Farragut State Park
RV Guide
Introduction
Farragut State Park offers exceptional RV camping across 4 campgrounds with 223 individual sites plus 10 cabins, featuring Idaho's pristine Lake Pend Oreille, rich WWII naval history, and year-round outdoor adventures from disc golf to cross-country skiing. Gilmore and Waldron campgrounds provide full hookups accommodating RVs up to 60 feet, while strategic locations like Coeur d'Alene RV rentals and Sandpoint area camper van options offer prime access to this 4,000-acre wonderland that combines outdoor recreation with fascinating military history, making advance reservations essential during the May-October peak season.
What Makes Farragut State Park the Ultimate RV Destination?
Sprawling across 4,000 acres at the pristine southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille, Farragut State Park captures the essence of Idaho's natural beauty while preserving a unique chapter of American history. Famous for being the site of Farragut Naval Training Station during World War II, where over 293,000 sailors received basic training, this remarkable park transforms military heritage into an outdoor adventure paradise. The park's strategic location in the Coeur d'Alene Mountains of northern Idaho provides breathtaking scenery and unparalleled access to Idaho's largest lake.
You'll discover endless adventure during your RV trip to Farragut, from hiking over 40 miles of scenic trails and world-class disc golf to exploring the fascinating Museum at the Brig and enjoying water sports on crystal-clear Lake Pend Oreille. The park serves as the perfect basecamp for exploring northern Idaho's treasures, including nearby Silverwood Theme Park and the charming resort town of Sandpoint. During summer months, you can experience the Tree to Tree Adventure Park, practice archery skills, try your hand at radio-controlled airplane flying, or simply relax on sandy beaches with stunning mountain views.
The summer season brings peak popularity with pleasant temperatures reaching 75-85°F, ideal for swimming, boating, and hiking. Spring and fall offer milder weather with spectacular wildflower displays and autumn colors, perfect for photography and peaceful exploration. Winter transforms Farragut into a Nordic paradise with groomed cross-country ski trails, snowshoeing opportunities, and peaceful solitude among snow-covered pines.
The park welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, making advance reservations crucial for securing lakeside campsites, especially during peak summer months when families flock to experience this unique combination of history, recreation, and natural beauty.
RV Rentals in Farragut State Park
Transportation
Driving
You can access Farragut State Park via Interstate 90 to Highway 41 north, then follow Highway 54 east directly into the park. The main roads within the park are paved and well-maintained, easily accommodating RVs up to 60 feet in length. The scenic Lake Coeur d'Alene Scenic Byway provides an alternative route that showcases the region's stunning lake and mountain scenery, traveling from Interstate 90 to State Highway 97 near the shores of the lake.
Where Are the Best Gateway Cities for RV Rentals?
Idaho Lake Country Access: Coeur d'Alene RV rentals position you perfectly for Farragut State Park access, staying approximately 20 minutes from the park entrance. This location provides excellent access to Lake Coeur d'Alene activities, downtown shopping and dining, plus the famous Coeur d'Alene Resort, making it ideal for multi-destination northern Idaho adventures.
Northern Idaho Gateway: Sandpoint area camper van options offer premium proximity to Farragut State Park while providing opportunities to explore the charming lakeside resort town of Sandpoint. This location serves as an excellent base for Lake Pend Oreille exploration, combining state park camping with quaint mountain town experiences and easy access to Schweitzer Mountain Resort.
Parking
You can park your RV at designated campground sites and day-use parking areas near the visitor center, boat launch, museum, and recreational facilities. The park's paved road system and spacious parking areas accommodate large RVs with ease. Popular areas like the disc golf course and beach access points provide ample parking for day-use visitors.
Public Transportation
While public transportation to the park is limited, the nearby cities of Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint offer local transit services. Most visitors drive to the park, taking advantage of the scenic routes and flexibility to explore the broader northern Idaho region at their own pace.
