Boise, Idaho is a city that has been getting a lot of attention lately for being a great place to live. With easy access to outdoor recreation, great city amenities, a friendly atmosphere, and a laid-back vibe, Boise is also an ideal destination to take your RV to camp as you get to know the region better. Additionally, there are lovely national forest campgrounds in the area where you can really get out in nature and pitch your tent.
Here are the best camping areas around Boise to plan your Idaho adventure.
Boise/Meridian KOA Journey
The Boise/Meridian KOA Journey campground is a convenient and accommodating place to stay when you want to be near city attractions and the legendary rivers and mountains too. This is a family-friendly campground that has full hookups for RVs, restrooms with showers, an indoor pool and spa, and group meeting facilities. Campers here have cable TV, Wi-Fi, propane for sale, and 50-amp electric. In addition to the pull-through RV sites, there are also premium tent sites here. The campground is open year-around and close to the Roaring Springs Water Park for some summer fun.
Mountain View RV Park
The Mountain View RV Park is the only RV park that’s within the Boise city limits, so you’ll get easy access to the restaurants and entertainment venues here during your stay. There are 60 pull-though sites here with full hookups and lawns at each site. You can get TV channels over the air and have shade trees at some sites. Downtown Boise is just four miles from this campground. There are laundry facilities onsite, and you must make your reservation over the phone. This camping destination only allows RVs but not tents.
Hi Valley RV Park
You’ll be right next door to the Boise metro area when you stay at Hi Valley RV Park. The campground has daily, weekly, and monthly rates for its 192 full hookup RV spaces. The facilities here also include a seasonal pool, hot tub library, exercise room, restrooms with showers, off-leash dog park, and laundry room. This is another camping area that does not allow tents and that only accommodates RVs. Wi-Fi is available through a local company, and propane is for sale onsite. Ask the campground staff about getting approval to bring your pet when you call to make a reservation.
Gowen Field RV Park
Current and former members of the military can stay at the Gowen Field RV Park, which is a small recreational camping area in Boise. It has seven full hookup sites along with a general store, café, barbershop/salon, playground, chapel, gym, picnic area, and other amenities. There is a 30-day max stay per reservation. This campground books up quickly, but you can find a listing of available dates on the campground website. Rates are affordable and vary based on the season.
Willow Creek Campground, Mountain Home
There are multiple national forest campgrounds in the Boise region of Idaho that are worth checking out for a nature adventure. For example, the Willow Creek Campground is along the Middle Fork of the Boise River Forest Service Road 268. It has nine campsites and is good for camping between mid-May and late-September. You can often see wildlife while camping in this area and also hike on the nearby trails, including Trail #189 that leads to Bald Mountain Peak. Trout fishing and taking a dip in the swimming holes are also popular activities in this area. The campground does not charge a fee and does not take reservations in advance. A vault toilet, grills, and campfire rings are provided.
Creekside Campground and Events Center
Just 45 minutes northeast of Boise, you’ll find the Creekside Campground and Event Center, a privately owned and operated campground off of Highway 21. This camping area has 10 sites, along with bathrooms and coin-operated showers. The sites have picnic tables and barbecue grills, but they do not have electric or water hookups. Kids can play on the playground with a sandbox, swings, and tetherball. If you want to reserve the event area in addition to campsites, there is an extra daily fee for that. You can check out the many activities going on in nearby Idaho City when you stay here too.
Shafer Butte CG and Group Sites, Boise National Forest
Another Boise National Forest campground to consider is the Shafer Butte Campground, which is for tents only. It’s at 7,000 feet elevation and by the Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area. People enjoy this area for hiking and biking on the trails, as well as taking in the scenic views and seeing the wildflowers in the summer. There is a two-mile interpretative nature trail that begins in the campground and is great for families with kids. Two free, nine-hole disc golf courses are also close by. For tent campers, you can stay here from June 15 to October 1. There’s a vault toilet onsite but no electricity to go with the single-family campsites.
Macks Creek Park
Located about 25 miles from Boise, Macks Creek Park is a small campground on the Boise River Arm of Lucky Peak Lake. It’s a primitive area with campsites along the shore. You’ll have drinking water and vault toilets here. However, there is no cell service at the lake, and parking is limited. Camp hosts live onsite during the recreation season to help if you need anything. Come here for a rustic experience that’s great for fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. Within 10 minutes of the campground, you can access some limited services and food options.
Troutdale Campground
The Troutdale Campground is a beautiful place to camp and has five campsites in the Boise National Forest. It is along the river and a good place to see wildlife. The camping area is along the Middle Fork of the Boise River and usually easily accessible from May through September. There are no fees to stay at this campground, and no reservations are taken because the sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The facilities include a vault toilet, picnic table, and campfire rings. You’ll need to bring your own drinking water though.
Caldwell Campground & RV Park, Caldwell
Situated about a half hour west of Boise, the Caldwell Campground & RV Park is a southwestern Idaho camping destination along the banks of the Boise River. It has 7.5-acre private lake where you can fish for free without a license. Both RVs and tents are allowed to camp here. Other features of the campground are showers, laundry facilities, and a three-mile path for walking and biking. It is open year- around and just off of Interstate 84 at Exit 26. Pets are welcome to join you here, free Wi-Fi and cable TV are provided, and there’s a convenience store onsite.
Grayback Campground, Boise National Forest
Near scenic Highway 21 and about 36 miles northeast of Boise, the Grayback Campground is located in the Boise National Forest. When you camp here, it’s fun to explore the Grayback Gulch Trail and go fishing in Mores Creek. There are two group sites here with picnic tables, grills, paved site pads, and campfire circles. This is an ideal camping space for large groups because the sites can actually accommodate 100-150 people. However, single-family and double-family campsites are available here too, along with drinking water and vault toilets.
Ambassador RV Resort, Caldwell
With 85-foot pull-through sites, the Ambassador RV Resort is close to the Boise metro area and Idaho wine country. It is located in nearby Caldwell, Idaho and has daily, weekly, and monthly RV rates. There are 188 sites available here, as well as a rec hall, restrooms with showers, exercise room, free Wi-Fi, seasonal pool and sauna with adult swim hours, and laundry facilities. The campground only allows RVs and not tents. However, friendly pets are welcome to join you here.
