2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Lava Hiking Trailhead offers dispersed camping with accessible pull-outs for cars, vans, and small RVs. Located near Caribou-Targhee National Forest, this pet-friendly campsite features fire rings and picnic tables under a shelter. The dirt road access is navigable by low-clearance vehicles, with several spacious turnouts suitable for overnight stays. Dogs must remain leashed during hiking on the adjacent Hells Half Acre trails. The metal charcoal grill provides a cooking option for campers with pets. Some guests have noted that while the location is excellent for overnight camping, occasional littering has been observed.
The nearby Bingham County Park Rose Campground provides a more developed option for pet owners, featuring flat, open spaces adjacent to small ponds. The location is conveniently situated just four minutes off the highway, making it accessible for RVs and tent campers traveling with animals. No hookups are available, but the expansive area allows pets plenty of space to exercise. A paved walking path circles the dog-friendly campground, ideal for daily walks. Campers should be prepared for highway noise and occasional truck lights, though positioning further back in the camping area minimizes disturbances. The campground enforces a 5-day maximum stay limit. Both AT&T and T-Mobile networks function at these locations, with varying speeds, allowing pet owners to research nearby veterinary services if needed.
"Short drive from the campground to some restaurants, gas stations, grocery store, etc in the area. There are 2 bar/grills walking distance from the campground. Has a Heated pool."
"Dog area. Cabins too."
from $25 - $64 / night
"Not sure when they made that change but I wouldn’t say it’s quite worth that given proximity to highways and trains."
"Right on the snake river and great food close by."
from $40 / night
"No hookups but easy to get any size rig in and out and there is a nice paved walking path around the area. Also there is a large area to turn around near the archery range."
"This was 4 minutes off the highway. It is just a big, flat open space next to a couple of ponds."
"We recently stayed at Idaho Falls Luxury RV Resort and thoroughly enjoyed our time there. The staff was incredible, helpful, and kind."
"Nice change with all the grass around the asphalt site pads. There is access to a walkway along the Snake river that heads to downtown."
from $80 - $100 / night
"Nice location away from the highway to spend the night. Dirt road that is a little rough but accessible by low clearance car. Several pull outs to car camp."
"Fairly level area with a fire ring, picnic tables under a shelter, metal charcoal grill and easy access to the lava field (Hells Half Acre) hiking trails. "
"Please pick up after your dogs. I think for $40.00 in Oregon and Washington I got power and water for that. I like if bike path runs through the place."
"We paid just forty dollars a night for a massive space right off the Snake River, with green, grassy ground all around us—a total steal compared to the luxury resort next door."
from $40 / night
"Very friendly people to talk with, with plenty of shade to enjoy being outside. There is a “Frisbee golf course “ for all ages and great paths to take your dog for a walk."
"Easy access to pull through sites with ample space between the sites. Nice clean bathrooms with showers! Electric and water worked great. Would definitely stay again."
from $15 - $25 / night
from $88 - $1000 / night
from $20 / night
TravelerReally nice quiet place. We enjoyed our stay. There’s a lake here and while we stayed the water was like glass! It provides a perfect reflection of the surroundings. There’s a highway close but we didn’t hear a thing while we slept.
GuideGreat spot just outside of Idaho Falls…
RangerReviewed by: The Crew at Hitched4fun.com
If you are exploring Central Idaho or routing past Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, finding the right campground can make all the difference—especially if you pull a long setup. We stayed at Mountain View RV Park in Arco, Idaho, and it proved to be an outstanding, budget-friendly home base packed with convenience and unique local history.
Location, Convenience & Price
Scenic Views & The Famous "Number Hill"
The campground lives up to its name with sweeping views of the surrounding rugged mountain ranges.
BIG-RIG PRO TIP: Stay Here Instead of Craters of the Moon
If you are planning to visit Craters of the Moon National Monument, take our advice as seasoned big-rig travelers: Stay at Mountain View RV Park and day-trip into the park with your tow vehicle or passenger car.
The Hitched4fun Verdict
Mountain View RV Park delivers everything an RVer needs: fair pricing, spotless utilities, great mountain backdrops, and an on-site dining option that saves you time and cooking cleanup. It is easily the smartest staging point in the region for anyone pulling a mid-to-large rig. We will definitely be back!
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars— Highly Recommended by the Hitched4fun.com crew!
TravelerWe opted for the slightly more expensive on paper RV park in this town as this appeared quite run down and lacking maintenance. Was not at all inviting to stay. And quite expensive considering the conditions.
TravelerThis campground had all the amenities we needed… electric and water hook-ups, picnic table, clean restrooms, warm showers, and laundry facilities. Could have played cornhole and other yard games too. Bar with lots of tvs to watch Sunday football, while it rained was a bonus. Showers are coin operated but provided a ridiculously generous time limit… we were very comfortable staying an extra night due to the weather and some issues we needed to troubleshoot in our van.
