The best forest campgrounds near Spencer, Idaho

Looking to experience the great outdoors near Spencer, Idaho? Hipcamp has you covered with over 250 camping options nestled in the forest. Whether you're a seasoned camper or new to the scene, you'll find the perfect spot to pitch your tent or park your RV. Check out top-rated campsites like The Aspen Grove Inn at Heise Bridge (252 reviews), Granite Creek Ranch (60 reviews), and Camp Steelhead (49 reviews). With amenities like cooking equipment, pet-friendly sites, and showers, your camping experience will be comfortable and convenient. Explore nearby historic sites, go paddling, or try some off-roading for an adventure-packed getaway. Prices range from $22 to an average of $55 per night, so you can find an option that fits your budget. Start planning your forest camping trip today!

94% (270)

Top-rated campgrounds

Looking to experience the great outdoors near Spencer, Idaho? Hipcamp has you covered with over 250 camping options nestled in the forest. Whether you're a seasoned camper or new to the scene, you'll find the perfect spot to pitch your tent or park your RV. Check out top-rated campsites like The Aspen Grove Inn at Heise Bridge (252 reviews), Granite Creek Ranch (60 reviews), and Camp Steelhead (49 reviews). With amenities like cooking equipment, pet-friendly sites, and showers, your camping experience will be comfortable and convenient. Explore nearby historic sites, go paddling, or try some off-roading for an adventure-packed getaway. Prices range from $22 to an average of $55 per night, so you can find an option that fits your budget. Start planning your forest camping trip today!

94% (270)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Angell Creek Campground

96%

(100)

37mi from Spencer · 6 sites · RVs · Island Park, ID

Angell Creek Campground is located in beautiful Island Park Idaho. It has been in our family for over 50 years. We are surrounded by pine trees, and it is a quiet place to escape the noise of the world. It is a place to recharge and enjoy the outdoors. Our campsite is close to West Yellowstone and only 30 mi. from Yellowstone National Park. Island Park has a lot to offer including: boating, waterskiing, fishing, canoeing, swimming, hiking, trail riding and much more. All of these activities are within a few minutes away. We are in close proximity to highway 20 and easy access to services and dining. We have a very large parking area where you can park trailers and vehicles. We have about 3 acres and have 5 RV spots. We have a central sheltered picnic area and a big fire pit on each RV spot. Each pad is rented at $40 a night with provided 50 and 20 amp service with an adapter provided for 30 amp service. No water or sewer is provided. There is a porta potty on location from mid May until end of October. Must pack out all of your trash or be a accessed a cleaning fee per lot. Although wanting to keep this campground in a primitive state, we will be adding a few updates in coming years. Pets allowed on a leash only.

2. Camp Steelhead

96%

(204)

42mi from Spencer · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · Island Park, ID

CLOSE TO YELLOWSTONE NP! This is a great spot with easy access to all the outdoor recreation that Island Park offers. A convenient 30-minute drive to the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park. A quick 10-minute drive to enjoy the beautiful day hikes of Harriman State Park. You can also hike directly from Camp Steelhead on the old historic rail grade and enjoy the views of the majestic Buffalo River. Enjoy a quiet camping area with the convenience of power hookups for your RV (30 amp) or just plug in your phone to the 110 outlets if you are tent camping. Close proximity to Highway 20 and easy access to services and dining. One RV/Trailer per campsite. Camp Steelhead is located within the beautiful Yellowstone Ecosystem. While we have not had any problems with wildlife. We ask that campers store food properly to avoid any issues. Yellowstone does not have a fence around it. Animals wander all through the area.