Campgrounds and parking in Farragut State Park
Campsites in Farragut State Park
Reservations camping
Whitetail Campground
Whitetail Campground probably won't be your first choice if you are looking to vacation in your RV since it is comprised of 61 non-hookup campsites. Still, it offers a more primitive approach to camping if you like roughing it. This campground has 55 individual sites, 10 companion sites, and spacious lots with enough room for two tents. The parking pads range from 14 to 28 feet in length, and each site has a campfire ring with a grill for cooking and a picnic table. Restrooms and showers are within walking distance.
If you are planning on launching a boat or throwing around some discs on the disc golf course, Whitetail Campground may be your best bet since it is near both of them. Typically, Whitetail does not fill up as quickly as the other campgrounds, but if you do not make your reservations in advance, you probably will not be able to get a site. This campground is also just a short walk from Bennion Trail, which is a short loop with several educational signs posted along the way to teach you and your family about the historic park. Reservations can be made up to nine months in advance. Pets are welcome as long as they are properly restrained and attended at all times.
Gilmore Campground
Gilmore Campground is located off South Road, near the entrance of the park, and offers campsites that any RV traveler will adore. Gilmore Campground is the smallest of the campgrounds with over 90 campsites, all of which have water and electric hookups. Forty-eight of the sites offer sewer hookups as well. The parking pads range from 18 to 60 feet in length, and each site has a picnic table and campfire grill. With five companion-style sites, Gilmore Campground is also suitable for multi-family camping. Both the Visitor Center and the museum are easy to access from Gilmore Campground, and Buttonhook Bay isn't too far away either.
Like the other campgrounds, Gilmore Campground offers centrally located restrooms and showers, several gray water disposal sites, and a garbage dumpster far enough away from the campsite, yet not too far to be a hassle. Lastly, the main park trails can be easily accessed while staying at Gilmore Campground. However, if you want to get a campsite at Gilmore Campground, you will have to reserve it in advance. Reservations can be made up to nine months in advance. Pets are permitted as long as they are properly restrained and attended at all times during your stay.
Snowberry Campground
The family-friendly Snowberry Campground is a bit smaller than Waldron and offers a more intimate experience. There are 44 water and electric hookup sites available and no companion sites, making it great for individual families who want a little more space. The parking pads range from 18 to 60 feet in length, and each site has a campfire grill and picnic table. Snowberry Campground is located close to the disc golf courses, making it the choice campground for disc golf lovers. It is also fairly close to Lake Pend Oreille and a few of the trailheads.
Restrooms and showers are located in the center of the campground, and gray water disposal sites are located throughout. The campground is open year-round, but it is also busy year-round, so be sure to get your reservations before they fill up. No cabins are available at this campground, but there are the Willow Cabins and Locust Grove Group Campground nearby if those better suit your needs. Reservations can be made up to nine months in advance. Pets are allowed as long as you keep them properly restrained and attended at all times during your stay.
Waldron Campground
Waldron Campground is the largest campground at Farragut State Park and offers 69 water and electric hookup sites, 11 of which are companion style. Parking pads range from 35 to 60 feet long, and each site has a large picnic table and a campfire ring with a grill. This means your RV and a friend's RV can share the same lot and both have hook-ups. Restrooms, showers, and gray water disposal sites are scattered throughout the campground so you can easily access one no matter where your actual campsite is.
Waldron Campground is separated from the amphitheater and model airplane flying field by State Highway 54 and a short walk. As the first campground you will come across upon entering the park, these campsites fill up quickly, so make your reservations early. There are also three camping cabins available at Waldron Campground for larger camping groups and a centrally located volleyball court for recreation. Extra parking is available nearby if you have a secondary vehicle you want to use. Reservations can be made up to nine months in advance. Pets are always welcome as long as you keep them restrained and attended at all times during your visit.
Alternate camping
Private Campgrounds Near Farragut
If Farragut State Park reaches capacity, several excellent private options provide alternative accommodation:
Blackwell Island RV Park: Located on Lake Coeur d'Alene with over 180 sites, full hookups, and beach access. Premium location for exploring both Farragut State Park and Coeur d'Alene attractions.
