USFS developed
Sawtooth NRA (Redfish Lake, Iron Creek)
Iconic alpine-lake scenery; book recreation.gov.
Per-state camping guide · cited .gov sources
Camping in Idaho — Sawtooth, Sun Valley, Hells Canyon
Idaho camping is wilderness-heavy — the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness is the second-largest in the lower 48. The Sawtooth Range near Sun Valley, Hells Canyon (deepest gorge in North America), and the high desert near Craters of the Moon round out the spectrum.
Best season
Late June through September for high country; May-October for lower elevations.
Primary hazard
Late snow-melt + wildfire (July-September)
Permit complexity · 3/5
Moderate — plan key sites ahead
Idaho has 6% state sales tax + variable local tax on lodging/camping.
Camping Idaho in something you'd rent? See which RVs in Idaho are listed →
Per-state regulations
Rules that shape your trip
Real rules with .gov source citations. Verify current status within 48 hours of departure.
Frank Church Wilderness river permits (Middle Fork of the Salmon) lottery via recreation.gov.
recreation.gov — official sourceSawtooth Wilderness backcountry — no permit required but Leave No Trace strictly enforced.
fs.usda.gov — official sourceIdaho State Parks reservations open 9 months ahead via ReserveAmerica equivalent.
parksandrecreation.idaho.gov — official source
Where to camp
Top 5 camping destinations in Idaho
Mix of NPS, state park, USFS, and BLM — with the insider angle per site.
USFS dispersed
Stanley Basin dispersed (SNF)
Free 14-day stays surrounded by the Sawtooth Range.
NPS developed
Craters of the Moon NM (Lava Flow Campground)
Black volcanic landscape; first-come-first-served.
USFS developed
Hells Canyon NRA (Pittsburg Landing)
Snake River whitewater + canyon walls.
State park
Coeur d'Alene Lake (state park sites)
Northern Idaho lake country; reservations 9 months ahead.
On the trail
Wildlife callouts
Real species, behaviors, and distance rules for Idaho.
- 1Black bears throughout — bear-resistant storage required in many established campgrounds.
- 2Grizzlies in the Selkirk-Cabinet recovery zone (far north Idaho); rare but documented.
- 3Wolves recovered statewide; no documented attacks.
- 4Rattlesnakes (western, prairie) in Hells Canyon and Snake River Plain.
Editorial edge
What the state agency doesn't tell you
Hand-curated insider context for Idaho — the kind that comes from real trip experience, not press releases.
- 1Middle Fork of the Salmon River lottery is one of the hardest in the West — apply via recreation.gov for the 70 daily launch slots.
- 2Stanley Basin is the dispersed-camping gold standard — free sites with Sawtooth views.
- 3Craters of the Moon black-lava surfaces reach 150°F in summer afternoon — early-morning hiking only.
- 4Sun Valley summer events drive RV/cabin demand sky-high — book 4+ months ahead for July weekends.
- 5Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness is roadless and pristine — pack-string outfitters are the typical access.
Official state authority
Questions
Idaho camping FAQ
When does Sawtooth NRA open for camping?
Most Sawtooth campgrounds open Memorial Day weekend and close mid-September. Higher-elevation sites (Iron Creek, Pettit Lake) may open 1-2 weeks later depending on snow-melt.
Can I float the Middle Fork of the Salmon without a guide?
Yes, with a lottery-won private permit — 70 daily launch slots May-September, lottery apps in January. Most private boaters use outfitter-organized launches; multi-day Class III-IV whitewater experience required.
Idaho rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- State rental tax
- 7% · not collected by PickRV
- Min driver age
- 21+ std · 25+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — disclosure required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-07:00
Your next step
Everything above assumes a rig.
Permits, season windows and pad lengths on this page all resolve to the same practical question — what you are driving. Idaho owners list theirs on PickRV, and this is what that side of the trip currently looks like.
Tell us when you want to drive Idaho.
Nothing in Idaho is bookable today — PickRV opens for bookings on October 25. Dated requests are what we take to owners, so give us the window you actually want — you get one email the day a rig covers it, and nothing else.
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Nearby & related
Keep planning Idaho
Sourced costs, campground directories, and the places worth a detour — the next layer of Idaho trip planning.
- Idaho RV rental costFuel · camping · tax, sourced
- Idaho RV-friendly campgroundsHookups, rig limits, booking tips
- Campervan & van rentals in IdahoVan-life routes, rules & rigs
- Hot springsSoak-worthy road stops
- Ghost townsBoom-and-bust detours
- Caves & cavernsShow-cave trip guides
- RV renter basicsFirst-rental fundamentals