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Best Tent Camping near Atlanta, ID

565 Reviews

Tent campsites in the Sawtooth National Forest near Atlanta, Idaho range from primitive backcountry sites to established campgrounds with basic amenities. Alice Lake and Toxaway Lake offer primitive tent camping opportunities accessible by hiking trails, while Redfish Inlet Trailhead provides boat-in and hike-in tent sites with more facilities including toilets, trash collection, and picnic tables. These areas serve as gateways to the spectacular Sawtooth wilderness.

Most tent campgrounds in this region have minimal amenities, with vault toilets being the most common facility. Fire restrictions are common during summer months, particularly at higher elevations like Alice and Toxaway Lakes where fires are not permitted. Campers should pack in all necessary supplies including drinking water, as most sites lack potable water sources. A visitor commented, "Toxaway Lake was the first stop on our backpacking trip. We had 3 tents and each tent was able to have plenty of space from the other." The primitive nature of these sites requires proper preparation, including bear-resistant food storage containers for backcountry camping.

The tent camping experience in the Sawtooth region offers exceptional natural beauty and solitude. Many sites provide direct lake access with mountain views that create memorable camping experiences. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, "The views, rain and shine are amazing! You are also able to hike around the whole lake which was a fun activity." Walk-in tent sites at places like Redfish Inlet offer a balance between accessibility and wilderness immersion. Higher elevation backcountry tent sites typically remain snow-covered until early summer, with July through September offering the most reliable conditions. Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for multi-day backpacking loops, including the popular Alice-Toxaway Loop trail that connects several alpine lakes.

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Best Tent Sites Near Atlanta, Idaho (81)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Atlanta, ID

13 Photos of 81 Atlanta Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Atlanta, ID

565 Reviews of 81 Atlanta Campgrounds

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2022

    Prairie Creek Camping

    Beautiful Free Spot

     There are about 6 designated spots here in this free little campground.  Camping is allowed in designated sites only and there is a 10 day stay limit.

    Site #1 is all by itself to the right at the fork, and it was the best site, in our opinion. 

    Each site has a fire pit (no fires allowed at this time!). There is no picnic bench. There is one vault toilet and no garbage collection and no water.  There are no bear boxes but proper bear-proof food storage is required.

    A small creek runs along this campground and the views are incredible. Nice shade cover and trees. This area is fine dirt and so-so in terms of flat spots. Campground is right on the road so you hear the cars but considering how beautiful and free the campground it, the cars aren’t bothersome. Plus it quiets down at night. 

    Zero cell service.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2022

    Prairie Creek Camping

    Beautiful Free Spot

     There are about 6 designated spots here in this free little campground.  Camping is allowed in designated sites only and there is a 10 day stay limit.

    Site #1 is all by itself to the right at the fork, and it was the best site, in our opinion. 

    Each site has a fire pit (no fires allowed at this time!). There is no picnic bench. There is one vault toilet and no garbage collection and no water.  There are no bear boxes but proper bear proof food storage is required.

    A small creek runs along this campground and the views are incredible. Nice shade cover and trees. This area is fine dirt and so-so in terms of flat spots. Campground is right on the road so you hear the cars but considering how beautiful and free the campground it, the cars aren’t bothersome. Plus it quiets down at night. 

    Zero cell service.

  • Anna W.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Point Campground

    Quiet, easy camping right on Redfish Lake.

    Lovely little campground with many amenities close to Redfish Lake Lodge. Each campsite has a dedicated level pad for tents, a picnic table, a bear box, and fire ring. The sites are a bit open, so privacy can be a bit lacking if that's a concern. This campsite is also walk-in, so you will need to use provided wagons to bring your stuff to your site and park your car in the provided parking lot. There are also bathrooms which had flushing toilets and running water and are well maintained. We loved that Point Campground is within walking distance to Redfish Lake Lodge, which has a bunch of different activities: horseback riding, kayaking, a dog beach, mountain biking, fishing, etc. This campground is great when camping with children, especially with the bathrooms & lack of car traffic on the tent-only side. We will be returning!

