Best Tent Camping near Challis, ID

Recent Tent Reviews near Challis, Idaho

272 Reviews of 62 Challis Campgrounds

• K

  Karla B.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 29, 2018

  Challis Hot Springs

  A relaxing soak and a spacious site

  This private Hotsprings has two pools - ine about 97 degrees ( large and inviting), the second is smaller and hotter at 107!

  located about 7 miles from Challis it has great lawn areas for tents, and shaded RV sites along the Salmon River. Playground. Showers.

  bring your mountain bike or running shoes for a relaxing ride or run on the country access roads.

• 

  Annie C.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 9, 2021

  Challis Hot Springs

  Everything but the kitchen sink

  This place has it ALLLLL. Tent sites, RV sites w/electric and water, dry sites; boat ramp; playground, volleyball net, clothes lines, hot springs pools(2!); showers; camp store with ice; WiFi; wildlife(two mountain goats lead me in on the road); walking trail; shade trees(no hammocks allowed). And it is next to the Snake river. Seriously?? Ok, so the tent sites are really close to the RV sites, but with electric there aren’t any generators running. And the pools close at 9pm, which seems kinda early when the sun doesn’t set until almost 9:30. But I get it. And you are close to the town of Challis with two grocery stores and two gas stations and a Family Dollar. If you can’t find what you need, you probably don’t need it. Besides, you are going to spend all of your time in the water or playing land games. The bathrooms and showers are open 24hrs a day so you don’t even have to use the porta potties scattered around the property if you don’t want to.

• J

  Joshua P.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 13, 2020

  Round Valley RV Park

  Quiet & Clean

  On a motorcycle trip through Idaho and this place met my needs. It is close to town but no noise from the highway. It was walking distance to grocery store and gas station. Check in was fast and rates are reasonable for tent site. I had a site with power and water. It was close to the bath house. Overall, a great place for a nights stay on the road.

• 

  Eric D.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 10, 2022

  Cottonwood Recreation Site

  Very nice place!

  Probably 15-20 camper spots all paved. 5 or so tent sites. Very nice. Water and dumpsters!

  My recommendation: stay on the river side, the highway side can get a little loud.

• 

  Phil M.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 31, 2021

  Challis Hot Springs

  Superb campground!

  We stayed the night in a tent site, the place was beautiful! All the grass is nice and green, volleyball court, playground, two different hot pools from Hot springs. Beautiful flowers, right on the river! There's also hiking trails behind the campground.

• 

  Ch C.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 11, 2022

  Banner Creek Campground

  Nice little campground

  It’s located right on highway 21, a few miles south of Stanley. Very small. Description says 5 camping sites but I only saw 3. There is a running creek a few feet away from the tent sites. Very quiet.

• 

  Amy C.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 3, 2016

  Blind Creek Campground

  Hidden gem

  If you've ever gone up to Stanley and don't believe in having to reserve a campsite on line (it's against my religion) this is your spot. About 20 minutes away from the "hussle and bustle" of tiny mountain town, Stanley, Blind Creek is situated in the Yankee fork of the Salmon River. If you're looking for amenities, don't come here--there's a out toilet, but that's it, no water or trash service. But with the river running right by camp you can easily filter your own water and there's a large dumpster at the Sunbeam pullout right before turning off the highway. Blind Creek only has 5 spots but I've never not been able to camp there, and at $5 a night you can afford to drive a little further to get into the Sawtooths or make the drive over to Challis. Beat for tent camping, though they do have two good sights you could back a trailer into, just do us all a favor, if you're going to run your generator, camp somewhere else. Keep this place quiet!

• D

  Danielle

  Scout

  

  Aug. 7, 2021

  Sunny Gulch Campground

  Great Sites

  Sunny Gulch is close to the Sawtooths for great hiking, next to the river if you want to cool off or fish and there were plenty of options. The tent sites are groomed pretty well, and they had the cleanest pit toilet I think I’ve ever seen.

• 

  Always C.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 20, 2021

  Mackay Reservoir Access Area - IFG

  Breath taking BLM Campground!

  This BLM campground has 26 paved sites with water and electric and trash bins throughout, dump site up the hill. First come first serve with a $14 nightly fee $7 with senior pass. Tent camping in a separate area. Boat launch and covered picnic day use area. 2 camping areas, one offers some shade the other has beautiful views. We picked the views! Can be a bit windy I'm told by the host. Would rate this a 10 if I could!

