The Best Camping near Boise, Idaho

Idaho has some of the most spectacular camping and hot springs in the United States, making Boise, perhaps one of the most underrated places for camping. For the outdoorsman, a short drive along one of the beautiful scenic byways into the nearby Rocky Mountains brings you into the heart of the wilderness.

For glampers, RV goers, and tent campers alike, camping close to Boise brings you closer to the outdoors with downtown access as nearby as the river. Many RV resorts open year-round are near some of our top hot springs destinations as well.

Be sure to combine a campout with a visit to one of the hot springs near Boise as well. Most are open year-round.

 Boise’s Top Tent and RV Campgrounds

Idaho’s spectacular geography also divides campgrounds near Boise into two different categories—RV camping resorts in the suburbs and small, limited access sites on a scenic byway about 30 minutes away. Whichever you choose, there’s a place to camp somewhere nearby for everyone. Pitch your tent or park your RV at these top campgrounds.

Here are the best and closest campgrounds to Boise, ID, in order of proximity:

Mountain View RV Park (4 miles)

Mountain View RV Park is the only RV park within Boise City limits, which makes it extremely convenient, but reservations are highly recommended. It’s only about 3 miles from the BSU campus, downtown restaurants & museums, and nature trails. Long and short-term stays are available with discounts for AAA and Good Sam members. This is an excellent park for first-timers to Boise.

• Closest town: Boise, ID (4 mi)
• Specs: 63 RV sites, pull through, full hookups, pets welcome, usage heavy, open year-round
• Amenities: Potable water, flush toilets, showers, laundry, pet area with bags, office, cable, wifi, dumpsters
• Reservations: Yes, at boiservpark.com/…
• Address: 2040 W Airport Way, Boise, ID 83705 (Map

Boise Riverside RV Park (5 miles)

Boise Riverside RV Park is considered one of the top RV parks in Idaho. They boast a river float, rustic log cabins, forest, and wildlife viewing. An idyllic getaway in Garden City, Boise Riverside RV Park also welcomes tent campers. This campground is located in Idaho’s Treasure Valley, a beautiful getaway only four miles from Boise proper, and offers a variety of family-centered events and group activities.

• Closest town: Garden City, ID (3 mi)
• Specs: 139 tent/RV sites, full hookups, pets welcome, cabin rentals, usage heavy, open year-round
• Amenities: Potable water, flush toilets, showers, laundry, common area, propane, picnic area, paved site pads, dumpsters
• Reservations: Yes, at BoiseRiversideRVPark.com
• Address: 6000 N Glenwood St, Garden City, ID 83714 (Map)

Gowen Field Military RV Park (6 miles)

This RV Park is on a military base and requires a current military ID to access. That being said, it offers just a few RV sites with all the amenities you could ask for right near downtown Boise. For military members, veterans and families, this is an excellent RV park for urban campers to make their base.

• Closest town: Boise, ID (6 mi)
• Specs: 7 sites, No Tents/ RVs, full hookups, electric, pets welcome, usage moderate, easy, open year-round.
• Amenities: Potable water, flush toilets, showers, laundry, chapel, playground, dumpsters, picnic tables, lunch cafe, bar & grill, barber
• Reservations: Yes, at GowenfieldRVPark.com
• Address:  4775 S Ingalls St, Boise, ID 83705 (Map)

Hi Valley RV Resort (8 miles)

Managed by G7 Resorts, Hi Valley RV Resort is a luxury camping experience that pulls out all the stops. G7 Resorts manages a number of RV sites throughout Idaho, Washington, and Arizona.. Their services include a pool and spa, lending library, and pet park on top of your normal RV park amenities.

It’s also near the zoo, Roaring Springs Water Park, and offers easy river access for those looking to escape metropolitan camping for the day.

• Closest town: Eagle, ID (3 mi)
• Specs: 192 RV sites, no tents, full hookups, electric, pets welcome, usage heavy, open year-round
• Amenities: Potable water, flush toilets, showers, laundry, recreation hall, propane, pool & spa (seasonal) picnic area, playground, paved site pads, dumpsters, site host, cable TV, WiFi, gas, propane, lending library, pet park
• Reservations: Yes, at g7rvresorts.com
• Address:  10555 N Horseshoe Bend Rd, Garden City, ID 83714 (Map

Boise Meridian KOA (11 miles)

Boise/Meridian KOA offers camping where the desert meets the Snake and Salmon rivers. Located at the mouth of the Sawtooth Mountains in the Rockies, there are many scenic drives and opportunities to view nature, but the campground itself is urban, located close to downtown attractions and dining areas. They also have a live music Blue Grass jam.

• Closest town: Meridian, ID (1 mi)
• Specs: 224 tent/RV site, full hookups, electric, pets welcome, usage heavy, open year-round
• Amenities: Potable water, flush toilets, showers, laundry, common area, propane, picnic area, playground, paved site pads, dumpsters, cable TV, WiFi, gas, propane
• Reservations: Yes, at Koa.com/campgrounds
• Address: 184 W Pennwood St, Meridian, ID 83642 (Map)

Deer Flat Campground (12 miles)

Deer Flat is the most primitive campground on this list, offering only vault toilets and five sites, so what you bring is what you get here. There are picnic tables and a small picnicking area and there is horseback riding, mountain biking, hunting, and water access. RVs and trailers may have difficulty navigating out here, so tent camping for the outdoorsman is recommended.

