CP Campground Review – Juniper Campground, Ririe, ID
A lovely green, quiet and inexpensive overnight County Campground located ~20 miles from Idaho Falls in SE ID.
Link to campground here: Juniper Campground, ID
Link to map location here: Juniper Campground, ID
- Site Quality = 3.5/5
Generally very nice site quality here except for one major ding. Sites are arranged in 3 main loops (A, B and the newest C loop) and are all paved, either back-in or pull-through with a mix of hookups from primitive to full (50amp/water/sewer). Generally very good separation and lovely green sitting areas with picnic table (concrete or metal) and fire-pit surrounded by juniper bushes and grass. Main ding is site levelness. Almost all sites are long enough to fit the largest rigs, but several are far too unlevel and/or narrow, especially some of the inner back-in sites in A loop, and a few of the pull-throughs in B & C section. Only 3 sites have water views (10, 12, 14) of which #10 (primitive) has the absolute best view, with #14 (30amp/water) coming in second. The rest of the sites have views of juniper bushes and green. Pricing is excellent at $10 for primitive, $18 for FHU. - Facilities = 3.5/5
Generally nice facilities here. There are flush toilets and spacious showers in every loop. The showers have those annoying spray heads and are a tad dated, but otherwise decent water pressure/temp. All are kept clean. No dump station however. - Location = 3.5/5
This park is a bit “out there” near the Juniper Dam Recreation Area. There is really not much around the park itself, but it is very quiet and a do-able 20 miles from Idaho Falls which has all the shopping, grocery and eating you could want. The campground itself has a large green field area and boat access to the water down the road. - Pet Friendliness = 5/5
Excellent location for doggie. Lots of space around camp, plus is a large, green field area where you can walk around/play. No easy access to the water at the dam however, so no swimming for doggie.
Overall Rating = 3.9
BONUS ALERT = Green & quiet camp for only $18 FHU!
Summary: We were looking for a quiet and easy overnight on Hwy 26 and this campground fit the bill. It’s a county park located by the Juniper Dam Recreation Area and provides a very quiet and lusciously green retreat in an otherwise very dry landscape. The campground itself consists of 3 loops and has paved sites which are very nicely spaced-out and mixed together with grass & juniper bushes. There is very little shade (the juniper bushes provide spots of low-lying shade for the sitting area, but limited shade for the RV) & it can get very hot in summer, but many sites have full hookups (either 30 or 50 amp/water/sewer), plus prices are outstanding (only $18 for FHU!). Most sites have no view of the water except for sites 10,12,14 which have lovely views. Sitting areas are large and green (the sprinklers go on nightly) with picnic table and fire-pit, plus there is a lovely large green field area to walk doggie. The main ding is that some of the sites are far too unlevel for bigger rigs, especially some of the inner back-ins in A loop, and a few of the pull-throughs in B & C. However there are a good selection of sites that will fit any size and the campground is rarely full during the week (it does seem to get busier on the weekends). Overall we found this to be very quiet and the perfect spot to stop for a few nights while we rested and stocked up in Idaho Falls. I wouldn’t call this a destination location, but it’s a great place to overnight and we’ll definitely stay here again if we pass through the area.
Extra Info: We had 3 bars of very stable Verizon LTE (non-boosted) and somewhat variable 2 bars of ATT LTE (it seemed to waver through the day). 61 total sites of which 4 are primitive ($10/night) and the rest are a mix of 30amp or 50amp/water/sewer ($18/night). Sites are reservable by calling ahead (extra $2), but apparently it’s iffy on whether you get answered or called back. If not reserved ahead of time, the sites are managed as first-come-first-serve. No dump station.
I want to thank you for such terrific campground reviews. After writing one blog page I understand the effort involved to put together a review like this. I hope you are planning to combine these into a book.
Yours is one of the best RV sites and I read a lot as I vicariously travel through reading them.
Keep safe and have wonderful travels.
Thank you for the lovely compliment!
Nina
I always appreciate your great reviews. Whitewater Draw still remains one of my favorite overnights, thanks to you 🙂
Thanks for the great review. You’re in Ivan Doig country now! I’d highly recommend “Dancing at the Rascal Fair” if you haven’t already read it.
