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Upper Penstemon Campground

Federal campground in Sawtooth National Forest

Location: Twin Falls, 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/upper-penstemon-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Secluded camping with awesome hiking trails near Twin Falls, ID. Very nice camping areas with wildlife viewing opportunities including moose sightings.

Wildlife alert: Moose, Coyote, Uinta Ground Squirrel, Great Basin Rattlesnake, Greater Short-horned Lizard, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Flammulated Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Cassia Crossbill

Insider tips for Upper Penstemon Campground: First-come, first-served basis only — arrive early to secure a site Download Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival for QR code payment option Located about 30 minutes from Twin Falls city

Skip Upper Penstemon Campground if: You need hookups — no hookups available. You require advance reservations — first-come, first-served only. You visit outside May-October — seasonal operations only.

Best time to visit Upper Penstemon Campground: May-October — Official operating season for the campground.

Nearby campgrounds: Lower Penstemon (BURLEY, ID), Pettit Campground (Murtaugh, ID), Diamondfield Jack Campground (Murtaugh, ID), Porcupine Springs (BURLEY, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Upper Penstemon Campground

Cell signal at Upper Penstemon Campground (Twin Falls, 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.

    CamperWatch
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    CamperWatch›ID›Upper Penstemon Campground
    Forest campground camping
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    Federal campground in Sawtooth National ForestLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

    Upper Penstemon Campground

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    Twin Falls, 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 hookups — no hookups available✕ You require advance reservations — first-come, first-served only✕ You visit outside May-October — seasonal operations only

    Insider tips & when to go

    CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

    First-come, first-served basis only

    arrive early to secure a site

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

    Located about 30 minutes from Twin Falls city

    Best: May-October

    Official operating season for the campground

    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: Moose, Coyote, Uinta Ground Squirrel, Great Basin Rattlesnake, Greater Short-horned Lizard, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Flammulated Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Cassia Crossbill

    Location

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

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

    $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 Upper Penstemon Campground cost per night?+
    What season is Upper Penstemon Campground open?+
    Does Upper Penstemon Campground have hookups?+
    All 7 questions →

    Nearby Campgrounds

    Lower Penstemon

    BURLEY, ID

    From $8/night

    Pettit Campground

    Murtaugh, ID

    From $20/night

    Diamondfield Jack Campground

    Murtaugh, ID

    From $20/night

    Porcupine Springs

    BURLEY, ID

    From $10/night

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