Best Tent Camping near Spencer, ID

Camping on the banks on the banks of the Warm River, which actually is quite cold, can’t get much better than this! There are several options here- tent camping in a tent only walk in area along the river banks and under some pretty good hammocking trees (best sites are #12, 13, 16, and 8 because they have some space from neighbors and are right on the river); RV sites with what looks like at least electric hook ups (best sites for river views and/or privacy are #2, 4, 6, 19); from what neighbors say is pretty good fishing; and an awesome alternative to camping at Mesa Falls if that campground is full. Walk down the road and cross the river to check out a protected area of the river where the fish are HUGE and you can stand with your toes in the river while you feed them bits of bread. The sites all have the usual picnic tables and firepits, with nice level tent pads, clean vault toilets, and firewood for sale from the campground host. The only two downsides are no showers and the campground is wedged between the road and the river, so there is quite a bit of road noise in the day which fortunately dies down once dark sets in. At that point the river covers the road noise (also helpful in the morning). The campground is close to a lot of hiking trails, but there are no trailheads in the campground (so I guess that makes three bummers). All in all, a cool place to camp.

After a random restaurant stop, a local recommended we go check out big springs campground, which is the headwaters of the snake river and not too far outside of Yellowstone. I am so glad we did! After traveling over random dirt roads from Spencer, Idaho, we arrived to find several open spots for just $15 each. Nice and woodsy, pleasant neighbors, and sites are just big enough. There's bear boxes to use. Just a quick walk away is the headwaters of the snake river, where huge trout swim under a bridge and eat marshmallows and American cheese. Only downside is no showers or flush toilets. Close enough to Yellowstone that we slept in the car so we could wake up at 5 am and grab one of the early morning Yellowstone camp sites. Would definitely go back.

State run Site. Save money with the Idaho State Parks Pass.

RV and tent camping fishing and boating. I have stayed here numerous times. Cell service spotty but can be achieved. Wildlife can be viewed from inside RV. As stated before can get windy at times.

Very close to other places to visit; Yellowstone NP, Mesa Falls, Harriman State Park, Earthquake Lake, Big Spring, really to many to list.

This campground was cramped and all the tent sites are practically on top of each other. We also had a bad run (three days) of loud neighbors that made is unbearable and forced us to leave the campground.

We've stayed here twice in the same tent site because we loved it. Very fun wood park for the kids, and the lake access is included in the camping reservation. Our site had running water and a nearby creek. Great place!

There is great boon docking by Lake Henry.  Follow your GPS to 44°36'52"N x 111°25'18"W.  With space for 15-20 campsites suitable for RV's (of any length) or tent camping, you'll be treated to epic views.  Ample fishing, natures walks, sitting on the (rocky) beach, or staging for Yellowstone (it's a short 20-30 min drive to West Yellowstone), the location and views are epic.  Good coverage, with 5-bars (boosted) on Verizon.  We'll be back!

Booked the 2 nights in May for July, got to the site and was placed in a tent site with no power. I had reserved 30Amps and Water, site was full and only available spot was along side an access road, no where to sit. Another RV also next to us had the same thing happen. Was told manger would come to see us, no one turned up. Also they said you cannot drink the water! Very poor.

Coordinartes: 44.16547,-112.90392. Beautiful views. Large dirt and gravel site, right along side to Skull Canyon Road, about a mile from ID Hwy 28. Canyon walls on each side. Rough narrow rocky track to the site from the highway; recommend high clearance. High humps on this track. Small rock fire ring. Grass and sagebrush all around site. Some leveling may be required. Tent camping possible. Very peaceful; can hardly hear road noise from highway. The only vehicle that drove by was a national forest truck. No cell service. There are several boondocking sites, some with vault toilets nearby, along Hwy 28 in the Birch Creek Recreation Area.

I stumbled across this campground while driving Mesa Falls scenic by-way. This campground has 27 sites, both tent, RV and a group site right along the Warm River. It also has a day use area. This campground had new vaulted toilets but no showers. Within the campground was the trailhead for The railroad grade trail (great for mountain biking) which I was told use to take train passenger to Yellowstone’s old faithful. Tubing was very popular and the campers next to us insisted that we borrow their tubes so we could try it out for ourselves, very refreshing during our hot August stay.

I snagged the last tent site #21 across the bridge in the northern half of the campground. This large secluded tent site up on the hill had a very small tent pad, fire pit and picnic table and enough room to put up my hammock. This site is next to two double sites. Unfortunately during the 5 nights I stayed some of the RVers close to us ran their generators beyond the 10pm curfew and one RVer felt the need to pull out his noisy leaf blower and blow leafs and dirt everywhere.

There is tons of things to see and do in the area, Mesa Falls, Island Park… but the hidden gem is the close proximity (less than 25 miles) to Yellowstone National Park - Bechler Ranger Station. Bechler Ranger Station is in the far SW corner of Yellowstone National Park. This area has more streams, creeks, lakes and waterfalls than any other area in Yellowstone. There is a historic Soldier Station there that is about 100 years old and there are lots of hiking trails to beautiful waterfalls. You can see cave falls right from the parking lots. I would definitely return to this campground next time I am in the area.

Great spot by the river. There are 2 larger sized spaces that fit a 20ft camper very easily and an additional 6 sites that look to be more for tents. There is also a small parking lot. No hook ups, no trash, but there is one vault toilet and Verizon has soild cell phone reception. The road could be a little rough in snow or ice. Highway 87 is a bit of a climb out of Idaho Falls towards Bozeman but it is through Targhee National Forest and it is beautiful. Not a lot of hiking trails but if you like fishing this is a great spot. There is also a small boat launch.

Staff friendly, view lovely.

Definitely peeved that there is a $30 upcharge for non-residents and they only give discounts to Idaho military. Interesting!! North Carolina should consider doing this since we have BEAUTIFUL state parks too. Do what Idaho is doing to everyone else...kind of sad...would have given five stars if wasn't for this....army vet of 22 years.

Great, clean, friendly campground. Mostly RVs, but tents are welcome. It did get quite windy 3 of the 4 nights of out stay- around 4pm and beyond, so be aware if gone.

Easily accessible. We camped in our tent, the roads were super easy to drive on. Great water access. Lots of wood for campfires. Yes cell phone service and it was free! Although the bathroom was very unclean.

The campground itself is well maintained & close to nearby attractions. The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is because the bear boxes for food were located at RV only sites-there weren’t any for tent only sites.