• C

  Chad L.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 27, 2023

  Murdock Creek Dispersed

  Quiet spot near Ketchum

  This is a fee based campground with a host that offers a first come first serve camping experience. We got in late in the day and were happy to find a spot. The ground was a bit limited for tent camping but we ended with a great location near moving water. The sound of water created a very serene environment for rest. The real treat came when we saw the beauty of the night sky unencumbered by city lights; the Milky Way was on full display.

• 

  Megan K.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 31, 2020

  Pine Creek Flat Campsite

  Close by hot springs.

  I camped here with my parents in 2018, to hike the trails and go to their “secret” soaking spot.

  There are closer spots to get some hot spring action than where we went. If you don’t find a private spot there are plenty more if you are adventurous.

  We stayed in an RV, but tent camping is also available at this location.

  My parents made the reservation in advance to make sure we could spend some quality time.

  You will catch some sulfur smells here and there but that’s expected with the type of geological activity in the area.

  There’s seemingly endless places to lounge in the river with plenty of shallow areas.

• 

  ShayLee C.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 10, 2023

  Meadow Lake Campground

  Amazing views!

  It’s a long uphill drive on a narrow road to get there but it’s worth it! Each camp site is nice with plenty of space, fire pit and tent site. We took our chances on a Wednesday night in mid August and got lucky. Two sites were still open. With the drive and location we were surprised how many people were there but it was still very quiet and peaceful. The lake is beautiful and would be fun to kayak or paddle board on. We did some hiking up the trails to look over the campsite and the lake but did not take the full trail. Bathrooms were very clean and well stocked.

• j

  joel M.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 29, 2019

  Sockeye Campground

  Amazing location

  This campground is the only no reservation campground accessible by car on Redfish Lake. It’s great if you are looking to score a campsite without a reservation. It’s a great location on the lake, beautiful view of the sawtooth range and a short walk to the beach. The campsites have flat tent sites, concrete pads for the picnic tables and fire rings and most have trees for some shade. The only down side is the boat and jet ski noise during the day. If you are looking to get away from everything you may want to look at some of the nearby river campgrounds. The bathrooms and campsites were very very clean and the camp hosts were very friendly. If you are looking for a good hike take the ferry from the lodge to the far side of the lake!

• 

  Rebecca L.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 15, 2020

  Shoup Bridge Campground — Salmon Field Office (Blm)

  Convenient but at a price

  Stayed two nights at this campground in August. There was a camp host setup, but we didn’t see him at all while we stayed. He did not seem to be staying here. The toilets ran out of tp and many people could not get their questions answered. It’s also only about 20 feet from the highway, so expect a lot of traffic noise at all hours. There is a boat loading dock located here as well, so many people were driving in and out all day. Cell service was good if we needed it but there are several more remote areas only about 20 minutes in to the forest that actually feel like camping (Cougar Point and William’s Lake). Overall it’s decent but I recommend it more as a pit stop if you need to crash for a night. The tent sites are well maintained and running water was a plus.

• 

  Greg L.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 25, 2023

  Thatcher Creek Campground

  Nice small quiet CG

  Only 5 sites, managed by the Challis NF, no host. $10/$5 senior. Small vault toilet, hand water pump, but no dumpster. No cell signal Tmobile

• 

  Nancy C.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 8, 2021

  Deadman Hole

  A little slice of paradise on the Salmon River

  Pros: *Views for miles *Steps from the Salmon River *Boat launch for rafting,kayaking,fishing *Covered picnic table *Generous spacing between sites *Serious star gazing opportunities

  • Easy drive to Challis for supplies

  Cons: *No shade *Close to road, so some road noise.

  • No services, except a vault toilet, but with views like this, who cares.

  Pros out weigh the cons for us. 2 thumbs up.

• 

  Annie C.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 31, 2021

  Bayhorse Recreation Site

  Ok for an overnight

  Only 10 minutes outside of Challis, this is a small campground next tot he Salmon river. Try and get a site on the river side as some have access tothe water. Amenities are the standard picnic tables and fire pits, with the added bonus of a grill. There is a nice boat ramp and info about the salmon populations. Right next to the highway, this is not a destination campground but a nice spot for a quick overnighter.

• 

  Sonja L.

  Traveler

  

  May. 23, 2021

  Challis Hot Springs

  Changed reservations day of campout

  Loved going to Challis with the group I belong with but will not be back. Day of campout my reservation was taken away and was told to park with another camper. I had to park on the road as all of the other campers were anchored down for the weekend. The spot was not set up for two trailers and was told he does not offer discounts. Was unable to use fire ring nor set up outside kitchen due to how I was parked. The only bright side was the group of sisters that provided the weekend of laughter.

