If you're looking for a place to dispersed camp near Island Park, look no further. Here you'll find a diverse selection of places to camp, including remote dispersed camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. Each dispersed site offers quick access to one or more of Island Park's most popular destinations.
Legend
Free. Coordinates: 44.09981,-111.17306. Camped here on Sept 21, 2024. Set back and above busy Forest Road 582 which heads toward Cave Falls; no issues with dust from forest road. Site is also referred to as Lower Creek Road Campground. Large site, should easily accommodate 3 rigs. A few spots are level. Up on a small hill above Rock Creek. Can't see the creek, but you can hear it. Dirt surface. Tent camping possible. Surrounded by tall trees, but open sky above. Site has a bear box and a rock fire ring. There is also an old lean-to near the fire ring. The access track is pot-holed; may be muddy. No hiking trails. No T-Mobile nor AT&T cell service. It's a nice site; nothing special. Good for a quiet overnight stay if visiting Cave Falls.
Traveler
This is a beautiful spot. A little difficult to find. The road leading down to the lake looks like it’s someone’s driveway adjacent. I drove by it a few times before actually finding it. Once I got there though definitely worth it. It looks like a gravel parking lot. There were 2 small RVs already there when I got there; and a truck had pulled in sometime overnight when I woke up. The lake is gorgeous. It’s quiet and dark and very peaceful!!
Guide
I enjoyed boondocking here in my tent. I had good cell service with Google FI wireless. Also I was able to get by the road and make it in my Honda Accord. Nice place even had a bear box for food storage.
Scout
Large open meadow at 7270 ft. elevation. Very open with several good level areas for RVs or tents. Wide open skies and a fire ring. Great spot if it’s available.
Traveler
This is a fantastic campground with lots of empty sites along Taylor Creek. The site I stayed at had a fire pit with lots of room to setup a tent or camper if you’re interested. Lots of distance between each campsite and again, a pretty valley view with a beautiful creek.
Scout
Great spot for camping if you get there early and you don’t mind people driving by looking for spots at any hour. This area should not be advertised as dispersed camping, strict site camping with signs everywhere. We had to drive an hour+ up the road, requiring 4x4, to get to National Forest and legally camp. We slept in our car, uncomfortable with how much human traffic there was and the possibility of bears in camp. Make sure to properly store food, there are only site specific bear boxes after camp 1.
That being said, it was a beautiful drive out in the morning and was a convenient location between Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
Scout
This is a nice place to boondock. There are a few level spots up here, but the road is pretty rough and pretty steep. The view into Yellowstone is gorgeous.
Scout
We drove up this road early on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend and of the first 8 designated spots only about 3 were full. We took the last one (just after 2ish miles from the entrance at the road) and it was absolutely gorgeous. Our little site sat on small ridge with a somewhat steep but short trail down to the creek. No picnic tables, but there was a really cute fire ring. The trails up the road are popular, and over the course of the weekend there were pretty frequent cars and even a few folks walking. We didn't mind too much, but the site is right off the road so you're not secluded or especially private. The trade off feels worth it for the beautiful site and proximity to the creek.
Please be bear aware! There are bears in the area, so make sure to lock your food and other consumables in your truck's cab or in your car.
GuideThis camp was so beautiful. It’s nestled right on the lake and the sunset is just stunning. The bathrooms were so clean and there was even a mural painted on the walls. There are several places to camp along the red rocks pass road if you don’t want to drive all the way down to the lake. The lake sites are so beautiful that if you opt out you’re definitely going to miss out.
Guide
A good amount of dispersed areas here. All the areas in the open meadow area closer by the road was occupied. We choose a dead end road and had the area all to ourselves. Had to back up the road about 200 feet because there was no turn around for the size of our rig (36 foot 5th wheel). But it is doable.
GuideA lot of boondocking opportunities in that area. Must of the spots in the open meadow area were full. Therefore, we went with this spot up a dead end road. With the size of r rig 36 foot Solltude I had to back up the road about 200 feet. Road in was a little rough but we managed.
