1 campground with availability this weekend
Lava Hot Springs West KOA and Downata Hot Springs house upscale glamping accommodations between 20-40 miles from Pocatello, offering some of the top-rated glamping campsites in southeastern Idaho. Safari-style canvas tents, yurts, and luxury outdoor accommodations feature comfortable beds with linens, climate control systems, and electricity. At Lava Hot Springs KOA, glampers enjoy private decks overlooking pristine grounds with easy access to the famous hot springs less than a mile away. Downata Hot Springs offers glamping yurts situated near their natural hot spring pools, providing immediate access to therapeutic waters. Many units include kitchenettes and private outdoor spaces for evening relaxation after a day of exploration. One guest shared, "Great place to camp and swim. We have a great campground with a fire ring and all of the other things that we need. We have shade, and a small stream running nearby."
Visitors at these glamping destinations access numerous recreational opportunities centered around geothermal activities. The Lava Hot Springs area, famous for its mineral-rich waters, attracts glampers seeking relaxation and wellness experiences. Onsite hot spring pools maintain consistent temperatures year-round, with Downata's pools operating from April through October. Nearby hiking trails connect to public lands with scenic vistas of the surrounding valleys. Fairway RV Park's yurts provide another unique option with proximity to golfing and outdoor recreation. Safari tent accommodations throughout the region include thoughtful touches like USB charging stations, heated mattress pads for cooler evenings, and complimentary bath products. These glamping campsites near Pocatello are well-suited for those who want outdoor immersion without sacrificing comfort. A recent visitor mentioned, "We showed up during the week so it wasn't too packed. Brought our fishing poles and although we didn't catch anything, was well worth it. Be sure to go up to Register Rock up the road! So much history here."
"Easy getaway as we're from Pocatello. It was hot, but we had a great time. The camp hosts were very helpful and super friendly. Bathrooms and showers were close and clean."
"PROS:
- Easy access to the interstate
- Host and Visitor Center worker were extremely nice
- All sites have E/W
- Sites were private, generous and clean
- A lot of the sites have great views of the"
"When you arrive you need to go to check in at Shoshone-Bahhock Casino registration desk. The RV Park is all pull through. Have a small grassy area between sites. Full hook up."
"We arrived the Wednesday after Labor Day. We were given a full hookup spot in a giant field area all to ourselves! Our spot backed up to a small running creek filled with fish."
"I booked Indian Springs last minute because nearby campgrounds with reviews were full. But Indian Springs deserves a review! Spacious, full facilities."
"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."
"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
"The staff are very cordial and have empathy. I love it. Clean. Courtesy. And safe"
"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."
"Short drive from the campground to some restaurants, gas stations, grocery store, etc in the area. There are 2 bar/grills walking distance from the campground. Has a Heated pool."
"At first we were not sure about this campground based on location. We were pleasantly surprised! The staff were very friendly and accommodating."
from $25 - $64 / night
"Our timing worked out for the Idaho Falls area and Wolverine Canyon came up as an option. It’s all paved road until you get to the mouth of the Canyon, then it’s a well maintained gravel road."
"About thirty minutes outside of Blackfoot before you hit gravel road. We only drove a short distance on gravel before we parked in a wide spot that had a fire pit."
LegendI have really enjoyed my one night stop here. Go to the lower campground so that you stay away from the noise of the road. But if you're a trail person and a view person, this is by far the nicest state park so far. Unfortunately I camped in the upper campground. The water was on, but the bathrooms were closed. The lower bathrooms were still open. But they're old and not well maintained.
GuideOne of our pooches has been unwell and appeared to be making a comeback so before heading to the nearby National Parks, we wanted to stage ourselves near one of the few emergency vets in the area in case he had a setback.
We like city/county parks for their unpretentiousness and low cost. This gem is pretty special with its location along the Snake River for $40 a night (read more on that below).
If you don’t need full hook ups at your site, this is worth a short stay. Our 24 ft van fit well in the best site (#5) nestled between shady trees with a fantastic view of the river. Many of the other 15 sites can easily accommodate big rigs. It’s FCFS and was pretty unoccupied when we were here (mid-week after Labor Day). There are lots of grassy areas which the pooches enjoyed.
There is a central dump station. I like that the two drinking water refill stations are well separated from the dump station. That said, we didn’t discover there was no water at the until our second day. There are no signs indicating such, making the cost high for just a spot.
The restrooms were closed due to remodeling and that’s probably why the water is shut off. It’s annoying there aren’t signs also at the water pumps. We likely would have still stayed here but the $40 a night for just a spot is high.
There is some road and train noise but very light at night. We enjoyed walks along the river on the multi-use paved path. It’s conveniently located to stores, laundry and pretty much any facilities you need.
ScoutCame without a reservation, had plenty of sites. Bathrooms were great, host was very pleasant.
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.
GuideVery clean campground with sizable sites that include picnic tables, firepits and grills. No hookups but they have a dump and (currently not working) fresh water.
