Downata Hot Springs and Malad Summit Guard Station provide some of the finest glamping accommodations in Idaho's scenic Oneida County region. Downata Hot Springs features comfortable yurts and unique covered wagons with amenities designed for maximum relaxation and enjoyment. The property includes electric hookups, drinking water, and modern showers. "We rented a cabin three times this last winter. Great little cabins with bathrooms and the hot pools were 100 feet away and a heated swimming pool," one visitor noted, highlighting the year-round appeal. Multiple accommodation options ensure travelers can find their preferred level of luxury, with both basic and premium glamping units available. The site boasts clean facilities and friendly staff, creating a boutique camping experience in a picturesque natural setting.
Hot springs access stands out as the premier attraction at these glamping destinations. Downata Hot Springs maintains multiple soaking pools with varying temperatures, perfect for relaxation after a day of outdoor activities. The property includes water slides operational during summer months, making it particularly appealing for family glamping adventures. Maple Grove Hot Springs, located within driving distance, offers another option with tent sites, van sites and unique shelters, plus complimentary yoga classes for guests. According to a camper, "This is one of my favorite places on earth. Camping gets you access to the hot springs from check in until 4pm the next day." Seasonality varies by location, with Downata Hot Springs generally open from April through October, though some glamping accommodations remain available during winter months, particularly for those seeking a hot springs getaway during colder periods.
"Great little cabins with bathrooms the hot pools were 100 feet away and a heated swimming pool. In the summer time the pool is nice and cold and there are water slides."
"The loft above had 2 twin beds, the main floor had a full size bed, futon, closet, full kitchen and a bathroom with both shower and tub. Close walking distance to the hot pools and restaurant."
"It is close to the reservoir of you need to cool off and there is also the creek which runs right next to it! It has picnic tables and a bbq grill and sleeping space inside for a few people"
"Bathrooms and developed campsites with plenty of trees and a creek running through it!"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $60 / night
"Had a amazing time at bear river hot springs staff was vary friendly and helpful with getting my motorhome backed in and settled in the pools have been updated definitely will be coming back soon"
"We parked our 34 ft motor home right next to a river waterfall and did some fishing. A fire pit was already established. Excellent spot right outside of town with good cell service."
"It's a no frills campground with 8 sites with tables and fire pits. There is a pit toilet in the picnic area (a very short walk)."
"But it’s the perfect spot if you want to be around all the fun action of Lava Hot Springs. You’re walking distance to the river, restaurants, the pool and all the fun stuff in Lava."
"Kid, pet friendly, walking distance to food and fun. One of the best KOA’s we have stayed at."
"Large fire pit, at the back of the campground, the creek was 10 ft from our tent. Trail for hiking right there and the cleanest bathrooms!"
"Fairly good access to this campground. Gravel road for several miles but it's wide and graded. Campground roads are gravel."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $120 / night
"Not all campsites have a fire pit, so you have to rent one. There’s also not a “play” area. This campground is nice, but it’s a little tight."
"There’s a paved trail around all of the camp sites for bikes and skateboards and the owners are incredibly friendly. Clean bathrooms /showers as well."
from $40 - $85 / night
"Camping gets you access to the hot springs from check in until 4pm the next day. There’s running water in the bathhouse with a toilet and shower. There’s yoga classes included in the price as well."
"Sunrise Campground sites are immersed in trees to give you a surrounding cozy and comfortable feeling. Back in sites include a fire ring and sturdy picnic table..."
"Each campsite has a fire pit and a picnic table. There’s our bathroom area as well as water access. Loved how wooded and private it seemed. Short drive into town or access water. "
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 - $204 / night
ScoutThis is the best little campground ever with all amenities, Reasonable prices and very wonderful staff. It’s very clean and quiet. We enjoyed our stay here very much. They also have a wonderful gift shop with food options like a grill and ice cream and drinks. I don’t wanna forget to mention the very large swimming pool that’s there also but you have to pay for that separately. It’s not included with your stay.
GuideThe first night of our two night reserved and prepaid campsite was in a different site for an rv. The camp host was drunk and gave our site away to another family that didn’t have a reservation. Since they were all set up, we were tossed into the only other available site left. That site was a no show so I guess we got “lucky.” I paid $8 extra just to reserve. Otherwise it’s $20 a night for a tent site. The host yelled at his son in front of us, too. He wasn’t a young child and was actually super nice and tried to help. It was so uncomfortable. The campground itself was not bad. A weird layout for a few sites. I would stay again if there was a new host. We were right next to the water. The second night we were able to move into our actual reservation. Then it rained and hailed. Funny how that seems to happen on the weekends. We survived. It definitely was an experience with the weather that time. lol there’s trails and a lot of trees surrounding. Really nice location.