ScoutGreat spot down by river. Mostly sunny area but found this spot with shade. Rough rd coming in but camper van accessible. Rock fire ring. There are houses across river but this site is private from that . Only bad thing is it’s quite a little drive back here. At 2pm on a Sunday no one around so far.
GuideThis campground was nice. Bathroom is well kept and stocked. This one even had soap. We arrived around 6pm in our Winnebago van and there were still a few available spaces.
Traveler
Great spot. Good views if you get a spot close to the the creek. Easy to get to and the road was in good condition. Some cell phone reception. Some flies. Some noise from the road close by but not an issue. Please be respectfull of wild life in the area (there are fish and small frogs in the creek). Please dont disturb them, dont get in the creek
TravelerSuper awesome spot! Water was close and incredible. No real fire ring but there was a ring from rocks made. Happy to see some people nearby
Really windy, thankful for stakes lol
ScoutBased on the dispersed camping guide provided by the Forest Service office in Gardiner, you’re not supposed to camp in the spot listed on this site. Take a left off Traveltine road, go past the rock quarry to find good sites
Scout
Quiet, secluded dispersed sites about 15 minutes outside of Gardiner. No trees so it gets pretty hot without shade. There are random animal bones scattered around the sites from what I assume previous hunting trips, which is a bit eerie.
I’d certainly stay here again for a couple nights!
TravelerI highly recommend staying here if you’re around Yellowstone National Park. I’ve been on a 2 month road trip around the West and this has been one of my favorite dispersed camping sites. I planned on just crashing here for a night but ended up staying for a couple days because of how beautiful this spot is. If you go, drive all the way down the gravel road and there is a nice place for people to camp out right at the level of the lake. It’s clean and a good place for families to camp out!
GuideNice roads and huge beautiful sites. Being a small female solo tent camping I felt safe. There are lots of elk and rabbits.
Guide
friends and i left yellowstone at dark and just needed a place to sleep a decent distance from the park so we knew we’d have a place to sleep. arrived late and just found a spot and went to bed. cool spot, nothing crazy but great for a quick night’s stop.
ScoutWe stayed one night on our way back from Yellowstone. My RTT was perfect for this. There was a small corral for horses and plenty of room for a horse trailer and truck.
GuideThere's about three good spots up on the hill, the two out on the edge have reliable service. But as soon as you go back up a bit, it vanishes.
Stunning views of Yellowstone and the mountains. Be aware, there are NO trees, so it will get stiflingly hot with no clouds. But, close to town, and the road isn't the worst. For sure go slow, but even low clearance should be able to pick out a path.
Guide
Wonderful spot. Forested & shady, but with some meadows too. Several trails for ATVs & hiking. Rather warm, but not bad for July.
Only real issue is that it seems to be ONLY used by ATVers and large trailer campers. Can be loud, as everyone drives around, but otherwise not bad.
GuideThere is an established firing at this location as well as a small field that is open and the camp is surrounded by trees. Next to the firing is a fairly level ground for tent, camping or vehicle camping.
GuideEasy to find, a little rough road getting in but a great spot, relatively private. No bugs when we were there. It’s just the campsite and a fire pit. No bathrooms, water, electric. We pulled in a pickup just fine and saw a few campers at other sites
Guide
We had to drive super far to find a spot to stay. But we got lucky. They do have a fire pit and a lot of seclusion. Just a long drive on the dirt road. Bugs can be intense cause you’re next to the lake. The pine beetles have demolished miles and miles of the forest along the road to the campsites so it isn’t the most scenic anymore but Yellowstone has been really affected as a whole by the beetles.
RangerDrove through a few open gates but there were clearly dispersed sites in this area. Nice flat sites, road was rocky and bumpy but not bad. Quiet area until a group of teenagers started a loud party at the site next to us
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Island Park, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Island Park, ID is Targhee Creek with a 4.8-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Island Park, ID?
TheDyrt.com has all 58 dispersed camping locations near Island Park, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
