountain views. Trenner Park provides day-use access for tent campers along the Snake River but no longer permits overnight stays. Both locations maintain basic facilities with varying levels of accessibility.

Access to tent camping areas requires preparation, as most sites feature minimal amenities. McClendon Spring Campground sits approximately 4 miles down a rough gravel road that may challenge vehicles without high clearance. A vault toilet is available, but no drinking water or other services are provided. One review mentioned, "It's about 6.5 miles off of a paved road on a well maintained gravel road if you follow the GPS directions in the dark." Trenner Park offers toilet facilities and trash disposal but restricts camping to daytime use only. Tent campers should bring all necessary supplies including water, food, and proper waste disposal equipment.

The backcountry tent camping experience near American Falls provides solitude and natural beauty. McClendon Spring features a small spring and pond area surrounded by trees that provide needed shade in the hot Idaho summers. A recent review noted, "Situated by a pond with lots of birds made our stay very peaceful." The campground's elevated position offers views of the nearby town of Malta and surrounding mountains, particularly striking at night. Most tent sites accommodate small groups with some offering picnic tables and fire rings. Tent campers should be prepared for occasional cattle encounters, as several reviews mention grazing livestock in the vicinity. Cell phone coverage is generally available at McClendon Spring, unlike many remote backcountry tent sites.

Best Tent Sites Near American Falls, Idaho (4)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near American Falls, ID

1 Photos of 4 American Falls Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near American Falls, ID

334 Reviews of 4 American Falls Campgrounds


  • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2019

    Goodenough Creek Campground

    More than the Name Suggests!

    Agreat little campground that is split into a more developed tent area and a primitive tent area.  The developed tent area had gravel pads along with picnic tables and metal fire rings.  There was also a halfdicap vault toilet near the entrance.  At the primitive site we found a wonderful little rope swing that swung out over the creek.  All the primitive sites were wonderfully cool and shaded while the developed sites were more exposed

  • A
    Sep. 25, 2020

    Scout Mountain Campground

    Beautiful basic camping in Furs and Pines

    Beautiful campground set high up in the Caribou National Forest. The campground is around 13 miles up a mountain from Pocatello- it took us roughly 30 minutes driving up curvy mountain roads to get up to the top. Be advised, our gps tried to route us off a dirt road half way up, but you just stay on the paved road all the way up. We got site 20, I’m not sure which loop, as the loops were kind of hard to determine. It was next to bathrooms and across from water and a group campsite which looked like it’d be awesome if you were in a group (site 19.) Beautiful in the pines and furs. You can’t see from the road but many of the tent pads are behind the tables and fire rings. The tent pads aren’t huge- Our tent pad wasn’t big enough for our 6 person REI tent so we pitched right behind our car on the parking pad, which was considerably larger. We were only staying for one night on a Thursday and it was very quiet with only a handful of other campers, but I saw reserve tags on most camp sites in our loop for the weekend. No showers, vault toilets. Drinking water. We tent camp so I didn’t see if there were any electric sites, ours was not. We saw cows, moose, birds and deer on the mountain. Wish we could have stayed an extra night to hike around the area.

  • Abner H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 16, 2025

    North Bingham County Park

    Nice Quiet Park - $45/night for Non Resident

    The park is nice and clean, appears to be recently paved or resurfaced.  The spots are relatively level. Restrooms are clean and nice shower is large.  The 12 pull through sites have 20/30/50 Amp outlets and potable water and each has its own picnic table.  The dump station is just past the sites there is a seprate potable water fill 50' from the dump station which has its own hoses and water for flushing tanks.  

    There are two areas of grass designated as tent sites with in ground fire rings and there is one shared elevated charcoal grill.

    As of July 2025 the nightly rate is $25/night for Bingham County Residents and $45/night for Non-Residents.  There are envelopes for payment (cash or check only) at the front gate and inside the envelope is an information sheet with the bathroom codes.

