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Tent camping opportunities surrounding Burley, Idaho include several primitive sites with basic amenities in nearby mountainous areas. McClendon Spring Campground offers a secluded tent camping experience about 15 miles southwest of town, while Independence Lakes Campground provides backcountry tent camping at higher elevations in the Albion Mountains. Both locations maintain vault toilets but lack water, electricity, and other modern conveniences.
Road conditions can significantly affect access to tent sites near Burley. McClendon Spring requires travel on unmarked gravel roads, with multiple reviews mentioning the need for high-clearance vehicles. Independence Lakes Campground demands a serious approach on rough terrain, with one visitor noting that "this campground needs a high clearance vehicle to reach and is best visited in late summer fall as it is very marshy there earlier in the year." Sites typically feature fire rings and some have picnic tables, but campers must pack in all water and supplies. Most campgrounds operate seasonally, with higher elevation areas generally accessible from late June through October.
Tent sites in this region provide significant seclusion and direct access to outdoor activities. The terrain varies from high desert plateaus to mountain settings with creeks and alpine lakes. Sites at McClendon Spring feature shade trees and mountain views overlooking the town of Malta below. One camper shared that it offers "great views of the mountains and Malta below. The campground is nestled in a nice grove of trees that has a small creek running through it." At Independence Lakes, tent campers often use the primitive sites as a base camp for hiking to the nearby alpine lakes system. Most sites remain uncrowded, especially midweek, allowing tent campers to experience genuine solitude. Tent-specific amenities are minimal, with relatively flat tent pads being the primary accommodation for tent setup.
"This is just a little spot off the gravel road near the Snake River near Burley ID. It's across the river from Milner Recreation Area. However, this side is free dispersed BLM land."
"You may be a little unsure when you are driving to it, but trust me this place is great. Offers great views of the mountains and Malta below."
"What a great find during our travels through Southern Idaho. Situated by a pond with lots of birds made our stay very peaceful."
"The campground has permanent fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets. The campgrounds are pretty close together but we were the only ones there so it didn't really matter."
"You have to park and its a short walk to the campsites. The hike to the lakes is a beautiful hike and remains one of my favorites. We ended up finding a great spot to set up camp the next morning."
"We brought a camper and just parked it at the parking lot....I slept in it with my little ones....the rest of the group set up tents and hammocks down at the actual campsite which is a short distance downhill"
"The breadloaves has one large group site right next to the bathrooms and parking and numerous dispersed tent sites, some with long approaches so check the map on the Gov [website](https://www.nps.gov/ciro"
"This is a no frills campground located in the South Hills of Idaho about 20 miles south of Twin Falls. "
"Multiple designated campsites along the creek. There is a large parking area at the trailhead. There is a single vault toilet. It was quiet during the week, but busy on the weekend."
"One group site and multiple walk in tent sites, each with a good level pad. Dark, quiet and starry at night with long views to the south. Lots to explore in locale. California Trail passed nearby."
"Tons of trails, canyons, forest, wilderness etc. Toilets were fine. Spots large, pull thru, with picnic table, grill and some shade. Wish we stayed longer. Very isolated!"
"After a long drive down a washboard dirt road for about 40 minutes we finally made it to the campground. Secure what you can as your stuff will vibrate everywhere."
GuideSignificant traffic noise, but to be expected when so convenient to the freeway. The only non-electric sites are parking on the side of the road as no vehicles are allowed on the grass in the tent area. Not ideal for me in a truck camper. But still a nice stop over for one night.
LegendNew place so the trees are small but it is by far the closest camping with services to both the national monument and the state park hiking area. They seem to have added some services since the last reviews and now have an outdoor shower, 3 pit toilets along with the electric and water services. All in, the camping rate is extremely reasonable as compared to the state park rates and the access to hiking and climbing couldn't be better.
LegendI have really enjoyed my one night stop here. Go to the lower campground so that you stay away from the noise of the road. But if you're a trail person and a view person, this is by far the nicest state park so far. Unfortunately I camped in the upper campground. The water was on, but the bathrooms were closed. The lower bathrooms were still open. But they're old and not well maintained.
LegendGreat dispersed site with views of the snow dusted hills, stars and a beautiful sunrise. We were the only camper the night we spent in our way through the area. This is definitely worth a repeat should we find ourselves in the area again. It was a bit confusing entering the area. Road 1250 off of Highway 81 is probably not going to work if towing due to a somewhat tight turn at the second cattle guard but more of a concern is the big dip right after that guard The entrance is quite narrow as well. The first road in off Highway 77 has you opening and closing a couple gates and is a bit rough until you get to the main road. There is mention of a second entrance off 77 but we didn’t check that one out. The vault toilet was very clean but was out of TP. Pack it in-pack it out
LegendI'm camping at the milliner historic park. And it is very very nice. The camp spots are basic pit. Toilet sometimes trash down. Little gravel roads right next to the water. The park is pretty huge, though. And they have just paved the incoming road. Typical BLM except it has lots and lots of stuff to see and paths to walk so fun place to visit. Day passes $5 and camping is 15, so I believe you owe a total of 20 I. Couldn't find a way online to actually pay for the camping. So I think you have to use the entrance fees area.
