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Best Tent Camping near Macks Inn, ID

1,321 Reviews

Dispersed tent camping opportunities abound in the areas surrounding Macks Inn, Idaho, with several primitive sites located within 30 minutes of the West Yellowstone entrance. Targhee Creek offers walk-in tent sites within Targhee National Forest, featuring established fire rings and scenic mountain views. Bootjack Dispersed Camping provides additional tent camping options with grassy sites suitable for smaller setups, located approximately 25 minutes from West Yellowstone along Highway 20.

Sites may be set on dirt, gravel, or grassy meadows with minimal grading throughout the area. Most primitive tent campgrounds feature rough access roads that can be challenging for low-clearance vehicles, particularly at Targhee Creek where campers report "the road is a bit rough, but a few sites available for dispersed camping." Many tent sites include established fire pits but lack amenities like drinking water, picnic tables or toilets. The 14-day stay limit appears common but is not strictly enforced at all locations. Cell service is generally available at most tent campsites, with several campers reporting good Verizon coverage at Targhee Creek and Bootjack areas.

Areas farther from the main roads offer deeper seclusion and less traffic noise for tent campers. Targhee Creek provides access to a 13-mile trail and features sites along a beautiful creek that tent campers particularly appreciate. Early arrivals have better chances of securing prime tent sites, as one camper noted: "Most cleared spots filled with other campers as we drove in." Wildlife sightings are common, with reports of moose, elk and bears near tent camping areas. Campers frequently mention the scenic mountain views as a highlight, especially at sunset. The best tent sites balance accessibility with privacy, with the most secluded spots typically requiring slightly more difficult access but rewarding tent campers with quieter surroundings.

Best Tent Sites Near Macks Inn, Idaho (52)

    1. Targhee Creek

    28 Reviews
    West Yellowstone, MT
    12 miles
    Website

    "Nice place even had a bear box for food storage."

    "This site is about 20 miles west of Yellowstone in Idaho. Great spot with easy access. Beautiful views and the blue mountains in the distance at sunset make this site a crowd pleaser."

    2. Bootjack Dispersed Camping

    6 Reviews
    Island Park, ID
    6 miles

    "Island Park, ID 44.5781, -111.341

    Dept Fish & Wildlife 

    14 day limit (doesn't seem to be enforced, but seems to be more seasonal campers, not permanent) Grass Spaces for even big rigs."

    "Great location. Close to yellowstone. Cattle range, but quiet. Lots of free spots for big and small rigs."

    3. Henry Lake Dispersed Camping

    2 Reviews
    Island Park, ID
    9 miles

    "Pit toilets were a plus, and the lake itself was beautiful."

    4. Upper Cherry Creek

    3 Reviews
    West Yellowstone, MT
    15 miles

    "Also the spot on the map was taken but I'm just up the road to the left at a spot clearly marked by a well used fire ring (we didn't build a fire tho). Anywho. It's a good spot."

    "I’ve seen a few cars and off roaders, but mostly quiet. A bit windy. Pretty wildflowers."

    5. Shoshone Lake — Yellowstone National Park

    5 Reviews
    Macks Inn, ID
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (307) 344-7381

    "Shoshone Lake is a great campground. It makes you feel like you live in a different time without technology and distractions."

    6. Pole Bridge Campground

    2 Reviews
    Ashton, ID
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 652-7442

    "Next to the Creek, large spots, picnic tables and bear boxes. Bring insect repellant"

    "The sites here give more privacy than the ones closer to the main road. On our trip there were only two others at the entire campsite, which is well distorted and allows for some privacy and quiet."

    7. Plateau Road Dispersed

    2 Reviews
    West Yellowstone, MT
    15 miles

    "Great secluded spot close to Yellowstone"

    "But very close to west Yellowstone and the park"

    8. East Fork on Cream Creek

    1 Review
    West Yellowstone, MT
    13 miles

    9. Old Rumbaugh Campground

    1 Review
    West Yellowstone, MT
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 683-3900

    10. Rumbaugh Ridge Desginated Dispersed

    1 Review
    West Yellowstone, MT
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 823-6961

    "The coordinates are a little off - you will drive about 2 miles past Lonehurst Campground, and then take a slight right onto the road labeled with a “designated camping only” type of sign."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Macks Inn, ID

37 Photos of 52 Macks Inn Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Macks Inn, ID

1321 Reviews of 52 Macks Inn Campgrounds

  • Abby M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2021

    Palisades Campground

    Very quiet!