    - AT&T Service is 3 bars and bounces between 5G+ and LTE my speedtest showed 10.38 Mbps Download

    - Starlink is partially obstructed in all of the pull throughs with ~15 outages greater than 2s in 15 minutes but has download speeds of 157.93 Mbps when not obstructed.

    - T-Mobile is 3 bars of 5G and my speediest showed 310.58 Mbps download speed.

  • P H.
    Jun. 23, 2020

    Devils Creek RV Park

    Close quarters but friendly faces

    This is an older campground, and space near reservoirs is a hot commodity. The RV park host was very friendly and accommodating. Very clean campground with a nice boat dock and plenty of spaces to get down near the reservoir and fish.

    Warning - Some of the spaces felt like extremely close quarters especially with slide outs. The picture below shows one of the older full utility locations. Some units may not have much room to slide out without contacting the utility boxes. Some units offer great shade and an awning next to a shared fire pit, shared picnic table. Some units have a really nice shared grass area between trailers. Also several people here are seasonal campers with monthly rates. This can make finding a space a little more challenging. Call ahead and make sure to get reservations so you can get a spot.

    Lot size seems inconsistent between spaces as some feel very cramped and some of the high number units without utilities had larger spaces between them, almost appearing as an extra space between two units people were using for pet/kid play areas.

    Dogs are to be kept on leashes, but people should consider short leashes/tie lines as it is easy for pets to cross into adjacent units depending upon where they are staked. Make sure to plan ahead for power adapters. Only one 30amp service so if your planning to run AC, plan to be the first in or coordinate with your neighbor.

  • Robin B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 19, 2023

    Snake River Vista Recreation Site

    Wonderful secluded spot

    This site is right above the snake River so you can hear the water, wonderful way to fall asleep! You are in the High Desert of Idaho so this site is amongst sagebrush but has good shade trees also. When I was there I could start a tent but this ground does tend to get pretty hard during dry season so staking may be a bit more difficult.

    There are actually 2 sites you can pitch a tent or park a vehicle. There is also a firepit. I got really good cell reception. There are fun trails to explore with beautiful scenery. This would also be a great spot if you like to pole fish. You can walk to the river and cast in! This spot os about 8 miles to the American Falls Dam where you can kayak, SUP, fish, and picnic

    The directions were spot on. I recommend a vehicle with relatively high clearance. It os closer to the interstate than you would expect so you can hear vehicles but was super quiet at night

  • Jane H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 5, 2025

    Pipeline Campground

    Great for overnight stop

    The access to the water’s edge is nice. Our campsite has the basic amenities with fire ring and picnic table (a bit worn down). The vault toilet is clean and well maintained. I would definitely stay here again.

  • Beth B.
    Jul. 22, 2018

    Scout Mountain Campground

    Perfect in every way!

    We stayed on site #3, nice and shady, perfect walking distance to clean vault toilets, water spigot not far, and off the road so you feel tucked away. Nice sturdy picnic tables, latern stand, and great fire ring with attached grill, and an additional freestanding grill available. Loved that spot!

  • Curtis W.
    Jul. 6, 2024

    Twin Springs Campground

    Primitive Campground, dry, filled with Grass and Sagebrush

    This review is from July 2024, and it appears to have been a dry year.

    I found the campground over run with Red Currant Bushes which were full of mature fruit.  There was also a lot of Crested Wheatgrass and Sagebrush.  The 5 campsites are still in good repair, but due to the Red Currant Bushes, access to the springs area was difficult if not impossible.  The Springs themselves, due to the low water table were all but dried up, with only a small puddle of water marking each one.  The water pump is still missing it's handle, and is now dry, so no water could be pumped.  There was a moose present when I was there, but he was down in the outflow area, and did not seem interested in anything but lying down there.  The Vault toilet was clean, odor free, and well maintained.

    I cannot recommend this campground for mid summer or fall.

  • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 26, 2018

    Malad Summit Campground

    Plenty of shade next to a large creek with trout!

