Are you planning a tent camping trip to Montpelier? We've got you covered. The Dyrt can help you find the best tent campsites for your next trip. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Montpelier, Idaho's most popular destinations.
Whether you're traveling light or planning a weekend getaway with friends, you can choose to sleep in one of our fully furnished Stone Shelters, Yurts, Cabin, or under the stars in a wooded camping spot. Traveling with a group of family or friends? Consider making our land and waters your group basecamp!
All accommodations include 24-hour access to our 45 acre retreat center property which includes 6 hot spring pools, riverfront beach, hiking trails, canoes and paddle boards, River House patio and bathhouse, snack bar, and more.
Cold Springs Campground is located south of Soda Springs on Eightmile Creek. It offers 6 single units with good fishing in the area.
North Fork Campground is located in scenic St. Charles Canyon in southern Idaho, near Bear Lake. Visitors enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding and motorcycling on local trails, and fishing in St. Charles Creek.
North Fork Trail, which has a trailhead within the campground, is open to motorcycles, horses, hikers and mountain bikers and connects with the Highline Trail, a 55-mile path along the backbone of the surrounding Wasatch Mountains. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game manages the river fisheries, providing excellent fishing most of the year, including in St. Charles Creek. In-season big game hunting is also a popular activity.
A dense, mixed growth conifer forest covers the campground. St. Charles Creek flows gently through the site.
Minnetonka Cave is a short distance from the campground. Scenic Canyons offers guided, 90-minute tours through the nine-room cave with formations called the Bride and Groom, Three Sisters and Devil's Kingdom. The cave temperature is 40 degrees and the path through it includes 444 steps. Tickets must be purchased at the cave entrance. Bear Lake's North Beach is 12 miles from the campground, offering swimming and fishing opportunities on one of the Inter-mountain West's largest natural lakes. Bear Lake State Park Marina is 20 miles from the campground, with a seven-lane boat ramp, boat rentals, slips, a snack bar and general store.
$64 - $75 / night
Tent camping only with modern showers/bathrooms
$25 - $35 / night
Lake Alice Campground has 9 campsites and is a 1.5 mile hike east from the Hobble Creek Campground. Lake Alice provides beautiful views, fishing and a variety of hiking and horseback opportunities to visitors. Visitors are strongly encouraged to practice clean camping techniques and to store attractants (e.g. food, toothpaste) in a manner that makes them unavailable to bears.
The campsites are located in a wooded area so lots of shade. Site 1,2 and 4 are creek side along maple creek and site 3 has a small stream and a pond. All sites have a fire pit available. All sites are carry in carry out. Easily accessible with a four wheel drive. You will need to cross maple creek to reach site 1. Site 1 also has outdoor carpet and patio furniture the site. The road down to the river bottoms is a bit steep so 4 wheel drive is recommended. This area is ideal for tent camping. Some sites have tables.
This area was used by the local Indian tribes during the summer. We have found many flint arrowheads and a bread stone on the property. There is a cave on little mountain to the west that they wintered in and it is a short hike to go see it.
There is a 6 mile round trip hike to the head of maple creek. Trail head at the top of maple creek road. If you have atv’s there are trails for that also.
$30 / night
Legend
Visited in mid-September 2024. $10 ($5 with senior pass). Did not camp here; just checking it out. Included some photos in this revciew. Except for one towable camper, I was surprised that no one else was camping here, especially considering it was hunting season. The campground was set back in the trees off of Greys River Road. Lots of trees here; lots of shade. Nice looking campground. Good size sites; appear to be level. Picnic table and fire ring included. Not much privacy between sites, but separation between sites was good. Two clean vault toilets. Hand well water pump. Trash service. No other amenities. No hook-ups. Campground appears to be well maintained. I would consider camping here in the future.