3. Arcadia Hangout: Cabin by Reservoir

100%

(3)

33mi from Spencer · 1 site · Lodging · Ashton, ID

Learn more about this land: Four-season rustic cabin that can sleep up to 6 adults and up to 10 total. Access by vehicle (summer) or snowmobile (winter). Separate indoor kitchen/eating areas vs sleeping area (inside sturdy vinyl Army tent). Wood stove inside the tent will keep you warm all night. Bring your own sleeping bags, food, and water. Primitive outhouse near the yurt. So much to do - so much to see (moose and deer are commonplace). SUMMER: Access to private lake: swimming and fishing and boating (no gas engines allowed). Private sand dune area for ATVs, with access to hundreds of miles of public land trails. St Anthony Sand Dunes, Civil Defense Caves, Ice Caves and Island Park Reservoir are all accessible on an ATV day trip. Yellowstone National Park is an 80 minute drive, though accessing the property requires a 6.5 mile drive on a dirt road, a total of 25 minutes from Ashton. Two campfire rings on the property to choose from for your evening gatherings.

4. Targhee National Forest

85%

(17)

469 sites · Wyoming

You’ll want to allow yourself plenty of time to take advantage of all that Targhee National Forest has to offer. On several million acres, waterfalls cascade down volcanic cliffs, and crystal clear pools provide some of the best cutthroat trout fishing in the world. Rafters and tubers frolic in the shadows of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, and the smell of campfires makes you feel like an Oregon Trailer. Ancient rock formations sprout wildflowers, providing a scenic spot to boulder or rock climb, and Big Spring & Palisades Reservoir boasts over 70 miles of shoreline to bask in the sun after a long day of hiking. Two of the trails here access the high-altitute Alaska Basin, as well as trails in Grand Teton National Park. You’ll also be right next to the city of Idaho Falls, perfect for stocking up on the essentials before a full day of exploring grizzly bear habitats and karst limestone formations, all under the watchful eye of the snow-peaked Tetons!

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5. Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

79%

(14)

633 sites · Wisdom, Montana

Adventuring in the largest national forest in Montana should definitely be added to your summer (or winter!) to do list. Activities abound in The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, including wilderness trekking, scenic drives to killer views, camping among smallish forest sites, downhill and cross-country skiing in the winter, lake fishing, picnicking, and exploring historic wild-west ghost towns in the summer. You can also check out parts of the Continental Divide trail which crosses through this park, and cheer on thru-hikers in the final stretch of their epic journey. You may just have to flip a coin to decide between the plethora of outdoor fun in this 3.35 million acre forest. The choice is yours, all you have to do is pick one and get going!

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6. Starlight Retreat Yellowstone

97%

(17)

44mi from Spencer · 29 sites · Lodging · Island Park, ID

Starlight Retreat sits on 40 stunning acres only 19 minutes from Yellowstone and 2 minutes off hwy 20 with meadows, aspen groves, and a pine forest to explore with miles of trails connecting directly the property, perfect for hiking or mountain biking. Henry's fork is a crystal clear world class fishing river a short walk down the road. Henry's lake, only a few minute drive, is a world famous fishing lake. In every direction you'll find world class hunting and fishing. Crystal clear rivers leading to stunning waterfalls. You are in the heart of what's become known as "sportsman's paradise".

7. Peaceful Pines

82%

(25)

37mi from Spencer · 1 site · RV · Island Park, ID

This is a beautiful peaceful place where I like to go to spend time away from the noise of the world and recharge and enjoy all the things of nature, float and fish the river and lakes walk through the trees and wild flowers. It is close to West Yellowstone and Yellowstone National Park. This land has been in my family for nearly 50 years and my parents wanted to keep it in a primitive state but we will be adding a few updates in the coming yearsLearn more about this land:(#1)From Ashton Idaho follow Highway 20 about 30 miles to Yale-Kilgore Rd,(#2)From W.Yellowstone it is about 26 miles to Elk Creek #1 take a left turn and #2 a right turn follow this road until you cross McRae bridge then continue to a right turn onto Yale Creek Road then left at the split in the road onto Hotel Creek then right on S. Beaver Springs Rd. then a right on Glen tree Road continue along Glen tree and take a left on Wooded Ln, up this lane approximately 2 to 3 blocks the property is on the right marked with orange fence posts, it is a primitive camp site horse shoe around a fire pit. Please don’t burn garbage or cut down any trees. The road is very bumpy please take it slow. 4166 Wooded Ln.

