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Best Tent Campgrounds near New Meadows, Idaho

359 Reviews

Tent campgrounds near New Meadows, Idaho range from backcountry primitive sites to lakeside tent camping, with several options accessible within a short drive. Brundage Reservoir Camping Area offers lakeside tent camping with multiple access methods including boat-in and hike-in options. Granite Lake Camping Area, located approximately 9 miles northeast of New Meadows, provides secluded tent sites with good trail access and complete immersion in the natural environment.

Most primitive tent campgrounds in the New Meadows region operate without amenities such as running water or permanent bathroom facilities. Campers should bring all necessary water or filtration systems, as drinking water is unavailable at most sites. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with Brundage Reservoir allowing fires while other areas maintain strict fire bans. Tent sites are typically unimproved dirt or forest floor surfaces with minimal development. A visitor commented that Brundage Reservoir camping requires navigating "a pot-holed, dirt road for quite awhile," highlighting the need for careful trip planning and possibly high-clearance vehicles.

The tent camping near New Meadows offers genuine backcountry solitude. Nighttime temperatures can drop significantly even in summer, with Rapid Creek campers reporting "temps dropped into the upper 30s at night" during August visits. Many tent campsites provide direct lake or stream access, making them well suited for fishing, paddling, or water-based activities. Sites generally lack cell service, creating a true disconnect from urban environments. The area contains abundant wildlife, including potential bear activity, requiring proper food storage techniques. Seven Devils Campground, though farther from New Meadows, exemplifies the region's tent camping character with primitive sites that offer access to alpine lakes and multiple trail systems perfect for tent campers seeking to explore deeper into the wilderness.

Best Tent Sites Near New Meadows, Idaho (63)

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Tent Camping Reviews near New Meadows, ID

359 Reviews of 63 New Meadows Campgrounds

  • E
    Aug. 4, 2019

    Rainbow Point

    Open and grassy campsites

    Nice grassy sites, water right there, vault toilets, fire rings and picnic tables, tent camping or RVs. Not a lot of shade but cools down nice at night. Lots to do nearby!

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 11, 2025

    Hazard Creek Dispersed Camping

    Nice spot off the beaten path

    Nice flat spot with a stone fire ring. Hazard creek nearby isn't too loud and sounds great. Not much firewood is around as its all been picked already.

  • K
    Aug. 20, 2019

    Horse Thief Campground

    Gorgeous waterfront

    Fish and game property, but managed under YMCA. $15 with no discount for anyone. Picnic table and fire ring. Pit toilet that is in desperate need of a simple fly strip! I had to wipe live flies off the toilet seat to sit down. Haul your garbage out. No electricity. Bear sites in campground but no notifications! No potable water. Seemed a bit pricey ! Perfect for canoes. Boat launch area.

    Hawks, ducks, gorgeous waterfront!

  • C
    Oct. 31, 2019

    Summit Lake Campground

    Quiet spot

    This is a pretty quiet place! It about an hour drive/17 miles from Cascade on a paved road. True to it's name, the lake and campsite are right on a summit! The lake is pretty small and a little muddy, but a fun dip nevertheless. It's about a 5 minute hike from the campsites. There are 3 campsites at the campground and they are all first come first serve! Dispersed camping is allowed in the area as well. Managed to find 2 empty spots here on Labor Day weekend, which was a real treat! The sites all have fire rings and picnic tables and share a vault toilet. The sites are well spaced and there little noise carries around the area. The campground is a little close the to highway (Warm Lake Rd) but traffic at night is pretty low, so the noise isn't bad. There is a wilderness airstrip not too far off, so some plane noise as well! Otherwise, a nice spot with some great views of the night sky.

  • Amanda C.
    Aug. 24, 2021

    Amanita

    Good camping close to Town

    This is a typical campground with Vault toilets, no showers, no water or electric hookups. However, it is just a couple miles from nice dining, mountain biking, and hiking.

  • T
    Jul. 27, 2020

    Sugarloaf Campground — Lake Cascade State Park

    Middle of the road

    We have high expectations since we’ve been at so many places, so please bear that in mind when reading this.

