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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Activities powered by Viator. Prices and availability come from each provider and are confirmed when you book with them.

  1. Home
  2. Idaho
  3. Calamity

Camping at Calamity

Public campground · 40 campsites

A forested campground near trout fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. Most campsites have no hookups, and RV fit varies by site.

About this campground

Perched at about 5,700 feet on a hillside above the north end of Palisades Reservoir, Calamity Campground sits in the Snake River drainage roughly 55 miles east of Idaho Falls along Highway 26 just below the Palisades dam access. The site occupies mixed stands of lodgepole pine, spruce, fir, aspen and maple, and summer wildflowers dot the understory; from many sites you look down toward the reservoir rather than out across flat ground.

4.0 on Recreation.gov · 51 reviewsBook on Recreation.gov
View all 6 photos

At a glance

  • RV sites up to 50 ft

    Length limits vary by campsite.

  • No hookups
  • Pets welcome
  • Public land
OverviewCampsitesAmenities & locationReviewsPlan your stay

0 available sites

0 open of 40 sites
No sites offered for these dates.

We checked every night of your stay on Recreation.gov: no site is open for all 2 nights. Some sites are open on some nights.

Flexible dates

View the next available two-night stay.

Looking for the next open dates…
Fixed dates

Compare nearby campgrounds open for these dates. Your camping setup, rig size, hookups and dates stay applied.

Nearby campgrounds open for these dates
Check Recreation.gov directly ↗
View full availability calendar · night-by-night from Recreation.gov

Check dates on Recreation.gov.

SiteFr
13
Sa
14
Price
A-06
standard nonelectric
––$20
C-11
standard nonelectric
––$20
C-09
standard nonelectric
––$20
C-07
standard nonelectric
––$20
B-03
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-03
standard nonelectric
––$20
B-05
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-17
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-02
standard nonelectric
––$20
B-02
standard nonelectric
No site is open for every night of your stay

You book directly on Recreation.gov. Rates and availability can change until reserved. Campground page on Recreation.gov ↗

No sites offered for these dates
Book on Recreation.gov

Amenities & location

  • Boat Ramp
Check-in
2:00 PM
Checkout
12:00 PM
Pets
Allowed (per listing)

Hookups (individual campsites): 40 no-hookup individual sites.

Location

TARGHEE
Open in Google Maps ↗

Calamity: questions answered

What is the maximum RV length at Calamity?
Longest RV site listed: 50 ft (38 of 40 RV sites list a length) (per the listing)
Does Calamity have RV hookups?
40 no-hookup individual sites (per the listing)
How do I reserve a site at Calamity?
Reservable on Recreation.gov (per the listing)
Are pets allowed at Calamity?
Allowed (per the listing)
Sources and details

At a glance

Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the Recreation.gov listing. Anything we can't source says so.

Max rig length
Listing Longest RV site listed: 50 ft (38 of 40 RV sites list a length)
Hookups & power
Listing 40 no-hookup individual sites
Pull-through / back-in
Listing 2 pull-through, 38 back-in
Road & site access
Listing 40 gravel site driveways
Pets
Listing Allowed
Cell signal
Listing Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 3 (24 reports), T-Mobile 3 (10 reports), AT&T 3 (7 reports)
Booking
Listing Reservable on Recreation.gov
Price
Listing Lowest listed rate $20/night (live price once you pick dates)
Getting there
Listing TARGHEE (map in Location below)
Generators · Quiet hours · Starlink / satellite · Water · Shade · Stay limits
Not listed — check with campground

Reviews

Selected reviews

Verbatim from guest reviews on Recreation.gov ↗ (51 reviews, ★ 4.0). Not written or edited by us.

“Access to the campground did not exist. We ended up staying in another campground in the area.”

Dennis K 3 · Jun 2025 · Recreation.gov

“Gorgeous camping spot right on the reservoir. Would recommend 4 wheel drive to get up there with the primary road not open currently.”

Mike U 5 · Jun 2025 · Recreation.gov
Nearby

Campgrounds to compare

Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights1 site open for every night

The Park at Swan Valley

7.3 mi from Calamity (straight-line)
Sites from $215/night
$430 total for Nov 13–15 · before taxes & fees
Rates & availability from Hipcamp · you book on their site
View Campsites
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights2 sites open for every night

Aspen Grove RV Park

13 mi from Calamity (straight-line)
Sites from $60/night
$120 total for Nov 13–15 · before taxes & fees
Rates & availability from Hipcamp · you book on their site
View Campsites
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights5 sites open for every night

Palisades Reservoir RV Retreat

13.8 mi from Calamity (straight-line)
Sites from $75/night
$150 total for Nov 13–15 · before taxes & fees
Rates & availability from Hipcamp · you book on their site
View Campsites
Prefer a roof?

Prefer a roof over your head

All glamping →
  • The Park at Swan Valley7.3 mi · Irwin

Explore nearby

  • Campgrounds near Irwin
  • RV rentals near Irwin
  • Glamping & cabins near Irwin
  • RV rentals in Idaho
  • Glamping in Idaho

Guides for this trip

  • How much does it cost to rent an RV?
  • Camping with dogs
–
–
$20
B-10
standard nonelectric
––$20
C-04
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-10
standard nonelectric
––$20
B-07
standard nonelectric
––$20
C-06
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-01
standard nonelectric
––$20
C-05
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-07
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-11
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-15
standard nonelectric
––$20
B-04
standard nonelectric
––$20
C-08
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-04
standard nonelectric
––$20
B-08
standard nonelectric
––$20
C-10
standard nonelectric
––$20
B-09
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-14
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-05
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-13
standard nonelectric
––$20
B-12
standard nonelectric
––$20
B-11
standard nonelectric
––$20
C-03
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-16
standard nonelectric
––$20
B-13
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-09
standard nonelectric
––$20
C-02
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-12
standard nonelectric
––$20
A-08
standard nonelectric
––$20
C-01
standard nonelectric
––$20
B-06
standard nonelectric
––$20

✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released

Trip idea

Ideas for your stay

An idea to start from, built from this campground's listing and real tours nearby. Times, openings and prices change, so check each before you go.

