Best Tent Camping near Sweet, ID

Tent campsites near Sweet, Idaho provide access to the scenic landscapes of the Boise National Forest with options ranging from established sites to more primitive locations. Shafer Butte offers tent-only camping less than an hour from downtown Boise with maintained tent pads, fire rings, and picnic tables. The South Fork Recreation Site along the Payette River allows tent camping with boat-in, drive-in, hike-in, and walk-in access options.

Most tent campgrounds in this region operate seasonally, with Shafer Butte open from June 15 to September 30 and others like Edna Creek available from May to October. Primitive sites often lack amenities, with limited or no drinking water available at many locations. Tent sites typically include fire rings where permitted, though campers should verify current fire restrictions before their trip. Toilets are available at most established campgrounds including Shafer Butte and Edna Creek, but more remote backcountry camping areas may have no facilities. Road conditions vary significantly, with some sites requiring high-clearance vehicles or short hikes to access.

The tent camping experience around Sweet offers a mix of accessible and remote options. Forested sites provide natural shade during summer months when temperatures can rise significantly. Areas farther from highways offer more solitude and better wildlife viewing opportunities. Proximity to rivers and hiking trails makes these locations popular with anglers and day hikers. One camper noted, "Tent only, but nicely maintained tent pads, fire rings and picnic tables. Perfect place to teach young ones the joy of camping; campground is open, mostly flat and easy to keep your eyes on the tykes." Higher elevation sites like Shafer Butte deliver cooler temperatures and scenic mountain views, though early and late season camping may encounter cold overnight conditions.

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Best Tent Sites Near Sweet, Idaho (27)

    1. Shafer Butte

    4 Reviews
    Horseshoe Bend, ID
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 587-7961

    $10 - $75 / night

    "Tent only, but nicely maintained tent pads, fire rings and picnic tables. Perfect place to teach young ones the joy of camping; campground is open, mostly flat and easy to keep your eyes the tykes."

    "It was a no frills place and we were dirtier than usual since there was no running water. it also had no firewood for sale, so we hauled ours up. We knew all this going in, so it didn’t matter."

    2. Banks

    2 Reviews
    Banks, ID
    12 miles
    Website

    3. South Fork Recreation Site

    3 Reviews
    Garden Valley, ID
    20 miles
    Website

    "Long runway, above a big field for camping and plenty of trees to set up a hammock. Right along the river, all we heard was the sound of running water. Very big mountains around, plenty for hiking."

    "You’ll hear echos of gunfire, the occasional semi blasting up the highway or the rumble of tons of bikes making their way up the highway... and if its fire season, there will be helicopters coming in and"

    4. Caldwell Campground and RV Park

    9 Reviews
    Caldwell, ID
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 454-0279

    $28 - $43 / night

    "Approx, 10-12 Grassy Tent sites, with shady trees, on a small 6 acre lake with entertaining ducks that do not beg for food. Lol. Lots of RV sites with full hook ups, including, 105 long term users."

    "Clean facilities.. , need a code to use them, Roads are dusty, if people would drive slow it would e nicer, Busy place, this is a flat rate place."

    5. Idaho City Yurts — Idaho Parks and Recreation State Headquaters

    4 Reviews
    Boise, ID
    30 miles
    Website

    "I have only been to there in the winter but I imagine that hiking in is just a beautiful!   You need to bring everything but a bed and stove, which are in the yurt.  "

    "Firewood included in purchase of renting. One time I went I miss read the reservation date and got kicked out by another group. So we had to hike down in a snow storm. It was still fun."

    7. Hot Springs Campgrond

    Be the first to review!
    Garden Valley, ID
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 462-2865

    8. Boise National Forest Whoop-em-up Equestrian Campground

    2 Reviews
    Boise National Forest, ID
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 392-6681

    "Quiet with restroom and clean water. Lots of firewood laying around. No cell service, except Mores Peak and Idaho City..."

    "Nice and quiet campground close to highway 21. We arrived on a friday night without reservations and there was plenty of space."

    9. Edna Creek

    2 Reviews
    Boise National Forest, ID
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 392-6681

    "Edna Creek campground is  off of Highway 21 and is a little farther off the main road that some of other near by campgrounds.   It is a little more private and quiet.  "

    "This Campground is got an hour and a half from Boise and above Idaho City on the Highway 21."

    10. Cottonwood Campground

    1 Review
    Idaho City, ID
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (208) 587-7961
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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Sweet, ID

3 Photos of 27 Sweet Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Sweet, ID

433 Reviews of 27 Sweet Campgrounds


  • Anna W.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Boise National Forest Bad Bear Campground

    Nice little campground. Small sites.