Legend
Coordinates: 42.78898,-110.68746. Free. Camped here Sept 17, 2024. One of several dispersed campsites along Greys River Road (Forest Road 10138). Large dispersed site, set back from forest road; no concerns with dust coming into the site from passing vehicles. Should comfortably accommodate 3 or 4 rigs. Clean rock fire ring. Mostly level, dirt surface. Easy access from forest road. Open site surrounded by trees. Next to Grey's River; easy access for bank fishing. There is a set of trees that may accommodate hammock camping. Tent camping also possible. Area can get muddy after rain. Solar recharging possible in middle of afternoon. No T-Mobile nor AT&T cell service. Loved this spot.
Ranger
Stayed in #14 which is small, but suited us well (van). Other sites tend to be larger. #13 is best one, with shade on the west side, a good level driveway and backs up to the creek.
Lots of ants and flying bugs, making it hard to stay outside for very long. #9 is also nice with a large spread and decent shade. There is one vault toilet across from #13, a little stinky but relatively clean and had hand sanitizer. Another one is adjacent to the entrance and it has 2 toilets each for women and men; hard to find, back into the shrubs between two concrete markers at road.
Lots of shrubs means sites are pretty private. No real hiking trails identified in the area means there is not much to do. Didn't seem overly busy.
Food aside: Had freeze dried mushroom wild rice risotto with Popeye's chicken nuggs and spiced up with lemon pepper and Italian seasonings, also used parmesan. Putting nuggs into bag at end of cooking time and stirring worked fine to incorporate them. Very tasty and 2.5 servings means very filling. Broke up astronaut (freeze dried) ice cream sammich and put into freezer overnight before putting into milk for pseudo milkshake with cappuccino mix. Not bad, worth trying again. Also had sweet potato curry with applewood chicken cubes (fully cooked packet), seasoned with garlic. A bit spicy but good. Freeze dried breakfast of biscuits and sausage gravy good flavor but need to break up the biscuits before cooking or they are big and end up being soft on the outside but dry and crunchy on the inside.
Traveler
The place is big and the locals certainly come here. Each site has a picnic table, a fire ring and some grass. They’re fairly level. The bathroom and the showers are huge and very clean. Small trees at each site now so until they get big, there won’t be much shade in the summer. 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.
Guide
Had the whole campground to ourselves. It is free to stay here after September 15th. We camped the 1st of October. Just a quick pit stop. Was a little hesitant at first because it seemed so far from the highway but it was so worth it! There are bathrooms as well but bring your own TP as this time of year I dont believe anyone comes to check on them. Also, no more running water either. However, the creek is lovely and we were able to have a fire and every site had a picnic table. Very pleasant experience.
GuideThis place is in the middle of nowhere with no cell service. I drove all the way out here only to find the gate to someone’s ranch with a no trespassing sign. Super frustrating.
Scout
We have been coming here for over 25 years. It was a membership campground until about 5 years ago when Sun Outdoors took over. While there have been some improvements, it has been sorely lacking in maintenance. In addition, management doesn’t appear to have much motivation to enforce rules that made this a beautiful and enjoyable place to stay.
Traveler
Just stayed for a night but in a sight directly at the lake. We were able to go to the lake easily and swim a little bit. Due to being late in the season it was not crowded at all.