  1. Day 1 · Arrive and settle in

    • Check in and set up camp.
    • fish for trout (per the campground listing)
  2. Day 2 · Get out and explore

    • Jackson:Yellowstone Old Faithful, Waterfalls & Wildlife Day Tour 25 mi · 13 hr · from $329/person
    • Snake River Scenic Float 24 mi · 3 hr · from $135/person
  3. Day 3 · One more stop, then head home

    • Grand Teton Half Day Tour 25 mi · 4 hr · from $149/person
Ways to stay

Bring a tent or have an RV waiting

  • Tent camping here: 40 sites take tents. See open sites ↑

Need an RV for your stay?

Rentals that may deliver here and whose listed length fits sites up to 50 ft. Delivery may be available — confirm fees and dates with the owner before you book.

2021 Sunset Trail UltraLite SS24BH
2021 Sunset Trail UltraLite SS24BH

Travel trailer · 27 ft · sleeps 7 · 26 mi from campground

$220/night listed · Outdoorsy · Delivery may be available

View rental
Half Ton Towable 2017 Forest River Rockwood Roo
Half Ton Towable 2017 Forest River Rockwood Roo

Travel trailer · 21 ft · sleeps 8 · 37 mi from campground

$75/night listed · Outdoorsy · Delivery may be available

View rental
2022 “Modern Luxury” Heartland Pioneer BH270
2022 “Modern Luxury” Heartland Pioneer BH270

Travel trailer · 32 ft · sleeps 8 · 39 mi from campground

$135/night listed · Outdoorsy · Delivery may be available

View rental
Things to do

Activities near Calamity

Bookable tours nearby

Paid experiences on Viator. Distances are from this campground when the tour lists its own start point.

Snake River Scenic Float
Snake River Scenic Float

24 mi · 3 hr · from $135/person

Jackson:Yellowstone Old Faithful, Waterfalls & Wildlife Day Tour
Jackson:Yellowstone Old Faithful, Waterfalls & Wildlife Day Tour

25 mi · 13 hr · from $329/person

Grand Teton Half Day Tour
Grand Teton Half Day Tour

25 mi · 4 hr · from $149/person

See 6 more bookable tours
Sunset 4-Hour Grand Teton Wildlife Adventure
Sunset 4-Hour Grand Teton Wildlife Adventure

25 mi · 4 hr · from $215/person

Best time to go

Seasons, rates and how booked it gets

  • Peak season May 22–Sep 6: RV & Tent $20 per night
Plan your stay

How far ahead to book Calamity

For July weekends, book about 158 days ahead. Three in four July Friday and Saturday arrivals were booked later than that, and half were booked 68 days or less before arrival. Past timing is guidance, not a guarantee of what is open now.

See booking patterns
Arrival monthFri/Sat arrivals: half booked at leastA quarter at leastOther days: half booked at leastA quarter at least
May29 days ahead84 days ahead23 days ahead51 days ahead
June47 days ahead133 days ahead58 days ahead134 days ahead
July68 days ahead158 days ahead99 days ahead157 days ahead
August32 days ahead114 days ahead81 days ahead164 days ahead
September27 days ahead51 days ahead27 days ahead95 days ahead

Months with fewer than 30 reservations of that kind are left blank. Sites where nearly every booking was made the day of arrival (pay on arrival) are left out. Closed seasons, windows not yet released for booking, and currently unavailable nights are separate from this history.

Based on Recreation.gov reservations, FY2015–2025 (3,676 reservations in the years scored). Counts reservations made, not nights actually camped: cancellations aren't in the data, and nights a site was closed count as not booked. FY2020–21 (COVID) are left out of the scores.

Grand Teton Wildlife Safari in a Enclosed or Open-Air Vehicle (season dependent)
Grand Teton Wildlife Safari in a Enclosed or Open-Air Vehicle (season dependent)

25 mi · 4 hr · from $159/person

Snake River Scenic Float Trip with Teton Views in Jackson Hole
Snake River Scenic Float Trip with Teton Views in Jackson Hole

25 mi · 3 hr · from $115/person

Whitewater Rafting in Jackson Hole : Family Standard Raft
Whitewater Rafting in Jackson Hole : Family Standard Raft

25 mi · 4 hr · from $125/person

Tetons and Snake River Scenic Float Trip In Jackson Hole
Tetons and Snake River Scenic Float Trip In Jackson Hole

25 mi · 3 hr · from $125/person

Yellowstone Lower Loop Full-Day Tour
Yellowstone Lower Loop Full-Day Tour

25 mi · 10 hr–12 hr · from $325/person

Compare site types

40 individual reservable campsites from Recreation.gov, checked Nov 7. Rates are the listed nightly rates.

Standard sites (tent or RV)

Tent, van or small RV, no power

40 sites · $20/night

0 open Nov 13–Nov 15