Note that the area has extensive fire damage, so it’s far from the prettiest place on the list.

• Closest town: Boise, ID (12 mi)
• Specs: 5 tent sites, RVs not advised, no hookups, pets welcome, usage light, open June-September
• Amenities: No water, vault toilets
• Reservations: No, first-come, first-serve
• Address: ID-21 N, Cascade, Boise, ID 83716 (Map)

Garrity Blvd. RV Park (17 miles)

Garrity Blvd. Rv Park is run by the Idaho RV Campgrounds Association, so you know they’re going to have everything you need for a comfortable outdoor experience. It’s found right next to dining, downtown Nampa, and attractions like the WWII history museum. Spots are grassy in between with gravel and sandlots. Larger RVs may have trouble navigating this campground, but they offer pull-through sites.

• Closest town: Nampa, ID (2 mi)
• Specs: 88 tent/RV sites, full hookups, electric, pets welcome, usage heavy, open year-round
• Amenities: Potable water, flush toilets, showers, laundry, common area, propane, picnic area, playground, paved site pads, dumpsters, site host, cable TV, WiFi, gas, propane
• Reservations: Yes, atRVIdaho.org
• Address: 3515 Garrity Blvd, Nampa, ID 83687 (Map)

Mack’s Creek Park (22 miles)

Part of Lucky Peak State Park Recreation Area, Macks Creek Campground is a rural, waterside location in the shade of some pine trees on Lucky Peak Lake. This is an ideal place for boating and the summer nature experience.

• Closest town: Boise, ID (22 mi)
• Specs: 15 tent/RV sites, standard, non-electric, pets welcome, usage heavy, open May-September
• Amenities: Potable water, vault toilets, dumpsters, campfire rings, picnic tables, easy lake access
• Reservations: Yes, atRecreation.gov
• Address:  400 Arrow Rock Rd, Boise, ID 83706 (Map)

Schaffer Butte Campground & Group Site (22 miles)

From Boise, it’s a straight shot through Bogus Basin Recreation Area, over sagebrush steppe foothills, and into Boise National Forest where you can camp at this tent-only site. Surrounded by aromatic pine forest, take a drive or hike from any of the numerous trailheads in the area. This is a small, rural campground that requires you to bring your own drinking water.

• Closest town: Boise, ID (22 mi)
• Specs: 7 tent sites, no RVs, no hookups, pets welcome, usage heavy, open June-October
• Amenities: No water, vault toilets, paved site pads, dumpsters, campfire rings, picnic tables, easy river access
• Reservations: Yes, atRecreation.gov
• Address: Forest Rd 374 E, Boise, ID 83716 (Map)

Ambassador RV Resort (26 miles)

Another of the RV sites in the Boise area offered by G7 Resorts, Ambassador RV Resort is a little more off the beaten path than the other RV sites on our list, but not by much. You’re heading towards Idaho’s wine country and the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge. Go wine tasting and view birds on their migratory path on the Pacific Flyway.

It’s also home to some of the last monarch butterfly migration sites in the fall.

• Closest town: Caldwell, ID (3 mi)
• Specs: 188 sites, RVs only, full hookups, electric, pets welcome, usage heavy, open year-round
• Amenities: Potable water, flush toilets, showers, laundry, recreation hall, propane, pool & spa (seasonal) picnic area, playground, paved site pads, dumpsters, site host, cable TV, WiFi, gas, propane, lending library, pet park
• Reservations: Yes, atg7rvresorts.com
• Address: 615 Smeed Pkwy, Caldwell, ID 83605 (Map)

Grayback Gulch Campground (38 miles)

Grayback Gulch is only about 50 minutes outside of Boise proper and is located on the Ponderosa Scenic Byway. Campers here can expect Ponderosa Pine Forest, summer wildflowers, nature hikes, and fishing for rainbow trout and whitefish.

This is the perfect spot for those looking to get outdoors with easy access to dining and downtown. With two large group sites, this is the perfect nature getaway for those looking to celebrate a special occasion with their friends and family in the outdoors.

• Closest town: Boise, ID (2 mi)
• Specs: 18 sites (2 large group sites), standard nonelectric, tent/RV, pets welcome, usage heavy, open late May to late September
• Amenities: Potable water, vault toilets, lantern post, paved site pads, dumpsters
• Reservations: Yes, atRecreation.gov
• Address: Boise National Forest, Forest Rd 347A, Boise, ID 83716 (Map)

Givens Hot Springs (46 miles)

While this hot springs campground is a fair drive from Boise, the route is through beautiful country past the Deer Flat National Wildlife Preserve. Located on the Snake River, there are full RV hookups and tent camping open year-round. Givens Hot Springs RV & Campground is a diamond in the rough.

• Closest town: Melba, ID (15 mi)
• Specs: 17 tent/RV sites, full hookups, electric, no pets, usage moderate, open year-round
• Amenities: Potable water ($), flush toilets, swimming, showers, hot springs, pool house, events center, fire pits, picnic tables,
• Reservations: Yes, at GivensHotSprings.com
• Address: 11309 ID-78, Melba, ID 83641 (Map)

As with most camping destinations, the further you drive, the more remote and limited site resources are going to be. Campers are encouraged to bring their own water to most locations in Boise National Forest. Some sites on this list do not provide cell phone coverage. Always practice pack-in/pack-out, wildlife safety, and fire safety protocols.