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Camping in Idaho: campsites, permits and passes

Camping in Idaho starts in one of a few places: Idaho State Parks for state park campsites, Recreation.gov for federal campgrounds, or free dispersed camping on National Forest and BLM land. Here's where to book each, plus permits, passes and licences.

Most people go to:

State park campsites

Idaho state park campgrounds are booked through Idaho State Parks ↗. Book as early as you can for summer and holiday weekends, and check each park's page for cabins, yurts, group sites and pet rules.

National parks in Idaho

• Yellowstone (part) National Park

Campgrounds in national parks are booked on Recreation.gov. See every park, monument and historic site in Idaho on the National Park Service Idaho page ↗.

National forests and free camping

Idaho's national forests include Salmon-Challis, Sawtooth, Boise, Nez Perce-Clearwater. Developed campgrounds are booked on Recreation.gov (some are first-come, first-served), and most national forest land allows free dispersed camping away from developed sites, usually for up to 14 days. Check the forest's rules and any fire restrictions first.

Idaho also has large areas of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, where dispersed camping is generally free and allowed for up to 14 days in one spot unless posted otherwise. See BLM recreation ↗.

Permits and lotteries

• Float trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and the main Salmon River use permit lotteries on Recreation.gov.

Fishing and hunting licences

Licences for Idaho are sold by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game ↗, online or at local retailers. Rules and seasons differ by species and water, so check before you go.

Passes

The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at national parks and many federal lands in Idaho. State parks usually sell their own day or annual passes; see Idaho State Parks.

Best time to camp in Idaho

Summer and early fall for high country; many mountain campgrounds and roads open late May or June and close with the first snows.

Questions

Packing checklists

Nearby states (Mountain West)