107 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near McCammon, Idaho encompasses a mix of free dispersed sites and established campgrounds set between mountain foothills and river valleys. The area includes Indian Rocks Dispersed Camping, a former state park now managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), located just off I-15. Nearby, Scout Mountain Campground in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest offers pine-shaded sites at higher elevation. The Portneuf River corridor provides several camping options, while the popular Lava Hot Springs area, about 15 miles east of McCammon, features multiple developed campgrounds with amenities. According to campers, Indian Rocks provides "beautiful views with easy access to the highway" while maintaining a surprisingly quiet atmosphere despite its proximity to the interstate.
Most campgrounds in the McCammon area operate seasonally from late May through October, with Scout Mountain open May 25 to October 30 and Goodenough Creek Campground available June to October. Winter camping is limited due to snow and freezing temperatures at higher elevations. Access to Indian Rocks requires navigating a gravel road with minor potholes, though it remains passable for most vehicles. Cell service is generally reliable near McCammon, with visitors reporting three to five bars of Verizon coverage at Indian Rocks. Fire restrictions are common during dry summer months, particularly in August and September when wildfire risk increases.
The camping experience varies significantly between locations around McCammon. Dispersed sites like Indian Rocks offer primitive camping with no amenities but provide free access and fewer restrictions for campers seeking solitude. Established campgrounds like Scout Mountain feature vault toilets, drinking water, and defined sites with fire rings. For those wanting full amenities, the KOA locations in Lava Hot Springs provide electric hookups, showers, and other conveniences. Families often prefer the developed campgrounds with facilities, while anglers gravitate toward sites along the Portneuf River for fishing access. Pet owners will find most area campgrounds accommodate dogs, though leash requirements vary by location.
"Great free spot for visiting nearby Lava Hot Springs. Be sure to approach from the south (McCammon freeway exit) - The road is nicely maintained up to the campground but horrible continuing north."
"Just take the exit for McCammon and turn right twice, entering the gravel road at the brown lava stone walls. The gravel covered road is in pretty good shape with minor potholes."
"Nice hiking opportunities and off road vehicles seemed to be popular as well."
"We haven’t walked downtown yet but it looks like there are a lot of good restaurants and two bookstores! Spacing is tight. Bathrooms clean. Showers paid, $2 for 4 minutes. We have a FHU site."
"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."
"Close to Highway and very close to railroad tracks. About 7 trains at night when I stayed. Very pretty water rushing made for great sleep sounds when train wasn’t passing."
"We had a patio site near the office, overlooking a weedy bit near the stream. While you couldn’t see the water from the patio, you could hear it and could enjoy gazing at the cliffs above it."
"The site itself is surrounded by water and even has a small water fall that you could sit in as if it were a small hot tub size. This KOA is clean and friendly staff."
"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."
"There’s a toilet located here, bring your own TP though. The river is fun to jump in and hang out in! The trains come frequently and at times are pretty loud but it doesn’t bother our group."
"Dispersed camping close to hot springs, don't miss the hot springs, thay are awesome."
"We had gone up and had gotten site #20 which is the last site before exiting the campground. The site was quiet, and no one next to us."
"We stayed on site #3, nice and shady, perfect walking distance to clean vault toilets, water spigot not far, and off the road so you feel tucked away."
from $20 - $120 / night
Check Availability"Located very conveniently to the river and most of the activities in lava Hot Springs. We were only going to stay for two nights, but now we have stayed a full week."
"The sites are very close to each other but the location in town next to the river, resturaunts and the hot springs pools is the reason to stay here."
from $40 - $50 / night
Check Availability"It’s a bit further outside of downtown, but easily walkable through the paths and KOA. It’s affordable, spacious and clean."
"Very close to the town for the soaks. It’s very close to the highway which is a plus, but there can also be some traffic noise. Beautiful views."
"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
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ScoutWe arrived about 6:30 there’s a gate with a hook and chain keeping the gate closed. Make sure to close the gate behind you! Then drive down the road and find your spot. We have a truck camper I wouldn’t recommend a trailer and definitely not a class A! But we got a spot right on the river.
