Best Tent Camping near Sun Valley, ID

Recent Tent Reviews near Sun Valley, Idaho

389 Reviews of 55 Sun Valley Campgrounds

• C

  Charli H.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 5, 2018

  Little Wood River

  Best kept secret!

  Well cared for, easy access, fishing, green grass for day use and tent camping, private dock, wonderful folks!

• 

  Nancy B.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 4, 2021

  Chemeketan Campground

  Wonderful

  It has been a long time since I have been there. Not a lot of amminites then. Best scenery and lots of tent sites away from crowds. Will go back again.

• 

  Philip D.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 8, 2023

  Silver Creek Public Access Dispersed

  Modern Primitive Glory (N. Site)

  Paved parking spot, with access for a smaller camper; a few tent sites. Drop toilet, fire pit, picnic bench, Disabled parking spot. True tranquility and bliss, and skies for days.

• D

  Danielle

  Scout

  

  Aug. 7, 2021

  Sunny Gulch Campground

  Great Sites

  Sunny Gulch is close to the Sawtooths for great hiking, next to the river if you want to cool off or fish and there were plenty of options. The tent sites are groomed pretty well, and they had the cleanest pit toilet I think I’ve ever seen.

• M

  Michelle T.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 2, 2021

  Lava Flow Campground — Craters of the Moon National Monument

  A place like no-other- camping in Lava Fields!!

  This place was so cool, I mean... not temperature cool, but so amazing to see! It was, however, pretty hot. There is little to no shade, so if you are not in a trailer and are tent camping (or roof top tent camping like we did), be prepared to cook a little bit outside. There also was a decent amount of wind, so that'll cool you down a bit.

  With the temperature out of the way, let's talk about how incredible this place is. You are literally camping around lava boulders and lava fields. A decent hike leads you to the "tree molds." You have to kind of know what you're looking for, but once you find them (see pictures below), you are just blown away. There are also smaller hikes that take you to lava tubes (some still have snow in them!) This is a must see if you are looking for something that you generally won't see anywhere else. 

  The visitor center is at the top of the entrance road and has a good amount of gifts/ stuff to buy as well as information about the park. If it's hot, they also have AC... so... take your time a browse!

• j

  janet H.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 5, 2019

  Lava Flow Campground — Craters of the Moon National Monument

  Quaint and convenient

  Really cute private campground right off I30 near Lava Springs, Idaho

  Some highway noise. Very clean sites. Vault toilets, clean and decorated nicely. Really wish they had a bathhouse and place to wash dishes. Firepit. Picnic table with flower pot was really a nice touch. Level, gravel, back in sites. Prices a bit high for just water and electric $40 to $55 They also rent tiny trailers, $55 a night. Lots of tent sites as well. Grass playground. Creek nearby. No camp store but they do sell firewood. Owner Annie, super friendly and accommodating. Refunded two nights since we wanted a shower. Only charged $5. 9/5/19

• X

  Xander V.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 5, 2022

  Smiley Creek Lodge

  Great staff, clean place that caters mainly to RVs

  I passed this place on Labor Day weekend and decided to stay. They officially don’t have tent sites but had some grassy area where I could pitch my tent anyway. That did mean there were no picnic tables or fire rings for me but the RV sites did have them.

  The bathroom/showers were small but clean.

  The bar/restaurant serves good food and the staff and locals were very friendly and offered all kinds of suggestions for my trip

• 

  Always C.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 20, 2021

  Mackay Reservoir Access Area - IFG

  Breath taking BLM Campground!

  This BLM campground has 26 paved sites with water and electric and trash bins throughout, dump site up the hill. First come first serve with a $14 nightly fee $7 with senior pass. Tent camping in a separate area. Boat launch and covered picnic day use area. 2 camping areas, one offers some shade the other has beautiful views. We picked the views! Can be a bit windy I'm told by the host. Would rate this a 10 if I could!

• C

  Chad L.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 27, 2023

  Murdock Creek Dispersed

  Quiet spot near Ketchum

  This is a fee based campground with a host that offers a first come first serve camping experience. We got in late in the day and were happy to find a spot. The ground was a bit limited for tent camping but we ended with a great location near moving water. The sound of water created a very serene environment for rest. The real treat came when we saw the beauty of the night sky unencumbered by city lights; the Milky Way was on full display.