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2019

    Redfish Lake Overflow Dispersed

    Dispersed with vault toilet

    If you show up to Redfish Lake on a busy weekend and all of the campgrounds are reserved/full, no worries. There is a bunch of free dispersed camping all along highway 75. A quick stop at the Forest Service Office down the road and I had a pretty good map of the forest roads in the area, but more importantly, a tip about free camping a stone’s throw away from Redfish Lake and Sunny Gulch campground. The road in is a bit rough with ruts and rocks, but there are several established sites with fire rings. There was a loop to the right with about 8 such sites and a loop to the right with about 5 sites as well as one that was hidden behind the site I chose that you had to walk in to(it was actually a nicer site than the one I chose, but I was tired and set up before I saw it on my explorations. There was one vault toilet that was not especially clean, but free is free, and if you really wanted to, you could walk less than a quarter mile across to the developed Sunny Gulch campground. There are no picnic tables or grills or tent pads, but definitely stone fire rings at each site so no worries as long as you brought your own camp chair. If you need a shower, head into Redfish Lake to use the public pay showers there.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2019

    Caribou Campground

    Small but pleasant

    This is a tent only campground(there is nowhere for RVs to turn around, and backing out would be a horrific proposition) with only seven sites. The best sites are the four that are on the creek side of the camp road. There is a vault toilet(not especially clean) and a bear proof dumpster, and lots of signs about bears, but no bear boxes for food storage. The campsites are nicely shaded, but not especially private(you can see most of the sites from each other). This campground is$2 cheaper than the next closest campground(I drove to the other site to check it out and returned here because except for the price, they were about the same). There is a pretty cool avalanche/rock slide up the road that is impressive in size and there are some pretty cool beaver dams and lodges in the creek/marshy area that feeds into the river. Be careful picking a site along the creek as it runs pretty close to the edge of two sites and I suspect the sites get flooded during big rains(due to the beaver dams). Showers are not terribly far away at Redfish Lake Park.

  • Anna W.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Boise National Forest Bad Bear Campground

    Nice little campground. Small sites.

    Bad Bear is a nice little campsite outside of Idaho City. The sites are good size with adequate privacy. There is lots of tree cover for shade during those warm summer days, and a babbling brook at the back of the campground. Each site had a picnic table, fire ring, and there is a well for water and a vault toilet. We enjoyed our stay here, mostly because there wasn't anyone else camping in the campground when we were there in mid-July! Score! We grabbed the big site, but the other sites seemed a bit small. Would recommend for a easy campsite close to Idaho City and just a quick little jaunt from Boise.

  • K
    Sep. 2, 2024

    Dog Creek Campground - Idaho

    It's ok as a fall-back option

    My wife and I were forced to make last minute changes to our camping trip this year(thanks to the Wapiti 2024 fire in Stanley) and Dog Creek was the only campground available on the dates we had set aside. We had been up to Pine once before but had never explored past the town. 

    The campground itself is quiet and away from the main road but it is directly parallel to the South Fork of the Boise River. There are a TON of ponderosa pines and other various pine trees so the campground looks small because of the dense tree cover. From the main road, the main drive is a fairly narrow paved dirt/gravel road and not bumpy at all so most vehicles shouldn’t have an issue with it. 

    The camp sites themselves are a little close to each other but you’re not shoulder to shoulder or directly on top of each other. The camp host greeted us upon our arrival, filled us in on the fire restrictions and said to let him know if we needed anything. 

    We had reserved sites 10 and 11 but in reality, they might as well call it a group site because there is no separation between the two, you even share a"driveway”. There were fire rings, tent pads(at some sites) and picnic tables, along with shepherds hooks for hanging trash off of the ground. There were also metal tables at every site that we think are intended for camp stoves.(The picnic tables are wood)The fire rings were well cared for(none damaged that we saw and they all had adjustable grills)….but our fire ring was very close to the bushes which was a little sketchy. 