LegendI can't give it a 5 because it doesn't have electricity or water, but as a place to stop for ten bucks a night, it's fantastic. They do provide trash pickup, level spots, shade pit toilets and some recreational items like volleyball space, a dock and a boat ramp and a frisbee golf course.
LegendSurprisingly, large and private campground, with spots in the shade. Consider there to be no services. There are pit toilets a frisbee golf course and some bike trails the best maintained of any of it is the bike trails. The trash hasn't been picked up in a while. And you can find level spots, but there just isn't much else here, but good for a night.
GuideThis all campsite for an overnight if you're making your way down through Idaho via the 15. You will hear a train, but there's also the sound of the flowing river and wind that makes it okay with me.
GuideGreat place, great hosts
Dispersed camping opportunities near Caribou-Targhee National Forest range from primitive sites to developed campgrounds with amenities. The area sits at elevations between 5,000-7,000 feet with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during the day and 40-50°F at night. Several camping areas feature volcanic terrain with hiking access to lava fields.
Explore geological features: The Hells Half Acre trails at Lava Hiking Trailhead provide access to unique volcanic terrain. "Access from US 20 to the trailhead parking is gravel and easily accessible for all vehicles with several large turnouts that can be camped at," notes reviewer Abner H.
Fishing opportunities: Ririe Reservoir at Juniper Group Campsite offers good fishing. "The fishing at Blacktail is good for Rainbows and perch - highly recommended," according to Greg G., who describes it as a "hidden gem" that provides "a great spot to reach Idaho Falls or the Grand Tetons."
Water recreation: Jefferson County Lake features swimming and watercraft rentals for family-friendly water activities. "My kids and I swam in the lake and they especially loved the big slide in the middle of the lake," shares Steveandshauna H., adding "They have kayaks and paddleboats to rent for $15 an hour."
Spacious sites: North Bingham County Park offers well-maintained camping areas with ample space. "The park is nice and clean, appears to be recently paved or resurfaced. The spots are relatively level," writes Abner H., who also notes the "Restrooms are clean and nice shower is large."
Affordability: Many campgrounds in the area provide good value compared to other regions. Randy P. found North Bingham County Park to be "Great for our overnight stay. Easy access to pull through sites with ample space between the sites."
Quick highway access: Pet friendly camping near Caribou-Targhee National Forest includes convenient stopover options. Tean B. describes Bingham County Park Rose Campground as a "Super lit campsite if just passing through" with "tons of space and some trees and small ponds."
Cell service varies: Mobile coverage fluctuates throughout the region. At Lava Hiking Trailhead, Abner H. reports, "AT&T has 2 bars of LTE and very slow data with a 243ms ping time and a 10Mbps download once it eventually started. T-Mobile has 3 bars and my hotspot was able to achieve 18.85Mbps download."
Highway noise: Some campgrounds experience traffic sounds due to proximity to major roads. When staying at Jefferson County Lake, Christopher G. noted the campground "is near the Highway and you can hear the road noise."
Stay limits: Campgrounds enforce varying duration restrictions. At Bingham County Park Rose Campground, one camper observed, "Sign says you can only camp up to 5 days."
Seasonal differences: Most campgrounds operate from May through September. Jefferson County Lake's operating season runs "May to October 1st," providing a clear timeframe for planning pet friendly camping trips near Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
Lake activities: Idaho Falls Luxury RV Park provides access to water recreation. Patrick J. describes it as a "Very nice and quiet RV Park... along the Snake river that heads to downtown."
Playground access: Several campgrounds include play areas for children. At Jefferson County Lake, Ted & Jessie M. found "Very fun wood park for the kids, and the lake access is included in the camping reservation."
Budget-friendly options: Families can find affordable camping with amenities. At Juniper Group Campsite, Mark P. discovered "full hookups on most sites" and was impressed that "The best part is the $25 a night with full hookups."
Special events: Some campgrounds host family activities during peak season. Steveandshauna H. experienced the September "Buddies Not Bullies event" at Jefferson County Lake with "lots of old cars... music, a free bounce house for kids, food trucks, free HotWheels for kids."
Utility access: Snake River RV Park & Campground offers full hookups but sites vary in quality and spacing. Debbie M. found "The spaces are very big and flat" while Joel R. had a different experience: "The sites were too close together. We had reservations, but still ended up in an overflow area."
Leveling requirements: Prepare for uneven terrain at some sites. At Juniper Group Campsite, Melanie T. advises to "Bring your blocks" as "Some sites are a little uneven."
Dump station locations: Plan for waste disposal as not all sites offer this service. Abner H. notes that at North Bingham County Park, "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."
Accessibility information: Most campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles with varying ease of access. LeAnn M. found South Tourist Park Campground has "Easy access and open year round" with "plenty of space for longer rigs."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Caribou-Targhee National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Caribou-Targhee National Forest is Snake River RV Park & Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Caribou-Targhee National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 55 dog-friendly camping locations near Caribou-Targhee National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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