Best Tent Camping near Clarkia, ID

Public lands surrounding Clarkia, Idaho offer several tent camping options within the St. Joe National Forest and nearby BLM lands. BLM Crater Lake Saddle and BLM Orphan Point Saddle provide primitive tent-only sites directly in Clarkia, both open from July to September. Marble Creek Campground in St. Maries and Giant White Pine Campground in Harvard are established tent campgrounds within 30-45 minutes of Clarkia, with Giant White Pine operating seasonally from May 20 to September 19.

Most tent campsites in the Clarkia area feature basic amenities on natural surfaces. Giant White Pine Campground provides picnic tables, toilets, and designated tent pads, though campers should bring their own drinking water and firewood. According to reviews, the 14 sites at Giant White Pine cost approximately $12 per night with a $2 fee for additional vehicles. Tent campers should note that fire restrictions often apply at BLM sites near Clarkia, where fires are typically not permitted. Tingley Spring, a hike-in tent site northeast of Clarkia, requires backpackers to carry all necessary supplies including water filtration equipment. Road conditions to many sites deteriorate after rain or snow, with some requiring high-clearance vehicles.

Tent camping experiences vary significantly across the region. One visitor noted that Giant White Pine Campground offers "clean sites" with "awesome trails nearby for all levels," though some campers mentioned consistent traffic noise from the nearby highway. Lake Elsie Campground, while not in Clarkia proper, provides a backcountry tent camping experience with approximately 11 first-come, first-served sites around a mountain lake. Campers reported the road to Lake Elsie as "narrow, windy, and steep," taking about 30 minutes on rough terrain. Primitive tent camping at Breakwater Campground offers free sites with no amenities beyond fire rings, making it suitable for self-sufficient tent campers seeking seclusion. Walk-in tent sites along the Big Eddy trail provide privacy and water access for those willing to hike with gear.

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Best Tent Sites Near Clarkia, Idaho (49)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Clarkia, ID

390 Reviews of 49 Clarkia Campgrounds


  • Nicole B.
    Jul. 5, 2023

    Hawleys Landing Campground — Heyburn State Park

    Great Campground but loud maintenance

    We stayed at Chatcolet campground for two nights in late June. The campground is really nice with lovely hosts and clean flushable toilets. We booked site 128 and didn’t realise it was a tent only site with a short walk from where you park to the picnic table, fire ring and tent pad. We have a rooftop tent so we parked and set up our tent and then just carried our chairs, food and wood down to the picnic table. Privacy on these sites isn’t the best, I would recommend booking this site along with 129 as a group site to give yourself good privacy.

    Overall this campground was great, the toilets were clean, they are porcelain, flushing toilets inside a hut. There was drinking water and some nice walks to the lake, if you have bicycles there is a really nice cycle that you can do. The reason for rating this 3 out of 5 is that there was very noisy and intrusive maintenance going on from 7am to 5pm in the sites next to us which was very disruptive. No warning had been given about maintenance in the campground, notice was only given regarding roadworks leading into the campground.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Bumblebee Campground

    Not much to praise

    Coeur d’Alene River Road has SO many places to boondocks and camp, I wouldn’t waste our money on this campground again. The pit toilets were clean and the fire rings and picnic tables were in good shape, hence the two stars. Lots of wasps. No water. Nothing to do within walking distance. Find a boondock spot and save the $28.00

  • Katherine B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 11, 2024

    Isabella Landing Camp

    Simple but pretty

    More of a primitive type of campground, although there are vault toilets. Plenty of spaces along the river; however there is a river take out that may be used to back trailers up to, so the flat spots across from it may not be ideal.

  • Clifford F.
    Jun. 22, 2021

    Camp Coeur D Alene

    Nice campground

    We’ve stayed here a couple times now. It is a nice place. It is a little run down though. The car, tent camping is great. You have your own plot under trees. If you tent camp is the rest of the camp ground you will need a pad under your tent. I ground is pretty course gravel with up to 1.25” sharp stones. Firewood is free though.

  • U
    Sep. 8, 2021

    Rainy Hill Campground

    Okay in a pinch, a bit sketchy for a solo camper

    I found this free spot on another free campsites app. It’s right next to a National Forest boat launch, where there are 2 pit toilets. The campgrounds themselves are dispersed, with already human made fire rings. Some sites are next to the water (those were taken), I ended up driving to see what’s open and settled on top of a hill. There was another camper who must have been there for a while, set up a little tarp village, he looked like he was moved in there… and then a bear up pickup truck drove by few times - something about it felt sketchy to me. I explored a bit more the next day - there are several walk-in sites which looked great - but you can’t drive into those - some up on a hill, some at the bottom of a hill past big boulders.

