U.S. Forest Service · Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests · Idaho

Powell Campground

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. The Powell Ranger Station is nearby as well, but all visitor services have moved to Lolo Pass Visitor Center.

Closed for the seasonPartly reservable35 sites200 ft maxElectric hookups

Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

More like this: electric hookups in Idaho · first-come in Idaho · reservable in Idaho · big rigs in Idaho

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
POWELL CAMPGROUNDPOWELL CAMPGROUNDPOWELL CAMPGROUNDPOWELL CAMPGROUND
Photos via Recreation.gov
4fires
active
Moose Mountain · 30 mi away · 5,832 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard with electric24
Standard, no hookups11
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 50 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

35 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerPeople / vehicles
A012AElectricBack-in50PavedFull15 amp8 / 2
A013AElectricBack-in50PavedFull15 amp8 / 2
A014AElectricBack-in40PavedFull15 amp8 / 2
A015AElectricBack-in40PavedFull15 amp8 / 2
A016AElectricBack-in50PavedFull15 amp8 / 2
A017AElectricBack-in40PavedFull15 amp8 / 2
A018AElectricBack-in45PavedFull15 amp8 / 2
A019AElectricBack-in45PavedFull15 amp8 / 2
A020AElectricBack-in35PavedFull15 amp8 / 2
A021AElectricBack-in45PavedFull15 amp8 / 2

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 2:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric
Max vehicle length200 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
Tent padsYes

The campground offers single-family sites for tent and RV camping. The sites in loop A offer electrical hookups (15 amp, 30 amp, and 50 amp.) Parking surfaces are paved throughout the campground. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water (spigots are located in 5 sites throughout the campground and are not intended for hooking up to, the sites do not have water hookups) are provided throughout the campground. An accessible flush toilet is adjacent to the day use area.

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.
ForestNez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
BookingTo make a reservation, please visit Powell Campground on Recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777.
Fees$20.00 – Single Unit With Electricity (Loop A). $14.00 – Single Unit Without Electricity (Loop B). $2.00 - Extra Vehicle

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Powell Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 25.0°F averageFebruary: 27.5°F averageMarch: 34.6°F averageApril: 41.1°F averageMay: 49.5°F averageJune: 56.8°F averageJuly: 64.2°F averageAugust: 62.8°F averageSeptember: 53.8°F averageOctober: 41.8°F averageNovember: 30.9°F averageDecember: 23.9°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Powell, less than a mile from the campground at 3,530 feet, station USC00107320 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

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.

Coordinates46.5123° N, 114.7172° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • A permit is not necessary to float the river, but technical expertise is a must.
  • Firewood is not provided and it is often not available.

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Moose Mountain

    30 mi from the campground · 5,832 acres · 90% contained

  • Prescribed
    Rx Rescue Jensen Nfrd

    43 mi from the campground · 44 acres

  • Prescribed
    Rx Barnyard Units Nfrd

    46 mi from the campground · 41 acres

  • Prescribed
    D4 Rx Simmons Peak

    47 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceHamilton RV Sales Of Montana ↗31.4 mi
Outdoor gearCabela's ↗39.2 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗39.2 mi

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

Explore

Video

Powell Campground | Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest | Idaho

Worth a stop

A variety of services are available in the rustic resort area near the campground including a general store, lodging, food and fuel. Fishing licenses are also available for purchase. The nearest free dump station is 40 miles west on Highway 12, at the Wilderness Gateway Campground.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →

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.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Natural features

Lochsa is a Nez Perce word meaning "rough water." The 70-mile river and its tributaries have no dams and the flow is unregulated from its headwaters near the Powell Ranger Station in the Bitterroots, to Lowell, where it joins the Selway River to form the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River. The Lochsa is one of the world's best for continuous whitewater. The campground is situated in a dense forest in north-central Idaho at an elevation of 3,400 feet. It is across the river from the border of the 1.5-million acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Famed explorers Lewis and Clark passed through on their way to the Pacific Ocean in September of 1805. Elk, deer, moose, bear, cougar and mountain goats make the steep canyon country their home.

Recreation

The Lochsa River provides visitors with opportunities for fishing and other water-related recreation. Cutthroat and rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and steelhead swim in the clear waters. The Lochsa is world-famous for its exciting whitewater rafting opportunities. A variety of hiking and horseback riding trails are available in the wilderness area. The 1.5-mile Powell Complex Trail begins near the campground and leads west through cool, shady cedar and larch trees, making for a relaxing day trip. Hunting is also a popular activity in the rugged and primitive landscape. Highway 12, also known as the Lewis and Clark Highway, winds along the narrow river canyon through evergreen trees and past large rock outcroppings. Visitors enjoy the scenic drive and historic sites along the way.

Guidebooks for Idaho

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

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Powell Campground?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Powell Campground?

$20.00 – Single Unit With Electricity (Loop A). $14.00 – Single Unit Without Electricity (Loop B). $2.00 - Extra Vehicle

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Powell Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Powell Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Powell Campground have?

35 sites, including 24 standard sites with power and 11 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Powell Campground?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Powell Campground have hookups?

Yes, electric hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Powell Campground?

An accessible flush toilet is adjacent to the day use area.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Powell Campground?

The Lochsa River provides visitors with opportunities for fishing and other water-related recreation. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Powell Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are White Sands Campground (1.5 mi, first-come), Whitehouse Campground (2.5 mi, first-come), and Elk Summit Campground (13.2 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby