Sam Owen

Idaho Panhandle National Forests — lakeside

Location: Hope, ID, ID

Price: From $30 per night

Price range: $30–$116 per night

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (252 reviews)

Season: May through October

Sam Owen Campground is nestled on the banks of Lake Pend Oreille in a densely wooded forest of pine and cedar. Popular activities include hiking, canoeing, swimming and boating in summer, and skiing in winter.The Pend Oreille Scenic Byway is well worth exploring.A beach draws crowds of sunbathers and swimmers. Visitors also like to hike the half-mile, accessible Sam Owen Trail #4.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Boat Launch

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

Sam Owen Campground is nestled on the banks of Lake Pend Oreille in a densely wooded forest of pine and cedar, with excellent amenities and highly rated by campers (4.4/5 stars). Camp hosts are praised for being welcoming, friendly, and helpful, with well-maintained facilities and a beautiful location just 30 minutes from Sandpoint.

Wildlife alert: White-tailed Deer, Great Blue Heron, Ring-billed Gull, Northern Pintail, Steller's Jay, Valley Garter Snake, and Painted Turtle present in the area.

Insider tips for Sam Owen: Camp host sells firewood and ice on-site Visit Davis Mercantile in Hope for supplies, only 30 minutes away Hike the half-mile accessible Sam Owen Trail #4 to reach a vista of Owens Bay with rest benches

Skip Sam Owen if: You need water or sewer hookups—only select sites have electric hookups. You prefer to book last-minute—federal campground requires early reservations. You visit outside May through October—seasonal operations only.

Best time to visit Sam Owen: May through October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only. Summer — Peak season for hiking, canoeing, swimming, and boating activities.

Nearby campgrounds: Green Bay Campground (Sandpoint, ID 83864, ID), Lunch Peak Lookout (SANDPOINT, ID), Springy Point (OLDTOWN, ID), Dorr Skeels Campground (Troy, MT).