• 

  Annie C.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 31, 2021

  Custer #1 Campground

  Quiet except for the OHVs

  This small campground is along the Adventure Road going up the pass between Custer and Challis, on the Custer side of the pass. Really cool massive boulders are in and around the campground, and even though it is along the pass and near a beautiful gorge, you really can’t see anything beyond the campground due to the terrain. Sites are on the larger side, but not necessarily level. There are picnic tables and fire rings and a clean vault toilet, but not much else. Shade trees are on the skinny side so it may be difficult to hang a hammock. During the day it can get dusty with OHVs going up and down the road. For a cool experience, check out the ghost town of Custer or go further along the Adventure Road to see the ruins of some of the stagecoach stops.

• 

  Steve W.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 24, 2022

  Pole Flat Campground

  Good base camp for activities

  A Ranger in Challis told us about Pole Flat CG. We were looking for a small campground near, but not on the Salmon river, and off the main road.

  There are 10 sites spaced nicely around a loop road. The CG is near the road to Custer but not on it so traffic noise is minimal.

  All 10 sites are decent sized. Sites 5 and site 7 are deep and should accommodate large 5th Wheel TB’s and such. To access these two sites bear left coming into the CG. For most of the other sites bear right on the CG road.

  The vault has men’s and women’s sides and appears to be recently painted. It was clean and well kept when we visited. There are two water pump jacks. Only the jack behind site 1 was working during our stay.

• 

  Angela C.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 18, 2022

  Elk Bend RV Park

  Peaceful and Idyllic

  We set up our daughter in our Super C here for 2 months while she worked in nearby Salmon during the busy season. We were so happy with the beautiful scenery, quiet grounds, and excellent service from the owner. If she ever needed anything, they were happy to help. There is a clean laundry room, showers, and bathrooms onsite, and more than enough space for a 40 foot RV. There are shade trees, some grass sites, some landscape rock sites, picnic tables, a gas firepit, and an onsite mini-store if you need. The owner waited for us until we arrived, helped us get our bearings, and then grew to be a friend. If you are needing to camp(even in a tent!) anywhere near Salmon, Idaho, you need to go and see Stewart at Elk Bend RV Park. Say hi to the deer that roam the area, too, or walk across the street and listen to the Salmon River. Just a beautiful area! Sites with full hookups and not. Would not hesitate to recommend Elk Bend RV Park.

  Pet Friendly!

• b

  brandon W.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 11, 2024

  Decker Flats Dispersed

  Nice place close to great trailheads

  I enjoyed my 2 night stay here. I pitched a tent however it was quite windy due to it being an open area so just stake your tent down well. I had a spot right beside the salmon river and was able to access this campsite via my Honda Accord vehicle.

• 

  Wagner F.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 15, 2020

  Williams Lake Campground

  Great place!

  We went there with two tents. The sites are large and there are enough space for more than 2 or 3 tents easily. The sites are well organized and clean, the bathrooms are well maintained and the camping is pretty close to the lake, you can reach the lake with a 3 - 5 minutes walk. We had a really good experience. Just be aware to check your car breaks because the back travel is downhill the mountains.

• a

  andrea C.

  Traveler

  

  May. 23, 2022

  Sockeye Campground

  In the trees

  We stayed here in May 2022. It was snowing. Lake was frozen. BUT the site itself was great. Level concrete pad. Walk a few steps down to a tent pad and picnic table. There were all sizes of rigs here. From tent campers to bigger RV's. Had it been warmer and we could see the views and use the lake, it would have been amazing. With the snow we couldn't even hike the trails.

• C

  Csrol F.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 20, 2020

  Round Valley RV Park

  Clean

  Stopped here on my road trip around Idaho. Very clean very open great views of the mountains around the valley. Clean restrooms nice showers.

• R

  Ryan L.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 22, 2020

  Sunny Gulch Campground

  A great place to camp that is next to the Salmon River

  I stayed here for a night without a reservation. My spot was a short walk to the river. The campsite is clean. There is a cleaning table next to the picnic table to clean fish if you catch any. My campsite was next to the freshwater well pump. The drinking water is very cold and clean. Bathrooms were clean, outhouse style. I gave it 4 stars as the ground where the tent goes was almost all bedrock and little sand/dirt to tap tent stakes into.

• 

  Betsy A.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 24, 2019

  Sockeye Campground

  Stunning

  Huge private spots with perfect tent spots with views of Sawtooth mountains and Redfish Lake