Camping in Idaho: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across Idaho's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild from May to June and in September, with average highs of 71 to 80 F and lows of 45 to 51 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from September to May, most often in December, when they average 24.7 a month. State park sites are booked through Idaho State Parks reservation system, up to nine months ahead.
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The best months for camping in Idaho
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in Idaho is mild May to June and September. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan38° / 24°Freezing nights
- Feb44° / 27°Freezing nights
- Mar54° / 33°Freezing nights
- Apr61° / 38°Freezing nights
- May71° / 45°Freezing nights
- Jun80° / 51°Mild
- Jul91° / 58°Hot
- Aug90° / 57°Hot
- Sep79° / 49°Freezing nights
- Oct63° / 39°Freezing nights
- Nov48° / 30°Freezing nights
- Dec38° / 24°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
Boiseelevation 2,814 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39 F | 26 F | 25.5 |
| February | 46 F | 29 F | 20.1 |
| March | 56 F | 35 F | 11.2 |
| April (mild) | 62 F | 40 F | 5.2 |
| May (mild) | 72 F | 48 F | 0.8 |
| June (mild) | 81 F | 54 F | 0 |
| July | 93 F | 62 F | 0 |
| August | 91 F | 61 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 80 F | 53 F | 0.2 |
| October (mild) | 65 F | 42 F | 3.7 |
| November | 49 F | 32 F | 16.3 |
| December | 39 F | 25 F | 25.2 |
Lewistonelevation 1,436 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42 F | 30 F | 18.1 |
| February | 47 F | 32 F | 15.1 |
| March | 55 F | 36 F | 9.1 |
| April (mild) | 62 F | 41 F | 2.4 |
| May (mild) | 72 F | 48 F | 0 |
| June (mild) | 79 F | 54 F | 0 |
| July | 91 F | 61 F | 0 |
| August | 90 F | 60 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 80 F | 52 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 63 F | 42 F | 2.7 |
| November | 49 F | 35 F | 11.9 |
| December | 41 F | 30 F | 20.4 |
Pocatelloelevation 4,478 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34 F | 17 F | 29 |
| February | 39 F | 20 F | 24.8 |
| March | 51 F | 28 F | 23.2 |
| April | 59 F | 33 F | 14.4 |
| May (mild) | 69 F | 40 F | 4.4 |
| June (mild) | 79 F | 46 F | 0.3 |
| July | 89 F | 52 F | 0 |
| August | 88 F | 51 F | 0.1 |
| September (mild) | 77 F | 42 F | 2.9 |
| October | 62 F | 33 F | 14.7 |
| November | 46 F | 24 F | 25 |
| December | 34 F | 17 F | 28.5 |
How to book a state park campsite in Idaho
Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation takes reservations through Idaho State Parks reservation system. The longest advance booking its page states is nine months.
How far ahead you can book
Reservations can typically be made up to 9 months in advance, and popular sites fill quickly—especially during peak season (May through September).Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
First come, first served sites
Yes! One of the most convenient features of the new IDPR reservation system is same-day reservations. If you’re planning a spontaneous trip or traveling without a strict itinerary, you can now book an available campsite on the same day you plan to arrive.Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Camping outside a campground in Idaho
Campsites must be at least 100 feet from streams or water sources to protect water quality, with a 14-day stay limit in one spot within a 28-day period. After 14 days, campers must relocate at least 5 road miles to another dispersed area.USDA Forest Service, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Campfires when you camp in Idaho
Campfires on national forest and BLM land
Check to know whether there are fire restrictions in place before starting a campfire. You could be fined if you start a fire in a restricted area.USDA Forest Service, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Where fire restrictions are posted
When fire restrictions are in effect, they apply to all lands within the designated area—regardless of ownership—and must be followed by law.Idaho Department of Lands, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Current restrictions: Idaho Department of Lands.
Idaho camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in Idaho. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.