Best Tent Camping near Ponderay, ID

Recent Tent Reviews in Ponderay

545 Reviews of 41 Ponderay Campgrounds

• 

  Dealspeed

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 27, 2024

  Breakwater Campground

  Very primitive

  Great tent camping. Also, it's a great starting point to some really good dirt bike trails. Be prepared for no cell service. 0 amenities. it's just a place to pitch a tent and have a fire. And it cost nothing.

• 

  Saraj B.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 21, 2024

  Luby Bay Campground

  Luby Bay Campground

  Luby Bay Campground offers a beautiful lakeside experience, with many sites featuring direct lakefront access. The campground is surrounded by trees and foliage, providing a sense of privacy, and the sites are nicely spaced apart. 

  In the back corner of the lower loop, there is designated parking for boat trailers and extra vehicles. I launched my boat at the Priest Lake Marina just a mile down the road for a small fee, but I appreciated the free trailer parking at the campground. 

  The flushing toilets were impressively clean—better than many I've encountered at other campgrounds. 

  The road through the campground is paved but narrow, roughly 1.5 vehicles wide, so backing in a trailer requires some finesse. 

  Each site comes with a bear-proof locker, which is essential for safety. The only downside was that our locker had trash bags left by the previous occupants, which hadn't been cleaned out before our arrival. This seems to be a minor oversight by the host. 

  Overall, I had a great stay and would recommend Luby Bay Campground.

• J

  Jason S.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 21, 2024

  Reeder Bay Campground

  Pretty lake views from campsites

  If you can get one of the lakefront campsites, the views are phenomenal! But if you can't, the rest of the campsites are still pretty nice. The campsites are spaced apart enough so you're not too close to your neighbor. Bathrooms are adequate pit toilets. The lake is clear and cold, decent for swimming if you don't mind cold water.

• J

  Jason S.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 16, 2024

  Roman Nose

  Campground small campsites, not close to the lake

  I wouldn’t recommend this campground, especially if you’re hoping for a lakeside experience. The campground is actually a decent distance away, and it’s not easy to access. The road getting in is rough and bumpy, which made for an unpleasant drive. Once we arrived, the campsites were disappointingly small and cramped, making it difficult to set up comfortably. The lake itself wasn’t much better. It’s small, and the water is ice cold, so swimming wasn’t really an option. To top it off, there were no fish to be found, so fishing was a bust. Overall, between the rough road, tiny campsites, and lackluster lake, this campground just wasn’t worth the effort. There are much better options out there.

• J

  Jason S.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 15, 2024

  Whiskey Rock Bay Campground

  Breathtaking views from this lovely campground

  This lakeside campground is a true hidden getaway, perfect for anyone looking to escape the crowds. The lake itself is stunning—clear, beautiful water. However, be aware that there’s a steep drop-off down to the lake, which might make getting to the water a little tricky depdning on which campsite you get. The road to get there is long and rough, I wouldn't recommend bringing a standard camping trailer, and you probably wouldn't want to take a car. But the remoteness is what makes this spot so amazing.  It’s incredibly peaceful, and when we visited, there was only one other camper around, so it felt like we had the entire place to ourselves. If you’re looking for a quiet, off-the-beaten-path campground with amazing lake views and don’t mind a bit of a drive, this spot is worth the effort. Just make sure your vehicle can handle the rough road.

• J

  Jason S.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 15, 2024

  Sam Owen Camnpground

  Beautiful lake, great campsites

  Love it here. There are beautiful lakeside campsites with access to the lake. Unfortunately, those were all reserved when we stayed there. This place can get busy in the summertime, so you reserve early. So we stayed at a nice pull through campsite. All the sites are nice and private with lovely trees and open grassy space between them.

  There's a nice swimming area a short walk from our campsite, and Pend Oreille lake is beautiful clear, cool water for swimming.

  Bathrooms are not typical pit toilets, but had running water and flush toilets.

  The area is beautiful and well worth the trip to camp here.

