38 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Howe, Idaho range from developed facilities to dispersed camping areas, with significant options around Craters of the Moon National Monument. The region includes established campgrounds like Lava Flow Campground within the monument and several RV parks in nearby Arco, such as Craters of the Moon-Arco KOA and Mountain View RV Park, which offer cabin accommodations alongside tent and RV sites. Public lands in the area support primitive camping, particularly along Big Lost River and in the surrounding mountain foothills, providing alternatives to formal campground settings.
Seasonal considerations heavily influence camping conditions in this high desert region. Most developed campgrounds operate primarily from April through October, with Lava Flow Campground charging reduced rates during shoulder seasons when water is shut off. The volcanic landscape creates unique camping environments with limited shade and extreme temperature variations between day and night. Several dispersed areas require high-clearance vehicles due to rough access roads and rocky terrain. Cell service is limited throughout the region, particularly in remote areas and within the national monument boundaries. A recent review noted, "This is a decent spot if you need a place to stop in between Idaho Falls and salmon. Nice and quiet middle of nowhere spot for a middle of nowhere drive."
Campers frequently mention the otherworldly landscape as a primary appeal when staying at established campgrounds within Craters of the Moon. The contrast between dark lava formations and the night sky creates memorable camping experiences, though the exposed terrain provides minimal protection from wind and sun. According to one visitor, "This is what you would expect in the wilderness of Idaho! A unique location, and an experience worth having!" RV parks in the area generally receive positive reviews for their proximity to attractions, though amenities vary significantly. Dispersed camping along Big Lost River offers fishing access and privacy, with one camper commenting on the "incredible views" available at these less-developed sites. The volcanic terrain limits tree cover at many locations, so campers should prepare for exposure to elements regardless of camping style.
"We like staying here while traveling through Idaho. It’s a short drive to Craters of the Moon National Monument, and Arco, Idaho is a neat little town."
"It’s surrounded by views of huge mountains and open plains with a horse pasture next door. It was quiet and everyone here was respectful of others."
from $25 - $55 / night
Check Availability"There were fields around the rest of the park and horses in one of them so we visited them one night on a walk."
"View is in the small city of Arco ID, close to Craters of the Moon National monument. Reserving space was easy on line and making a change to our reservation was easy via email."
from $52 - $58 / night
Check Availability"This is what you would expect in the wilderness of Idaho! A unique location, and an experience worth having!"
"All facilities are closed so it’s just camping and exploring the park which is all within walking distance of the campground. Very friendly ranger working the front! Level sites on pavement."
"This is a great location. The owner of the property, Scar, is very generous in offering his property for free to stay at to complete strangers. This is dry camping, no water or sewer."
"He has 2 rules to stay on his property, you need to speak to him before you enter, and you need to come outside and join all the campers at dusk and stand for the Star Spangled Banner."
"This is a decent spot if you need a place to stop in between Idaho Falls and salmon. Nice and quiet middle of nowhere spot for a middle of nowhere drive."
"Had LOTS of spots right next to the river . Some close to bathrooms. Water available at. Orth entrance. Free but asks for a donation."
"There is access to a toilet across the road and there is a fire ring with a picnic table. We would go back there again."
"This is an amazing secluded spot deep into the Sawtooth Mountains of Central Idaho. We've been coming here for years and my fathers been coming here since the 60's. "
"We enjoyed the nearby creek and beautiful wildflowers that were blooming. Port-a-potties were there when we first set up camp but they were later taken by forest staff which left us without a toilet."
"The campground is a super scenic spot to pitch camp in an RV in a tranquil setting surrounded by mountains and forests."
"Amazing stars, easy access to trails and beautiful volcanic landscapes. My only complaint is the lack of privacy and sound carries a little too well so hopefully you’ll have respectful neighbors."
