Family-friendly RV camping near Soda Springs, Idaho offers a blend of mountain and water recreation opportunities in southeastern Idaho. Located at 5,777 feet elevation, this area experiences warm summer days with cool evenings and receives limited rainfall during peak camping season. Most campgrounds in this region remain open from late May through September, with a few year-round options available for winter camping enthusiasts.
What to do
Hot springs access: At Lava Hot Springs Spa Motel & RV Park, visitors enjoy proximity to thermal pools. "Our spot #6 was on the river. We walked across the street to the hot spring pools and a park where in the summer you can tube the river," shares one camper.
River tubing: Bring inflatable tubes for summer recreation. "It was fun to sit and watch the river go by. Along with the people coming down the river on inflatable rafts," notes a visitor at Lava Spa RV Park, while another adds, "The river is not a lazy river float but an amazing short rapid filled 15 min rip through the towns river."
Fishing access: Devils Creek RV Park offers reservoir fishing opportunities. "Very convenient. Located right off I-15, it sits right upon the Devil Creek Reservoir. This is a full service RV campground, has all the hook ups for electric, water and dumping," one reviewer explains.
What campers like
Mountain views: Campsites throughout the region feature scenic mountain backdrops. At Alpine Valley RV Resort, "Each site has full hookups, a fire pit, and a dinette set. Also, they have a trash system going, where they'll pick up trash for you (which is really nice not having to lug a bag to the dumpster)."
Riverside settings: Several parks feature river access. "This RV spot is a real gem. Located very conveniently to the river and most of the activities in Lava Hot Springs. We were only going to stay for two nights, but now we have stayed a full week. It is so fun to watch the Rafters float down the river and to sleep by the sounds of the water," reports a reviewer at Lava Spa RV Park.
Shuttle services: Summer river tubing operations include transportation. "There is a shuttle to bring you back to the drop in to do it over and over again or a short walk," notes a camper about activities near Lava Hot Springs Spa Motel & RV Park.
What you should know
Water pressure considerations: Alpine Valley RV Resort provides high-pressure water connections. "So glad we already had a water regulator. We were told as we were checking in that we definitely needed one due to pressure being 90psi," warns one visitor.
Site spacing varies: Many RV parks have compact sites. "This is an older campground, and space near reservoirs is a hot commodity. The RV park host was very friendly and accommodating," notes a camper at Devils Creek RV Park, adding that "Some of the spaces felt like extremely close quarters especially with slide outs."
Reservation timing: Campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. At Greys River Cove RV Park, a visitor reports, "During the week its pretty wide open but they do fill up on the weekends. Reservations are made on Campspot."
Tips for camping with families
Play areas: Look for campgrounds with dedicated recreation spaces. "There is a center grass location that's great for kids to play," notes a visitor at Cub River Lodge & RV Park.
River safety: Water activities require supervision. "The sticky mud on beach made everything a bit more difficult. We had fun none the less," reports a family at Devils Creek RV Park, while another warns about river conditions near Lava Hot Springs being "not a lazy river float but an amazing short rapid filled 15 min rip."
Nearby attractions: Plan day trips to regional recreation areas. "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," shares one family that discovered Caribou Highlands Golf & RV.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose pull-through sites when available. "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," advises an RVer at Caribou Highlands Golf & RV.
Noise considerations: Check proximity to entertainment venues. "Don't tent camp here. The tent area is about 20 yards from an extremely loud bar. People are outside it yelling til after 2am. Awful," warns a visitor at Greys River Cove RV Park.
Internet access: Connectivity varies by location. "AT&T coverage was good, ranging from 2-3 Bars of LTE with service up to 8.5 MB/s. The CG WiFi was also quite good, with antennas spaced every other site with speeds up to 7.5 MB/s," reports an RVer at Wolf Den RV Park.