    1. Only vault toilets and water spigots placed randomly around.
    2. No electric/water hook ups, flushing toilets, or showers
    3. Outside of one vault toilet building some animal made a nest above out of dirt where they continually poop out of that looks like it hasn’t been touched in months so when you go to use the restroom you walk by a giant pile of poop.
    4. Pea gravel pads where they encourage you put your tent, not bad if you have a blow up mattress. It is nicely raked upon arrival.
    5. Campsite was clean.
    6. Most sites had trees, but not all so definitely check site pictures online if you need shade.
    7. Most sites have a view of the lake, since it’s almost like a peninsula campground.
    8. Nice boat ramps and lots of parking for boaters to leave trucks and trailers.
    9. Bugs would get a bit crazy at random times of day depending on weather.
    10. 20 minutes south of McCall if you wanted to get out and see a quaint little town.
    11. Cows on opposite side of water from campground; you can hear them, but not smell them.
  • K
    Aug. 13, 2023

    Rapid Creek Dispersed Camping Area

    Great secluded spot

    The fir trees stand tall and still. I can’t figure out if they are waiting for something to happen or if they simply don’t care.

    If you’re looking for sone sort of gorgeous panorama, this might not be the place for you. It’s really just a small meadow in the mountains that the BLM put a vault toilet and a couple of fire rings in. That being said, this place is beautiful.

    You can’t see rapid creek from the campground but you can hear it. And that’s really just as good. The white noise from the creek matched with the occasional bird or other nature sound is one of the most relaxing things on the planet.

    It’s high enough in elevation that this place gets nippy at night. I stayed in early August and the temps dropped into the upper 30s at night.

    The campground is well maintained and the vault toilet was reasonably clean when I arrived. It became Kevin clean shortly after I set up camp.

    There are trails from both sites near the vault toilet that lead down to Rapid Creek.

    I never saw any bear scat but signs on the property warn of them so be smart with your food.

    All in all, Rapid Creek dispersed camping is excellent if you just want a quiet place where no one is around. It’s amazing but not for the reasons people usually like in my opinion. ◦

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2024

    Herrick Reservoir Access

    Just ok

    Camping is free, limit of 10 days. Not really any designated sites and surrounded by private land with aggressive signage. Not all roads around the reservoir are public, so be prepared to turn around and back up at dead ends. We came to an orange gate that said "private property", and stopped. While trying to turn around, we noticed a white truck sitting behind us. When we turned around and passed him, he motioned to roll down the window, and then berated us and called us idiots, even though we had not even entered the private land, nor did we want to. We felt threatened. In the end we chose a site on the upper road of the reservoir. The view was nice but not close to the pit toilet. No fire ring. No table. A no frills place. Like many lakes in Idaho, the reservoir is mostly dry. Not a huge deal but not the prettiest to look at. There is only one single pit toilet for the whole reservoir and someone was set up right next to it like it was their own. People ride off-road vehicles here. In an area with slim pickings for free camping, I guess you have to take what you can get.

  • Kelsey G.
    Aug. 30, 2020

    Pittsburg Campground

    Beautiful area, ok camping

    Beautiful area, incredibly scenic and photographable, but a few things to be aware of.

    There is a heck of a drive to get into this place, there’s a very winding and steep road to get there and it took us about an hour from White Bird. That being said, it was a very lovely and scenic drive, and based on the number of trailers and boats that were down there it doesn’t seem to deter many people. Just be aware you’ll want to come prepared with whatever you’ll need while you’re there because it’s not a quick ride back into town to get supplies (and make sure you have enough gas in your tank)

    Also, word of warning to any dog owners; I discovered as soon as we unloaded from the vehicle that there are sticky burs absolutely everywhere on the ground and our furry labradoodle was soon covered with them. The first thing we did when we got back into cell phone range was call and schedule him a grooming appointment to get shaved because they were on every inch of his body and would be impossible to comb out.

    The campsites are all pretty close together and since this is a desert area there are very few trees, so you will be able to see your fellow campers and they will be able to see you. Each site has a little canopy thing for both shade and I suspect some wind protection (it got extremely windy one of the nights we were there).

    It was $8 a night when I was there in August 2020. There was a burn restriction in place from July 1st to September 15th according to posted signs.