GuideWe camped here with our 4 boys on a Wednesday and Thursday night end of July. We almost had the place to ourselves!
Super family friendly! The kids loved the waterpark. The slides were a blast! Big water slides for our older boys, and a baby pool, splash pad and little kid water slide for the 3 year old.
The pool is on the warmer side, 90°-95°F. It can feel a bit warm on a hot day. But the kids never complained. Very budget friendly for the price. Tons of lifeguards, which was nice for added safety.
Pool has a cool history, and feels very vintage in a good way! Super charming.
We never did the hot soaking pools because it was too hot. But would be awesome in winter!
Trailer/rv sites D49-D57 seemed the best in the park. Tons of shade, and backed up to an open space for the most incredible sunsets!
Has a swing set, sandbox, basketball court and volleyball court for kids to play.
Flushing toilets in multiple spots, showers that you have to pay quarters to use. If you use the pool, free showers in the locker room.
Had a good amount of basic supplies in the main office. And a fun snack bar with ice cream, swirl cones, pizza, nuggets, burgers, etc.
The spots are pretty close together. We really lucked out and had the whole row to ourselves Wednesday night. Almost completely full on Thursday night. Felt way more cramped with all the extra trailers.
The kids absolutely loved it, and so did we! Would definitely do this trip again!
TravelerWe were driving south from Yellowstone and and to fly off from SLC two days later. We were looking for a spot to stop for the night that wasn’t too urban. Downata has been a blessing. Quiet place with amazing hot springs and very modern pools. Also many sport activities for the kids. An amazing sunset and great people at the desk that were both extremely kind and welcoming but also allowed us to check out a tad later for us to enjoy the site in the morning! Amazing memories for sure. Thank you from Switzerland
Patrick
GuideRight off the highway only 15 minutes from the city, it is surrounded by trees, plants, and then a creek of which all come together to take you into a nice hidden getaway. The sites were big and great for tents, and the environment nice seeing that so many people were hiking and fishing yet everyone was quiet at night. As for the bathrooms, they could definitely be better, and the bear dumpster was a little far. There were trash bins by the bathroom labeled "non-household items" which seemingly confuse some people who were definitely throwing trash in those bins, which is obviously something that should be better managed fr the sake of the visitors and bears.
If the bathrooms were cleaner, I think id easily give this a 5/5
RangerReviewed by: The Crew at Hitched4fun.com
If you are searching for a destination park that can easily accommodate a large group, the Bear Lake/ Marina Side KOA Holiday in Garden City, Utah, is a standout choice. For our crew, this campground was an absolute highlight of our recent travels, serving as the perfect central hub for a fantastic, week-long family reunion.
Accommodations for Every Camper
One of the hardest parts of planning a multi-generational family trip is finding a park that suits everyone's unique comfort levels and camping styles. This park solves that problem effortlessly.
Site Variety: They offer a massive selection of spaces, including full-hookup RV sites, cozy cabins, and traditional tent sites. It was a huge relief knowing that everyone in our traveling party could find exactly the accommodations they needed while still staying together in one park.
Unbeatable On-Site Entertainment
Keeping a large family entertained for almost a week can be a tall order, but this KOA knocks it out of the park.
Mini Golf: Hands down, our grandkids(and the adults!) found the 9-hole mini-golf course to be the most fun thing going in camp. It was such a hit that our group played every single day we were there for 6 days straight!
The KOA Train: Another major highlight was the fun and fast train rides around the park. The grandkids rode it several times during the week. As a fantastic bonus for parents and grandparents, the train rides are completely free.
Exploring the"Caribbean of the Rockies"
While the campground itself is packed with fun, the surrounding area is just as spectacular.
Lake Activities: We spent plenty of time swimming in the stunning, turquoise waters of nearby Bear Lake. The area is also known for a steady, frequent wind coming off the water, which made for perfect kite-flying weather. Don't let wind ruin your fun. Bring a kite! We did.
Local Eats: You simply cannot stay in Garden City without visiting the iconic LaBeau's Drive-In. Grabbing their "Famous" Raspberry Shakes was an absolute must-do for our group, and they completely lived up to the hype!
The Hitched4fun Verdict
The Bear Lake/ Marina Side KOA Holiday perfectly blends family-focused amenities, versatile lodging, and prime access to one of Utah's most beautiful lakes. It is rare to find a park that caters so effectively to both energetic kids and relaxing adults for an extended stay. If you are planning a family reunion or a group getaway, this location is a guaranteed win.
Rating: Highly Recommended by the entire Hitched4fun.com crew!
