The best cave camping near Ontario

·
Move over Canada—there's another Ontario in town. Hugging the Idaho border on the Snake River, this city is hidden in the Western Treasure Valley of eastern Oregon. Outdoor adventure is in full supply, from boating in river canyons to hiking the Oregon Trail. Ontario's private campgrounds or RV parks are a popular place to set up camp. Kick back with home comforts like Wi-Fi and swimming pools, or explore the area's historic ghost towns. Most Oregon state parks in the area are pretty rustic, so RV resorts are your best bet for RV sites with full hookups. For wilderness camping, head to Farewell Bend State Recreation Area. Laid-back RV and tent camping awaits on the Brownlee Reservoir. Explore desert hiking trails, or boat, water ski, and fish the lake that straddles the Idaho state line. Ever camped in the shadow of a rocky desert canyon? At Succor Creek State Recreation Area, striking rock formations take center stage. Rock hounds rejoice—limited collecting is allowed. The rustic campground is open year round, but keep in mind this place is pretty remote. Cell phone service? Not a chance. For the ultimate seclusion, make camp at Lake Owyhee State Park. The road leading up is pretty sketchy, but this park is worth the drive. Volcanic canyon walls surround the 53-mile-long reservoir—an explorer's paradise. Tent and RV sites are your ticket to kayaking, SUP boarding, and fishing the narrow canyon. Want to hang out closer to town? Stop by the Ontario State Recreation Site. It's a no-camping zone, but there's no better place to enjoy the Snake River. Shove off from the year-round boat ramp, or have lunch on the riverside picnic tables. Keep your eyes peeled—deer and Canada geese are common sights.

Top-rated campgrounds near Ontario

1. Payette National Forest

78%
(9)
279 sites · Mc Call, Idaho
Lakes, creeks, and peaks, oh my! Payette National Forest has ‘em all. Salmon-Challis National Forest and Nez-Pearce Clearwater National Forest are its neighbors, while its Victor Peak, Loon Creek, Loon Lake, North Loon Mountain, Bruin Mountain, Bear Pete Mountain, and Boulder Creek could keep you busy for months. Forage for mushrooms or berries, fish in the chinook salmon hatchery at the South Fork of the Salmon River, or snowboard down Brundage Mountain. Hike to the three historic fire lookouts, or check out the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, the second largest wilderness area outside Alaska (don’t worry, plenty before you have visited and returned). In this wealth of outdoor activity, it’s hard to tear yourself away for a visit into town. However, you will be glad you took the time to visit the closest town of McCall, where luxury mountain lodges have thermal spas perfect for resting your aching bones in between treks up or down the mountains.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires

3. Boise National Forest

81%
(42)
653 sites · Lowman, Idaho
You could say Boise National Forest is in the tri-forest area. It is surrounded on all sides by Payette, Salmon-Challis, and Sawtooth National Forests, it is situated conveniently close to both urban fun in Boise, and limitless wilderness adventures everywhere else. Alpine tundra is dotted with evergreen forest in the green rolling hills here, topped with snow, and anchored by sparkling valley waterways. The Payette River is great for rafting, while Banks Beach and Beehive Bend are just some of the prime access points on the forest’s 250 lakes and reservoirs (Arrowrock Reservoir has surprisingly primo salmon fishing for central Idaho). Hikers will find 500 trails, including some that lead to 360-panoramic views at fire lookouts. The ambitious should try 10,000-foot high Trinity Mountain, while more liesurely trekkers will get just as good a view at Silver Creek. As if that’s not all enough to keep you busy, there are also endless mountain biking trails, including a scenic route along Shafer Butte. You’ll have your hands full at this intersection of so many great parks!
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Move over Canada—there's another Ontario in town. Hugging the Idaho border on the Snake River, this city is hidden in the Western Treasure Valley of eastern Oregon. Outdoor adventure is in full supply, from boating in river canyons to hiking the Oregon Trail. Ontario's private campgrounds or RV parks are a popular place to set up camp. Kick back with home comforts like Wi-Fi and swimming pools, or explore the area's historic ghost towns. Most Oregon state parks in the area are pretty rustic, so RV resorts are your best bet for RV sites with full hookups. For wilderness camping, head to Farewell Bend State Recreation Area. Laid-back RV and tent camping awaits on the Brownlee Reservoir. Explore desert hiking trails, or boat, water ski, and fish the lake that straddles the Idaho state line. Ever camped in the shadow of a rocky desert canyon? At Succor Creek State Recreation Area, striking rock formations take center stage. Rock hounds rejoice—limited collecting is allowed. The rustic campground is open year round, but keep in mind this place is pretty remote. Cell phone service? Not a chance. For the ultimate seclusion, make camp at Lake Owyhee State Park. The road leading up is pretty sketchy, but this park is worth the drive. Volcanic canyon walls surround the 53-mile-long reservoir—an explorer's paradise. Tent and RV sites are your ticket to kayaking, SUP boarding, and fishing the narrow canyon. Want to hang out closer to town? Stop by the Ontario State Recreation Site. It's a no-camping zone, but there's no better place to enjoy the Snake River. Shove off from the year-round boat ramp, or have lunch on the riverside picnic tables. Keep your eyes peeled—deer and Canada geese are common sights.

Top-rated campgrounds near Ontario

1. Payette National Forest

78%
(9)
279 sites · Mc Call, Idaho
Lakes, creeks, and peaks, oh my! Payette National Forest has ‘em all. Salmon-Challis National Forest and Nez-Pearce Clearwater National Forest are its neighbors, while its Victor Peak, Loon Creek, Loon Lake, North Loon Mountain, Bruin Mountain, Bear Pete Mountain, and Boulder Creek could keep you busy for months. Forage for mushrooms or berries, fish in the chinook salmon hatchery at the South Fork of the Salmon River, or snowboard down Brundage Mountain. Hike to the three historic fire lookouts, or check out the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, the second largest wilderness area outside Alaska (don’t worry, plenty before you have visited and returned). In this wealth of outdoor activity, it’s hard to tear yourself away for a visit into town. However, you will be glad you took the time to visit the closest town of McCall, where luxury mountain lodges have thermal spas perfect for resting your aching bones in between treks up or down the mountains.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires

3. Boise National Forest

81%
(42)
653 sites · Lowman, Idaho
You could say Boise National Forest is in the tri-forest area. It is surrounded on all sides by Payette, Salmon-Challis, and Sawtooth National Forests, it is situated conveniently close to both urban fun in Boise, and limitless wilderness adventures everywhere else. Alpine tundra is dotted with evergreen forest in the green rolling hills here, topped with snow, and anchored by sparkling valley waterways. The Payette River is great for rafting, while Banks Beach and Beehive Bend are just some of the prime access points on the forest’s 250 lakes and reservoirs (Arrowrock Reservoir has surprisingly primo salmon fishing for central Idaho). Hikers will find 500 trails, including some that lead to 360-panoramic views at fire lookouts. The ambitious should try 10,000-foot high Trinity Mountain, while more liesurely trekkers will get just as good a view at Silver Creek. As if that’s not all enough to keep you busy, there are also endless mountain biking trails, including a scenic route along Shafer Butte. You’ll have your hands full at this intersection of so many great parks!
Pets
Toilets
Campfires

Public campgrounds near Ontario

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