Idaho / Fremont County / Island Park / Caribou-Targhee National Forest

Buffalo

Closed — Closed for the winter season. Typically operates late May through early September with reservations, fees, water, and vault toilets. After the official season ends, the campground is open first-come, first-served with no fee, no water, and no toilets.

About

Buffalo Campground is a large Forest Service campground located on the banks of the Buffalo River in beautiful Island Park, Idaho, within the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Situated at 6,200 feet elevation and easily accessible from U.S. Highway 20, the campground sits 26 miles south of West Yellowstone, Montana and 25 miles north of Ashton, Idaho. The campground offers 117 single-family sites, 4 double-family sites, and 1 group site accommodating up to 150 people, all nestled in a mixed forest of lodgepole pine and aspen that provides partial shade. Each site includes a picnic table and campfire ring. One loop offers electric hookups (30 and 50 amp), and the campground can accommodate RVs up to 50 feet on paved roads and parking spurs. The Buffalo River flows alongside the campground, its clear waters teeming with brook and rainbow trout. Island Park is renowned for world-class fly fishing, with the Henry's Fork considered one of the nation's premier trout streams. The Buffalo River itself offers excellent fishing, tubing, and canoeing opportunities. The campground provides an accessible fishing dock and parking for anglers. Island Park Reservoir, just 2 miles west, offers boating, jet-skiing, water skiing, and additional fishing opportunities. The Mesa Falls Scenic Byway, 7 miles south, features stunning overlooks of 110-foot Upper Mesa Falls and 85-foot Lower Mesa Falls. Yellowstone National Park's west entrance is only 26 miles north, making Buffalo an ideal base camp for day trips to the park.

Directions

From West Yellowstone, Montana, take U.S. Highway 20 south for 26 miles. The campground entrance is less than 0.25 miles north of Ponds Lodge on the east side of the highway. From Idaho Falls, take Highway 20 north 80 miles to Ponds Lodge; the campground entrance is directly across from Ponds Lodge on the east side of Highway 20.

Nearby Campgrounds