• 

  Shariah T.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 1, 2019

  Lava Flow Campground — Craters of the Moon National Monument

  Cute and quaint, perfect for a night!

  Right along the river, not too far but not too close to all other campgrounds and town. Some tent sites didn’t have any grass/shade, but still very put together. Had man made port-a-potty’s which were very nice. Renovated old time trailers are for rent per night/weekend also. We were located right by the river so the water blocked out much of the freeway noise however not certain about other sites. There is also a trail leading right to the hot springs from the campground.

• 

  Fred S.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 31, 2024

  Corral Creek Designated Dispersed

  Large dispersed site near creek

  Free designated dispersed campsite along Sawtooth Nation Forest Road 137. Camped here at the end of September 2024. Very large designated dispersed site set downhill from the forest road; no issues with dust from this road. The area is level. May be able to park 3 rigs. Tent camping is possible back from the parking area toward the metal firering. This area can accommodate 3 or 4 tents, or one big hot tent. Corral Creek is just down a short path from the campsite. The sound of the creek can be heard at the site. Very quiet area. Mountains on either side of the site. The parking area is dirt and gravel. The "tent" area is grass and dirt. Don't see opportunities for hammock camping. No cell service. No shade; solar recharging and Starlink possible. 3 day limit. Hiking trailheads and vault toilet at the end of the forest road.

• 

  Debra M.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 23, 2021

  Lava Flow Campground — Craters of the Moon National Monument

  Great Campground and Park

  We stayed here in October when the water was turned off and the sites were half price.  There were no services at all including water, electric or dump station.  Regardless the sites are all amazing.  The park is very fun and interesting.  Depending on how much hiking your want to do will determine how long you stay.  We did limited hiking, arrived early in the day and only stayed one night,   We took the full auto tour and saw so much.  We had no cell service at all, even at the visitor's center and no WiFi.  Campfires are strictly prohibited.  If you tent camp, you will be laying on a lot of crushed lava rock so bring padding.  It was FCFS in October but plenty of spaces were available.  I would definitely come again in shoulder season, I think it would be very hot in summer.

• j

  joel M.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 29, 2019

  Sockeye Campground

  Amazing location

  This campground is the only no reservation campground accessible by car on Redfish Lake. It’s great if you are looking to score a campsite without a reservation. It’s a great location on the lake, beautiful view of the sawtooth range and a short walk to the beach. The campsites have flat tent sites, concrete pads for the picnic tables and fire rings and most have trees for some shade. The only down side is the boat and jet ski noise during the day. If you are looking to get away from everything you may want to look at some of the nearby river campgrounds. The bathrooms and campsites were very very clean and the camp hosts were very friendly. If you are looking for a good hike take the ferry from the lodge to the far side of the lake!

• 

  Amy C.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 3, 2016

  Blind Creek Campground

  Hidden gem

  If you've ever gone up to Stanley and don't believe in having to reserve a campsite on line (it's against my religion) this is your spot. About 20 minutes away from the "hussle and bustle" of tiny mountain town, Stanley, Blind Creek is situated in the Yankee fork of the Salmon River. If you're looking for amenities, don't come here--there's a out toilet, but that's it, no water or trash service. But with the river running right by camp you can easily filter your own water and there's a large dumpster at the Sunbeam pullout right before turning off the highway. Blind Creek only has 5 spots but I've never not been able to camp there, and at $5 a night you can afford to drive a little further to get into the Sawtooths or make the drive over to Challis. Beat for tent camping, though they do have two good sights you could back a trailer into, just do us all a favor, if you're going to run your generator, camp somewhere else. Keep this place quiet!

• 

  Fred S.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 29, 2024

  Iron Bog Campground

  Pretty location - peaceful stay

  $10 ($5 with interagency pass). First-come, first-served. Camped one night in site #13 on Sept 24, 2024. Gravel road to this out-of-the-way campground was in good condition. Pretty part of the Challis National Forest. Nothing remarkable about the campground itself. Looks like some of the sites have not been maintained in a while; overgrown with weeds, grass and sagebrush. Sites have tables and fire rings; some had shade-awnings over the tables. The vault toilets were clean. The hand water pump did not pump water; water was probably turned off for the season. No payment envelopes were provided - maybe because it was the end of the season. No hiking trails. Most sites are in the open with no shade; a few were shaded near the creek. Gravel campground road and site driveways. Site sizes varied. No privacy between sites. Tent camping possible. Solar recharging possible at my site. Great views of the mountains around the campground. Very quiet, peaceful evening; only one other site was occupied during my visit. No T-Mobile and AT&T cell service. There were several boondocking sites on the way to the campground.

