1
Pull-thru
USFSCaribou-Targhee National Forest · Idaho
Big Springs - Caribou
Overview Big Springs Campground is nestled along the banks of Pebble Creek at an elevation of 6,500 feet, just 16 miles from Lava Hot Springs, Idaho.
Sites16all reservable
Elev.6,335ft
Comf.May-Sep5 months
Max rig70 ft1 pull-thru
Electricnonesites
From Idaho Falls2h08real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
At 6,335 ft, Big Springs - Caribou has a 5-month comfortable window (May-Sep). Winter nights average around 13°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. All 16 sites are reservable in advance, so plan ahead. Popular weekends book out. Of the sites, 1 pull-through, and the longest takes a 70-ft rig. Within about 4 miles: 3 peaks.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
Reads strongest on reservability and shade. Softest on roomy sites.
Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.
When to go
02 · CLIMATE
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Jul
May-Sep
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
89%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Jun 8
Last spring frost; first fall frost Sep 27.
56°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Idaho Falls
101 mi
2h08
02
Boise
287 mi
5h05
03
Coeur d'Alene
576 mi
9h52
By drive time
Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 6.7 mi away.
Picking your site
04 · 16 SITES
Color byShow only
16 mapped sites · dot color = seclusion · click a dot for details. Basemap © OpenStreetMap.
0
Walk-in
0
50-amp
10
Accessible
0
Prime
16
Sites
★ The standout
Site 015
BIG SPRINGS - CARIBOU · shaded.
To neighbor
268 ft
Max rig
65 ft
Type
Standard
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Trail segments
12
Peaks
3
Water & Access
To nearest major road
6.7 mi
Method
We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.