Lava Hot Springs, ID is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Lava Hot Springs campgrounds just for you. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
"Easy access from Lava with about 10 designated spots, most with room for two vehicles and one(?) pull through spot that fit my truck/30foot TT."
"They have tent sites, van sites and a selection of shelters to choose from. Camping gets you access to the hot springs from check in until 4pm the next day."
"Very little shade. 3 RV slips for smaller rigs ~30’. Plenty of picnic tables including an ADA table. Two walk in only camp spots, expect rough ground. Right next to the river."
$30 / night
"We'd like to welcome this property to our platform. Ken is a great host and will guide you in. This private oasis in the woods feels secluded, but you are 6 min away from local amenities."
"back in the mountains a couple hours from civilization. makes you thankful for the idaho wilderness"
LegendA great little campground with many full hookups for RVs and some tent sites. There is a small store in the office and a pretty little lake nearby but we didnt see any fish. Lucky for the fisher though the Portneuf River is also right in the campground. Theres a little bit of shade but not really any large trees. If you want to head further up into the mountains this is a great spot to head north from. It is also very close <5 minutes from Lava Hot Springs.
RangerThis free campground has about 10 sites to choose from, mostly RV but occasionally tent camping. There is a bathroom, no luxury showers or a store to buy firewood or items. It’s about a 10min or less drive to Lava Hot Springs in case you need supply. This campground is right next to the river, has a small waterfall and beautiful scenery all around. The road is extremely bumpy so if your have a low car or trailer be careful. The pros of this is its free. 1st come 1st serve, nice, quiet area. The cons, no shower, hook ups, store and the train that runs by Lava Hot Springs can be heard.
ScoutWe did not stay at the KOA, but right up the road at a Sportsman Access area. Camped right next to the river at no cost. We were able to get a large cleared out spot, not very many neighbors, 1 vaulted toilet on sight. Now there is no potable water in this area and not much shade. But great, no cost, quite, river access and only 3 miles from center of Lava Hot Springs where we went tubbing.
LegendAgreat little campground that is split into a more developed tent area and a primitive tent area. The developed tent area had gravel pads along with picnic tables and metal fire rings. There was also a halfdicap vault toilet near the entrance. At the primitive site we found a wonderful little rope swing that swung out over the creek. All the primitive sites were wonderfully cool and shaded while the developed sites were more exposed
LegendThis beautiful campground lies close to the end of St Charles Canyon near the Minnetonka Cave. It has 2 sections one of which is mainly for rvs and the 2nd which is for tents and camper Van's. The RV spots seemed kind of close but the tent sites had ample room along with metal fire rings and picnic tables. There was a vault toilet up near the rvs and down by the tent sites
RangerBeautiful campground set high up in the Caribou National Forest. The campground is around 13 miles up a mountain from Pocatello- it took us roughly 30 minutes driving up curvy mountain roads to get up to the top. Be advised, our gps tried to route us off a dirt road half way up, but you just stay on the paved road all the way up. We got site 20, I’m not sure which loop, as the loops were kind of hard to determine. It was next to bathrooms and across from water and a group campsite which looked like it’d be awesome if you were in a group (site 19.) Beautiful in the pines and furs. You can’t see from the road but many of the tent pads are behind the tables and fire rings. The tent pads aren’t huge- Our tent pad wasn’t big enough for our 6 person REI tent so we pitched right behind our car on the parking pad, which was considerably larger. We were only staying for one night on a Thursday and it was very quiet with only a handful of other campers, but I saw reserve tags on most camp sites in our loop for the weekend. No showers, vault toilets. Drinking water. We tent camp so I didn’t see if there were any electric sites, ours was not. We saw cows, moose, birds and deer on the mountain. Wish we could have stayed an extra night to hike around the area.
TravelerThis is an older campground, and space near reservoirs is a hot commodity. The RV park host was very friendly and accommodating. Very clean campground with a nice boat dock and plenty of spaces to get down near the reservoir and fish.
Warning - Some of the spaces felt like extremely close quarters especially with slide outs. The picture below shows one of the older full utility locations. Some units may not have much room to slide out without contacting the utility boxes. Some units offer great shade and an awning next to a shared fire pit, shared picnic table. Some units have a really nice shared grass area between trailers. Also several people here are seasonal campers with monthly rates. This can make finding a space a little more challenging. Call ahead and make sure to get reservations so you can get a spot.
Lot size seems inconsistent between spaces as some feel very cramped and some of the high number units without utilities had larger spaces between them, almost appearing as an extra space between two units people were using for pet/kid play areas.
Dogs are to be kept on leashes, but people should consider short leashes/tie lines as it is easy for pets to cross into adjacent units depending upon where they are staked. Make sure to plan ahead for power adapters. Only one 30amp service so if your planning to run AC, plan to be the first in or coordinate with your neighbor.
GuideEasy access. Lots of wildlife - birds, fox, mule deer, moose! Beautiful, level, improved sites with electric hook-ups. Pavilions over each picnic table. Fire rings. Vault toilets - very clean. Dump station. Water available.
LegendEdry spot has complete shade throughout the entire day and even if that's not enough it's right next to the stream. There are vault toilets, permanent fire rings, and picnic tables at each site with a place for hanging garbage.
Tent camping near Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, offers a blend of scenic beauty and outdoor adventure, making it a perfect getaway for nature enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lava Hot Springs, ID is Portneuf Lower Sportsmen's Access with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Lava Hot Springs, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
