Powell Campground

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests — riverside, fishing, hiking

Location: Lolo, ID, ID

Price: From $14 per night

Price range: $14–$20 per night

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (149 reviews)

Season: May through October

Powell Campground provides direct access to the Lochsa Wild and Scenic River, one of Idaho’s most scenic waterways. The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness lies on the opposite side of the river. The campground is within walking distance of a small general store, fuel, lodging and a restaurant.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Firewood for Sale

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

Powell Campground offers direct access to the Lochsa Wild and Scenic River with excellent proximity to nearby services including a general store, restaurant, and fuel at Lochsa Lodge. Campers praise the well-spaced, wooded sites and abundance of recreation including fishing, hiking, and river access.

Wildlife alert: Pacific Marten, Osprey, Northern Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Townsend's Warbler, and Common Garter Snake verified in the area.

Insider tips for Powell Campground: Lochsa Lodge restaurant, general store, and Sinclair fuel pump are within walking distance—utilize these services as no hookups available at most sites. General store has a pay phone for campers without cell service. Book early—federal campground fills quickly during peak season.

Skip Powell Campground if: You need RV hookups—most sites have no hookups; only suitable for self-contained RVs.. You require cell service—area has no cell coverage.. You visit outside May-October—campground is seasonal..

Best time to visit Powell Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.. August — Verified camper report from August shows favorable conditions..

Nearby campgrounds: West Fork Butte Lookout (MISSOULA, MT), Scurvy Mountain Lookout (Pierce, ID), Castle Butte Lookout (KOOSKIA, ID), Liz Creek Cabin (Orofino, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Powell Campground

Cell signal at Powell Campground (Lolo, ID): 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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Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests — riverside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Powell Campground

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Lolo, ID, ID★ 4.4 (149 reviews)From $14/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Powell Campground provides direct access to the Lochsa Wild and Scenic River, one of Idaho’s most scenic waterways. The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness lies on the opposite side of the river. The campground is within walking distance of a small general store, fuel, lodging and a restaurant.

Best for:AnglersHikersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites: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
Max RV200 ft
Hookups24 electric sites
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking WaterFishing
Recreation
Picnic TablesDump StationFirewood for Sale
Family & Pets
Vault ToiletsElectric Hookups

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—most sites have no hookups; only suitable for self-contained RVs.✕ You require cell service—area has no cell coverage.✕ You visit outside May-October—campground is seasonal.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Lochsa Lodge restaurant, general store, and Sinclair fuel pump are within walking distance

utilize these services as no hookups available at most sites.

General store has a pay phone for campers without cell service.

Book early

federal campground fills quickly during peak season.

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Best: August

Verified camper report from August shows favorable conditions.

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: Pacific Marten, Osprey, Northern Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Townsend's Warbler, and Common Garter Snake verified in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
1111111111· Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
Getting there →

The campground is located 160 miles east of Lewiston, Idaho, and 60 miles southwest of Missoula, Montana. From Lowell, travel east on Highway 12 for about 65 miles, to milepost 162.

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 — Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Powell Campground cost per night?+
Powell Campground costs $14–$20 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Powell Campground open?+
Powell Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Powell Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Powell Campground?+
Powell Campground can accommodate RVs up to 200 feet.
How do I make reservations at Powell Campground?+
Powell 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 Powell Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Powell Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Powell Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Powell Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Print Facility Map
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●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.

$14 /night★ 4.4 (149)
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 Powell Campground cost per night?+
What season is Powell Campground open?+
Does Powell Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

West Fork Butte Lookout

MISSOULA, MT

From $55/night

Scurvy Mountain Lookout

Pierce, ID

From $45/night

Castle Butte Lookout

KOOSKIA, ID

From $45/night

Liz Creek Cabin

Orofino, ID

From $40/night

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