    Bad Bear is a nice little campsite outside of Idaho City. The sites are good size with adequate privacy. There is lots of tree cover for shade during those warm summer days, and a babbling brook at the back of the campground. Each site had a picnic table, fire ring, and there is a well for water and a vault toilet. We enjoyed our stay here, mostly because there wasn't anyone else camping in the campground when we were there in mid-July! Score! We grabbed the big site, but the other sites seemed a bit small. Would recommend for a easy campsite close to Idaho City and just a quick little jaunt from Boise.

  • C
    Feb. 4, 2021

    Celebration Park

    Everything a campground should be

    Celebration Park is the perfect campground for basic boondocking (with bathrooms). It is remote and wild with non-stop views from every site and many outdoor activities nearby. At the entrance to the campground, there is a visitors center, many picnic tables, fire rings, an interpretive walk, and access to the riverfront. This is where the bathrooms are containing a single sink, electrical outlet and two toilets. No showers are available. The bathroom was exceptionally clean when I stayed there. The park adjoins BLM land. There are no hookups for power, water or sewer. Potable water is accessed from the bathrooms and spigots near the entrance. The camping area goes on for at least 1/4 mile along the river and more sites are away from the water. 

    Some reviewers mention the bugs. Yes there were swarming gnats when I visited in February, not unbearable, but worth noting if that bothers you. Also note the wind coming down the gorge creates some showy sandstorms. (See video) Hey, it's the outdoors.

    The county park is located on the Snake River Gorge about 25 miles from the nearest town. It is located on the northern fridge of the Morley Birds of Prey Sanctuary. You will awaken to the sound of the ducks and geese and can watch hawks and ravens soar on the winds rushing through the gorge. This is not the best place for watching the raptors, as I learned on staying there. Swan Falls south about 15 miles is for wildlife viewing, nevertheless, there was plenty to see and I spent two nights there. 

    A walk up away from the river takes you to a large lake and you can also cross the historic rail bridge to the other bank of the river and climb to the top of the gorge. Excellent place for stargazing, but avoid the sites closest to the visitor center where the lights interfere with prevent perfect darkness.

  • Amy S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2020

    Edna Creek

    Nice Campground

    Edna Creek campground is  off of Highway 21 and is a little farther off the main road that some of other near by campgrounds.   It is a little more private and quiet.  I like this campground because it is more geared toward tent camping.  There is limited space for larger RVs.  There are no RV type amenities.  Just vault toilets, picnic tables and campfire rings.  I believe there is also a water pump.  Lots of access to hiking around here which is a plus for me!

  • Mike W.
    May. 16, 2019

    Mountain View

    Easy to get to, right on the Payette river

    This campground has some decent sites down near the river, but the sites up higher are noisy due to the highway, and don't have much shade. There are no hookups or dump station, so this is a weekend site for most. There is a water spigot to get water from, and a couple of small outhouses, but the one near our site had been destroyed by a falling tree and just closed instead of being rebuilt. The sites have picnic table, fire ring, but not much for tent pads.

  • Jeff M.
    May. 10, 2018

    Shafer Butte

    One of my favorites

    Less than an hour from downtown Boise. Beautiful, scenic views, off the main road so it's mostly quiet. Tent only, but nicely maintained tent pads, fire rings and picnic tables. Perfect place to teach young ones the joy of camping; campground is open, mostly flat and easy to keep your eyes the tykes. One of the most enjoyable drives, ever.

  • T
    Jul. 27, 2020

    Sugarloaf Campground — Lake Cascade State Park

    Middle of the road

    We have high expectations since we’ve been at so many places, so please bear that in mind when reading this.

    1. Only vault toilets and water spigots placed randomly around.
    2. No electric/water hook ups, flushing toilets, or showers
    3. Outside of one vault toilet building some animal made a nest above out of dirt where they continually poop out of that looks like it hasn’t been touched in months so when you go to use the restroom you walk by a giant pile of poop.
    4. Pea gravel pads where they encourage you put your tent, not bad if you have a blow up mattress. It is nicely raked upon arrival.
    5. Campsite was clean.
    6. Most sites had trees, but not all so definitely check site pictures online if you need shade.
    7. Most sites have a view of the lake, since it’s almost like a peninsula campground.
    8. Nice boat ramps and lots of parking for boaters to leave trucks and trailers.
    9. Bugs would get a bit crazy at random times of day depending on weather.
    10. 20 minutes south of McCall if you wanted to get out and see a quaint little town.
    11. Cows on opposite side of water from campground; you can hear them, but not smell them.
  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2021

    Deadwood Campground

    Small, near hotsprings

    Great but small NF campsite at the Deadwood trailhead. 6 sites with picnic tables and fire rings. Clean vault toilets.