Legend
The KOA is just off US-30, so easy to find. Our GPS and Waze did not have the exact address, but you can easily see the KOA sign coming in from the east. We were traveling with another couple and there were basically two marked check-in spaces. You have to pay attention to where you position your rig so you don't block office car parking. We had reserved a premium K-9 site and were assigned site 102 at check-in. Site 102 was 1 of 3 premium sites next to the office. The problem with site 102 was 1) there was a truck parked there with no owner in sight, 2) trees that would have scraped the top of our 5th wheel, and 3) a very difficult and tight back-in swing on this 90-degree site with our 40' rig. You need to be an expert backer, or very lucky, to clear the trees at the entrance of this site if you're in a larger rig. Sites 100 and 101 do not have these same obstacles and with the river view, are arguably the best sites in the park. We went back into the office to request a different site and were assigned a non K-9 premium back-in site, 200, in their new area. We would have enjoyed the original site as it does have a nice river view. Sites were under construction in the 200 area and each site is highlighted by 7-inch high and 6-inch wide cement curbs. Whoever designed much of this CG did not understand RVs. It was challenging to back into your site as there are also cement barriers to protect the sewer hookups off the curbs in front of sites on the adjacent pull-through sites. We almost tore off a snap pad getting too close to a curb as the curbs are not sloped to prevent this and based on the markings, a lot of tires have fallen victim to these curbs. Also, we had to be very careful going up and down our steps as you have the curb there as well. While we were getting into our site, a 45’ class A was trying to get into pull-through site 221 across from us. Just trying to make the turn onto this row, he ran his rear tires up on the curb around the shower/laundry facility. He still had his toad attached and had to disconnect it to avoid damaging his vehicle. Hopefully, the management of this park will mark that site for shorter rigs as he also had problems clearing the curbs when departing his site. Their free Wifi was decent. We got 3 bars on Verizon and no issues getting a shot to the north sky for Starlink as there are no mature trees in this new area. There are plenty of other CG options in the area, so we will not stay here again. The main positive of this CG is the staff. They were friendly and accommodating when we requested to change sites. They also credited us the diffrence in cost since we didn't get the K-9 site, without us asking for the credit.
Scout
Tons of land, tons of campsites.. but most are "occupied" by empty trailers with no other vehicles or people around. There's empty cars parked on top of fire pits, no tents or any sort of life nearby. Felt strange.
This road is rough and very bumpy. Didn't feel comfortable "taking over" a campsite with things already parked there. Wouldn't recommend coming here.
Traveler
The campground itself is nice. Nice spots, beautiful river and waterfalls, and close to Lava Hot springs. The trains; however, were a drag at night. Not many ran during the day but at night we counted 8 that went by. The tracks are only about 100’ from most of the spots. The real kicker is, because there’s a crossing to get into the campground, the trains blast their horn literally right as they pass you. Like excessively so, unnecessarily so. It was not a great nights sleep.
Traveler
Yes, there were mosquitoes, cows, and a bit of green water, but it was very peaceful and beautiful. Whenever the options are a crowded and powered RV campsite versus a peaceful boondock such as this, we opt for the latter. Hope you enjoy it.
GuideEnded up driving this road up to Idaho to find a bigger spot and some solitude. Took the dirt road for about 30 minutes and got the most perfect spot. Nobody was near us and the view was amazing. We went at the beginning of June, it was a bit chilly some mornings and at night, so come prepared.
Scout
Easy access from Lava with about 10 designated spots, most with room for two vehicles and one(?) pull through spot that fit my truck/30foot TT. Most had either a metal fire ring or picnic table or both. Pretty enough area, but right off the road and even closer to a train that passed through multiple times at night.
Pulled in at 10:30 pm Saturday night July Fourth weekend and was able to snag the last spot so very clutch!
NOTE - Google satellite photos are NOT accurate, the area is fenced off and sites are limited, no longer the free for all it appears to have been
RangerBathrooms and showers are very clean, some sites are widely space, but some are crammed together, otherwise, a typical KOA. EXCEPT it is expensive and they add on extra fees for people, pets, and vehicles; never stayed at a KOA that does this. Oh, the road noise is pretty bad also.
ScoutNarrow road and short driveways, not suited for large rigs. Some sites are overgrown. The best sites are in the 6-16 loop. No trash receptacle but the Oregon/California Trail Center in town has one and an RV dump too. Campground is only about 3 miles from Montpelier ID. I had no cell signal on Verizon.
Legend
We were in the Lava Hot Springs, ID area and when traveling US-30, we saw a sign for Caribou Highlands Golf & RV. We had to check out a golf course with an RV park. When you turn off US-30 at the sign, it will be a hard-packed dirt road and you go straight until you see golf course signage and follow them to the course. You will first come to the campground (CG) area where the 10 pull-through sites with FHUs (30/20 AMP). Check-in is at the clubhouse which is about 100 yards from CG. The pull-throughs are long enough for big rigs. A few of the sites have large trees so you will want to watch your sides and roof. There's a bathhouse building. There are no picnic tables at the sites. The cost per night when we were there was $42. During the week its pretty wide open but they do fill up on the weekends. Reservations are made on Campspot. The golf course is a 9-hole links style. They also have a driving range.