    Arrived on a Saturday afternoon and there were 3 spots open (only 6 sites). My site had a bear box, nice picnic table and fire ring (fire ban currently). There’s two clean vault toilets. It’s just 10 minutes to red lodge but you feel very remote. There’s a creek running through some campsites which drowns out any neighbor noise. There’s a nice trail that starts in the campground (willow creek) and it’s about 4 mi RT with 900 feet elevation gain. Super peaceful trail and wasn’t very busy for a Saturday. There’s plenty of trees around for shade. I had 2 bars of LTE so could work remotely. And it’s free!

  • V
    Aug. 23, 2021

    Bridge Bay Campground — Yellowstone National Park

    Great Campsite On Lake Yellowstone

    Pretty much what you’d expect for a primitive drive-up tent only campsite. Fire ring and picnic table. There’s well maintained restrooms with household AC outlet, water fountain with faucets and dishwashing area. The only issue I saw was that my site and a few others had no bear box. I stored my food and cooking gear in my car, but if you’re backpacking or on a motorcycle or bike, you will definitely want to ask the rangers for a site with a bear box

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2021

    4D2 Yellowstone National Park Backcountry — Yellowstone National Park

    Relax at a Yellowstone Back Country Lake

    Back Country campsite 4D2 - Ice Lake East is a large flat camping area on the east shore of Ice Lake.  Only 1.5 miles from the Ice Lake trailhead makes this a great campsite for those just getting in to backpacking.  The hike to this campsite is flat the entire way.  Site has plenty of room for tents.  Site is limited to 8 individuals with a max stay of 3 nights.  Bear food storage is by using the provided food pole.  Cooking area has a large rock fire ring with large logs to sit on.  Nice views of the lake from camp.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 26, 2021

    Bridge Bay Campground — Yellowstone National Park

    Beautiful

    Campground is in middle of park so it’s not a quick drive in but the drive is beautiful! The campground is easily laid out and clean and fire rings at each spot. Bear boxes located throughout campsite area you may have to share with your neighbor. Wake up and go for a walk and you will see a lot of wildlife in campgrounds. The staff at checkin is friendly. There is a marina if you want to rent a boat or look to launch your own. RV dump station and water refill are conventionally located at exit. The park has a 8pm-8am quiet hours (no generators) which is fine as it dropped to 40 at night so perfect for RV and camping.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2021

    Palisades Campground

    Small remote campground on the Madison River

    Palisades campground is a small 11 site campground on the shore of the Madison River.  This campground is in the open as it has no trees in the campground, so you will have no protection from the wind or sun, and minimal privacy.  The sites are nicely spread apart.  While at first glance it does not look like the greatest area for a tent due to the small boulders in the area, on closer look I found plenty of good spots to set up a tent, this is due to the large amount of room either between sites or behind each site.  Two accessible vault toilets serve the campground.  Each site has a picnic table and a metal fire ring,  most sites also have a bear locker for food storage, but some sites will need to share.  Water is available in the summer season.  Nearby day use area has a boat launch.  No trash service is available so be ready to haul out your trash. Cost is $12 a night.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2021

    Raynolds Pass Fishing Access Site

    Small, cramped, Free camping

    Raynold's Pass Fishing Access Site offers free camping.  The six sites on right on the Madison River and right next to each other.  The only thing separating you from the next site is you vehicle, so don't expect any privacy at this campsite.  Each site does have a picnic table and metal fire ring.  A vault toilet is available.  Like almost all of the Fishing Access Site camping areas in the state their is no water or trash service, so pack in your water and pack out your trash.  Their are no trees in the area so no wind or sun protection.  One bear locker is available for food storage.  The site has a gravel boat launch and a good size parking area for boaters.  This is the first point on the Madison River that you can launch a fishing boat, raft or canoe.

  • TMB
    Oct. 14, 2020

    Red Cliff Campground

    Comfortable Montana Camping between Yellowstone and Big Sky

    Red Cliff is a large comfortable campground with a few electric sites; water is onsite at a well so fill bottles or onboard tanks to take to your site.  Sites are reservable through recreation.gov.  Many sites have shade most or all of the day, and they are not too close together.  Many sites are on the Gallatin River, an excellent fishery and pleasant location.  Many sites will accommodate large rigs, but small to medium trailers and RVs/camper vans are the norm. No cell service.

    Vault toilets are well spaced and clean, no plumbed bathhouses.  Many recreation sites and opportunities are nearby and this is the closest campground to Big Sky Town and Resort which has grocers, breweries, shopping, restaurants, and a hospital.  It is still amidst wilderness, though adjacent to Hwy 191.  BEAR SAFE FOOD STORAGE IS REQUIRED BY LAW.  Bear boxes are provided at many sites, or lock up your stuff in a hard-sided vehicle.  You may see elk, deer and bear.

    There is a great onsite trailhead for hiking and horseback riding.  The Cliffs themselves are developed for rock climbing with bolted sport routes from 5.6 up to 5.11 and 5.12.