GuideFor me it was great.., it’s in the heart of the city and has a lot of shade for tents and plenty of water and electricity hook ups for your RV
RangerI wish e could stay another night but we have to move on. This place is beautiful, peaceful,clean has great views of the lake, and has water and electricity!! Ot doesn’t get any better!
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!
GuideWhen you arrive you need to go to check in at Shoshone-Bahhock Casino registration desk. The RV Park is all pull through. Have a small grassy area between sites. Full hook up. This note is for 30amp trailer, when you plug into power box, you to switch on all amps. Large grassy with a cover picnic tables. Has showers and laundry.
Camping options near Pocatello, Idaho range from riverside sites to mountain retreats, with elevations varying from 4,400 to 5,500 feet. The region experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 85°F during peak camping months of June through September. Winter camping is limited to a few year-round facilities like Snake River RV Park & Campground, where travelers can access heated amenities during colder months.
Historic exploration: 30 minutes from town. At Massacre Rocks State Park Campground, visitors can hike to Oregon Trail wagon ruts and discover local history. "Be sure to go up to Register Rock up the road! So much history here," recommends camper Ashley M. The visitor center provides context about the area's significance as a westward expansion route.
Disc golf: Free course available. Massacre Rocks State Park offers an on-site disc golf course for campers seeking recreational activities. One visitor noted, "Bring your disc golf, your fishing pole, and your chair for the evenings!" This activity requires no additional fees beyond the standard camping rate.
Fishing access: Multiple spots along Snake River. Several campgrounds provide direct river access for fishing enthusiasts. At Lower portneuf campground, visitors enjoy free riverside camping with good fishing spots. "We parked our 34 ft motor home right next to a river waterfall and did some fishing," shares Chelsey M., highlighting the easy access for all vehicle types.
Natural hot springs: Daily access for relaxation. The Lava Hot Springs West KOA provides walking distance access to multiple hot spring options. As Sam F. notes, "Walking distance to restaurants and local shops. Our riverside campground was wonderful." The campground offers both access to commercial hot spring facilities and natural spots along the river.
Clean facilities: Regularly maintained bathrooms. Many campers praise the cleanliness standards at campgrounds throughout the region. At Indian Springs Resort and RV, Scott B. appreciated that they found "clean, well kept, nice flush toilets with soap and working sinks," which makes a significant difference for families camping with young children.
Outdoor recreation options: Tubing, biking, swimming. Campers enjoy various water activities during summer months. Chris Y. from Mary's Campground shares, "There's a paved trail around all of the camp sites for bikes and skateboards and the owners are incredibly friendly." Proximity to tubing locations allows for easy day trips without moving camp.
Train noise: Frequent at certain locations. Lower Portneuf Campground sits approximately 100 feet from active train tracks with crossing horns. Brett T. warns, "The trains blast their horn literally right as they pass you. Like excessively so, unnecessarily so. It was not a great night's sleep." Consider packing earplugs if staying near railroad crossings.
Crowding issues: Peak season limitations. Many campgrounds fill quickly during summer months, especially on weekends. Sites can be close together at popular locations. Shannon P. advises, "This used to be open camping in a field but they have recently fenced it in, leaving just 8 camping spots, fairly close together. This is a popular place with full-time nomads."
Seasonal operation: Limited winter camping. Most glamping facilities close from November through April. At Downata Hot Springs, operations run "April to October" with peak season between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Pete C. suggests, "Busy time is between Memorial Day and Labor day. We always visit after Labor Day."
Hot springs pools: Kid-friendly options. Downata Hot Springs provides specialized pool areas for different age groups. Anthony B. explains, "In the summer time the pool is nice and cold and there are water slides." Facilities include both heated mineral pools and regular swimming areas with varying depths.
Playground access: Multiple options. At Snake River RV Park & Campground, families appreciate the on-site playground. Katie H. notes, "The park for the kids was perfect and the pool was open too! Beautiful grounds and close to everything in town." This provides entertainment options during downtime at camp.
Group accommodations: Ranch houses available. For larger family gatherings, Downata Hot Springs offers multi-bedroom options. Shani C. describes, "The Ranch House had 3-bedrooms with 5 beds, a couch that could sleep 3 grown adults. There was a full kitchen and dining area, another sitting area to visit."
Site selection: Reserve ahead for shade. Snake River RV Park offers grassy, shaded spots that are in high demand. Karla B. advises, "Reservations are suggested during the summer season for a shaded and grassy RV site." Unshaded sites can become uncomfortably warm during peak summer months.
Leveling challenges: Some spots require work. At certain campgrounds, site preparation may be needed. Rachel G. from Indian Springs noted, "Our site was not the best. Big ruts, we had to level quite a bit, 120 amp didn't work." Bringing leveling blocks is recommended, especially for longer rigs.
Hookup availability: Varies by campground. For those seeking full hookups near glamping close to Pocatello, Idaho, options exist but with limitations. Pete C. from Downata Hot Springs points out, "No sewer, electricity and water at most sites," which means planning for dump station visits during longer stays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Pocatello, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Pocatello, ID is Massacre Rocks State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 39 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Pocatello, ID?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 glamping camping locations near Pocatello, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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