Best Campgrounds near Malad City, ID
The southeastern Idaho landscape surrounding Malad City features a mix of established campgrounds and more primitive sites within a short drive of town. Devils Creek RV Park offers waterfront camping with fishing access and basic amenities, while Malad Summit Campground provides a higher-elevation experience with stellar night sky viewing. Campers will find options ranging from full-hookup RV sites to tent-only areas at Dry Canyon Campground, which operates seasonally from June through September. The nearby Downata Hot Springs in Downey combines camping with thermal pools and offers diverse accommodation types including cabins, yurts, and traditional tent sites, making it a popular destination for families seeking amenities beyond basic camping.
Most campgrounds in the Malad City region operate seasonally, with the primary camping season running from May through October due to winter conditions at higher elevations. As one camper noted about Malad Summit, "This area offers steep terrain but plenty of backcountry area to day hike and escape civilization for a while. On a clear night, the stars are remarkable with very little to no city lights to drown out nature." Highway noise can affect some sites closer to Interstate 15, particularly at Devils Creek RV Park, though many visitors report the sound becomes less noticeable after the first night. Cell service varies significantly throughout the area, with better coverage at lower elevations and spotty or nonexistent service in more remote locations.
Water access represents a key feature at several campgrounds, with Devils Creek offering reservoir frontage popular with anglers. According to one visitor, "It was a nice camp spot, steps away from fishing. The port-a-potty was clean and well maintained." Site spacing varies considerably between locations, with some RV parks featuring tight quarters while more primitive sites offer greater privacy. Campground hosts maintain facilities at varying levels, with vault toilets being the standard at most public land sites. Visitors frequently mention the contrast between developed amenities at places like Downata Hot Springs, described as "a little resort with hot springs, cabins, wagons, teepees, an RV campground and a nice little eatery," versus the solitude and minimal facilities found at higher elevation sites where stargazing and hiking take precedence.