• 

  Lauren B.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 9, 2020

  Prairie Creek Camping

  Great camping experience!

  This campground is just outside sun valley, Idaho. When we stayed it was very quiet and many different choices of campsites, you can here the road from your site but it was not disruptive. The bathroom is far from most sites and no cell service but consequently was not the issue, the views were breathtaking. The creek was accessible. Firewood is easily available if you’re willing to collect it. The roads are a little rough but animals were no concern. We camped in our tent and had a wonderful time, and it was free!

• 

  Jeane L.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 7, 2021

  Alturas Inlet Campground

  Good escape from the summer heat

  Alturas Lake Inlet campground is tucked into the lovely, shady forest around it. We saw plenty of birds, chipmunks and tiny wildflowers were all over our site in early July. The lake is a short walk but some campers drove over just to make it easier to tote their chairs and water gear. Bring layers - it can is cool in the evenings and at night (40s F) even in July but warm in the day, especially if you are out by the lake. We tent camped at site 17 and although it was near one of the many vault toilets, smaller trash dumpsters, and water spigots, our site was bigger and we set up a decent distance from it. Most sites seemed to have a good distance between each other and enough privacy courtesy of trees and various plant life. We didn’t have any issues, but there plenty of signs reminding campers to be bear aware. (We are pretty careful to keep our food, cooking supplies, toiletries and whatnot in our car when not in use anyway). We did not have cell service (Verizon) and it was a bit of a drive before we got it again. Overall, it’s a beautiful retreat well suited to escaping the heat of summer if you have a tent or small trailer/pull behind.

• 

  Kelly H.

  Traveler

  

  May. 18, 2021

  Lava Flow Campground — Craters of the Moon National Monument

  Could spend a month here!

  One of best places I’ve been to. I’d definitely recommend several days if you can as some of the trails are pretty challenging though definitely see the spatter cones and the one before it (can’t remember the name but big black hill you can climb even if not in great shape by taking a break every 50 feet or so. Most unique and gorgeous campground with helpful staff. Most spots have at least a couple sides completely blocked off from other spaces. No designations so you can take as big or little of a spot as you want with everything from pull-through s to tent sites with just parking for a car. Recommend to arrive between noon and 3pm for most options to pick your spot. Planning to go back for maybe even a month later on though have to switch spaces after 14 days. Off-season has no running water but vault toilets are clean. If you have handicap/senior access pass, only $4/night off season. If not, you have to also pay park access fee daily. Payment is one-day only so have to go get new receipt from machine every day but close enough for easy walk to entrance.

• K

  Kristi R.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 2, 2023

  Corral Creek Canyon Dispersed

  Nice location, campsites spreadout

  Quiet, private campsites. Close to Sun Valley. Place to turn around if unable to fine a campsite. No cell coverage. Only 3 day limit.

• 

  Mike E.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 26, 2023

  Prairie Creek Camping

  Simple free with great views!

  This is free dispersed camping on a dirt road loop, just off highway 75. It is located just north of Sun Valley by a few miles on highway 75 as you head towards Galena summit. It's only a couple hundred yards off the highway, but at night there's hardly any traffic. And it's pretty quiet. There's probably approximately a dozen sites in this loop. We've been there twice, and it's always been quiet and casual, and everybody's been mellow. good spacing between. spacing between sites and privacy. awesome view of Boulder Mountain. If you have binoculars or a telescope, you can oftentimes see the Mountain goats on the higher ridges. It's free camping. Verizon cell Is weak but usable. The Galena Lodge is about 15 minutes up the road. They have great lunches, rental Mountain bikes and plenty of hiking paths. There is a creek just to the east side of the campground. Sun Valley is back down the highway. 75 about 15 minutes drive.

