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Best Glamping near Clayton, ID

50 Reviews

Smiley Creek Lodge houses a unique collection of glamping accommodations nestled in the Stanley region of Idaho. Travelers can experience a refined outdoor retreat with safari tents, yurts, and cabin-style glamping units equipped with comfortable beds, electricity, and rustic-luxe furnishings. A visitor noted, "The river side is nice with campsites close to the river while the other side is just a street crossing away." Unlike traditional camping, these boutique accommodations blend seamlessly with the natural environment while providing essential comforts like drinking water, toilets, and picnic areas. The lodge offers year-round access, making it an ideal base for exploring nearby attractions regardless of season, with several sites featuring exceptional riverside views for a premium glamping experience.

The Sawtooth National Recreation Area provides a stunning backdrop for glamping adventures with multiple locations offering resort-style camping experiences. Guests enjoy direct access to the Salmon River for swimming, fishing, and kayaking, with several glamping sites positioned steps from the water's edge. According to a camper, "Plenty of paths down to Salmon river level to fish or nap." Safari tents and yurts at Redfish Lake area feature spectacular mountain views and proximity to water activities. Beyond outdoor recreation, glampers can visit nearby attractions including Boat Box Hot Springs, the ghost town of Custer, and live music events at Redfish Lake Lodge. The region's glamping accommodations typically operate from late May through September, though some locations like Smiley Creek Lodge remain open year-round for those seeking four-season boutique camping experiences.

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Best Glamping Sites Near Clayton, Idaho (16)

    1. Deadman Hole

    3 Reviews
    Clayton, ID
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 879-6200

    " Though this campground sits along the highway it is easier to tolerate noise when its free! 

    The campground loop is gravel and has “pull next to” (bump out?)"

    "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"

    2. Salmon River Campground

    12 Reviews
    Stanley, ID
    23 miles
    Website

    "The river side is nice with campsites close to the river while the other side is just a street crossing away. Both are very similar otherwise. "

    "Primitive campsite near the river. Vault toilets were kept clean. Fire pits."

    3. Flat Rock Campground

    2 Reviews
    Stanley, ID
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 838-3300

    "Only issue you did have some road noise since it’s right on the road. Picked up starlink service but no Verizon signal. Campground was pretty quiet not busy at all."

    "Close to hwy20. Convenient but you can hear the traffic. Camp host Denny was great guy. Ask him about his impala."

    4. Custer #1 Campground

    2 Reviews
    Clayton, ID
    16 miles
    Website

    "Tables and fire pits in each one & 4/6 have shade.

    One pit toilet which was very clean during my visit.

    I pulled in on a Saturday @ 6pm and only one spot was taken so lucky me."

    "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."

    5. Mill Creek

    1 Review
    Challis, ID
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 879-4321

    "The two vault toilets were clean and stocked with TP. The campground was spotless. My top sites of choice are sites 2 and 3 because of the shade and proximity to the creek."

    6. Riverside

    2 Reviews
    Stanley, ID
    22 miles
    Website

    "The rest are on the other side of the highway. It has several bathrooms and dumpsters, at least one on each side of the highway. Site 15 was were I ended up."

    7. Smiley Creek Lodge

    7 Reviews
    Sawtooth National Forest, ID
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 774-3547

    "Bathrooms were clean. They had horseshoes and bean bags in a common area. No picnic tables or fire pits though. RV spots were pretty wide, which was nice

    One tip, avoid spot number #17 if possible."

    "They officially don’t have tent sites but had some grassy area where I could pitch my tent anyway. That did mean there were no picnic tables or fire rings for me but the RV sites did have them."

    8. Point

    2 Reviews
    Stanley, ID
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 727-5000

    "On one of the most beloved and popular lakes in the Sawtooth. Redfish Lake. Gorgeous views. Any kind of water sports you crave. Backpacking destination trails. Short or long hiking. Biking."

    "This site was excellent as it offers both spots for vehicles as well as a tent only area where the sites are walk-in."

    9. Murdock Creek Dispersed

    5 Reviews
    Ketchum, ID
    31 miles
    Website

    "This is a smaller campground tucked back against the mountains.  Good shade trees.  Close to hiking, fishing and mountain biking.  Campsites have a picnic table, fire ring with grill."

    "Water is available at the dump station located on the left before you arrive. It services all area NF service campgrounds as well as paid for others not. We had good ATT service 2 and 3 bars."

