The best forest camping near Lava Hot Springs

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Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to website for camping adventures in the United States! If you're looking to immerse yourself in the beauty of the forest near Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, we've got you covered with over 200 options to choose from. Whether you prefer pitching a tent, RV camping, or staying in a cozy cabin, you'll find the perfect accommodation that suits your needs. We've handpicked the top campsites for you, including The Aspen Grove Inn at Heise Bridge (252 reviews), City of Rocks Retreat (75 reviews), and Granite Creek Ranch (60 reviews), so you can trust the opinions of fellow campers. Plus, you'll enjoy popular amenities like pet-friendly sites, toilets, and potable water. And if you're an outdoor enthusiast, you'll have a blast biking, horseback riding, or engaging in wind sports. With an average price per night of $40 and options as low as $16, you can plan your forest camping getaway without breaking the bank. So pack your gear and get ready for an unforgettable camping experience!

96% (236)

Top-rated campgrounds

Spring time upper road view of the pavilion

3. Mountain Maple Ranch 🍁

99%
(81)
35mi from Lava Hot Springs · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Preston, ID
Learn more about this land: Open for 2025 This property offers a pavilion that measures 16x20, and a picnic table that can seat 10-12 people. We have extended our tent pad to be able to add up to 4 big tents measuring roughly 40x17-18. Please be honest about the number of guests that are coming max is 20, if you want more than that don't hesitate to get in touch with me separately. Mostly cause I clean and want to ensure it's clean for the next camper. This tent site is PACK IN PACK OUT. I don’t have city services, if you need trash services It's $7.50 per TRASH BAG that I need to take out. Outhouse is a pit toilet, but I make sure it does not stink and is extremely clean. I only have it listed as 1 place so you can have a family reunion or just come as a family. When you come to our place we have an accenting driveway, and a large boulder retaining wall with a gray gate to keep the camp secured and keep range cows out. This property is a working homestead. YOU WILL SEE ANIMALS and hear US working especially if you hike up the main road where we live. WE HAVE separation however we are still needing to manage the land and the animals. The campsite we don't enter, but we have to access the main road to run errands or go to work. We do our own thing and the campers do their own thing. If you are curious about the farm and operations we are happy to show you around and you are welcome to explore but you WILL RUN INTO us :) we don't mind as long as you don't mind. If you want to see more of the property and all the projects, we do a YouTube channel @mountainmapleranch to see all the updates. Bring your toys, such as bikes, 4-wheelers, and ATVs we have some fun trails close by that go to the back of Worm Creek Basin that goes on for miles of beautiful trails.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$78
 / night
Simple, clean bathroom!

4. Bear Lake Basecamp!

85%
(72)
32mi from Lava Hot Springs · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Liberty, ID
This has become a great place for our family to go to get away for the weekends. The nights are absolutely beautiful and you can see the stars. You can hear the coyotes off in the distance chipping and howling. My kids love to ride their ATV on the trails and we go for hikes and just relax. There is one fire pit for use at each camp spot (2 spots), just please go into the trees and find some wood to re-stack what you have used and ensure it is out with water and dirt. I fight wildfires during the summer and don’t want to have to fight one up there. Plus I may be hard to reach depending on where I’m located. Learn more about this land: Our Bear Lake Bascamp is perfect for boondocking or pitch a tent and camp in our 5 acres meadow or find a small shady spot in the 5 acres of  quakies and pine trees!  Off grid camping! OHV trails (ride from camp), bring your mountain bikes or even just go for a hike. Located at the edge of the Caribou-Targhe National Forest, Montpelier Ranger District, Idaho. The sunrises are amazing and in the evening you can listen to the coyotes off in the distance. It is open in the winter for snowshoeing or snowmobiling in with wood ready for the fire pit!  Recommend, that when you first arrive, build a small fire in the fire pit and the smoke will get rid of any of the bugs around.  We get up there about 1 time a month and mow/trim the path, parking and work on the trails in the pines.   Turn left at the smile face....When you see it, you'll know what I mean ;)  Please be respectful of others who have property in the area as well.  Don't climb over anyone's fences.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$15
 / night
June blossoms

5. Mountain View Glamping Yurt

100%
(58)
11mi from Lava Hot Springs · 1 site · Lodging · Bancroft, ID
Nestled high in the Rocky Mountains of southeast Idaho at an elevation of 6500 ft, our yurt has magnificent views of Mt. Bonneville and the surrounding Pebble Creek Basin. Along with a handful of neighbors, within a private property recreational area, we are surrounded by the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, with vehicle access from mid-May through mid-November each year. Pebble Yurt has a 30 ft diameter with a partial loft for a total of 900 ft2 of indoor living space. You will be completely off grid, but with running hot and cold water, solar electricity, and heating and cooling features. We also feature an indoor shower, sink, and composting toilet. Bring your ATV's, mountain bikes, or hiking boots to explore the Pebble Basin. Or take a short drive to Lava Hot Springs for world-class hot pools, water slides, or white water rafting. Fishing in the Portneuf River or Chesterfield Reservoir, exploring the Chesterfield historic town site, or trying out a zipline or go-cart are other local activities. Pebble Yurt was built circa 2010 by a retiring forest service employee to the highest standards. We've used that canvas to create a unique glamping experience for our guests, with the best creature comforts available in a wilderness setting.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$135
 / night

Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to website for camping adventures in the United States! If you're looking to immerse yourself in the beauty of the forest near Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, we've got you covered with over 200 options to choose from. Whether you prefer pitching a tent, RV camping, or staying in a cozy cabin, you'll find the perfect accommodation that suits your needs. We've handpicked the top campsites for you, including The Aspen Grove Inn at Heise Bridge (252 reviews), City of Rocks Retreat (75 reviews), and Granite Creek Ranch (60 reviews), so you can trust the opinions of fellow campers. Plus, you'll enjoy popular amenities like pet-friendly sites, toilets, and potable water. And if you're an outdoor enthusiast, you'll have a blast biking, horseback riding, or engaging in wind sports. With an average price per night of $40 and options as low as $16, you can plan your forest camping getaway without breaking the bank. So pack your gear and get ready for an unforgettable camping experience!

96% (236)

Top-rated campgrounds

Spring time upper road view of the pavilion

3. Mountain Maple Ranch 🍁

99%
(81)
35mi from Lava Hot Springs · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Preston, ID
Learn more about this land: Open for 2025 This property offers a pavilion that measures 16x20, and a picnic table that can seat 10-12 people. We have extended our tent pad to be able to add up to 4 big tents measuring roughly 40x17-18. Please be honest about the number of guests that are coming max is 20, if you want more than that don't hesitate to get in touch with me separately. Mostly cause I clean and want to ensure it's clean for the next camper. This tent site is PACK IN PACK OUT. I don’t have city services, if you need trash services It's $7.50 per TRASH BAG that I need to take out. Outhouse is a pit toilet, but I make sure it does not stink and is extremely clean. I only have it listed as 1 place so you can have a family reunion or just come as a family. When you come to our place we have an accenting driveway, and a large boulder retaining wall with a gray gate to keep the camp secured and keep range cows out. This property is a working homestead. YOU WILL SEE ANIMALS and hear US working especially if you hike up the main road where we live. WE HAVE separation however we are still needing to manage the land and the animals. The campsite we don't enter, but we have to access the main road to run errands or go to work. We do our own thing and the campers do their own thing. If you are curious about the farm and operations we are happy to show you around and you are welcome to explore but you WILL RUN INTO us :) we don't mind as long as you don't mind. If you want to see more of the property and all the projects, we do a YouTube channel @mountainmapleranch to see all the updates. Bring your toys, such as bikes, 4-wheelers, and ATVs we have some fun trails close by that go to the back of Worm Creek Basin that goes on for miles of beautiful trails.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$78
 / night
Simple, clean bathroom!

4. Bear Lake Basecamp!

85%
(72)
32mi from Lava Hot Springs · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Liberty, ID
This has become a great place for our family to go to get away for the weekends. The nights are absolutely beautiful and you can see the stars. You can hear the coyotes off in the distance chipping and howling. My kids love to ride their ATV on the trails and we go for hikes and just relax. There is one fire pit for use at each camp spot (2 spots), just please go into the trees and find some wood to re-stack what you have used and ensure it is out with water and dirt. I fight wildfires during the summer and don’t want to have to fight one up there. Plus I may be hard to reach depending on where I’m located. Learn more about this land: Our Bear Lake Bascamp is perfect for boondocking or pitch a tent and camp in our 5 acres meadow or find a small shady spot in the 5 acres of  quakies and pine trees!  Off grid camping! OHV trails (ride from camp), bring your mountain bikes or even just go for a hike. Located at the edge of the Caribou-Targhe National Forest, Montpelier Ranger District, Idaho. The sunrises are amazing and in the evening you can listen to the coyotes off in the distance. It is open in the winter for snowshoeing or snowmobiling in with wood ready for the fire pit!  Recommend, that when you first arrive, build a small fire in the fire pit and the smoke will get rid of any of the bugs around.  We get up there about 1 time a month and mow/trim the path, parking and work on the trails in the pines.   Turn left at the smile face....When you see it, you'll know what I mean ;)  Please be respectful of others who have property in the area as well.  Don't climb over anyone's fences.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$15
 / night
June blossoms

5. Mountain View Glamping Yurt

100%
(58)
11mi from Lava Hot Springs · 1 site · Lodging · Bancroft, ID
Nestled high in the Rocky Mountains of southeast Idaho at an elevation of 6500 ft, our yurt has magnificent views of Mt. Bonneville and the surrounding Pebble Creek Basin. Along with a handful of neighbors, within a private property recreational area, we are surrounded by the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, with vehicle access from mid-May through mid-November each year. Pebble Yurt has a 30 ft diameter with a partial loft for a total of 900 ft2 of indoor living space. You will be completely off grid, but with running hot and cold water, solar electricity, and heating and cooling features. We also feature an indoor shower, sink, and composting toilet. Bring your ATV's, mountain bikes, or hiking boots to explore the Pebble Basin. Or take a short drive to Lava Hot Springs for world-class hot pools, water slides, or white water rafting. Fishing in the Portneuf River or Chesterfield Reservoir, exploring the Chesterfield historic town site, or trying out a zipline or go-cart are other local activities. Pebble Yurt was built circa 2010 by a retiring forest service employee to the highest standards. We've used that canvas to create a unique glamping experience for our guests, with the best creature comforts available in a wilderness setting.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$135
 / night

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field