  • Devon C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Shadowy St. Joe Campground — Idaho Panhandle National Forests

    Great Campground

    The Shadowy St. Joe Campground is a great place to stay. It has 14 sites total. With one taken by the camp hosts, all are paved, with space for 2 vehicles each, have fire pits, and a picnic bench, and electricity. 7 sites to reserve ahead of time on the meadow side that has grass and is spacious. There are 6 first come first serve sites, 2 on the meadow side, and 4 along the river. If looking to reserve a site, the numbers start with #1 closest to the entrance on the meadow side and grow larger in counter clockwise fashion. There is a day use area you can also reserve, with charcoal grills, and multiple picnic benches. There are several vault toilets and all are kept very clean by the 2 wonderful park hosts. There is a boat launch area for day use, with a small fee, but if camping there is no extra charge. There is 2 docks and if staying multiple days you can leave your boat on the dock overnight. It is supposed to be a no wake zone, but the signs have warn down, so we lost a bumper to our boat from crashing into the dock, from passing boat wakes. There is a couple of potable water stations available, with small hose spouts, but no water hookups at the sites. The sites are electric with 50amp, 30amp, and 110 plugs available. No sewer hookup at the sites, but there is a dump station at the fairgrounds in the town of St. Maries about 10 miles away. Phone service is spotty, texting easier and lots of dropped calls, but we like to unplug when camping. Dogs are allowed with no limits, just to stay on leashes at all times. The Lazy St. Joe River is boat passable up to St. Joe City, and all the way to Lake Coeur d'Alene if you want to adventure for a full day in the boat. Great for fishing too. Make sure to have Idaho invasive species tag for the boat if you are from out of state. The Sheriff and Park Rangers patrol daily and check. St. Maries has 2 grocery stores, and sports shop where you can get supplies, and fishing licenses. The town also has great shops, a swimming pool, parks, restaurants, and ATM/banks. This is a great little gem in the Gem State.

  • Rachel A.
    Jul. 6, 2020

    Mini camp 5.0

    Absolutely lovely

    Views are spectacular. Little wind coverage during the day though it’s very private with quite a distance off the Big Eddy trail to get down to the waterside spot. Vaulted toilet, fire ring and a picnic table make for some comfy accommodations. Marker on trail (approximately 5 1/4mi hiking north from Bid Eddy or 3 7/8mi hiking south from Freeman Creek)

  • Freddie Faith M.
    Jun. 30, 2024

    Camp Coeur D Alene

    Great little private campground in the Wolf Lodge Bay.

    This is a great little private campground in the Wolf Lodge Bay, and their added free amenities made this campground a really fun alternative to the usual state park/national forest campsites I go to more often. The swimming pool was well kept, and we really enjoyed using the free canoes. They had a lot of decent looking free firewood, but we were camping during a fire ban and weren't able to use it. (This, of course, is no fault of the campground. But if we camp there again it will be nice to have free firewood!)

    We originally booked tent site 3, which I cannot recommend as it had no shade or privacy, but the attendant was very kind and let us switch to a shadier site for free. I think this was tent site 4 or 5, which were much better. Tent site seven looked really nice as well and I would recommend that one. But if we go back we will definitely be booking the island tent site 201, it looked to be the best one of all.

  • Shaun W.
    Aug. 18, 2017

    Weitas Creek Campground

    Needs a Titdy up.

    it is free witch is amazing thank you. But it would like a tidy up. Only 2 of the sites are in my opinion any good one ones to the left and right of the bridge. I dear not go in the vault toilets. Great location for fishing access. Did get little busy before dark and not many trees so you had dust going threw your camp but it was free.


Guide to Clarkia

Nestled in the scenic beauty of Idaho, Clarkia offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for adventure and tranquility.

Tent campers should check out local hiking trails

  • The Giant White Pine Campground is conveniently located near awesome trails for all skill levels, making it a great base for hiking adventures.
  • At Marble Creek Campground, you can explore stunning rivers and caves, providing a unique hiking experience amidst breathtaking views.
  • Tingley Spring - BLM offers remote backcountry sites, perfect for those who enjoy hiking in solitude and immersing themselves in nature.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the opportunities at Little North Fork Campground, known for its excellent cutthroat and rainbow trout fishing.
  • Saint Joe National Forest Big Creek Campground is a fantastic spot for those looking to float down the St. Joe River, just a short drive from the campground.
  • For a more adventurous experience, Crater Peak - BLM provides access to trails ideal for mountain biking and ATV riding.

Campground features that enhance the experience

  • Marble Creek Campground features a few sites with an outhouse, ensuring basic amenities while you enjoy the great outdoors.
  • At Partridge Creek Campground, you'll find spacious sites that are handicap accessible, making it easier for everyone to enjoy the camping experience.
  • Camp 3 Campground offers picnic tables and toilets, providing essential comforts for a pleasant stay in nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Clarkia, ID?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Clarkia, ID is Marble Creek Campground with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Clarkia, ID?

TheDyrt.com has all 49 tent camping locations near Clarkia, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.