TravelerI love summit campground. If you go up the hill past the turnoff for the campground there are five different dispersed camping spots that are Free! There is a lovely little babbling brook that runs through the whole canyon. The mosquitos can be intense. There is a lot of great trails for hiking. There is cute waterfall. I come here often just to say camp and hammock. It is 20 mins from my home. They stock the river the weekend before memorial day with trout. It's where my kids all learned to fish. There is also a paid campground with bathrooms and water and picnic tables.
Ranger
On river with a short 2min walk to the entrance for tubing
RangerThe 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. The river is not a lazy river float but an amazing short rapid filled 15 min rip through the towns river. There is a shuttle to bring you back to the drop in to do it over and over again or a short walk.
GuideThis is a nice quiet place. Near city limits where there is places to buy groceries, gas, or go out to a restaurant. They have about 20 spots with electrical outlets. It would be good to call and ask if you can stay, where it is a fairgrounds.
Guide
This is one of my favorite places on earth. They have 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. There’s running water in the bathhouse with a toilet and shower. There’s yoga classes included in the price as well. The bathhouse also has a nice little shop with snacks and gifts. They sell tinfoil dinners too if you want to really relax. Highly recommend! They offer volunteer days as well where you can camp and soak in exchange for volunteer work.
ScoutLevel and fantastic site for an overnight stay. However, the train runs by and must blast the safety horn. Latest was, 11:30pm, earlier was 5am. So be prepare for that several times on an overnight stay
GuideVisited in Early May in a bit of a sleet storm. Sites are relatively level - nice gravel. Seemed like most sites have fire rings. Pit toilet is located in the day-use area nearby.
Train tracks run right by the campsites - relatively loud when they come through, but didn't wake me up in the middle of the night.
Not bad for an easy, quick night.
LegendJake from the Dyrt here! We're excited to have this campground on the Dyrt and ready for you to book, check them out and make sure to leave a review!
Guide
Just passing through and only needed to stop for the night. Very peaceful. You could only slightly hear the traffic out at the road. Got a site near the creek. Maybe #11. Vault toilets clean. Only a couple other sites taken. Cheap $5 with senior pass discount. No cell reception for me. Sites are not very private, but with so few people here it didn't make a difference.
Traveler
This place is straight up middle earth status. The drive there is beautiful all the way and my not-so-great clearance old subaru could handle the semi-sketchy roads required to get there. This place was pretty damn isolated which, if you’re like me, is a bonus. As aways, it seems like there are some of those OHV people lurking around but whatever they were few and far between. I am a bit thrown off by the pics provided by another Dyrt user as those pics don’t really look much like where I was, but maybe that’s due to their final destination differing than mine. I ultimately stopped at the (seemingly) now-defunct Beaver Creek campsite, an established site that has a bathroom. The thing saying there’s hookups or whatever for sure not true, there’s nothing here but a barren board upon entry, a fee box, and about 5 spots for sites. You can hike back into the forest on a trail at the back of the camp site. Absolutely insane views, forest for miles, owls, deer, you name it. I was tripping about the mosquito situation due to ultra close proximity to semi-standing water but there were almost none. BE FOREWARNED I did get bit by some jacked up mite whilst traipsing off-trail and got hella sick for a couple weeks and had to hit the antibiotics haaaard to get over it. So just bathe in insect repellant I guess ha. Also in regards to what other reviewers have said, idk where they were bc I legitimately do not know where you kayak here. There’s the creek but it’s not the sort of thing I’d imagine would be possible to kayak. I’m assuming it’s just some other part of the road I didn’t head down though so you should still go for it.
Anyway, the place is gorgeous.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Montpelier, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Montpelier, ID is Bear Lake State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 14 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near Montpelier, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