    10. Alturas Inlet Campground

    5 Reviews
    Atlanta, ID
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 537-8888

    $24 - $48 / night

    "Alturas Lake Inlet campground is tucked into the lovely, shady forest around it. We saw plenty of birds, chipmunks and tiny wildflowers were all over our site in early July."

    "This is one of the most gorgeous locations for camping. The campground is right on the lake which is perfect for those of us who like to bring our canoes and kayaks. It is well cared for and clean."

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Recent Glamping Photos near Clayton, ID

16 Photos of 16 Clayton Campgrounds

Glamping Reviews near Clayton, ID

50 Reviews of 16 Clayton Campgrounds

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2021

    Bench Creek Campground

    Quiet but no services

    Up near the top of the pass is Bench Creek campground. There are only 6 sites on this lollipop loop, all on the non-highway side. But you can hear the highway from everywhere in the campground. Sites 2, 3, and 4 back up nicely to the creek. Vault toilet but no water or trash, so pack in pack out. Across the highway are some OHV trails, so you will also get some of that noise in the day. Every site has the standard picnic table and fire pit, but fire season is real, so maybe skip the fire.

  • Jeane L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 7, 2021

    Alturas Inlet Campground

    Good escape from the summer heat

    Alturas Lake Inlet campground is tucked into the lovely, shady forest around it. We saw plenty of birds, chipmunks and tiny wildflowers were all over our site in early July. The lake is a short walk but some campers drove over just to make it easier to tote their chairs and water gear. Bring layers - it can is cool in the evenings and at night (40s F) even in July but warm in the day, especially if you are out by the lake. We tent camped at site 17 and although it was near one of the many vault toilets, smaller trash dumpsters, and water spigots, our site was bigger and we set up a decent distance from it. Most sites seemed to have a good distance between each other and enough privacy courtesy of trees and various plant life. We didn’t have any issues, but there plenty of signs reminding campers to be bear aware. (We are pretty careful to keep our food, cooking supplies, toiletries and whatnot in our car when not in use anyway). We did not have cell service (Verizon) and it was a bit of a drive before we got it again. Overall, it’s a beautiful retreat well suited to escaping the heat of summer if you have a tent or small trailer/pull behind.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 2, 2021

    Deadman Hole

    FREE BLM Campground

     Though this campground sits along the highway it is easier to tolerate noise when its free! 

    The campground loop is gravel and has “pull next to” (bump out?) type sites with covered picnic table and a fire pit. There are also pit toilets and a hand pump water spigot. There is also a boat ramp and a day use area. 

    The river is very shallow and the bank is quite muddy -- our little dog sank up to her belly. 

    No privacy here and lots of road noise but you get to see the river and the meandering cows across the river. 

    Did not see any wildlife unless you count the swarms of tiny bugs of the variety that squeeze their little bug bodies through your screens. 

    Zero cell reception ATT, verizon or TMobile. The WeBoost was able to give us bars of LTE but still was not very usable.

    Good for an overnight but not much around to keep us occupied for anything longer.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2022

    Salmon River Campground

    River and Road

     Right off of Hwy 75 you’ll find this first come first serve campground that has camping on either side of the road. The river side is currently closed for revegetation, erosion control, and habitat restoration. The other side is open. The river side is nice with campsites close to the river while the other side is just a street crossing away. Both are very similar otherwise. 

    Dusty gravel roads will loop you through the campground. The sites themselves are dirt and gravel with mostly level parking areas and each site varies in length. We would fit in many of them in our 26' Class C but larger rigs may have a problem. Each site has fire pit and picnic table. There are pit toilets and hand pump water available as well. There is a dumpster for trash but no recycling. There are no bear boxes so store food appropriately as bears are common in this area. 

    Road noise is an issue during the day as the campgrounds sit very close to the highway, but it dies down at night. Only 2 other campers there when we went.

    $18/night 

    Fire restrictions in effect at this time so NO FIRES 

    No cell reception ATT, Verizon or TMobile

  • J
    Aug. 16, 2021

    East Fork Baker Creek Campground

    Beautiful, spaced out sites

    This area is just 10 minutes south of Galena Lodge and 25 minutes north of Ketchum. We arrived on a Friday morning and had no problem finding a shaded, private site. There seemed to be a ton of options as you drive down Baker Creek (dirt road). Many have established fire pits.