"Super clean bathrooms, easy self pay, accessible sites and a lot of walking and driving activities available. Will definitely feel crowded when full. Sat/sun night at the end of oct was maybe 25%."
from $15 - $30 / night
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GuideThe spaces are around lava rocks, so you might have a hard time fitting if you're a big rig. It's so peaceful. No hookups but there is a water spigot where you can fill jugs. $7.50 per night with a senior pass. $15 without. Lots of spaces still available when we came in at 4:30 PM.
GuideWe stayed here for 2 nights in July 2025. We were on the way back from Yellowstone and planned a stop here so we could go to Craters of the Moon. It's a lovely park, very clean, nice people. The only thing that was disappointing was that there is a BBQ restaurant on-site that had fantastic reviews and it happened to be closed on the days we were there. This is right on a main road, but Arco is a quiet town and I did not notice any traffic noise at all. There were fields around the rest of the park and horses in one of them so we visited them one night on a walk.
GuideAmazing! We decided to stay two nights here on our road trip and it was the greatest decision ever. You feel like you are on another planet here. The wind came in a little crazy in the evening, but settled at night. There is a very strict no fires allowed policy due to the ancient pines that are there, but they do have charcoal grills at each site. The bathrooms were relatively clean with flush toilets and running sinks, and were beside a water spigot (seasonal), all were very close to our site. Because of the natural landscape each site is unique, with significant size variation. #37 was a great choice and right beside a hiking trail which made for a great night walk. I will say that you can easily get up that trail and do some nice stargazing, and wait for the moon to rise. The moon rising here was something I will never forget, as well as a rare late morning visit by a fox, truly an amazing place!
ScoutWe were able to get a site at the far loop. Campground is very clean, the restrooms are also very clean. Park staff have been very friendly and helpful.
GuideBreathtaking views that feel like a different planet. Nice first come first serve sites with picnic tables and grills. Very few, if any, sites are big rig friendly. No hookups but water on site and vault toilets. Camping is $15, card only. Amazing night sky views.
GuideCame late, it was difficult to navigate to the river with all the varying roads/paths. Parked at a pull over along the rushing river. Two vault toilets.
ScoutVery quiet with mountain views. Tent setup right next to the stream. Plenty of open spaces along Birch Creek Rec area, some with bathrooms near by.
GuideThe site was fairly level. It had some shade and full hookups. There was a picnic table at the site. There’s a nice dog run area. They have An outdoor games area with corn hole etc. At this time they’re not selling propane. They have laundry and showers, that both are costly. $2.50 for a small washer load, and another $2.50 for dryer. Our site did not have grass, and our dogs ended up with pitch stuck in their fur from the conifers. It’s not too far from Craters of the Moon NM.
Ranger40 sites that are a mix of rent and RV sites. Clean pit toilets. Water spigots but off when I was here. Overall I recommend visiting.
Camping spots near Howe, Idaho cluster in the rain shadow of the eastern Rocky Mountains, with most areas sitting at 5,000-6,000 feet elevation. The volcanic terrain experiences extreme temperature fluctuations, often dropping 30-40 degrees between day and night. Water availability varies dramatically by season, with many dispersed sites requiring campers to pack in all water during summer months.
Cave exploration: Visit the lava tubes at Lava Flow Campground — Craters of the Moon National Monument where underground temperatures remain 40-50°F year-round. The caves require a free permit from the visitor center. "If you are planning on camping here in the summer, be prepared for extreme dry heat. I highly suggest going down in the caves where you can crawl in the lava tubes," advises Hannah C.
Fishing access: Find spots along Birch Creek located 40 miles north of Howe, accessible via Highway 28. Requires Idaho fishing license ($14.75/day for non-residents). "Boondocking alongside a creek with the Lemhi mountains as a backdrop...Every site is along Birch Creek and has a picnic table and fire pit," notes Jerry B. about Birch Creek Campground.
Evening programs: Attend ranger-led night sky presentations held May-September at Group Campground — Craters of the Moon National Monument. Programs run 45-60 minutes and require no reservation. "It is open so you can do stargazing without difficulty! It was wonderful!" shares Angie W.
