Best RV Parks & Resorts near Porthill, ID

The established campgrounds at East Sullivan and West Sullivan are typical well-maintained Forest Service campgrounds. The vault toilets are clean, the water pipes put out good water, and there is plenty of space between sites (though you can still expect to hear your neighbors). Because there are no water/RV hook-ups, the place tends to be a little quieter. 

The lake itself is amazing. Perfect temperature for swimming on a hot day, clean as glass, rocky/sandy bottom and no weeds. We kayaked about half-way up the East side and found a private picnic/beach and spent the day there swimming and reading.

Came up here to escape the 90+ degree heat.  Seemed like everything in the area was either booked or $70 per night, so I opted for mountain air rather than AC on my trailer.

Scenic 15 minute drive up from Sandpoint.  It's a paved two lane road with a number of switchbacks - I think even larger rigs should be fine as the hairpins were pretty wide.  Fire station and RV parking is located to the left of a large roundabout with a green Schweitzer sign.  Big gravel lot with space for dozens of rigs.  You shouldn't have trouble finding space.  There's a restroom and a number of garbage dumpsters you can use.

Per the website, you're allowed to camp there for three days.  Didn't appear to be any check-in process or anything, you can just pull up and park.

There's some road noise with a number of trucks driving by, but hey, it's a free place to camp for a few days.  Nice of them to offer this.

Blue Lake is a nice enough campground, but I wouldn’t call it a resort. It has a mix of sites, some full hookup pull through that are all side by side without much space, and some more nicely spaced water and electric sites amongst the trees. We stayed in a tree’d site (J3) which we liked. The bathrooms are ok, there is a wine and beer bar ( which I did not visit) and a small pond for fishing. I would stay here again.

My recent stay at the campground at Bonner County Fairground in Pondray, ID was absolutely phenomenal!

We had such a wonderful experience from start to finish and we can't recommend this campground enough. First and foremost, the campground is incredibly well-maintained and clean. The facilities are top-notch and it's evident that the staff takes great pride in keeping everything in excellent condition. 

The campground itself is spacious and well-designed, offering plenty of room for RVs and other camping setups. They do not allow tents at this park. The campsites were level and provided ample space for my RV, as well as a picnic table. We particularly enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere of the campground, with beautiful views of the surrounding nature. What truly sets this campground apart is its convenient location. Being situated at the Bonner County Fairground, we had the opportunity to explore the fairgrounds and attend any events or activities that happened to be taking place during our stay.

Moreover, the campground is ideally situated to explore the breathtaking natural beauty of Pondray and the surrounding area. I took full advantage of the numerous hiking and biking trails nearby, immersing myself in the stunning landscapes and fresh mountain air. The picturesque scenery and abundant wildlife made every outdoor adventure truly unforgettable. 

Another aspect that impressed me was the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. 

They were always available to answer any questions, provide recommendations for local attractions and dining options, and ensure that my stay was as enjoyable as possible. In terms of amenities, the campground had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. The electrical hookups were reliable, and the availability of potable water and dump stations made it easy to manage my RV's needs. 

Lastly, I must mention the incredible local attractions in the Pondray area. From the nearby Lake Pend Oreille, perfect for boating, fishing, and swimming, to the charming town with its unique shops and restaurants, there was always something exciting to explore. We also had the opportunity to visit nearby national forests and parks, immersing myself in nature and taking in the breathtaking vistas.

