Best Campgrounds near May, ID
The central Idaho landscape surrounding May features diverse camping opportunities along the Salmon River corridor and into the surrounding mountains. BLM-managed sites like Bayhorse Recreation Site and Cottonwood Recreation Site provide established camping with basic amenities, while dispersed options like Deer Gulch offer more primitive experiences. Challis Hot Springs stands out as a full-service destination with hot spring pools, RV hookups, and tent sites. The region's camping options range from $5-10 per night at basic public land sites to $45 nightly at private RV parks with full hookups, creating a spectrum of experiences from wilderness solitude to developed comfort.
Road conditions vary significantly throughout the area, with many campgrounds accessible via paved highways while others require high-clearance vehicles on rough forest roads. As one camper noted about Big Bayhorse, "The road can be a bit sketchy in spots but all in all not completely difficult. I did it with my Tacoma pulling a tiny camper." Cell service is spotty to nonexistent at most sites, though some locations like Waddington Creek Primitive Campsite surprisingly offer good connectivity. The camping season generally runs April through October, with some sites open year-round but with reduced services in winter. Many campgrounds near highways experience some road noise, though it typically diminishes at night.
Riverside camping locations receive particularly high praise from visitors, with the Salmon River providing scenic backdrops, fishing access, and water recreation opportunities. Campers frequently mention excellent stargazing conditions, with one visitor to Camp Creek noting "perfect view of the big dipper between the canyon view made for a beautiful night of star gazing by the fire ring." Wildlife sightings are common, including deer, mountain goats, and occasionally bears. The area's mining history adds cultural interest, with abandoned mines and ghost towns like Custer accessible from several campgrounds. Visitors consistently note the cleanliness of vault toilets and the spaciousness between sites at BLM campgrounds, creating a comfortable balance between amenities and natural setting.