GuideStayed here for four nights and other than highway noise it wasn't bad. Its a long gravel road to the sites but there are plenty to choose from once you get towards the end.
ScoutPulled in about 11 pm as a quick layover on our trip. Just needed a place to sleep for the night. No tent. We were just sleeping in the back of the truck on an air mattress under the night sky. All the camping spots were full so we just drove to the last parking lot and backed into a corner to sleep. Very peaceful until about 6 am when the dirt bikes started showing up to ride the trails. That leave from this parking lot.
ScoutWhile the scenery was nice, the price was expensive considering there are no showers, sewer connection, or dump station.
GuideGreat free spot for visiting nearby Lava Hot Springs. Be sure to approach from the south (McCammon freeway exit) - The road is nicely maintained up to the campground but horrible continuing north.
RangerEasy on/off the interstate, great views, camping with Snake River views. Clean and updated restrooms, trails and a disc golf course (maybe next time… if there is a next time…)
BUT, after paying a bit more than I like to for a state park, a $10 fee for registration online (you can’t pay in person and avoid it), a $7 fee for vehicle entry (even though we paid $52 for camping) I had the pleasure of paying $10 to dump (yes, registered campers must pay to dump). In 40 years of camping, I’ve never had to pay to dump at a campsite I had already paid for. If this is how Idaho is doing all state parks… I don’t think we’ll be exploring.
New tables, good fire rings, friendly hosts, up to you if it’s worth it.
GuideThis campsite was very clean well maintained and safe lots of families but highway nearby was unavoidably loud. Not the worse but if you are seeking a quiet spot this is probably not for you. Playground bathrooms campstore etc all nice and clean
GuideIt's a nice enough place, lots to explore, clean restrooms and showers. Has water electricity and a dump station But, the noise from the interstate is a little to much for me... people in the visitors station are very friendly and informative..
ScoutThis is a very nice area has spots for large RVs, small RVs ,and has stops for tent camping. Also have various bathroom and picnic areas. There is also boat launches from this area. The rv spots have electric hookups and access to water but can not leave it hooked to camper there is also an rv dump station and trash bins areas. To stay here you do have to make reservations though recreation.gov. All around I find this to be a great place to stay at!
Camping spots near McCammon, Idaho include a mix of free dispersed sites and established campgrounds at elevations ranging from 4,700 to 7,800 feet. The region sits at the junction of the Portneuf River Valley and Marsh Creek, creating diverse terrain with sagebrush lowlands transitioning to pine-covered mountains. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-95°F during July-August while winter overnight lows drop to single digits from December through February.
Fishing access: 5 minutes from camp. At Lower Portneuf Campground, campers can fish directly from their sites. "Beautiful & quiet. Short walk to fishing in the river," notes Keith E., who appreciates the proximity to water despite the train noise.
Float the Portneuf: seasonal activity. When staying at Lava Hot Springs West KOA, visitors have convenient access to river tubing. Jon M. explains, "You're walking distance to the river, restaurants, the pool and all the fun stuff in Lava," making it an ideal base for water activities.
Hike mountain trails: moderate difficulty. The camping areas around Scout Mountain Campground offer extensive trail networks. Sheri C. mentions there are "Great hiking and horseback riding trails, quiet, not too crowded," providing options for day trips into the surrounding wilderness.
Privacy between sites: varies by campground. At Goodenough Creek Campground, many sites offer natural separation. According to Ithan S., "There are a few spots right by the entrance that don't get much shade in the middle of the day but if you continue past them there are many more sites back in the woods."
Night sky viewing: minimal light pollution. The open areas at Portneuf River Lower Sportsman Access allow excellent stargazing opportunities. Wendhy J. shares, "The stars were SO bright! We've been traveling for almost a month and stargazing last night was definitely one of my favorite moments."
Creek-side camping: natural white noise. Campers at Lost Trail appreciate riverside sites. Lori R. describes, "Put our tent right next to the river on grass. Picnic table, fire ring. Horses and sheep in the background. Very picturesque!" The sound of flowing water helps mask highway noise.