We have stayed there several times in our Phaeton and you are spot on, on the review.. the price is definately right…
Maynard
Totally agree. It’s a deal of a price.
Nina
Always a good read, so much to learn. We are heading to Idaho tomorrow on our first Rocky mountain airstream caravan.
Sweet! Enjoy your trip! May it be the start of many more!!
Nina
Me too! Your campground reviews are the best anywhere. So much detail and information. They must take you forever. Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for the campground reviews..they are fantastic help to us rv’ers thanks again great job
We stayed there in July of 2013 and like you said, it was a good stopover on our way to Oregon. They even have a disc golf course, which we played.
Yup I saw your review on Campendium. Totally agree it’s a great stopover.
Nina
I love your reviews. My husband and I have gotten so much information from reading your posts. Thank you! We are leaving for a west coast trip in October and plan on doing some boondocking. I see you use the benchmark maps. Do you buy the atlas or just the maps?
We buy the individual state Road and Recreation Atlases. They’re the most detailed and best for public land info.
Nina
We’ve overnighted there twice over the years. It is a shame they didn’t do a better job of leveling before pouring the concrete slabs. Last Sept when we stopped there non hook-up site A10 was open. It was a little warm that afternoon but we couldn’t resist the view of the water!
Yeah I found it odd that so many sites were unlevel, and not just a little but a lot. That view in A10 is beyond amazing.
Nina
thanks for the review on Juniper campground. we pass thru that area on our way to Nebraska every summer and we are always looking for new areas to camp along the way. Just down the road is Palisades Lake which has several areas to boondock if you are looking around that area. I see you are at Gros Vonte campground now, we are jealous! we always stay at least one night there on way to Nebraska. If you are going on over thru Dubois, wy heading east, there is boondocking at the casino in Riverton, wy. If you go up thru Cody area there is nice dry camping at the state park along the lake heading into Cody from the west. if you go east thru Casper, go on to Glenrock, wy. There is free boondocking there at a city facility. let me know if you want that info, I will look it up. thanks again for all the great info on all your posts for campgrounds. Doug
Cheers for all the tips!!
Nina
Thanks again for info, keeping all these in pdf to use next summer. Appreciate your blog so much.
Karen
Another helpful review, and a spot we would love. I’m happily surprised to find so many really nice county parks in our travels – couldn’t believe Dungeness and Salt Creek are both county parks!
Very true. I’m a big fan of County Parks in general. Most offer excellent pricing and very decent camping.
Nina
Noticed you are in the Tetons today. If you’re looking for a remote National Forest Campground, check out the Pacific Creek Campground. Take Pacific Creek road, which is located south of Jackson Lake Lodge and north of Moran Junction. This road runs east and dead ends seven miles at a small campground….no hook ups…..grizzly country. Also while you’re in Jackson Hole, have breakfast at the Bunnery. By the way, have the Aspens starting turning yet? Have fun. We love Yellowstone and the Tetons.
Cheers for the tips! Aspens are *just* starting to turn. We’re probably around 2 weeks away from the big show. We’ll be gone by then, unfortunately, but it looks like it’s going to be amazing.
Nina
Since we live in Boise, this is definitely one we need to check out. Especially as we are always looking for new places to go. Now that we have our motorhome, we need to get out there more.
Yes, I agree, one of the best campground reviews around. Next year we’re doing Alaska. Summer of 17′ plan on a WY, CO and UT. loop….All your past reviews I like the pictures of a few numbered sites to give a feeling of each park, the spacing between sites, amount of shade, levelness and last but not least Price paid….Thanx ( I have also been scanning over your “Investing for a living” most lately)
Thank you for your review. It is scary sometimes to make a reservation when never having been there. Since we work and only have 2-3 day weekends it is nice to have an idea of what to expect. Your review really makes our choice easy. None of the websites show as much detail as you have. The pictures of the sites and surroundings help very much. Thanks again for all of the effort you put into this. Will be looking at your other reviews for more ideas.