• J

  Jason S.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 15, 2024

  Beehive Lake Dispersed

  Beautiful alpine lake, strenuous hike, trail not well marked

  This hike-in lake campground is a true alpine treasure, but be prepared to work for it! The hike to get there is pretty strenuous, with some tough climbs along the way. The trail itself isn’t well marked, so you’ll want to pay close attention or bring a good map to avoid getting off course. That said, the payoff is absolutely worth it. The alpine lake at the end of the trail is stunning—clear, pristine water surrounded by rugged mountain scenery. It’s the kind of place that feels untouched and pure. If you visit during the right season, you’ll find huckleberries everywhere, which is a sweet bonus after the tough hike in. The campground is simple but perfectly positioned to enjoy the beauty of the lake. The water is incredibly clear, perfect for a cold dip if you're brave enough! If you're up for a challenging hike and want to escape to a peaceful alpine setting, this spot is well worth the effort. Just be ready for a bit of route-finding on the trail and take advantage of the huckleberries along the way!

• J

  Jason S.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 15, 2024

  Brush Lake Campground

  Beautiful but swampy little lake camping

  This little lake campground is a real hidden gem, especially if you're looking for some peace and quiet. The lake itself is small but beautiful, though it is a bit swampy around the edges. The campground itself is next to the very swampy side of the lake, so you can't really put a kayak in the water or fish or anything from the campground without walking around to the other side of the lake or drive to the day use area. There’s a boat launch and a fishing dock at the day use area.

  When I visited, the place was nearly empty, which made it feel like a true escape. The campground is very well taken care of. It’s clean, and each campsite has a nice shelter over the picnic tables, which is great if the weather turns. The pit toilets were also really clean—much better than I expected for this type of setup.

   The road getting there is pretty rough, so be ready for a bit of a bumpy ride. But once you're there, the quiet, the fall colors, and the overall atmosphere more than make up for it. The lake, while a little swampy at the edges, still makes for a pretty view, especially with the vibrant autumn leaves around.

• J

  Jason S.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 15, 2024

  Round Lake State Park Campground

  Beautiful lake, pleasant surroundings, road noise

  I recently spent a few days at this campground, and overall, it was a pleasant experience. The highlight of the trip was definitely the beautiful lake, which provided a serene backdrop for the entire stay. The surroundings are peaceful abd there is a lovely trail around the lake and an extensive set of trails heading up into the mountain behind the lake as well as a trail to a pond with a dam which is quite peaceful.

  The swimming area is nice with kind of sandy beach, but there is a bit of seaweed in the swimming area. There are also two docks perfect for fishing. I had a great time casting off from them and even caught a couple of crappies and trout which was a nice bonus. However, one downside was some road noise, which occasionally disrupted the peaceful atmosphere, especially in the evenings. It wasn’t overwhelming, but it was noticeable enough to mention. Additionally, the campground and swim area can get very busy during peak summer weekends. If you're looking for a quieter experience, it might be best to visit during the off-season or on weekdays. All in all, the campground is a solid choice for anyone looking to enjoy nature, fish, or swim in a beautiful lake. Just be prepared for a little road noise and crowds if you visit during popular times.

• 

  Lee F.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 19, 2024

  Smith Lake Campground

  Quiet, clean

  A real gem of a find! Although the campsites are not lakefront, it's only a short walk to the day use area with a fishing dock, boat launch and dock, and a nice public area. Although the lake isn't particularly large, the people we saw fishing were catching. There appears to be 8 sites, one of which is outside of the gate which may be locked after the end of September. At least half of the sites have a nice sized tent area. Most people were tenting when we were there. We arrived at 2pm on a Wednesday and had 4 sites to choose from

• 

  Karl H.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 13, 2024

  Blackwell Island RV Park

  On The Water

  Large site. Well managed. On the Spokane River.