  • Jeff M.
    May. 9, 2018

    Macks Creek Park

    Great for casusl RV camping

    Small campsite, approx 6-7 hard pads with vault toilet at one end. Site sits directly on a busy, paved roadway that follows Lucky Peak and Arrowrock Reservoir. Also, directly acro townss the street from RV camping is a busy, tent only campsite. The view of the River is nice, but the noise and outside distractions are not my cup of tea. But it's close to town, so there's that....

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2024

    Herrick Reservoir Access

    Just ok

    Camping is free, limit of 10 days. Not really any designated sites and surrounded by private land with aggressive signage. Not all roads around the reservoir are public, so be prepared to turn around and back up at dead ends. We came to an orange gate that said "private property", and stopped. While trying to turn around, we noticed a white truck sitting behind us. When we turned around and passed him, he motioned to roll down the window, and then berated us and called us idiots, even though we had not even entered the private land, nor did we want to. We felt threatened. In the end we chose a site on the upper road of the reservoir. The view was nice but not close to the pit toilet. No fire ring. No table. A no frills place. Like many lakes in Idaho, the reservoir is mostly dry. Not a huge deal but not the prettiest to look at. There is only one single pit toilet for the whole reservoir and someone was set up right next to it like it was their own. People ride off-road vehicles here. In an area with slim pickings for free camping, I guess you have to take what you can get.


Guide to Sweet

Tent camping near Sweet, Idaho provides access to the Boise National Forest at elevations between 3,000-7,000 feet. Summer daytime temperatures typically range from 75-90°F, while nights cool significantly, especially at higher elevations. Several campgrounds operate without reservations on a first-come, first-served basis, which means arriving on weekdays or early mornings offers the best chance of securing desired spots.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Cottonwood Campground offers excellent angling access with only three sites. One visitor noted, "This is a super small campground with only three sites. It's a favorite for fishing, and I felt almost guilty that I don't care for fishing and I was hogging one of the spots."

Mountain activities: During summer months at Shafer Butte, take advantage of nearby Bogus Basin Mountain Resort. A camper explained: "Bogus Basin is very close. During the Summer Season they have scenic chairlift rides; inter tubing, mountain coaster, climbing wall, live music on weekends, food and beverage, mountain biking with lift service, mountain bike rentals, and hiking. Family friendly."

Hiking trails: Many campgrounds connect directly to trail systems. At Whoop-em-up Equestrian Campground, one camper mentioned, "Didn't hike, but plenty of trails due to horses and heard running water in the distance," suggesting accessible hiking options nearby.

What campers like

Riverside camping: The South Fork Recreation Site offers camping with river views. A camper described it as "a surreal view and area. Dispersed, no amenities, nothing but you, the dirt, rocks, tall pines and little critters... There are huge fish in the river below and the water is unbelievably clear, albeit 40ft down from the camp sites in most areas."

Cooler temperatures: Higher-elevation sites like Shafer Butte provide relief from summer heat. One camper shared: "We came here the first weekend of the summer it was open, so it was definitely cold. Our campsite hadn't been used since fall, so it was pretty overgrown when we got there and we had to our our tent on top of smashed down long grass."

Privacy and quiet: Several campgrounds offer seclusion despite proximity to highways. At Whoop-em-up, a visitor reported: "Quiet with restroom and clean water. Lots of firewood laying around. No cell service, except Mores Peak and Idaho City... No service in Lowman (only 1 mercantile with 2 pumps), but an absolutely gorgeous drive!"

What you should know

Road conditions: Some campgrounds require careful navigation. For Edna Creek, a camper advised: "The last 20 or 30 minutes Beyond Idaho City going east is a pretty steep Winding Road and a little bit narrow. The longer your trailer and rig the more skill you will need to climb this route."

Cell service limitations: Most forest campgrounds have minimal or no connectivity. At Whoop-em-up Campground, expect "No cell service, except Mores Peak and Idaho City... No service in Lowman."

Weather preparation: Early and late season camping requires cold-weather gear. At Shafer Butte, a camper reported: "We came here the first weekend of the summer it was open, so it was definitely cold. Our campsite hadn't been used since fall, so it was pretty overgrown."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Sweet, ID?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Sweet, ID is Shafer Butte with a 4.3-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Sweet, ID?

TheDyrt.com has all 27 tent camping locations near Sweet, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.