Idlewild Campground

Malheur National Forest — hiking

Location: Hines, OR, OR

Price: From $10 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s, Idlewild Campground is an easily accessible campground located just off of US Highway 395. The campground is lightly used and only becomes busy during the fall hunting season. Please pack out what you pack in, there is no trash service provided at this campground.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/idlewild-campground-or to be notified when sites open up.

Idlewild is a quiet, easily accessible campground built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, ideal for travelers seeking a remote spot off US Highway 395. Google reviewers consistently praise its peaceful setting, clean facilities, and spacious sites at just $10/night.

Wildlife alert: Douglas' Squirrel, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Pacific Wren, Western Tanager, White-breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Bluebird

Insider tips for Idlewild Campground: Pack out all trash — no trash service provided Approximately 4 pull-through sites available for RVs Group picnic shelter available for reservation Water available for drinking on-site

Skip Idlewild Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites. You require year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October only. You seek entertainment beyond quiet camping and nearby trails.

Best time to visit Idlewild Campground: May-October — Official operating season. Outside fall hunting season — Campground becomes busy during fall hunting season; quietest during shoulder seasons.

Nearby campgrounds: Idlewild (HINES, OR), Joaquin Miller Horse Camp (Hines, OR), Rock Springs Campground (Seneca, OR), Falls Campground (Malheur National Forest) (Hines, OR).

Cell Phone Coverage at Idlewild Campground

Cell signal at Idlewild Campground (Hines, OR): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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Malheur National Forest — hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Idlewild Campground

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Hines, OR, OR★ 4 (0 reviews)From $10/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s, Idlewild Campground is an easily accessible campground located just off of US Highway 395. The campground is lightly used and only becomes busy during the fall hunting season. Please pack out what you pack in, there is no trash service provided at this campground.

Best for:HikersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
Pull-throughsAvailable
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites✕ You require year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October only✕ You seek entertainment beyond quiet camping and nearby trails

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Pack out all trash

no trash service provided

Approximately 4 pull-through sites available for RVs

Group picnic shelter available for reservation

Water available for drinking on-site

Best: May-October

Official operating season

Best: Outside fall hunting season

Campground becomes busy during fall hunting season; quietest during shoulder seasons

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Douglas' Squirrel, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Pacific Wren, Western Tanager, White-breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Bluebird

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
1111111111· Malheur National Forest
Getting there →

Directions from Burns, OR., travel 2.8 miles on US Highway 20 to the junction with US Highway 395, turn left onto US Highway 395 and head north. Follow US Highway 395 for approximately 14.6 miles to the junction with Forest Road 2820. Continue on Forest Road 2820 for 0.8 miles to the junction with Idlewild Campground Road. Follow Idlewild Road for approximately 1 mile to the campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Malheur National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Malheur National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Idlewild Campground cost per night?+
Idlewild Campground costs $10 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Idlewild Campground open?+
Idlewild Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Idlewild Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Idlewild Campground?+
Idlewild Campground is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Idlewild Campground?+
Idlewild Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Idlewild Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Idlewild Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Idlewild Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Idlewild Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Leave No TraceMalheur National ForestHarney County Chamber of Commerce
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$10 /night★ 4 (0)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Idlewild Campground cost per night?+
What season is Idlewild Campground open?+
Does Idlewild Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Idlewild

HINES, OR

From $25/night

Joaquin Miller Horse Camp

Hines, OR

From $8/night

Rock Springs Campground

Seneca, OR

From $6/night

Falls Campground (Malheur National Forest)

Hines, OR

From $8/night

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