Smokey Bear Campground

Federal campground in Sawtooth National Forest

Location: Ketchum, ID, ID

Price: From $20 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.

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/smokey-bear-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Beautiful location with helpful campground host Tammy and convenient access to surrounding attractions including hot springs. Campers report clean facilities and good views of the lake.

Wildlife alert: Gray wolves, pronghorn, mule deer, and various bird species including grouse and hummingbirds present in the area. Western terrestrial garter snakes also documented.

Insider tips for Smokey Bear Campground: First-come, first-served only — arrive early to secure a site. Download Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival for QR code payment option. Abundant dead and down trees available for firewood. Ask campground host Tammy for area recommendations and hot springs information.

Skip Smokey Bear Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available.. You require privacy — thin forest coverage means limited privacy between sites.. You want to book in advance — first-come, first-served basis only..

Best time to visit Smokey Bear Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..

Nearby campgrounds: North Shore Campground (Ketchum, ID), Alturas Lake Picnic Area (Id) (STANLEY, ID), Alturas Lake Inlet (STANLEY, ID), Pettit Lake Campground (Ketchum, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Smokey Bear Campground

Cell signal at Smokey Bear Campground (Ketchum, 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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CamperWatch›ID›Smokey Bear Campground
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Federal campground in Sawtooth National ForestLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Smokey Bear Campground

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Ketchum, ID, ID★ 4 (0 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.

Best for:CampersNature loversFamiliesSites:Tent
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.
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.✕ You require privacy — thin forest coverage means limited privacy between sites.✕ You want to book in advance — first-come, first-served basis only.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

First-come, first-served only

arrive early to secure a site.

Download Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival for QR code payment option.

Abundant dead and down trees available for firewood.

Ask campground host Tammy for area recommendations and hot springs information.

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

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: Gray wolves, pronghorn, mule deer, and various bird species including grouse and hummingbirds present in the area. Western terrestrial garter snakes also documented.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
N/A· Sawtooth National Forest

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 — Sawtooth National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Sawtooth National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Smokey Bear Campground cost per night?+
Smokey Bear Campground costs $20 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Smokey Bear Campground open?+
Smokey Bear Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Smokey Bear Campground have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Smokey Bear Campground?+
Smokey Bear Campground is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Smokey Bear Campground?+
Smokey Bear 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 Smokey Bear Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Smokey Bear Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Smokey Bear Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Smokey Bear Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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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.

$20 /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 Smokey Bear Campground cost per night?+
What season is Smokey Bear Campground open?+
Does Smokey Bear Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

North Shore Campground

Ketchum, ID

From $20/night

Alturas Lake Picnic Area (Id)

STANLEY, ID

From $125/night

Alturas Lake Inlet

STANLEY, ID

From $24/night

Pettit Lake Campground

Ketchum, ID

From $20/night

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