    This is a clean well-kept FS campground.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 27, 2024

    Cave Falls Campground

    Nice campground along Fall River

    $13 (paid $6.50 with senior pass). Camped in site #13 on Sept 22, 2024. Forest Road 582 is washboarded most of the way toward the campground; access to the forest road is from Idaho, east of Ashton. Campground is a short drive from Cave Falls in Yellowstone National Park (NP fee required). Pull thru sites, some leveling required. Some sites are large, some are small. Sites along the river are nice. Clean and stocked vault toilets. Potable water station in center of campground. No electric, sewer or water hook-ups. Each site has a bear box, table and metal fire ring. Site driveways are gravel. Site #13 is a very large campsite with partial view of Fall River. The river is down a steep bank; may be difficult to access. No trails at the campground, although there are excellent trails in the national park.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2019

    Targhee National Forest Warm River Campground

    Warm River (which isn't very warm)

    Camping on the banks on the banks of the Warm River, which actually is quite cold, can’t get much better than this! There are several options here- tent camping in a tent only walk in area along the river banks and under some pretty good hammocking trees (best sites are #12, 13, 16, and 8 because they have some space from neighbors and are right on the river); RV sites with what looks like at least electric hook ups (best sites for river views and/or privacy are #2, 4, 6, 19); from what neighbors say is pretty good fishing; and an awesome alternative to camping at Mesa Falls if that campground is full. Walk down the road and cross the river to check out a protected area of the river where the fish are HUGE and you can stand with your toes in the river while you feed them bits of bread. The sites all have the usual picnic tables and firepits, with nice level tent pads, clean vault toilets, and firewood for sale from the campground host. The only two downsides are no showers and the campground is wedged between the road and the river, so there is quite a bit of road noise in the day which fortunately dies down once dark sets in. At that point the river covers the road noise (also helpful in the morning). The campground is close to a lot of hiking trails, but there are no trailheads in the campground (so I guess that makes three bummers). All in all, a cool place to camp.

Guide to Macks Inn

Dispersed tent campsites near Macks Inn, Idaho provide primitive camping options in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest at elevations ranging from 6,000-7,000 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during daytime and drop to 40-50°F at night. Most sites require self-sufficiency with no facilities and are accessible from late May through mid-October depending on snowfall.

What to do

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Scout for moose along creek beds at Targhee Creek dispersed camping areas. Campers report regular sightings, especially in early morning: "We did see come bears and elk from our site which was fun!" Several campers mention bringing bear spray for safety during hikes.

Fishing access: Fish for trout in the streams near Bootjack Dispersed Camping. The area serves as a local fishing spot with good creek access. One camper noted: "This is a local ATV & Fishing hole. There will be traffic. Had a few joy riders on a Friday night, but everyone else great."

Mountain hiking: Explore the 13-mile trail near Targhee Creek for panoramic mountain views. The trailhead is accessible directly from the dispersed camping area. Pack water as the elevation and dry conditions can lead to quicker dehydration than expected.

What campers like

Creek proximity: Many campers appreciate sites directly adjacent to flowing water. At Upper Cherry Creek, one camper mentioned: "Great camping spot just off the road. It's perched near a hill so you get slivers of views through the trees of West Yellowstone."

Solitude and space: The less-developed areas provide significant privacy between sites. One camper at Rumbaugh Ridge Designated Dispersed remarked: "There are 3-4 spots that I saw, but I was the only one there! Quiet place with a creek right by my camping area."

Convenience to Yellowstone: Many tent campers choose these areas for proximity to the national park. A camper at Bootjack noted: "Very close to West Yellowstone, about 25 minutes away. Close to Hwy 20. Lots of camping sites that are in the trees or out in the open."

What you should know

Road conditions: Access roads to many dispersed sites can be challenging. At East Fork on Cream Creek, a camper warned: "Extremely remote. 25 minute very rough drive off the main road. 4wd recommend. Food storage required but not supplied."

Bug pressure: Mosquitoes and flies can be intense during summer months. A camper at Rumbaugh Ridge reported: "As expected, the mosquitos and flies are quite abundant, but don't let that deter you!" Another at Targhee Creek mentioned: "the flies were unbearable despite using spray of all kinds."

Weather considerations: Mountain weather can change rapidly, with summer thunderstorms common. Tent sites in meadows can become muddy after rain. A camper at Targhee Creek warned: "It was incredibly muddy and had lots of standing water. We did see come bears and elk from our site which was fun! Basically, good weather is recommend! Bad weather…don't go here."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Macks Inn, ID?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Macks Inn, ID is Targhee Creek with a 4.6-star rating from 28 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 52 tent camping locations near Macks Inn, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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