LegendPretty sure they're managed by the same county organization and use the same website. It's a cute little park out on a spit, surrounded by water. There was no host and it definitely points one at the website for reservations. Water and electric and pit toilets. The sign points to a dump station in nearby Kimberly.
LegendFor a county park, it's cute if small. The issue is getting a reservation requires a myriad of information on a website which is kind of just too much. Seems like the prices are reasonable. The place is cute. The toilets trash electric hookups. I have not seen water or sewer.
LegendThere are about 10 formal spots and more dispersed spots if you have a vehicle to get back there. Bathrooms, fire ring, picnic tables and trash at the park next door around a small but drying out lake. Free as of today still.
GuideWe drove through. Beautiful suites. Super windy in mid October.
Tent camping options near Burley, Idaho center around rustic sites in the South Hills and Albion Mountains. Most primitive campsites operate seasonally from late spring through early fall, with elevations ranging from 5,000 to over 7,000 feet. Winter conditions close many access roads, particularly to high-elevation campgrounds, between November and May.
Fishing at alpine lakes: Independence Lakes Campground serves as a basecamp for anglers seeking trout in nearby alpine waters. "My son fished with hopes of catching a grayling. He took the winning photo of the lake!" reports Colette A. about her Independence Lakes Campground trip.
Mountain hiking: The South Hills provide numerous trail options with varying difficulty. "It's a 2.5 mile hike to the first lake. It inclines all the way up. You are treated with beautiful back country views, met with several switch backs before reaching the first lake," explains Vanessa H. about the Independence Lakes trail system.
Rock climbing: City of Rocks National Reserve offers exceptional climbing opportunities. "Withing 100' of the site are ~20 routes and one of the mega classics of the City, Bloody Fingers on the east side of the loaves," shares Alan B. about the Bread Loaves Group Campsite.
Stargazing opportunities: The minimal light pollution creates excellent night sky viewing. "Dark, quiet and starry at night with long views to the south," notes James C. about his stay at Twin Sisters Group Campsite.
Cooler temperatures: Higher elevation sites provide relief from summer heat. "We came up here looking to escape the heat of the city and were not disappointed. It was a good 10 degrees cooler and cooled off quickly when the sun went down," shares Amanda M. about Bear Gulch.
Wildlife viewing: Campers frequently report spotting various bird species and occasionally larger wildlife. "Situated by a pond with lots of birds made our stay very peaceful," writes Becbecandbunny O. about their McClendon Spring experience.
Road conditions vary significantly: Many campgrounds require travel on unmarked dirt roads. "Don't use Apple Maps. Google will get you there on the easiest road," advises Rachele V. about reaching McClendon Spring Campground.
Limited campsite availability: Several campgrounds have very few established sites. "Looks like a nice spot with a pit toilet, but there is only 2 spots that I saw, both taken," reports Michael U. about McClendon Spring.
Pack all supplies: No services exist at most sites. "This is a typical BLM site. Be prepared with everything you might need," advises Maureen F. regarding camping supplies.
Consider site access difficulty: Some campgrounds require short hikes from parking areas. "The site is a little bit of a walk from the parking lot so bring something to haul your stuff in," suggests Alan B. about camping at Bread Loaves.
Plan for temperature swings: Days can be hot while nights cool significantly. "We camped here in October during an unseasonably hot few days... It has great shade for City of Rocks," notes Angela S. about her family's experience.
Look for creek-adjacent sites: Several campgrounds offer streamside camping opportunities. "The campsites are all lined up in a row next to the creek and trees," explains Alan B. about Third Fork Campground.
High-clearance vehicles recommended: Many access roads present challenges for standard vehicles. "About 3 1/2 miles on a semi maintained gravel road. Lots of cows," notes Al L. about the route to McClendon Spring Campground.
Seek out designated parking areas: Some campgrounds have dedicated RV parking. "We were able to get up to the parking lot but I wouldn't recommend it. If my trailer was not lifted we would have had issues," cautions Cody E. about attempting to bring a trailer to Independence Lakes.
Watch for tight turns: Entrance points may present challenges. "The turn off the highway is VERY tight, watch out of the cattle guard if you have low clearance," warns Lauren C. about approaching McClendon Spring with a travel trailer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Burley, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Burley, ID is Snake River Dispersed Camping with a 4-star rating from 3 reviews.
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