I would have given it 4 stars about 5 years ago when we first stayed as it seemed a lot friendlier staff willing to please their customers but I'm not sure if it was sold since then but I had to give it only 2 stars this time because the negatives outweighed the positives. Pros: Friendly staff that helps you park if you need it. Location is fairly close to the town of Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint so you are never too far from civilization. Although I've never used it, they do have wine in the evenings for their guests...not sure if they charge or not. They also sell wood and when we were there 5 years ago, they delivered it to our site. Also, the site we stayed in that time was not full hook ups and the staff still helped us dump without having to move our rig. Cons: Everything everyone says about the pot holes, dirt road, train noise and turn off from the 95 is spot on. The one thing I didn't hear anyone mention is the noise from the 95 of cars that can be as loud as the constant train passing in the middle of the night. So, quiet and serene is not a good description. The"lake" although which can be fun for small kids fishing and maybe paddle boating, is more of a large pond that is dark and gloomy like and so when you first see it, you might be disappointed at it being called a lake. Although friendly, I didn't find it as hospitable as it used to be when we were first there five years ago and you get the distinct feeling that they are barely surviving as they will not do anything extra to refund or make things whole if you experience is not up to par. Here is why: We were charged half of the amount to reserve the spot we wanted and in order to keep a particular spot you pick, you have to pay a little extra to reserve it or you can still risk having them move you to a different spot if they want to. That's a first. It's true they can't control the weather and I don't really blame them for that, but good vacation industries will go out of their way to keep their customers happy when things are not up to par. We paid for six days and with the stifling heat, along with the fires that were in the area, we were smoked out and weren't told that campfires were restricted per an ordinance they were given before we made the trip there. The entire camping experience was ruined because the only choice we had to not to feel choked out was to stay indoors in the RV. We only stayed one night since this was miserable and decided to leave the next day. When we got home we received an email requesting our input of our stay and we told them a partial refund would have been nice since accommodations were not up to standards. Instead, we were told that in order for them to stay in business and because they have few drop ins, they have to take 50% deposits up front. This seems fair but we paid for the entire week, so it seems to me that in good faith and good customer service, 50% or even some refund at all would have kept us coming back despite the cons. They also claimed that charging 50% is better than some places that want all the money upfront when you book. We have been RVing for years in this area and there are much better places to go that do not do this I'm not really sure why they asked us for our input in the first place. Anyway, as a result we won't be back.

Please do your due diligence in this area. This is the ONLY park for the whole county as well as the parks and recreation (soccer, baseball, tennis, etc). Being mindful to local families by not parking sideways along the fence line and do not block the business in the log cabin. I think train noise is the least of your worries as the summer this area is where ALL of the events take place. This is not an area where locals want free camping as it has caused lots of issues. Let me say it again, there are many campsites in the area including North Haven Campground up the road ($35 a night for full hookups) that welcome you. This area does not welcome you. Please stay away.

Lionhead is by far my favorite campground of hundreds I’ve been to. it’s designed more for tent camping of very small rv’s such as truck campers or tent trailers. There are numerous trails to explore and the beach is beautiful white sand with crystal clear water. Indian Creek is also nice and has a store with everything you could need and ice cream by the scoop. Indian Creek also has full and partial hookup sites - free hot showers- and boat slips to rent.

The most beautifulest place in the world. Really busy. Off season is best. It's like the Caribbean on north Idaho.

This campground is amazing!

 It is a small campground right next to the Boundary Dam and thanks to Seattle City Power is absolutely FREE! It just went through a major overhaul so everything is new and well maintained.  Lots of history here including the filming of The Postman.

They provide you with great amenities like full flush bathrooms, extensive day use facilities, Boat launch and dock, Water and trash. It has 22 sites(3 of which are ADA) and 12 RV sites. There are no hookups for the RV's. Each site has a fire pit picnic table and gravel tent pads.

There are many things to do here like check out the Peewee falls which is only viewable by water or take the free dam tour! A short drive away is the Gardner Caves which offers free guided tours if you have a discovery pass. Metaline Falls is also a short drive away in which there are a few eateries and even a movie theater.

Overall it is a great place to camp and boat, my only fault would be the 6 day limit! 

I highly recommend checking this place out if you have a chance.

My family and i visit here at least twice a year. We love views and there is always something to do. Wish they had more sites with sewer hook ups but they do have a very easy to use dump station on site.