Bell Bay Campground: Positioned on Coeur d'Alene Lake with upper loop hilltop views and lower loop shoreline access, offering spectacular lake vistas and convenient water access.
Sam Owen Campground: Nestled on Lake Pend Oreille banks in dense pine and cedar forest, featuring sandy beaches, boat ramps, and accessible trails with stunning bay views.
Seasonal activities in Farragut State Park
Off-Season
Learning
If you are looking to escape the cold, Farragut State Park Museum at the Brig is open year-round and allows visitors to get to know the area better. The Brig was originally built when the area was the naval training station during World War II and is one of the few buildings that survived from the era. The museum does a great job of preserving history and teaching visitors what it was like during World War II not just for soldiers, but also for German POWs and the brave women that volunteered to serve. The Brig is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a must-see stop for any history buff.
Horseback Riding
For all those who own horses and are always looking for new adventures, Farragut State Park is your place. Near the equestrian area is the 8.2-mile Buggy Trail, which is ideal for horseback riding. This scenic trail loops around the northern area of the park and through the native pines, poplars, and firs, giving you plenty of opportunities to observe all the wildlife that inhabits the area. Depending on what time of year you go you may see deer, hawks, squirrels, owls, bears, and rabbits.
Snowshoeing
Make sure you pack your snowshoes in the RV because the flatter areas of Farragut State Park offer the perfect setting for snowshoeing in the winter months. This area of Idaho usually gets plenty of snow during the winter and offers ski routes from less than a mile to 3.7 miles long. The 0.6-mile Visitor Center Loop is perfect for families with little ones because it is flat and easy. The 1.6-mile Thimbleberry Loop is a fun trail on the west side of the park. The 3.7-mile Highpoint Trail is ungroomed and takes you to a nice viewpoint of the Idlewilde Bay. You will get plenty of views of the snow-capped mountains while on the trails.
Skiing
Cross-country Skiing in Farragut State Park is popular so make sure you put the skis in the camper before you head out. At the southern tip of the park, you can find all kinds of ski trails that accommodate beginners and experts alike. Starting at the Visitor Center, there are five groomed ski trails ranging in distance from 0.6 to 6.2 miles long. Skate skiing can also be enjoyed here off the Thimbleberry Trail on the Skate Ski Loop, which is about a half-mile in length.
In-Season
Boating
Besides chilling in your RV, boating on Lake Pend Oreille has got to be one of the most relaxing things to do in the park, and luckily there are many ways to do it. Not only are there boat rentals available a few miles from the park, but there is also a boat launch area available so you can easily venture out onto the lake. Scenic Bay is the perfect place for a romantic afternoon or a little family bonding. Whether you are out to catch some fish for dinner or just want to explore the lake and all of its hidden coves, this lake has something for everyone to enjoy.
Disc Golfing
One unique feature of Farragut State Park are the large disc golf courses. Disc golf is not too difficult to master and is lots of fun for the whole family. Several courses are set up in a large field by the Locust Grove group campground and make the perfect activity for a family afternoon during the spring and summer months. Disc golf is not necessarily a traditional camping activity but can be a great way to spend a few hours goofing around, especially if you have never played before.
Hiking
Farragut State Park is perfect for hikers of all ages and offers walking trails that are easy and some more difficult trails for seasoned hikers. If you are hiking as a family, especially with small children, Squirrel Cache Trail is a great option, since it is only a little over a mile with no difficult terrains. However, if you are looking for the trails with the best views, the High Point Trail gives you some of the best views of Lake Pend Oreille and is only three miles long. So, make sure you pack your hiking boots in your camper!
Adventuring
The Tree to Tree Adventure Park in Farragut State Park is a fairly new addition and is very popular with the locals, as well as visitors from all over the country. From Tarzan swings to zip lines, nets to obstacle courses, you and the kids will love hanging out in the trees above the park. The park has both adult and children’s courses available and packages for everyone to enjoy. Crossing wobbly bridges, climbing tightropes and ladders, and walking on balance beams are just a few of the awesome activities to explore here.