    If you do not have a trailer, there are some dispersed camping sites at the “Upper Landing” that are clearly marked. They are walk in only but didn’t appear to be too far to walk and seem that they would afford a bit more privacy if that’s what you’d looking for.

Guide to New Meadows

Dispersed tent camping around New Meadows offers varied backcountry experiences in the Payette National Forest at elevations ranging from 3,800 to 7,000 feet. The region features multiple alpine lakes with primitive camping options accessible via forest service roads. Temperature swings between day and night can exceed 40 degrees even during summer months, requiring proper gear regardless of season.

What to do

Mountain biking access: Brundage Reservoir serves as an excellent base camp for mountain biking enthusiasts. A camper noted, "We went here for mountain biking (if you go, check out Groupon for the lift) this campground was awesome because it was so close to Brundage resort, and the ski lift up."

Hiking to alpine lakes: Paddy Flat - Jughandle Mountain Area offers direct trail access to pristine mountain lakes. "Very short hike nice camping. A very cold lake bring water or filter," mentions one visitor who appreciated the accessible terrain.

Fishing opportunities: Fishing is popular at many New Meadows tent sites, particularly at Seven Devils Campground where alpine lakes contain native trout. A visitor reports, "There are several hikes that can be done in a single day or stretched out to multi day trips that go along mountaintops and alpine lakes."

What campers like

Lakeside camping: Brundage Reservoir Camping Area provides direct water access for paddling and swimming. One camper described their experience: "We then spotted a beautiful lake through the trees. Both of us, as well as our pup, were amazed as we made our way through some brush, at which point we saw an open spot right next to the water."

Wildlife viewing: The New Meadows backcountry hosts diverse wildlife including eagles, moose and mountain goats. At Northwest Passage Campground, a camper reported, "The wild life there is abundant. We saw bald eagles, moose, deer and chipmunks."

True solitude: The remoteness provides genuine disconnection. A visitor at Rapid Creek Camping Area shared, "All in all, Rapid Creek dispersed camping is excellent if you just want a quiet place where no one is around. It's amazing but not for the reasons people usually like in my opinion."

What you should know

Road conditions: Most dispersed sites require navigating unmaintained forest roads. Seven Devils Campground requires "45 minutes drive on dirt road" according to one camper, while another notes the need to "take your time driving up 17 Mile road (takes about an hour to get here from Riggins!)."

Limited facilities: Vault toilets are available at some sites, but most have no amenities. At Lick Creek Area, you'll find "3 spots. One large one with stock holding. A CTX toilet and fire rings," according to a visitor.

Cold water sources: Lakes and streams near New Meadows remain cold year-round, often requiring filtration. A camper at Granite Lake Camping Area emphasized it's an "awesome place for rent camping and hiking lots of trails to explore but not a great place if you need a RV to go camping."

Tips for camping with families

Best family-friendly sites: Northwest Passage Campground offers accessible river recreation ideal for children. A family camper shared, "There is a beach area for the campers that is perfect for kids to play and to relax and watch for floaters."

Insect preparation: Mosquitoes can be problematic during summer months. One experienced camper advised, "One downfall here is the amount of mosquitoes. They are large and thirsty. We came prepared this year with lots of mosquito spray and some thermoscell mosquito deterrent. It helped immensely."

Wildlife safety: Rapid Creek Camping Area requires proper food storage due to wildlife. "I never saw any bear scat but signs on the property warn of them so be smart with your food," noted one camper who visited in August.

Tips from RVers

Size limitations: Most dispersed sites can only accommodate smaller rigs or trailers. At Northwest Passage, "Some of the spots are big enough for trailers. Some are small and cozy for tent campers," according to a recent visitor.

Water planning: No potable water exists at most sites, requiring self-sufficiency. A Northwest Passage camper explained, "There is a water pump at the entrance of the camp site that you get your water from. There are no hook ups or running water at sites."

Cost considerations: While most dispersed camping is free, established campgrounds may charge fees, especially for out-of-state visitors. One camper noted their Northwest Passage experience as "62$. No hooks. No cell. Because I'm out of state."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near New Meadows, ID?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near New Meadows, ID is Brundage Reservoir Camping Area with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near New Meadows, ID?

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