• 

  Alan B.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 31, 2018

  Pioneer

  Great campground just in the foothills

  WWith this campground you'll get solitude most weekends as most people heading into the Sawtooths go to the Sun Valley Area. Since it is so remote you can also ride around on ATVs pretty much anywhere. A good escape if you dont feel like going a little deeper

• S

  Sean F.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 24, 2020

  North Fork Campground - Sawtooth National Forest

  Great location just outside Sun Valley

  Short 12-15 minute drive north from Ketchum/Sun Valley.  Only 1* off because of slight road noise but it is probably not an issue for most sites.  We were pretty close to the highway and it still was not too loud.

  Camp Host named Rich is very helpful.  $7 firewood for sale each evening.

• b

  beth

  Guide

  

  Jul. 24, 2023

  Lake Creek Rd Dispersed

  Wow! Gorgeous

  The first part of the road allows for 3-day max camping, but a little further in, you’ll hit 16-day max stay! The sites further up are away from the others and run along a stream. Still further in, you’ll hit a Y in the road. The right side leads you to a small parking lot with bathrooms and access to a small pond, the left leads you up to more sites. Not too far past the pond, the dirt road is less smooth and has tall grass growing in the middle of the road. I scored a gorgeous site, with a campfire pit already established. The site overlooks the pond, with the Sun Valley Ski Resort seen in the distance and has a gorgeous Mountain View on the opposite side. Absolutely stunning! Plenty of ground squirrels and butterflies and have only seen 2 cars all day.

• 

  Nancy C.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 5, 2021

  Murdock Creek Dispersed

  Remote and close to everything

  We took a chance and scouted a right before the 4th of July weekend and we scored big time. Site #1. Because of the view, we pulled our 30ft class A in instead of backing. We had long range, multi tiered views of the Sawtooth Mtn. The sites are generously spaced with picnic table and fire ring. There is a camp host and firewood is available at their site.. Water is available at the dump station located on the left before you arrive. It services all area NF service campgrounds as well as paid for others not. We had good ATT service 2 and 3 bars. Most of the sites have some shade. There are other disbursed campsites on the main FS road, but we were not disturbed by cars. It is super quiet at night. The night was cool. Lots of hiking , mountain biking and fishing in the immediate area. Ketchum and Sun Valley are 15 min away. The rails to trails multi purpose trail starts just down the road. Super safe place to ride. 30 + miles . We don't want to leave.

• 

  Nancy C.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 19, 2021

  Wood River Campground

  Nice NFS Campground

  We hightailed it to the area early on a Thursday morning pior to the 4th of July weekend in hopes of finding a spot. We were greeted by the nicest host ever. He apparently loved what he was doing and just wanted to help. He told us to ride through, check out the sights that were open and if we didn't find one that our rig would fit in, he would help us find a spot at one of the other NFS campgrounds in the area. I do get frustrated when I see picky people complain because of road noise, or smelly vault toilets (this one didn't). Generators running. Y'all, this is a NFS campground, and a nice one at that. It is not a resort. Rustic beauty. Best part is when you do want more modern amenities, Ketchum is right down the road. There is a rails to trails multi purpose trailhead not too far down the road. We road our bikes into town, south of town, over to Sun Valley. So many great routes. There is a nice NFS headquarters just down the road that has really nice exhibits. There is hiking in the area. We loved the area so much and can't wait to return. PS....they do have a group area.

• 

  Hayley K.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 22, 2021

  Lava Flow Campground — Craters of the Moon National Monument

  Cute Little Private Campground

  Super cute little campground with nice custom touches for the bathrooms. It sits down in a valley near one of the main roads in Idaho so it's not super quiet during the day but they are really good about enforcing quiet hours and people are very respectful. 

  It has a creek that runs by it and it has easy access to Lava Hot Springs in town. This is a great site for families with kids with easy access to local restaurants and fun at the springs water park. 

  The sites are part of a large field and are ideal for RV privacy but tents are more exposed. I didn't end up setting up a tent in my site, I slept in my car so I had more privacy.

• b

  brandon W.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 11, 2024

  Decker Flats Dispersed

  Nice place close to great trailheads

  I enjoyed my 2 night stay here. I pitched a tent however it was quite windy due to it being an open area so just stake your tent down well. I had a spot right beside the salmon river and was able to access this campsite via my Honda Accord vehicle.