  • N
    Jul. 25, 2025

    Smiley Creek Lodge

    Expensive and low quality

    We stayed here to be close to redfish lake to snatch a spot for camping there in the morning. For that it served its purpose but that is all that is positive about it. We had to pay 114 dollars for an rv site that was not level, did not have a picnic table or a fire ring, or even place to put a table and chairs. The bathroom is very far away, and there is only one, which does not have a door, but a shower curtain. The location is nice, but if possible I would keep driving to find a better place.

  • Mine
    Aug. 5, 2021

    Salmon River Campground

    Near Boat Box Hot Springs and the Salmon River

    Primitive campsite near the river. Vault toilets were kept clean. Fire pits.

  • Ben H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 24, 2020

    Smiley Creek Lodge

    Good spot in the sawtooths

    This is a good option between Ketchum and Stanley to go explore the sawtooth mountains. It’s a little bit of everything, lodge, yurts, cabins, rv spots, gas station, restaurant. RV spots were reasonable level. Bathrooms were clean. They had horseshoes and bean bags in a common area. No picnic tables or fire pits though. RV spots were pretty wide, which was nice

    One tip, avoid spot number #17 if possible. The sewer hookup was loose and shared with a long term resident on the other side, also the water spigot was broken so we had to use the spigot for spot #16. #17 is not terrible, but other spots are much better.

  • Alex S.
    Jul. 20, 2021

    Custer #1 Campground

    Small and just right

    $5 a night but only 6 pull in spots to choose from with all being about the same as far as benefits. Tables and fire pits in each one & 4/6 have shade.

    One pit toilet which was very clean during my visit.

    I pulled in on a Saturday @ 6pm and only one spot was taken so lucky me.

    NO cell service whatsoever here either(AT&T)

    Location works for exploring the local areas up and down the fork

Guide to Clayton

Dispersed camping around Clayton, Idaho offers access to diverse wilderness landscapes at elevations between 4,000-9,000 feet in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Campers encounter dense pine forests, alpine meadows, and riverside camping options within 30 miles of this small mountain town. Summer temperatures typically range from 40°F at night to 80°F during peak daytime hours, requiring layered clothing for comfort throughout the day.

What to do

River fishing access: At Deadman Hole Recreation Site, campers can enjoy immediate access to the Salmon River with a boat launch for fishing, rafting and kayaking. A reviewer noted, "Views for miles, steps from the Salmon River, boat launch for rafting, kayaking, fishing." The shallow areas provide safe wading spots for anglers.

Ghost town exploration: Venture to Custer #1 Campground for a unique historical excursion. Located along Adventure Road, this small campground serves as a base for exploring the nearby ghost town. "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," recommends one visitor.

Mountain biking trails: Multiple trail systems connect the campgrounds in the area, with some campsites providing direct trail access. During early fall, temperatures cool significantly, making daytime riding more comfortable. One camper at Murdock Creek shared, "Close to hiking, fishing and mountain biking. Campsites have a picnic table, fire ring with grill."

What campers like

River proximity: Salmon River Campground offers sites directly on the water's edge. "Several sites located right on the river. Water available in the campground, firewood from the camp hosts, and clean bathrooms," notes one camper. The river access provides both recreational opportunities and natural cooling during hot summer days.

Night sky viewing: The remote location of many campsites around Clayton creates exceptional stargazing conditions with minimal light pollution. A camper at Murdock Creek Dispersed reported, "The real treat came when we saw the beauty of the night sky unencumbered by city lights; the Milky Way was on full display."

Small, quiet campgrounds: Many campgrounds in the region maintain a small footprint with limited sites. One camper at Mill Creek described their experience: "Small and up in the mountains, this campground has 9 first come sites with about half backing to the creek and the other half to the trees on the lollipop loop. The only sounds I heard while there were the wind in the pines, birds."

What you should know

Limited connectivity: Cell service ranges from nonexistent to spotty throughout the Clayton area. A camper at Deadman Hole Recreation Site reported, "Zero cell reception ATT, verizon or TMobile. The WeBoost was able to give us bars of LTE but still was not very usable." Some yurt camping near Clayton, Idaho may offer satellite internet access at an additional fee.

Road noise considerations: Several campgrounds sit adjacent to highways, creating potential noise disturbance. A reviewer at Flat Rock Campground mentioned, "Close to hwy20. Convenient but you can hear the traffic." Similarly, at Deadman Hole Recreation Site, a camper noted, "Close to road, so some road noise."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Clayton, ID?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Clayton, ID is Deadman Hole with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.

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TheDyrt.com has all 16 glamping camping locations near Clayton, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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