8. Riverside Retreat-Rigby

100%

(37)

45mi from Spencer · 2 sites · RVs · ID

This is a beautiful, wooded property on the river. This is part of our small ranch, we have small herd of cattle and some horses and mules. This property is a magical oasis that feels like you’re hours away from everything, but your not! Lots of opportunities to see wildlife be in nature and explore.

9. Caribou National Forest

79%

(7)

270 sites · Idaho

The smaller of the two parks in Caribou-Targhee National Forests, Caribou is a welterweight not to be underestimated. Just south of its older brother, this land spans Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho, and is a crucial spot for supporting caribou populations. None of the animals here are bashful: bison, moose, deer, mountain lions, falcons, elk, and even black bears abound! Beautiful to snap shot from a distance. Just south of the forest, Bear Lake is a fun spot to take a dip after you hike one of Caribou’s dozens of peaks (Mead Peak and Hawks Peak have gorgeous views, as does Big Elk Mountain at the northern tip of the park). At the south end, you’ll find campgrounds, fast flowing creeks, and the Minnetonka Cave at St. Charles Canyon. This is a site to see, but it stays 40 degrees down there all year so be sure to pack a coat, even if you’re sweating above ground. When you’re done, stop in the charming small town of Montpelier, surrounded by rolling hills and full of retro grocers and kitschy eateries. Yum!

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Public campgrounds near Spencer

Stoddard Creek Campground

3.8mi from Spencer · 1 site · Tent, RV · in Targhee National Forest

Al Taylor Cabin

10mi from Spencer · 1 site · in Targhee National Forest

100%

(1)

Steel Creek Group Campground

11mi from Spencer · 1 site · Tent, RV · in Targhee National Forest

100%

(1)

East Creek Campground

27mi from Spencer · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Antone Cabin

29mi from Spencer · 1 site · in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Hells Canyon Guard Station

29mi from Spencer · 1 site · in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Bishop Mountain Cabin

31mi from Spencer · 1 site · in Targhee National Forest

West End Campground

32mi from Spencer · 1 site · Tent, RV · in Targhee National Forest

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(3)

Elk Lake Campground and Picnic Area

34mi from Spencer · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Notch Cabin

36mi from Spencer · 1 site · in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Riverside Park Campground

37mi from Spencer · 32 sites · Tents, RVs · in Targhee National Forest

Riverside Campground

37mi from Spencer · 35 sites · Tents, RVs · in Targhee National Forest

Stories from the community

C

Charles

October 2025

18 ft campervan

1 night at Riverside Retreat-Rigby

Convenient, easy access, quiet, level, private DIRECTLY on the Snake River! Beautiful setting with friendly host and dog. Great place for an overnight on the road but could be nice for a couple nights too.

K

Korina

October 2025

12 ft pop-up camper

1 night at Angell Creek Campground

My husband and I where on our way to WY and it was getting late. All of a sudden it started to snow, we need a place to go for the night. I found Angel camp and it was so beautiful, and to our surprise it had electric hook ups so we even had heat thru night. I did need to call to ask a question and the host answered first ring and was very helpful and kind. This is such a wonderful camp sight. I would love to stay here again.

T

Tyler

October 2025

40 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to Angell Creek Campground

Liked it so much we booked an extra night 😊. Wanted to extend our trip and booking another day was a breeze.

T

Tyler

October 2025

40 ft travel trailer

2 nights at Angell Creek Campground

Great little hidden gem outside of Yellowstone. About a 35 minute drive to the west park entrance. Great level pads with awesome fire rings.

L

Lindsay

October 2025

26 ft Class C

Weekend Trip to Angell Creek Campground

Lovely spot. Easy to find with the directions provided. I was so grateful to find a spot in island park when all the campgrounds were closed. Safe for a single woman. Thank you!!!

R

Randy

October 2025

26 ft travel trailer

1 night at Angell Creek Campground

Love this place! Beautiful set up and away from things yet close by many things. Always clean and host is extremely helpful!