    This place is wonderful! There's plenty of shade and plenty of pools to take a dip in the creek. There are vault toilets picnic tables and permanent fire rings at each of the campsites. If the campground is full there is dispersed camping up and down the same road


Guide to American Falls

Tent camping near American Falls, Idaho provides opportunities for outdoor recreation in the high desert landscape. The area sits at approximately 4,400 feet elevation with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F during July and August. Winter camping is challenging due to cold temperatures that frequently drop below freezing from November through March, with occasional snow accumulation.

What to do

Fishing access: At Trenner Park, visitors can fish along the Snake River during daylight hours. "Great if you want to spend a day fishing or hiking along the Snake. There is also bathroom available and a handicap access dock," notes reviewer Donner N.

Wildlife viewing: The wetland areas attract various bird species, particularly at McClendon Spring Campground. "Situated by a pond with lots of birds made our stay very peaceful," reports one camper, who also mentions the unique night views of nearby Malta.

Stargazing: The remote location and minimal light pollution create excellent stargazing conditions. "The lights of a nearby town could be seen from a distance making this spot even more lovely at night," reports one camper about their experience at McClendon Spring.

What campers like

Solitude and quiet: Most tent campers appreciate the peaceful setting. "Quiet spot and pretty easy to get to. We have the place to ourselves," writes Kurt G. about his stay at McClendon Spring.

Natural features: Mill Flat campground offers unique terrain features during its June to October season. While reviews are limited, the area provides more diverse vegetation than other nearby camping options.

Basic facilities: Some sites provide rudimentary amenities. "There is a vault toilet and people have thrown trash down it, so don't be those people," mentions Maureen F. about McClendon Spring, indicating that while facilities exist, campers should practice responsible waste disposal.

What you should know

Road conditions: Access roads to many sites require preparation. "About 3 1/2 miles on a semi maintained gravel road. Lots of cows," explains Al L. about the journey to McClendon Spring.

Limited amenities: Most areas offer minimal facilities. "There is a vault toilet, but no other amenities. Not worth driving out of the way to stay here," notes one reviewer about McClendon Spring.

Seasonal changes: Water availability varies throughout the year. "The trees and grass have taken over and the spring was dry. You could see exposed pipes, maybe they re-route that water in the summer?" reports one camper about a July visit to Sublet Creek.

Wildlife encounters: "Great spot! Well maintained dirt road and toilet! Great hanging with all the cows. Amazing views!" writes Rachele V., indicating that livestock regularly graze in the camping areas.

Tips for camping with families

Site selection: Choose camping spots with natural shade. "The campground is nestled in a nice grove of trees that has a small creek running through it. Really cool trees and Aspen to explore," recommends Natalie B. about McClendon Spring.

Water planning: No potable water exists at these tent sites. "Vault toilets, no water so be prepared," warns a reviewer about the facilities at McClendon Spring, making advance water planning essential for family camping.

Navigation guidance: "Google maps led us down an unpassable road. Instead take Tiffler Road/1250 S from the 81 for a smoother ride (still dirt but passable in a 2WD vehicle)," advises one camper, providing specific directions helpful for families traveling with children.

Tips from RVers

Space limitations: Some areas have restricted turning capacity. "Looks like a nice spot with a pit toilet, but there is only 2 spots that I saw, both taken," reports Michael U. about camping at McClendon Spring.

Road clearance: "The turn off the highway is VERY tight, watch out of the cattle guard if you have low clearance," cautions Lauren C., adding that "4x4 is recommended as the road is rough and steep in places" if bringing a travel trailer to tent camping areas.

Overnight changes: Policy updates affect camping availability. "They recently changed the rules to be day camping only. It's an area that is visited a lot by locals but a pleasant spot," explains Donner N. about Trenner Park, indicating the need to verify current rules before arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near American Falls, ID?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near American Falls, ID is Trenner Park - Idaho Power with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near American Falls, ID?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 tent camping locations near American Falls, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.