154 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping areas around Bloomington, Idaho include several developed campgrounds and dispersed options in the Caribou National Forest. Bear Lake State Park Campground provides established sites with electric hookups and showers, while nearby Paris Springs Campground offers more rustic accommodations for both tent and RV camping. The region includes a mix of Forest Service sites like Emigration Campground and privately operated facilities such as Montpelier Creek KOA, which features cabin rentals and full hookup sites approximately 15 miles from Bloomington.
Road conditions vary significantly by season, with many campgrounds operating only from May through September due to winter closures. Higher elevation sites like Willow Flat Campground may have limited access during spring runoff periods. "The wildflowers are beautiful but once it hits late June they are usually gone. The campsites are great. They are close together but it doesn't feel like it because there are so many trees and the creek that runs through the campground is loud enough to drown out other's noise," noted one visitor about Willow Flat. Most Forest Service campgrounds provide basic amenities including vault toilets and potable water, while cell service remains limited throughout the region, particularly in canyon areas and remote sites.
Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the area, with Bear Lake's turquoise waters attracting visitors to nearby campgrounds. Several campgrounds feature creek-side sites that provide natural sound barriers between camping areas. Campers frequently mention the quality of fishing opportunities, particularly in areas like Willow Flat where stream access is readily available. Public lands near Franklin Basin offer more secluded dispersed camping options with river access. "You can drive well into Idaho. You can drive for about 1.5 hours up in here and see amazing river meadow mountain views," reported one camper about the Franklin Basin area. Most campgrounds in the region accommodate both tent and RV camping, though larger rigs may find limited suitable sites at some of the more remote Forest Service campgrounds.
"If coming from Idaho Falls stay on 30 Hwy till Montpelier then take 89 hwy to St Charles. If ya coming from Jackson Wy stay on 89 Hwy . If ya need Groc stop at the store in Montpelier."
"Public outhouses are available. if you are up to walking a bit the ones near the day use area are cleaner and used less. Beautiful lake."
"The campground was in great shape, the drive up to our site was amazingly beautiful, and the campground hosts were very attentive and thoughtful."
"I chose the site near the Paris spring Trailhead. The trail to the spring is about 1/4 mile in and is very beautiful. There were hummingbirds everywhere! And dragon flies too!"
from $17 - $100 / night
Check Availability"The hike to the headwaters is a must and if you're feeling up to it you can hike over the mountain to Bloomington Lake. There's also tons of UTV/ATV trails nearby. I love this place."
"Fairly good access to this campground. Gravel road for several miles but it's wide and graded. Campground roads are gravel."
from $20 - $120 / night
Check Availability"The tent was pitched right next to Saint Charles Creek. It is currently very high (6/2017). I was worried they may get their tent wet! The camp is paved, so no dust!"
"There is a good amount of shade at nearly all the campgrounds and they are close to the creek. It has simple amenities like vault toilets, metal fire rings and picnic tables. "
from $20 - $50 / night
Check Availability"We booked a tent site online and pulled in around 8 pm on a Monday night shortly after the covid shutdown. It was raining and the temperature was 37 degrees and due to drop to 29 overnight."
"Our cabin was right on the creek, and I found my pace and place on the porch and nature trail watching birds and listening to the creek while the kids enjoyed the pool and playground."
"We have no cell service in the campground but you can walk to the road and get service if needed. Behind the bathrooms on the South side there is a little trail with a beautiful view of the lake."
"Sunrise Campground sites are immersed in trees to give you a surrounding cozy and comfortable feeling. Back in sites include a fire ring and sturdy picnic table..."
from $27 - $118 / night
Check Availability"The store next to the entrance is amazingly well stocked with all you’d need. We stayed in an RV supersite that included a private hot tub and BBQ grill."
"Next to paid activities there are some stuff kids can do for free."
"There was a little path to the bathrooms."
"Close to lots of attractions in the Bear Lake area, but far enough from everyone else. the campground is in a beautiful forest with lots of trails and space to explore."
from $20 - $100 / night
Check Availability"We snagged a spot right next to Saint Charles Creek. Hearing the water run at night was nice. This year (2017) the runoff is very high and the creek was pretty swift for its size."
