campgrounds.fyiIndependent · federal campgrounds · no paid placements
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USFSNez Perce-Clearwater National Forests · Idaho

Elk Summit Campground

This sweet destination of a campground rests a short distance from the 1.34 million acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.5,837ft
Comf.Jun-Sep4 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Coeur d'Alene5h01real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 5,837 ft, Elk Summit Campground has a 4-month comfortable window (Jun-Sep). Winter nights average around 17°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: 2 peaks, lake or river access.

The campground at a glance

01 · CHARACTER
QuietCoolRoomyShadeRV-fitReserv.

Reads strongest on quiet and cool nights. Softest on cool nights.

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
JFMAMJJASOND
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Jul
Jun-Sep
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
79%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Jun 16
Last spring frost; first fall frost Sep 25.
47°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Coeur d'Alene
201 mi
5h01
02
Idaho Falls
387 mi
7h25
03
Boise
332 mi
8h17
By drive time
Coeur d'Alene · 5h01Idaho Falls · 7h25Boise · 8h17Camp

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 13.3 mi away.

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Trail segments
18
Peaks
2

Water & Access

Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
13.3 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.

Check availability on Recreation.gov →