Train noise: frequent crossings. Multiple campgrounds near Lava Hot Springs experience train disturbances. Isaac at Lower Portneuf Campground warns, "There is a railroad crossing about 100ft from the sites, and we experienced about 8 trains coming through between 1am-6am. Which meant that every time they crossed they had to sound their horn multiple times which was absolutely ear splitting."
Road conditions: rough in places. Accessing Indian Rocks Dispersed Camping requires careful driving. Beverly M. cautions, "Very nice sites. Trash in all the fire pits. Good cell service. Just go very slow. We did fine with the 27-foot trailer," highlighting the need to navigate washboard roads.
Water levels: seasonal considerations. The rivers and creeks change significantly throughout the year. Sanjeeta S. from Goodenough Creek Campground shares their experience: "Woke up to an amazing sunrise and sound of the creek. Just lovely and it's Free!" indicating the pleasant conditions during normal flow periods.
Playground proximity: keeps kids entertained. Jon M. at Lava Hot Springs West KOA mentions, "We were on site #1 which is by the playground and dog park, because we had both on our reservation. At first we were upset at our location, but it was actually great."
Safety around water: supervision needed. The river access points require caution with children. At Mary's Campground, Chris Y. notes, "There's a paved trail around all of the camp sites for bikes and skateboards," providing safer recreation options than unsupervised river play.
Bathroom cleanliness: varies by location. Scout Mountain Campground maintains good facilities. Bryan mentions, "Bathrooms are vault bathrooms," while also noting the campground is "nestled high in the mountain with a small road to reach the site," important factors for families planning longer stays.
Site selection strategy: ask for specific spots. When staying at Lava Hot Springs East KOA, Michelle H. recommends, "The tent area is quite pretty and I really liked that the ground is large grain sand so it made setting up camp very easy. You don't get to choose your site online so I recommend calling ahead and asking for a full shade site."
Leveling considerations: scout before setting up. Aaron G. from Indian Rocks Dispersed Camping advises, "The road into dispersed camping is full of pot holes so go slow with a Class A RV or if you have low clearance. The noise from the freeway is minimal."
Hook-up availability: limited in most areas. For those requiring services, mark F. notes that Lava Spa RV Park offers "Great in town location near everything. The sites are very close to each other but the location in town next to the river, restaurants and the hot springs pools is the reason to stay here."
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at McCammon campgrounds?
Amenities vary widely across McCammon area campgrounds. Mink Creek Group Site Campground offers toilet buildings, picnic tables, charcoal grills, and fire pits with plenty of room for larger vehicles. Lava Hot Springs East KOA provides more developed facilities with tent areas featuring large grain sand for easy setup and mature trees for shade. For those seeking minimal amenities, dispersed camping options like Indian Rocks have no facilities but offer seclusion. Most established campgrounds in the region provide basic amenities like vault toilets and picnic tables, while private campgrounds typically offer more extensive facilities.
Where can I find campgrounds near McCammon, Idaho?
Several camping options are available near McCammon. Indian Rocks - Dispersed Camping is located right off Merrill Road (take the McCammon exit and turn right twice) and offers a BLM-managed area with good gravel road access. For those seeking established facilities, Scout Mountain Campground provides first-come, first-served sites with vault toilets and water spigots. Other options within driving distance include Goodenough Creek Campground, Lower Portneuf Campground, and Mink Creek Group Site, which is about 12 miles from I-15 with paved road access all the way.
Are there swimming spots in the river near McCammon?
River Meadow Campground provides excellent river access with its location on a wide open meadow right on the river, making it ideal for swimming and water activities. Another option is Massacre Rocks State Park Campground, located about 25 miles from McCammon near American Falls, which offers beautiful river views and water access. The Portneuf River runs near McCammon with several access points for swimming, though water levels and safety conditions vary seasonally. Local sportsman access points also provide opportunities to reach the river for swimming during summer months.
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