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Lower Portneuf Campground features eight designated free camping sites near Lava Hot Springs that welcome pets with no additional fees. Each site provides a fire ring and picnic table in a level, grassy area along the Portneuf River. The nearby Lava Hot Springs KOAs also accommodate pets but charge $20 per dog per night, even for tent campers. Several campground options like Bristol Park Historic Cabins and Lava Hot Springs Spa Motel & RV Park offer pet-friendly cabin rentals for travelers who prefer not to tent camp with their dogs. Trains pass frequently on tracks approximately 100 feet from Lower Portneuf Campground, with horns sounding at the crossing throughout day and night.
Pet owners camping at Indian Rocks dispersed area find more privacy for dogs that may bark at other campers. The Portneuf River provides excellent water access for dogs to cool off during summer months, with some areas featuring small waterfalls creating natural swimming holes. Most campgrounds in the region enforce standard leash requirements, though enforcement varies by location and season. Campers note the Lava Hot Springs area presents challenges for pet owners since dogs are prohibited at the hot springs facilities and no dog daycare services exist in town. The trade-off for free camping with pets at Lower Portneuf includes significant train noise, with up to eight trains passing between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM, making this location potentially difficult for pets sensitive to loud noises.
"We parked our 34 ft motor home right next to a river waterfall and did some fishing. A fire pit was already established. Excellent spot right outside of town with good cell service."
"Close to Highway and very close to railroad tracks. About 7 trains at night when I stayed. Very pretty water rushing made for great sleep sounds when train wasn’t passing."
"LOTS of shade, right next to the river, pet friendly, and cabins are also able to be rented! Would definitely come here again."
"The $20 fee per dog per night is the kicker for me. So four our 3 dogs at $20 per night added $120 to our 2 night stay, and they charge this even if you stay in a tent which I think is ridiculous."
"But it’s the perfect spot if you want to be around all the fun action of Lava Hot Springs. You’re walking distance to the river, restaurants, the pool and all the fun stuff in Lava."
"Kid, pet friendly, walking distance to food and fun. One of the best KOA’s we have stayed at."
"GPS correct, no signage and just off highway West. Small 60x40 yard gravel/dirt lot a quarter mile up improved road with some potholes."
"Just take the exit for McCammon and turn right twice, entering the gravel road at the brown lava stone walls. The gravel covered road is in pretty good shape with minor potholes."
"To get to the hotspring pools we walked behind the motel portion of the property were people had walked their dogs without cleaning up."
"The sites are very close to each other but the location in town next to the river, resturaunts and the hot springs pools is the reason to stay here."
from $40 - $50 / night
Check Availability"There’s a paved trail around all of the camp sites for bikes and skateboards and the owners are incredibly friendly. Clean bathrooms /showers as well."
from $40 - $85 / night
Check Availability"We haven’t walked downtown yet but it looks like there are a lot of good restaurants and two bookstores! Spacing is tight. Bathrooms clean. Showers paid, $2 for 4 minutes. We have a FHU site."
"Before I get to the campsite though, let’s talk that drive in! It was a wild ride shortly after leaving the Interstate. The mention on this hill is not to be underestimated."
from $25 - $55 / night
Check Availability"Put our tent right next to the river on grass. Picnic table, fire ring. Horses and sheep in the background. Very picturesque ! 2 bathrooms were available and each had a shower."
"Short drive to the Hot Springs. $48 for a tent spot. Full hookups. Tables and fire ring. On the river."
from $180 - $445 / night
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LegendNice dog park for big and small dogs. At this campground, you are a little close to neighbors but they stagger the trailers so it works. Nice trees for shade. The restrooms were as clean but they were older facilities. No road noise.
GuideDon’t get me wrong. This is not camping. But it’s the perfect spot if you want to be around all the fun action of Lava Hot Springs. You’re walking distance to the river, restaurants, the pool and all the fun stuff in Lava. We were on site #1 which is by the playground and dog park, because we had both on our reservation. At first we were upset at our location, but it was actually great. Everything is clean and well managed and management made sure people kept to the quiet time.
GuideThis is for RV parking with electrical hookups for 20 bucks at the airport. 18 hookups and awesome dog park. Also a bike ride away from a very nice park on the lake with lots of play space for kids during the day. No toilets or showers but a simple stay and there is Wal-Mart everything else you need right in town. Blackfoot Wal-Mart does not allow overnight parking. There is water hookup during season. Also free dump station at fire station.
GuideCampsites are a little close with no privacy and there are no sewer connections at the individual sites. There are two dump sites on the backside of the store. Pretty much gravel throughout with some grass at the smaller sites. Amenities: kids playground area with grass, a small fenced dog park, horseshoes, picnic table at each site (no fire pits at the pull through sites). Inside the store: pool table, table tennis, and a foosball table. Overall a good clean campsite to hold you over for a day or two.