"The Minnetonka Caves are nearby as well as the impressively colored Bear Lake."
from $20 - $160 / night
Check Availability
TravelerThis campsite was very clean well maintained and safe lots of families but highway nearby was unavoidably loud. Not the worse but if you are seeking a quiet spot this is probably not for you. Playground bathrooms campstore etc all nice and clean
ScoutThis is a very nice area has spots for large RVs, small RVs ,and has stops for tent camping. Also have various bathroom and picnic areas. There is also boat launches from this area. The rv spots have electric hookups and access to water but can not leave it hooked to camper there is also an rv dump station and trash bins areas. To stay here you do have to make reservations though recreation.gov. All around I find this to be a great place to stay at!
GuideGreat campground with showers and bathrooms nearly complete. But beware of trains close by at night.
TravelerThe coordinates on the map are not exactly right for this campsite, at least in early may. If you drive up the road there are a lot of pull off spots that specifically say no overnight camping, but there is one probably about halfway up the canyon where you can pull in (on the right side when heading up) on a dirt road into a spot that looks like a classic dispersed camping spot with a fire pit good space and a river at the back. It is bordering next to a fence line, but of course not within it. At first we were worried we were wrong in it being a legal dispersed site but we stayed for two nights and never had any issues, including with police officers and natural resource officers coming up and down the canyon as there was an incident at the top. The space does go off into a decently secluded space if you pull all the way to the back but it is right on a decently busy canyon road as people go up to an offroading trail at the top. though it is a bit noisy with the traffic the site is absolutely beautiful with a rushing river right in the back. We personally could not find any other clear dispersed camping sites in the canyon but we can in approaching darkness and were unable to really tell, we were recommended this canyon by an REI worker though so I believe there very well could be more than one site.
TravelerIt isn't to far from a town, spots are not close together, close to the water to either swim or fish. Pet friendly. Down side. Gravel for tent sites No shade And from 6pm on all you hear are trains
TravelerI visited mid-week, early June. Fairly good access to this campground. Gravel road for several miles but it's wide and graded. Campground roads are gravel. There's a main loop and 2 group loops, one of which has a road that is in disrepair, having a section of deep soft sand/gravel that a vehicle could get stuck in. The size of sites in the main loop is highly variable, but many are large enough for long 5th wheels. The spacing is good though a few sites are too close to the road for my liking. The CG is in dense forest with undergrowth, so there is shade and screening from other sites. A creek flows through the middle of the main loop. It is nice and the creek sound helps overcome the noise of campers. I did not see tent pads, but many of the sites have enough room for tents. Each site has a fire ring/pit and table. The vault toilets that i visited were clean. There is a small bathhouse tucked away in the middle of the CG with flushers; it's a little dilapidated, peeling paint, etc. There are hiking trails in the area and also ATV trails. I saw many people fishing along the Cub River.
Horse people: there are 3 corrals at the upper end of the main CG loop, with plenty of room to turn around.
Zero cell signal: Verizon
The campground host, Chuck, was friendly and pleasant.
Overall, I enjoyed my stay here.
ScoutHidden gym just up the road first come first serve. I think there’s eight little spots each has its own tent, parking spot and gravel pit. There’s also bathrooms and access to the river with popular fishing, floating and other activities.!! but the best part is it’s free! While I was here, I sound variety of campers vans motorhomes tents tear jobs even a three axle trailer!
TravelerAn older campground with a variety of sites from full hookups, water only, dry camping and tent sites. Easy access to the reservoir for our kayaks. Lots of people fishing and A Lot of people catching fish! Beautiful views, fun birdwatching and some great hiking nearby. A great place for groups since they allow multiple rvs and tents per site. Excellent cell coverage. Not a fancy place but comfortable. Their website mentioned they had a dump station but we didn't see it and didn't find the host on checkout to verify.
ScoutThe sign said no overnight camping due to snow removal. There’s no snow but didn’t camp just to be safe. Looks like a parking lot.
Camping sites near Bloomington, Idaho offer access to diverse terrain ranging from creek-side forests to lakefront settings at elevations between 5,900-7,000 feet. The camping season typically runs May through September with late June bringing peak wildflower displays followed by drier conditions in July and August. Many campgrounds feature creek access with natural sound barriers between sites.
Explore Minnetonka Cave: Located a short drive from St. Charles Campground, this limestone cave system makes for a cool day trip. "The Paris Ice Cave...is very interesting and I recommend visiting!" noted one camper about nearby attractions.
Fish mountain streams: Stream fishing opportunities abound with easy access from several campsites. "Great fishing and hiking. The hike to the headwaters is a must and if you're feeling up to it you can hike over the mountain to Bloomington Lake," reported a visitor about Willow Flat Campground.
UTV trail riding: Many forest roads and established trails accommodate off-road vehicles. "There's also tons of UTV/ATV trails nearby," mentioned one camper about the Willow Flat area. These trails connect multiple campgrounds throughout the Caribou National Forest.