• 

  Kaitlin K.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 2, 2024

  Kootenai County Fairgrounds RV Park

  Large and Lovely

  This was a great spot! The camp hosts, Dan and Steve, were very friendly. We loved how large the sites and overall area was, so we could back our rig in easily (40ft long x 13.5ft tall.) There were a lot of open sites, even during the holiday weekend, and even with people on either side, we didn’t feel like we were on top of anyone else. A really great central place to hang so we could check out the surrounding area.

  • Had fast, reliable wifi!
  • Great service for Verizon!
  • Complimentary showers

  As some others mentioned:

  • there wasn’t shade, which made evenings outside pretty hot— but the grass was very lush (and a good place to rest.)
  • there was also some road noise from the dump station and road that runs parallel
• M

  Mustella S.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 20, 2024

  Dorr Skeels Campground

  Odd spots but great location

  There are a handful of tent sites here. Several are on a hill next to each other beside the parking lot. 4 sites sit right along the lake. Great spot if camping near lake is your interest, however, lacks privacy as sites are directly beside each other. Awkward sites.

• M

  Mike M.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 15, 2024

  Son Mountain Ranch, Athol Idaho

  Prefect spot!

  Stayed here with my wife and children while we were visiting Silverwood. This location was perfect and less than 5 minutes from the park entrance. I would definitely stay here again.

• 

  Marisa S.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 7, 2024

  Ravenwood RV Resort

  Best Rv park near Silverwood

  This place is an absolute gem! All sites now have full hook-ups with water, power and sewer and every site has both 30/50amp. No showers but who needs that when you have full hook-ups. They have a beautiful pool, basketball court, volleyball area and small playground. They even have a shuttle to Silverwood! One the most beautifully kept RV parks we've ever stayed in with spacious sites with grassy area and picnic table at each site. Highly recommend 👌

• P

  Paul F.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 30, 2024

  Mirror Lake

  Secluded location

  It is a private secluded location but over priced for tent camping. It made for a nice base camp. The dogs were allowed to be off leash which was real nice. They do not allow pit bulls or Rottweilers but ironic that the camp hosts have a Rottweiler. It was not crowded. The nice hike to the summit to view both lakes was worth going up. Other than the $30/night for tent camping it was okay. Had it been $15 a night I would have given the site a 5 star.

• 

  Freddie Faith M.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 19, 2024

  Bald Knob Campground — Mount Spokane State Park

  Lovely campground with some less desirable campsites.

  Considering that Mt. Spokane is Washington's largest state park, it is a little odd that they have so few campsites (eight of them, if I'm remembering correctly), but I certainly don't mind a small campground. For the number, the campsites could be more spread apart, however.

  Mt. Spokane is such a wonderful state park though that even my few complaints about the campground is easily overlooked. The trails, views, flora, and wildlife is spectacular here and I'd gladly sleep in the parking lot if that was my only camping option.

  I went camping here in early July when Spokane had a heat wave of over 100 degrees temperature everyday, and on Mt. Spokane the temperatures were a good 10 - 15 degrees cooler. With a breeze and lots of drinking water it was well tolerable.

  I booked the last available campsite at the campground for our trip as it was last minute, it was definitely the worst of the campsites but it still was not that bad. I'd stay at that same site (site #2, btw) if it was the only one available again. It had a single tree (so no hammock setup for us) which did little to offer any shade, and it was right at the entrance of the campground. It did only have a neighbor on one side though which is nice.

  If I went again, ideally I would get campsite 4 or 6. They are both much better than campsite 2 and, in my opinion, the best two campsites at the campground.

• 

  Shane T.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 9, 2024

  Sedlmayer's Resort & Campground

  Lovely quiet campground.

  This quiet campground is a nice place to stay. Small and peaceful
  We only stayed the one night on a Monday, so the restaurant and bar were closed. The sites are a little close together, but we are used to big private sites in the provincial campgrounds in Canada. The wifi was available, but only close to the restaurant.

  Full hookups are available for most sites. There is a private beach that was nice for swimming. Staff is friendly and helpful.