GuideThis KOA has mature trees and gravel rv pads. The sites are mostly level, but may need one block to be completely level. All the sites seem to fill up every night. (Mid-end of May). It’s down in a slight valley so the wind does not hit the campground as hard. The dog park is fairly small, but allows your furry friend to get off of their leash and stretch their legs. The bathrooms are decent- however one of the showers does not lock, and one of the toilet stalls does not either. Campground internet has been sufficient throughout our week. Would stay here again on our way to and from destinations.
LegendMeticulously cared for family owned and run campground with log cabins. Many pros to this campground... Nice wide sites, most pull through, clean showers and laundry room. The people who run it are super friendly and helpful. Great liquor store and great food truck attached to the grounds. great hook ups, reception and even better WiFi. Only cons are that it is just off Hwy 89, but you don't hear road noise at night. No dog park and is over an hour to Grand Teton and Jackson Hole. We did find great hiking only a few minutes from the campground. We would definitely recommend this place. The owners are constantly out doing improvements, which impressed us a great deal
TravelerThis 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.
ScoutGreat pull-through and the back-in spots are beautiful. Kid, pet friendly, walking distance to food and fun. One of the best KOA’s we have stayed at.
RangerThe people, bathrooms, and showers are all awesome. There is some road noise but not more than you’d get anywhere else. LOTS of shade, right next to the river, pet friendly, and cabins are also able to be rented! Would definitely come here again.
Lower Portneuf Campground provides eight free camping sites along the Portneuf River near Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Campgrounds in this area sit at elevations between 5,000-5,500 feet, creating moderate summer temperatures that typically range from 75-85°F during peak season. Train noise presents a significant consideration for campers in this region, with tracks running parallel to many camping areas.
River activities: The Portneuf River offers excellent recreation opportunities at Lava Hot Springs East KOA. "The Portneuf River runs right through the campground. You are about a 5-10 minute walk from the main town including the hot pools," notes Shad G.
Mineral hot springs: Lava Hot Springs features natural mineral pools within walking distance of most campgrounds. "The highlight are the hot mineral pools, which are open until 11 PM and are amazing, especially in the evenings in the cooler weather," reports Shannon P.
Off-road adventures: Lost Trail Inn serves as a base camp for exploring nearby trails. "Great spot down by the river. New power and water to the sites, and it looks like they are under construction on the motel part," writes Peter H.
Riverside camping: Many sites feature direct river access at Portneuf Bend Campground. "The best part of this campground is the river! It runs right through the campground and it's perfect for floating," says Brooklyn S.
Proximity to town: Most campers appreciate the easy access to Lava Hot Springs. "Lava is just minutes away with shops, restaurants, grocery stores etc. Lots to do in the area, there's a ghost town 30 minutes to the north, a reservoir and soda Springs to the east," shares Shannon P.
Budget-friendly options: Free camping alternatives exist beyond Lower Portneuf. "This is a no frills campground with 8 sites with tables and fire pits. There is a pit toilet in the picnic area (a very short walk)," explains Rod D. about Lower Portneuf Campground.
Train schedules: Train traffic affects multiple campgrounds beyond Lower Portneuf. At Indian Rocks Dispersed Camping, "The noise from the freeway is minimal," according to Aaron G., making it potentially quieter than riverside options.
Limited services: Many sites offer minimal facilities. "No frills spot close to the highway was just what we needed. Arrived after dark so had a little trouble finding where to turn in," shares Marissa P.
Seasonal timing: Campground popularity increases dramatically during summer. "We came on a Thursday morning in late September and there were only two spots left," reports Shannon P., suggesting weekday arrivals provide better site selection.
Historic accommodations: For families wanting alternatives to tent camping, Bristol Park Historic Cabins offers unique options. "The cabin we stayed in was an old miners cabin and they had 4 other smaller cabins that were further up the hill. There was a full bathroom as well as a full kitchen that you could access at any time," explains Alan B.
Waterpark access: Children enjoy water recreation beyond pet-friendly river spots. "You are about a 5-10 minute walk from the main town including the hot pools. Those pools are super relaxing and I would recommend going first thing in the morning before it gets crowded," suggests Shad G.
Playground amenities: Some campgrounds feature designated children's areas. At Lava Hot Springs West KOA, "They have a playground for young kids. This KOA is within walking distance to Lava Hot Springs Main Street which has places to eat, hot pools, stores, ice cream place and more," notes Shani C.
Site access: Several campgrounds accommodate larger rigs despite narrow roads. "Very nice sites. Just go very slow. We did fine with the 27-foot trailer," advises Beverly M. at Indian Rocks Dispersed Camping.
Hookup availability: Full-service sites exist but may require early booking. "All the hookups worked perfectly," reports Shad G. about Lava Hot Springs East KOA.
Dump stations: Dump facilities near free camping areas charge fees. "The KOA, just before the turn off, will let you fill your water tank for free but they charge $10 for a dump," mentions Shannon P.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Bancroft, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Bancroft, ID is Lower portneuf campground with a 3.8-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Bancroft, ID?
TheDyrt.com has all 79 dog-friendly camping locations near Bancroft, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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