H

Holloway

September 2025

20 ft Class B

With pets

1 night at Riverside Retreat-Rigby

AMAZING place on the water. Super nice hosts too!!

Amy

September 2025

40 ft fifth wheel

With pets

Weekend Trip to Riverside Retreat-Rigby

We really enjoy this spot. It is beautiful and so relaxing to watch the river run by. We got an extra treat with the Elk calling all around us. This is definitely a place I would return to.

T

Tammy

September 2025

33 ft travel trailer

With pets

3 nights at Angell Creek Campground

This place was lovely. Nice shaded spot. Cozy is what I would call it.

M

Marvin

September 2025

20 ft travel trailer

With pets

9 nights at Camp Steelhead

That site was amazing! Everything was actually as stated in the description including the very clean port a potty. Mike was great on answering all our questions and offering some suggestions on areas to visit. If going to the Yellowstone area this is definitely the place to stay! Thanks Mike for helping make this a truly remarkable adventure for us!

Maya

September 2025

20 ft Class B

With pets

1 night at Angell Creek Campground

Great spot off the beaten path with a little stream and great views of the stars. The host were very communicative and I would highly recommend staying there.

A

Ashley

September 2025

33 ft Class C

Weekend Trip to Riverside Retreat-Rigby

Absolutely beautiful spot. We parked our RV right on the river bank. The site is completely secluded, but only a few minutes from town. The owner is one of the nicest people we’ve ever met. Can’t wait to return!

I

Ingrid

September 2025

Weekend Trip to Starlight Retreat Yellowstone

Absolutely loved our beautiful glampsite on the way to Yellowstone National Park! Didn’t know it came with great perks like the welcome center, friendly staff, towels for showering, a community fire pit, a map, etc! Sure it can be colder at night with the high altitude but I slept very comfortably with the fuzzy blankets provided. It was such an aesthetic way to camp and I will never go back to regular camping LOL. Very responsive and friendly host, and super helpful and chill staff! One guy even gave me his personal floss when I had an “floss emergency” lol. Absolutely loved it here! 1000000/10 would stay again and bring more friends :)

R

Roxanne

September 2025

27 ft travel trailer

6 nights at Angell Creek Campground

Such a lovely spot. 30 min to West Yellowstone. Super quiet area. Felt safe the whole time. The host was very accommodating. Definitely recommend.

Sara

September 2025

24 ft Class C

1 night at Riverside Retreat-Rigby

Riverside haven was the perfect private, beautiful spot by the water. We enjoyed walking alongside the river, taking in the views at sunrise and sunset, and enjoyed the birdwatching and deer! Hosts were very friendly and helpful. We hope to come back with our dogs next time - they would love it!

David

September 2025

24 ft Class C

1 night at Riverside Retreat-Rigby

Amazing site - lots of space and private. Friendly and communicative host.

J

Jacob

September 2025

15 ft travel trailer

3 nights at Camp Steelhead

Mike was a great host and the camp site was exactly as advertised. We used RV site 1 and it was far enough away from the other camp sites so it was peaceful and quiet. Great experience over all and highly recommend.

Paula

September 2025

25 ft Class C

With pets

4 nights at Riverside Retreat-Rigby

Incredibly lovely private site on the Snake river. Fishing spots, boaters, birds galore including a bald eagle and a big flock of turkeys. Hosts went above and beyond on hospitality and then left us alone. Perfect for us. Our dog loved it, too!

View to the back of the lot, very wooded, side by side and dirtbike trails right behind it so bring your toys

D

David

September 2025

20 ft travel trailer

With pets

4 nights at Camp Steelhead

We really enjoyed our stay at Camp Steelhead. It is easy access for campers with a truck and trailer. The camp spot was very clean and private.

T

Tom

August 2025

31 ft Class C

Weekend Trip to Angell Creek Campground

Drove right to it with the directions that was sent to me, stayed four nights as a hotspot, jumping in and out of Montana , Wyoming and Yellowstone, about a 35 minute drive. Perfect set up for a single person or couples with pets. The area was well kept. I would definitely stay there or suggest it to others.