• 

  Day F.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 8, 2024

  Albeni Cove

  Campsite

  Beautiful area nice camping spot good amount of shade coverage keeps us cool during the summer clean bathrooms and the camp hosts are super nice.

• K

  Keely G.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 6, 2024

  Wolf Lodge Campground

  Clean & Welcoming

  Came in late and stayed with friends for a night, was able to get a tent site right next to them. Shower & bathrooms were clean, very safe and secure campground ♥️

• l

  lexi P.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 1, 2024

  Yaak River Campground

  First time camping 🏕 Had a good time

  It was my first time camping! Went camping with my fiance.

  Pros

  • The check in process is easy. Just make sure you have cash
  • lots of trees to hang a hammock
  • fire rings with grill top
  • bear boxes for your food
  • the sound of the river makes you fall asleep!

  Cons

  • No sink in the bathrooms.
  • No internet service. Dead zone.

  Recommendations

  • Definitely recommend bringing cash to pay for your site and firewood.
  • bring hand sanitizer since there aren't sinks or soap
  • There's a DG about 20 minutes away in Idaho to grab snack goodies c:
• 

  Paul G.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 1, 2024

  Meadow Creek Campground

  Great campground

  You can choose ambiance in the first loop or river front in the second loop. Just be aware that the river is noisy. It’s pack it in and pack it out so, no garbage collection. Cell reception for T Mobile is a strong 1-2 bars. No trouble streaming. One of the best forest service campgrounds. $15 a night. $7.50 with senior discount. The only major problem is that dogs are not on leashes and no one is around to enforce the leash law.

• 

  Freddie Faith M.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 30, 2024

  Camp Coeur d'Alene

  Great little private campground in the Wolf Lodge Bay.

  This is a great little private campground in the Wolf Lodge Bay, and their added free amenities made this campground a really fun alternative to the usual state park/national forest campsites I go to more often. The swimming pool was well kept, and we really enjoyed using the free canoes. They had a lot of decent looking free firewood, but we were camping during a fire ban and weren't able to use it. (This, of course, is no fault of the campground. But if we camp there again it will be nice to have free firewood!)

  We originally booked tent site 3, which I cannot recommend as it had no shade or privacy, but the attendant was very kind and let us switch to a shadier site for free. I think this was tent site 4 or 5, which were much better. Tent site seven looked really nice as well and I would recommend that one. But if we go back we will definitely be booking the island tent site 201, it looked to be the best one of all.

• 

  Freddie Faith M.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 30, 2024

  Pioneer Park

  One of the best campsites I've had in a campground.

  I love the Colville National Forest and enjoy discovering different campgrounds within it.

  I like to camp at Pioneer Park when I am in Newport visiting family and will always choose campsite 14! It is the best out of all the campsites there, very private, incredibly spacious, and with a nice trail to the water. I only tent camp so I don't know how accommodating it is for an RV, however.

• 

  Saraj B.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 24, 2024

  Reeder Bay Campground

  Convenient Location

  Tent camper here 👋 This specific site wasn't lakefront but was only a short 3 min walk to gorgeous lake views and beach access. Being on the end, it was hushed with minor road noise. This site, in particular, backs up against Elkins Road, leading to the next-door resort which has a restaurant, bar, and convenience store - all in walking/stumbling distance. This campground itself has the basics: bathrooms, bear-proof trash, and water stations.

  I highly recommend this campsite and will try to book earlier in the season next time to get a lakefront site.

• D

  David

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 16, 2024

  Whiskey Rock Bay Campground

  Whiskey rock

  Beautiful one of the best stops on my travels

• A

  A W.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 11, 2024

  Camp Coeur d'Alene

  WARNING. DO NOT MAKE RESERVATIONS

  I tried to cancel a reservation. Last week, no one answered the phone. They didn't respond to email. And as of today, their phone is disconnected. Another source stated they were in bankruptcy (unconfirmed).