Recommendations for Idaho

[NEOK]

We are considering a trip through Idaho, especially the west and panhandle are. Looking for suggestions on what to see and RV campgrounds, both full hookups and forest service. Will be there in July and August.

[vermilye]

dkreuzen wrote:
If you are traveling on US26 east of Arco the ERB-1 facility is a very interesting stop. Even better when they are having guides tours.

ERB-1

I agree. Still can't get over the Atomic airplane engines outside the building.

Also, if you are willing to dry camp, Craters of the Moon is a great place for dark skies.

[sgip2000]

Hells Canyon.

[kknowlton]

Some of the state parks can be hard to get into, even on weekdays (Ponderosa comes to mind.) But they are worth it. Others have mentioned some of our favorites: Ponderosa and Farragut especially. We have also enjoyed Bruneau Dunes (local astronomy club puts on a presentation with telescopes on weekends), Three Island Crossing (lots of shade there too), Hells Gate, Massacre Rocks, and Henrys Lake (the last can be quite windy, but there's a 360-degree mountain view). A few of the state parks have full hookups, and most have both electric & water at many of their sites.

For FHU CGs we like Mountain Home RV Park and Village of Trees RV Park in Declo (between American Falls & Twin Falls, a good overnighter).

Some of the NFS CGs we have seen in Island Park (between Idaho Falls & Yellowstone) are really nice, and a few have some electric hookups.

[dkreuzen]

If you are traveling on US26 east of Arco the ERB-1 facility is a very interesting stop. Even better when they are having guides tours.

ERB-1

[DarthMuffin]

Priest Lake is I think the prettiest area on Earth. The state park there or any of the other campgrounds are great (Luby Bay is a good one). Coeur d'Alene area or Pend Oreille are also great areas, some are better than others but I can't think of a "bad" campground. You'll probably have to take what you can get not having made reservations already.

[Germania]

Look into Harmonica festival in Yellow Pine. We were their 5 or 6 years ago and had a blast. It was in July, sure you can find info by googling.

[SAR_Tracker]

Wilderness Gateway Campground

[Tiger4x4RV]

If you like to get away from it all, take the Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway. My 2010 trip report for that road can be found on the TC forum: link

[rbtglove]

Couer d'Alene is a nice little tourist friendly place. Blackwell Island Campground is a good full service place with things to do, a few miles from town. A little costly but worth the price.

[profdant139]

Have you seen the Sawtooth National Recreation Area between Ketchum and Stanley? So much great camping and hiking -- world-class scenery. But that is central Idaho, not western.

[jamesu]

We love Hellsgate SP on the Snake R, at Lewiston, ID - SW end of the panhandle. Plenty of shade trees, bike trail from the park that hooks into the Lewiston-Clarkston bike trail along the river. Access into Hells Canyon via jet boat excursions. A starkly beautiful area.

[j3ff9ack]

There's lots to see and do, but the major scenic areas and places to stay in the western side of the state and panhandle are these:

Scenic Drives:
ID 75 from Challis through Stanley to Ketchum and Hailey.
ID 55 from Boise/Eagle to McCall, then north on US 95 to Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint
US 95 from Fruitland to Cambridge, then ID 71 to Hells Canyon

Campgrounds and State Parks:
Ponderosa State Park in McCall
Any FS campground between Challis and Ketchum
Farragut State Park and Priest Lake State Park in the panhandle

[Gonzo42]

Henry's Lake State Park was nice, but they charged me $5.00/day extra for my toad, even though I specified it in my reservation. Clean place, electric & water hookup, no cable. Dump site is there.

Convenient to West Yellowstone and West entrance to Yellowstone NP.

[NEOK]

Dick_B wrote:
While you are waiting do a Google search for `Idaho tourism' and read what the experts recommend.

Thanks, I've done that search and found a lot of good information but now I'm looking for any additional real world experience.