    This campground is nice and quiet and full of trees. But unfortunately, for us, that’s where the appeal ends. In order to get to the actual Dog Creek from the campground, you have to hope that sites 2 and 5 are not occupied and even then, the creek isn’t super exciting. It’s pretty but it’s a climb down into a ravine of sorts and it’s not deep enough to lay in and there aren’t any places to setup chairs to just enjoy it. The water flowing through the creek is clean and it is pretty to look at, but that’s about all it’s good for. 

    As for other things to do at the campground, there isn’t much. There are no hiking trails as far as we could tell, but if you go across the street to the river, you can actually enjoy your stay, assuming the banks of the river aren’t packed with dispersed campers and their ATV’s. 

    The campground does have water spigots and the water tasted fine. The restrooms(vault toilets) were impeccable in terms of cleanliness. Some of the nicest Forest Service campground restrooms we’ve used and the camp host does an awesome job of keeping them clean and bug free. 

    Speaking of bugs, we didn’t see many mosquitoes but we did see a good amount of bees, wasps and yellow jackets and there were traps setup throughout the campground so bring an epi pen if you’re allergic to any of them. 

    We lost cell service just after the reservoir (T-Mobile) but my satellite communicator worked fairly well at the campground. 

    There are dumpsters to take your trash just inside the entrance to the campground, which is a little annoying as you have to walk quite a ways to dump it, but there were also no critters hanging around the sites. 

    Dog Creek campground is the type of campground where you setup your camper or RV and leave for the day to do other things. Whether it’s boating at Anderson Ranch, taking the ATV’s up into the mountains or try to find hiking trails. The campground itself is very pretty BUT it doesn’t offer much in terms of things to do while there. However, if you are looking for some peace and quiet, with very little noise from the outside world, it’s great.

  • M
    Jan. 17, 2021

    Little Camas Reservoir

    A forgotten gem

    We camped here in June 2020. There are clean vault toilets but not much else. The reservoir was practically empty. There were not picnic tables and the roads off the main road were not maintained. It was hard to tell if there were campsites there at all, but there were fire rings so we pulled in next to one and set up. One other camper came in later and set up down by the lake, but otherwise it was really quiet. Nice place to get away from everyone during a pandemic.

  • Kimberly Y.
    Jul. 15, 2019

    Mormon Bend Campground

    Right on the water

    Blacktop drive and parking pads with a few pull through sites. You can fish from your camp site. No hookups but water is available. Plenty of space between sites. Fire rings and picnic tables were provided. Firewood was for sale. Bring your bug spray for late afternoon and evening. We needed it in early July.

Guide to Atlanta

Nestled in the stunning landscapes of Idaho, tent camping near Atlanta offers a perfect escape into nature, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • The Redfish Inlet Trailhead provides picnic tables and firewood for a cozy camping experience, along with the chance to enjoy friendly deer visiting your campfire.
  • At the Toxaway Lake Primitive Campsite, campers can relish the privacy of spacious sites and breathtaking views right by the lake.
  • The Five Points campground features clean amenities, including toilets and grills, making it a comfortable spot for a mountain retreat.

Local activities for outdoor enthusiasts

  • The Alice Lake Primitive Campsite is a great starting point for hiking the scenic Alice-Toxaway Loop, offering stunning views and a chance to explore the area.
  • Campers at the Narrows Campground can enjoy solitude while being close to beautiful streams, perfect for fishing or simply relaxing by the water.
  • The Robert E Lee Campground serves as a convenient base for exploring the nearby Boise River, where you can enjoy activities like kayaking and fishing.

Tent campers should check out unique features

  • The North Shore Picnic Area offers a day-use area with ample picnic tables, making it ideal for a relaxing day by the water without the need for overnight camping.
  • The Little Smoky Campground is known for its seclusion and proximity to hot springs, providing a unique blend of relaxation and adventure.
  • At the Bear Creek Transfer Camp, campers can enjoy a truly primitive experience, surrounded by nature without the distractions of modern amenities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Atlanta, ID?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Atlanta, ID is Alice Lake Primitive Campsite - Sawtooth National Forest with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 81 tent camping locations near Atlanta, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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