ATV trails: Explore forest roads in the Challis National Forest area, particularly around Bear Creek. "This is a good spot to ride around on your motorcycle or ATV and get some pristine alpine fishing in," states Alan B.
Unique terrain: Camp directly on volcanic landscapes at Craters of the Moon, where sites are built into the lava field. "This experience is a must! The campsite is in the lava fields. Like amongst piles of volcanic rock and mounds of lava flows. It's unreal! If you like rocks, plan to stay a few days," shares Taylor L.
Free camping options: Stay at Honeys Park located on private property just outside Arco. "It's a free campground ran by a disabled vet. He can't and won't charge anyone, though lately has been allowing donations to pay it forward and help with things like recovering the power installation," explains Scar S.
Accessible facilities: Find clean bathrooms at multiple campgrounds near Howe. "The bathrooms are spotless and very large. The showers are about 5 ft by 5 ft!" reports Marty S. from Mountain View RV Park.
Riverside sites: Set up camp along water features at several dispersed camping areas. "We enjoyed the nearby creek and beautiful wildflowers that were blooming," notes Jamie M. about Bear Creek Dispersed Campground.
Water availability changes seasonally: Most developed campgrounds shut off water from mid-October through April. "Nice campground within the park, awesome scenery with little chipmunk visitors. The water was shut off due to the colder weather but still had pit toilets available, however this meant the price was only $8 for the night," notes Georgia L. about Lava Flow Campground.
No fires allowed at Craters of the Moon: Fire restrictions remain year-round due to limited emergency response capabilities. All cooking must use camp stoves.
Limited shade throughout region: Few trees exist in the lava fields and desert areas. "There are no developed rings or tables but you can tell where people usually set up camp...You could put a tent in here if you wanted but there are way better spots just up the road," advises Alan B.
Cell service unpredictable: Signal strength varies dramatically based on terrain. "Thank you Elon for Starlink else I could not stay here. Zut Verizon or Cricket (cricket sometime showed 1 bar but not usable)," reports Kevin H.
Choose sites with playground access: Craters of the Moon-Arco KOA offers family-friendly amenities close to attractions. "Our boys got to enjoy the pool before it closed for the evening. In the morning they offer FREE waffles, so after packing up the car, we enjoyed breakfast before heading over to the National Monument," shares Bobby B.
Pack extra water: The dry climate requires 1-2 gallons per person per day, especially for children. Temperatures routinely hit 85-95°F in summer.
Bring wildlife identification guides: Small mammals and birds are abundant throughout the area, making for educational viewing opportunities.
Consider timing for comfortable temperatures: Late spring and early fall provide milder conditions for exploring with children. "Breezy summer evening, very cool morning. Short days due to being deep in the canyon," describes Leslie S. from Pass Creek Narrows.
Look for pull-through sites: Many campgrounds offer easier access for larger rigs. "Great little campground with full hook ups, 30 or 50 Amp. Spaces for tent camping up to Class A motor homes. Several pull through spots, a few back in spots," notes Jeremy H.
Beware of arrival time restrictions: Some private campgrounds have specific rules about check-in. "You can not get in here after dark. The owner came out and talked for a minute, said its a personal rule of his and I would be welcome back tomorrow," warns johny R. about Honeys Park.
Use the free dump station in Arco: Located near the highway junction, accessible without staying at commercial campgrounds. "You can get water and also dump your trailer at the free city dump station very close to the campground," advises Gail J.
Check road conditions for dispersed sites: Many require high-clearance vehicles. "As you continue to this spot, there's lots of places to pull off and camp. The road goes for quite a while and you can get to some beautiful creek/forest spots with 4WD," recommends Nikki A.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Howe, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, Howe, ID offers a wide range of camping options, with 38 campgrounds and RV parks near Howe, ID and 13 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Howe, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Howe, ID is Craters of the Moon RV Park with a 3.8-star rating from 24 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Howe, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 free dispersed camping spots near Howe, ID.
What parks are near Howe, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 parks near Howe, ID that allow camping, notably Craters of the Moon National Monument and Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
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