GuideThis is a small state park campground located in a neighborhood. This lake was so popular while we were there over Father's Day weekend. As busy as it was, everyone followed the quiet hours and it was so peaceful at night. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and would definitely return. We were in electric and water hookup site number 3 in the middle row. The sites along the water have great views, but little shade and do not have any hookups. The sites are close together ,but angled nicely so you still have privacy. The surrounding neighborhood is lovely with a mixture of farms and new construction. Felt completely safe biking and running through the surrounding area. The park is close to the town of Logan, Utah. We loaded up our bikes and took advantage of their extensive trail system only 15 minutes from the park. The town of Logan has everything you need to restock on supplies including Costco.
GuideI visited mid-week, early June. Fairly good access to this campground. Gravel road for several miles but it's wide and graded. Campground roads are gravel. There's a main loop and 2 group loops, one of which has a road that is in disrepair, having a section of deep soft sand/gravel that a vehicle could get stuck in. The size of sites in the main loop is highly variable, but many are large enough for long 5th wheels. The spacing is good though a few sites are too close to the road for my liking. The CG is in dense forest with undergrowth, so there is shade and screening from other sites. A creek flows through the middle of the main loop. It is nice and the creek sound helps overcome the noise of campers. I did not see tent pads, but many of the sites have enough room for tents. Each site has a fire ring/pit and table. The vault toilets that i visited were clean. There is a small bathhouse tucked away in the middle of the CG with flushers; it's a little dilapidated, peeling paint, etc. There are hiking trails in the area and also ATV trails. I saw many people fishing along the Cub River.
Horse people: there are 3 corrals at the upper end of the main CG loop, with plenty of room to turn around.
Zero cell signal: Verizon
The campground host, Chuck, was friendly and pleasant.
Overall, I enjoyed my stay here.
ScoutHidden gym just up the road first come first serve. I think there’s eight little spots each has its own tent, parking spot and gravel pit. There’s also bathrooms and access to the river with popular fishing, floating and other activities.!! but the best part is it’s free! While I was here, I sound variety of campers vans motorhomes tents tear jobs even a three axle trailer!
Camping near Malad City, Idaho offers options throughout the Oneida County region at elevations averaging 4,500 feet. The area experiences four distinct seasons with warm summer days that reach the mid-80s and cool nights dropping to the upper 40s. Most campgrounds open from late May through September, though some accommodations remain available during colder months.
Hot springs exploration: Downata Hot Springs offers multiple pools with varying temperatures year-round. "Cold winter months and you need to get away? Wow we rented a cabin three times this last winter. Great little cabins with bathrooms the hot pools were 100 feet away and a heated swimming pool. In the summer time the pool is nice and cold and there are water slides," notes Anthony B.
Hiking opportunities: The region provides access to several trailheads and forests with moderate difficulty levels. One camper at Malad Summit Guard Station mentioned, "There's a really cool spring and waterfall just a short hike up the road. We will be coming back with our friends."
Riverside activities: Several campgrounds offer direct river access for fishing, wading, and tubing during summer months. At Willow Flat Campground, a visitor shared: "The creek was 10 ft from our tent. Trail for hiking right there and the cleanest bathrooms! My boys could have stayed two weeks fishing the creek! Lots of trout."
Yurt accommodations: Yurt camping near Malad City, Idaho provides unique shelter options with added comfort. Maple Grove Hot Springs offers "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."
Seasonal variety: The area transforms throughout the year, offering different experiences by season. At Emigration Campground, a visitor noted: "One night here when it first opened for the season, so there were still patches of snow and little streams here and there. It's in the spruce-fir forest with some aspens and open understory."
Privacy levels: Some campgrounds offer secluded sites while others have more communal layouts. "Lots of sites that really have a lot of privacy and back right up to the forest. Also trails right of the campsite. Super well maintained and bathrooms were clean. Also huckleberry picking right from camp!" reported a visitor to Emigration Campground.
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds may present challenges. At Emigration Campground, a camper reported: "Road is very weathered asphalt, bumpy in spots. I wouldn't take big rigs in here because most of the sites aren't long enough."
Noise considerations: Some locations experience ambient noise from nearby roads or other campers. One visitor to Lava Hot Springs West KOA explained: "This campground was always clean. Walking distance to restaurants and local shops. Our riverside campground was wonderful."
Site spacing: Campgrounds vary significantly in how close sites are positioned. At Mary's Campground, one camper observed: "The camp-host was nice and respectful. He did do his rounds to make sure rules were being followed. If you obey the rules, you're fine. If you don't, you get asked to follow them or asked to leave."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Malad City, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Malad City, ID is Downata Hot Springs with a 4.4-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Malad City, ID?
TheDyrt.com has all 26 glamping camping locations near Malad City, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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