Creek-side camping: The sound of running water creates natural noise buffers between sites. "The creek was 10 ft from our tent. Trail for hiking right there and the cleanest bathrooms! My boys could have stayed two weeks fishing the creek!" shared a visitor at Willow Flat.
Alpine wildflowers: Early season campers enjoy impressive floral displays in meadows and forests. "We passed through this campground late May. It's very secluded, located at the end of the road. The drive in from Paris is pretty," noted one visitor about Paris Springs Campground.
Wildlife viewing: The forested areas support diverse animal populations. "Saw a moose!" reported a camper at Willow Flat, while others mentioned frequent hummingbird and dragonfly sightings at Paris Springs, where "There were hummingbirds everywhere! And dragon flies too!"
Limited cell coverage: Service varies dramatically by location with most forest sites having spotty reception. "I had 2 bars of Verizon," reported one visitor to Emigration Campground, but coverage drops in valleys and densely forested areas.
Water availability: Many campgrounds post water notices early in the season. "They had signs posted stating the water at the provided spigots was not tested yet, therefore it should not be consumed," reported a camper at Cloverleaf Campground.
Road conditions: Access roads vary from paved to rough dirt tracks. "The road through the campground has a lot of deep potholes. The sites are small; some are pull through. I don't think I'd tow a camper longer than 20 ft through there," warned a visitor to Paris Springs.
Water safety: Creek water levels fluctuate throughout the season. "This year the runoff is very high and the creek was pretty swift for its size. Too fast to fish," noted a Cloverleaf visitor, making adult supervision essential.
Kid-friendly activities: Some campgrounds offer dedicated recreation areas. "My boys thought this was the greatest spot we've ever found... Trail for hiking right there and the cleanest bathrooms! Camp host was friendly and helpful with questions about exploring the area," shared a parent from Willow Flat.
Bear awareness: While not common, bears inhabit the region. "There are no bear boxes, but bears didn't seem to be an issue. We just kept our food in the car," reported an Emigration Campground visitor. Several campgrounds provide poles for hanging food supplies.
Site limitations: Many forest campgrounds have size restrictions. "I wouldn't take big rigs in here because most of the sites aren't long enough," advised an Emigration visitor, while another noted the campground has "a camp host up front that has firewood for sale."
Hookup options: For those requiring utilities, Bear Lake North RV Park and Campground provides full hookups. One visitor simply noted "Full Hookups. Nice staff," making it a convenient alternative to more rustic forest service sites.
Parking surfaces: Site conditions vary by location and season. "Road is very weathered asphalt, bumpy in spots. I didn't see tent pads," reported an Emigration Campground visitor, highlighting the need for leveling equipment for trailer camping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there RV camping options near Bloomington Lake?
While Bloomington Lake itself has limited RV access due to mountain roads, several RV-friendly options exist in the surrounding area. Bear Lake Venture Park offers deluxe RV sites with more space and privacy, plus standard sites arranged in a loop. Traveland RV Park provides level sites with gravel pads just off the highway but tucked behind a hotel to minimize road noise. For those wanting to stay in the Bear Lake area while visiting Bloomington Lake, both Bear Lake/Trail Side KOA Journey and Epic RV Park & Marina provide additional options, though you'll need to drive to reach the lake.
Where exactly is Bloomington Lake camping located in Idaho?
Bloomington Lake is located in southeastern Idaho, near the Idaho-Utah border in the Bear River Range of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. The lake sits at a higher elevation and is accessible via Forest Service roads. Franklin Basin Dispersed Camping provides access to this area, where you can follow the gravel road from Utah into Idaho for about 30 minutes to reach camping areas near Bloomington Lake. The road is generally 2WD friendly, though conditions can vary seasonally. Many campers access the area from nearby towns like Montpelier or St. Charles, which are close to Bear Lake.
What amenities are available at Bloomington Lake campground?
Bloomington Lake camping areas are primarily primitive with minimal amenities. Most camping near the lake is dispersed, requiring visitors to be self-sufficient. Beaver Creek in the same region offers a similar wilderness experience with isolated sites but minimal facilities. For more amenities, Willow Flat Campground in the broader area provides established campsites with access to creek water, though you'll still need to pack in most supplies. Most camping near Bloomington Lake requires pack-in/pack-out waste management, and visitors should bring their own drinking water, food, and camping supplies. Cell service is limited or non-existent in these remote mountain locations.
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