U.S. Forest Service · Caribou-Targhee National Forest · Montpelier, ID

Emigration Campground

Emigration Campground is located in 17 miles west of Montpelier, Idaho, just off State Highway 36 in Emigration Canyon. Visitors enjoy exploring the nearby Highline Trail and fishing on local streams.

More like this: reservable in Idaho · big rigs in Idaho · pets allowed in Idaho · group sites in Idaho

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
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Photos via Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups23
Group sites2
group shelter nonelectric1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 58 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

26 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFires
003StandardBack-in30PavedFull16 / 2Yes
004StandardBack-in20PavedFull8 / 1Yes
005StandardBack-in35PavedFull8 / 1Yes
006StandardBack-in40PavedFull8 / 1Yes
007StandardBack-in40PavedFull8 / 1Yes
008StandardBack-in50PavedFull8 / 1Yes
009StandardBack-in35PavedFull8 / 1Yes
010StandardBack-in40PavedFull8 / 1Yes
011StandardBack-in50PavedFull16 / 2Yes
012StandardBack-in50PavedFull8 / 1Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length58 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The campground offers 20 single-family sites, three double-family sites and two group sites. Flush toilets and drinking water are provided. Roads to and within the campground are paved, and several sites can accommodate 40-foot trailers with pull vehicle. Group Site 3 (RCD) was recently added to the facility and is 1.5 miles west of the main campground on Highway 36. The site has vault toilets and drinking water. A picnic shelter with multiple tables and campfire rings, and small amphitheater are available. Roads and parking areas are gravel.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonJune
ForestCaribou-Targhee National Forest
BookingThis site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at http://www.recreation.gov
FeesFor current fees, please go to Recreation.gov

Caribou-Targhee National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Emigration Campground10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.73 inches of precipitation, 23.3 inches of snowFebruary: 1.60 inches of precipitation, 19.0 inches of snowMarch: 1.48 inches of precipitation, 9.2 inches of snowApril: 1.74 inches of precipitation, 4.9 inches of snowMay: 2.29 inches of precipitation, 1.3 inches of snowJune: 1.28 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowJuly: 0.67 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.96 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.35 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowOctober: 1.70 inches of precipitation, 2.9 inches of snowNovember: 1.38 inches of precipitation, 9.2 inches of snowDecember: 1.71 inches of precipitation, 20.6 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 17.7°F averageFebruary: 20.3°F averageMarch: 30.2°F averageApril: 40.1°F averageMay: 49.3°F averageJune: 57.4°F averageJuly: 65.4°F averageAugust: 64.2°F averageSeptember: 55.0°F averageOctober: 42.8°F averageNovember: 30.6°F averageDecember: 19.9°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 in25 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Bern, 9 miles from the campground at 5,964 feet, station USC00100803 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 18 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 91 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Montpelier, drive west on U.S. Highway 89 to Ovid, Idaho. At the junction of U.S. 89 and State Highway 36, take the right fork of the "Y" onto State Highway 36 and travel approximately 12 miles northwest to the campground. A left hand turn is required to enter the campground.

Nearest townMontpelier, Idaho
Coordinates42.3700° N, 111.5553° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗26.6 mi
Outdoor gearBeaver Mountain Rental Shop ↗27.8 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗28 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Idaho: Scenic Way in Hwy 36, Emigration Campground

  • 0.4 mi
    Midland Alt
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 0.6 mi
    Midland ↗
    4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 0.6 mi
    Emigration
    2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 0.7 mi
    Rcd Connector
    1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1 mi
    Bear Wallow ↗
    5.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.7 mi
    Main Canyon
    3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground is situated in a quiet canyon forested with pine, spruce and aspen trees. Summer wildflowers dot the landscape and grasses cover the area. Wild huckleberries are abundant in mid-August.

Recreation

The Highline National Recreation Trail is adjacent to the campground and is considered the premier trail of the Montpelier District. It is open to hikers, bikers, horseback riders, motorcyclists and off-road vehicle riders. The trail stretches 55 miles along the backbone of the Bear River Range and intersects many other trails on the west side of the district.

Guidebooks for Idaho

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Emigration Campground?

Sites at Emigration Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at http://www.recreation.gov Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Emigration Campground?

For current fees, please go to Recreation.gov

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Emigration Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Emigration Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season June.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Emigration Campground have?

26 sites, including 23 standard sites without power, 2 group sites, and 1 group shelter nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Emigration Campground?

The longest site here provides 58 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are there showers or a dump station at Emigration Campground?

Flush toilets and drinking water are provided.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Emigration Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Emigration Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Emigration Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Emigration Campground?

The Highline National Recreation Trail is adjacent to the campground and is considered the premier trail of the Montpelier District. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Emigration Campground?

Montpelier, Idaho.

Source: Getting there

What if Emigration Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Maple Grove Campground (10.8 mi, first-come), Paris Springs Campground (11.6 mi), and Redpoint Campground (14 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby