Camping

The Lava Flow Campground offers visitors the unique experience of camping within one of the youngest lava flows in the park.

NPS Photo / Jacob W. Frank

 

 

Lava Flow Campground

As unique as its name, campsites are surrounded by a young lava flow. The campground is located near the visitor center and popular trails.

Availability

The road and campground closures are weather dependent. Please check the Current Conditions page for updates. The Lava Flow campground generally closes for vehicle access when the Loop Road closes in November. It reopens to vehicles in April or May when the Loop Road opens. Visitors may hike into the Lava Flow Campground from the visitor center and snow camp during the winter months. A free permit from the visitor center is required to snow camp.

Facilities

• Water and flush toilets are seasonally available.
• Vault toilets located near the entrance station are open year-round.

• Each site has a charcoal grill and picnic table.

Regulations

• To claim a campsite, please leave an item in your desired campsite and register for your site at the automated fee machine as soon as possible. Place receipt in box on campsite post.

• Pay with a credit card (no cash or checks are accepted).

• No wood fires are permitted. Charcoal fires are permitted in the grills.

• Campsites are limited to a maximum of 8 people, 2 tents, and 2 vehicles (unless otherwise posted).

• All vehicles must always remain on paved roads.
• Camping is not allowed at the visitor center or at any parking areas along the Loop Road.
• Walk-in snow camping is seasonally permitted at the campground as well as at the Devils Orchard and Tree Molds parking lots.

 

Closed

Basic Information

The Lava Flow Campground is a 42-site campground accessible by automobile from May through November depending on snow conditions. All sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Some sites will accommodate large RVs, but no hookups are available.

TOTAL SITES: 42

Electric Hookups: 0

RV Only: 0

Tent Only: 0

Walk to/Boat to: 0

Group: 0

Horse: 0

Other: 0

Campground Features

Amenities

Cell Phone Reception

No

Internet Connectivity

No

Trash/Recycling Collection

Yes, Year-Round

Food Storage Lockers

Yes, Year-Round

Camp Store

No

Ice for Sale

No

Firewood for Sale

No

Staff On Site

No

Amphitheater

Yes, Seasonal

Laundry

No

Dump Station

No

Potable Water

Potable Water - Seasonal

Fire/Stove Policy

No wood fires; charcoal fires are permitted in grills.

Toilet Types

• Flush Toilets - seasonal
• Vault Toilets - year round

Shower Types

• None

Operating Hours & Seasons

Closed today

Current Hours (Closed to Vehicles - Tent Snow Camping Only)

November 18–April 30

• Every Day:Closed

The Lava Flow Campground closes to vehicles in November when the Loop Road closes and typically reopens mid-April depending on conditions. Tent snow camping is allowed during this time only with a free permit. Start and dates are subject to change.

Show Standard Hours

Standard Hours

• Every Day:Open 24 hours

Sites are only available on a first come - first served basis. Campsites can be claimed at any time through a self-registration process. Pay for your site with a credit card at the automated fee machine. The campground closes to vehicle access when the Loop Road closes in late November. It reopens to vehicles in April or May when the Loop Road opens. You may still hike into the campground and snow camp during the winter months, but a free permit from the visitor center is required.

Closures & Seasonal Exceptions

Closed to Vehicles - Tent Snow Camping Only

November 18–April 30

• Every Day:Closed

The Lava Flow Campground closes to vehicles in November when the Loop Road closes and typically reopens mid-April depending on conditions. Tent snow camping is allowed during this time only with a free permit. Start and dates are subject to change.

Holidays

2025–2026

New Year's Day	January 1, 2026	Closed
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.	January 19, 2026	Closed
Washington's Birthday	February 16, 2026	Closed
Thanksgiving Day	November 27, 2025	Closed
Christmas Day	December 25, 2025	Closed
Holiday	Date	Hours

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Weather

Weather at Craters of the Moon is characterized by hot summers and cold winters. In February, average snow depth ranges from 26 inches at the north end of the monument to just 2 inches at the south end. Intense summer sun bakes the black lava, generating surface temperatures of 170°F and air temperatures in the 90s. Drying winds are a daily occurrence, especially in the afternoon, and may reach 15 to 30 miles per hour.

Fees

Campground Fee - Regular Season

Fee per night for a single campsite. This fee is charged during the regular season when water is available, typically from May through October.

$15.00

Campground Fee - Regular Season (with Senior or Access Pass)

Discount applies only to Senior and Access Pass holders. There is no discount for America the Beautiful passholders. Fee per night for a single campsite. This fee is charged during the regular season when water is available, typically from May through October.

$7.50

Campground Fee - Shoulder Season (with Senior or Access Pass)

Discount applies only to Senior and Access Pass holders. There is no discount for America the Beautiful passholders. Fee per night for a single campsite. This fee is charged when water is unavailable in the campground, typically in April and November.

$4.00

Campground Fee - Shoulder Season

Fee per night for a single campsite. This fee is charged when water is unavailable in the campground, typically in April and November.

$8.00

Campground Fee - Winter

In winter (typically December through March) the campground is walk-in only. No fee is charged at this time. There is no access to the campground for RVs and other vehicles. No water is available.

$0.00

Contact Information & Directions

Email Address

Send this campground an email
Craters of the Moon Information email box

Phone number (Voice)

[phone]
Craters of the Moon information

Mailing Address

Craters of the Moon National Monument
P.O. Box 29
Arco, ID 83213

Physical Address

Craters of the Moon National Monument
Lava Flow Campground
1266 Craters Loop Road
Arco, ID 83213

Directions

Located on the Loop Road 1/4 mile past the visitor center.

Directions Details

Additional Information & Regulations

Regulations

No wood fires are permitted.
Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am (no generators running, loud music, etc.).
To claim a campsite, please leave an item and register for your site at the kiosk as soon as possible.
Please help decrease the amount of waste that we send to our local landfill by utilizing the recycle center located in the campground near the entrance station.
Our water supply is inadequate for filling water tanks. You are welcome to fill jugs but please fill RV tanks elsewhere.
Car or RV camping is not permitted at the visitor center or along the Loop Road.

More about regulations

Reservations

No reservations; all sites available on a first-come first-served basis.

Image Gallery

A tent is nestled among black volcanic rock and shrubby plants.

an amphitheater with benches, projection counter, and a roofed stage

three tents on a hill of black lava rocks with a dark hill covered with trees in the distance

an RV parked in a pull through campsite among sagebrush, a second RV is at the neighboring site

campsite with picnic table and grill against a dark rocky landscape and cinder cones

trailers, RVs, and other vehicles parked at different sites at a small campground among lava rocks

two adjacent campsites with paved parking pads and picnic tables

The Lava Flow Campground offers a unique camping experience and is conveniently located near the park visitor center and popular trails.
NPS / Jacob W. Frank

In the summer, evening programs may be offered at the amphitheater.
NPS Photo

The Lava Flow Campground offers 42 sites nestled among the black lava rocks between the visitor center and North Crater.
NPS Photo

Some sites offer pull-through parking for trailers and RVs.
NPS Photo / Sheena Harper

Campsites offer stark views of the unique volcanic landscape.
NPS Photo / Lauren Reid

This campground offers the experience of camping on one of the youngest lava flows in the park.
NPS Photo

Campsites vary in size and may be back-in or pull-through.
NPS Photo / Lauren Reid

Accessibility Information

ADA Information - Restrooms are wheelchair accessible. Site 34 is labelled as an accessible site and features an electrical outlet for medical use.

Wheelchair Access - The campground road is paved, and restrooms are wheelchair accessible. The terrain of individual campsites may vary.

RV & Trailer Information - The campground features sites of various sizes, including some with large pull-through parking spaces up to 100'. Request a campground flyer at the visitor center for more detailed information. Due to size limitations, it is not recommended to take RVs and trailers beyond site 15.

RV Allowed - Yes

Trailer Allowed - Yes

Classification - This campground is a developed campground.

 

Backcountry camping is available with a permit for the adventurous hiker.

NPS Photo

Snow Camping

During the winter months, walk-in snow camping is permitted in the Lava Flow Campground, Devils Orchard parking area, and Tree Molds parking area. A free permit is required from the visitor center to ensure visitor safety and monitor usage statistics.

The spur road out to Tree Molds is not groomed. All snow camping locations have vault toilets available year-round, but snow drifts may prevent access. Bring a shovel with you when snow camping. Please remember to leave no trace and pack out all waste with you.

Car or RV camping is not permitted at the visitor center.

Wilderness and Backcountry Camping

Camping is also permitted in the Craters of the Moon Wilderness and the NPS Preserve and BLM Monument for those who are properly outfitted. Those interested must obtain a free backcountry permit from the visitor center.

Additional Camping Near Craters

Many more campgrounds and RV parks are located on the way to or from Craters. Learn more about camping near Craters of the Moon.

Dispersed camping is not permitted at the visitor center or along the Loop Road. Several free campgrounds managed by the Bureau of Land Management are available west of the park. The nearest are Silver Creek and Fish Creek Reservoir.

There are many options for camping on public lands in southern Idaho including:

• Sawtooth National Forest
• Salmon-Challis National Forest
• Caribou-Targhee National Forest