Goodenough Creek Campground

Steep road going in. Gravel the last 2 miles. Not a lot of open spots for RVs even on a Wednesday afternoon. Not suited for big rigs. We are 22’ motorhome. Clean rest rooms. Excellent for tent campers beyond RV pull in sites.

Ah, I figured out why I never found the place. Tried to stay here in August 2016, arrived after dark. I ended up continuing south on I-15 to Devil's Creek Reservoir that night. Anyway, Google maps now has good directions to it: From I-15 exit 47, Head west on US-30 W/E Merrill Rd (1.3 mi). Turn left onto S Marsh Creek Rd (0.3 mi) (this is where I made my mistake, I continued straight on W Merrill Rd which turns into S Marsh Creek Rd and goes past rural houses and farmlands all the way back to Inkom). Turn right onto Green Rd (2.8 mi). Turn left - Destination will be on the right (0.4 mi). Will try again if I'm ever staying in that part of Idaho.

We were on the long haul drive from Utah back to Canada and decided we needed one last night of rest before heading back. We decided on an evening at Lava Hot Springs so this free spot seemed like a good option.

It's about 10 minutes off the highway with a few corners up a gravel road. But the road is well maintained and the spots are awesome. We were completely alone that night in October and not long after returning to our trailer from the hot springs, a wicked storm rolled in. Our trailer shook and the thunder and rain were so loud we barely slept. I just pictured waking up to the road washed out and a tree across our truck. Thankfully everything was already dry when we pulled out.

The spots seem clean and maintained. It's secluded and quiet. There is a Subway just a few minutes away and it's only about half an hour to the hot springs. We were a little bummed we only got to spend the one night.

This would have been a good place to spend the night, but unfortunately the gate is only open from May 15 – Nov 15 to motorized vehicles. There’s a chain on the gate, but it’s loose enough for tent campers to easily get through. This is a small campground with only 5 sites. The road continues past these sites and could’ve had more tent sites, but there’s a “No RV Campsites Beyond This Point” sign. We didn’t venture down the road to see where it leads, but my guess is the hills in the background. The campground also has a large RV turnaround area at the far end. No water, electricity or any amenities at the sites except for a fire ring and picnic table.

AZ_Kit’s directions are spot-on (they’re from Google), and as long as you follow those directions the campground is easy to find. The road is in good condition, except for a couple of minor potholes. There is one steep section, but it won't be an issue for most rigs. The scenery on the drive in and out is beautiful.

We arrived in the dark and the ride up was somewhat scary due to the elevation and drop-offs. Even on a weekend in July, there were many sites open. We were pleasantly surprised by the quiet beauty surrounding us. The portajohns were the only downside, being very full and basically in one of the campsites. The BLM does a great job providing access to natural surroundings. The tent pad was comfortable, the parking area flat, and the picnic table sturdy. Up the road there were more tent sites not easily accessible in a larger vehicle, but near the namesake cool and clean creek. We would love to stay here longer but it was a great night's stay on our Oregon Trail adventure.

(sodyot is: a lightly powered 2012 Honda Odyssey towing maximum weight of 3500# in the form of a 21' Jayco trailer.)
When: late August, M-F
Access: only a few miles from Hwy 15 and a Flying J, good dirt road, climbed a couple of not-too-challenging hills.
Area: small campground, lightly used but some inexplicable car traffic during the day (??).
Site specifics: 5 RV sites, no shade, not much privacy. Amenities include picnic tables, fire pits, nice gravel pad (fairly level), and a shared portapotty. Sites 6-7-and 8 are past the "No RV campsites beyond this point" sign but all three would be easy to access for a <30' rig and <12' high. Site 6 is the best - creekside, shady, spacious, very secluded; 7 and 8 are adjacent and would require backing down a shared entrance and then hooking left or right. Decent sized turn around area with a vault toilet at the end of the road, where tent campers can access sites 9 and 10 across the Creek via a narrow bridge.
Bugs: noisy Carolina locusts but nothing else.

Very quiet.

Stayed here on 9/12/17 on my way home from the northern states. Had no problem finding it this time, I don't think there is any sign to mark "S Marsh Creek Rd" so just make sure you don't drive any more than 1.3 miles from the freeway before turning left. It's a wide triangular intersection at a point where the road you're on curves to the right. Once you're on S Marsh Creek Rd, Green Rd will be the first right (just 0.3 miles down the road) and it is clearly marked with a street sign and also a sign for "Goodenough Creek Campground". Once you're on Green Rd (which is mostly unpaved but in good condition), you basically just drive to the end of the road, where there is a small parking area and vault toilet, with a gate to your right that is only open seasonally from May 15 - Nov 15. The area appears to be a popular hunting area, there are signs posted for hunters and when I left in the morning there was a truck parked at this area with two dog crates in the back. The vault toilet at this spot was locked, and concrete had been recently laid in front of it and on Site #2 which appears to be a handicapped site with a sidewalk directly to the toilet. "Caution" tape blocked off this site and the vault toilet, but the concrete was completely dry.

There is no water available at the campground (besides the creek that runs through it). There is a porta-potty near site #4, it is well-used and not too clean. There is another (clean, rarely used, still had toilet paper in the dispenser) porta-potty between site #6 and sites #7-8, and another vault toilet (open, clean, slightly used, with toilet paper and a trash bag), at the end of the road near sites #9-10.

The first 5 sites are RV accessible, close together, not very long so not sure how big an RV they would fit. One other camper was there that night in a mid-sized RV. Site #3 is the only site of the first 5 with shade, and the tall tree in front of it shaded the picnic table/fire ring area most of the morning. At the end of the first 5 sites is a turn-around area, then the road turns to the left and continues across the creek. From here the road is one-lane, narrow, with low-hanging tree branches in places. Site #6 is obviously the best site, and the only single site of sites #6-10. Sites #7-8 share a parking area, but are separated on opposite sides of the parking area. Sites #9-10 are walk-in only, across a footbridge at the parking area at the end of the road, and these sites are not separated.

This campground is only about 5 miles from the freeway, and on the other side of the freeway is a Flying J travel center with laundry, showers, and bathrooms.

I stayed here 5/19/18 on my way to North to Yellowstone. 15 mins off I-15 easy access on great gravel road. The sites were gravel covered as of 5-18-18 very level and not dirt as stated above with brand new looking large picnic table and regular fire ring. AZ has the directions down pat and there were green street signs up as well as campground signs. They were small but adequate signs. The sites were few but well spaced. Others have noted the turn-a-round making it easy for mid sized rigs or 5th wheelers.
I arrived 5 pm Sat night and had my pick of 3 sites. The Verizon signal was plenty strong. No boosters just using my hot spot, It doesn't get any better than this place. Peace, quiet, views, creek noise. Definitely a 5 pick all the way around.

It’s easy to get to IF you go the right way. Apple maps (which is losing more & more credibility with me) gps took us off of Arimo Rd and had us go all the way down to a South Ellis Rd—the way it wanted us to go was not ok—no road, just a small cut out that would take you to the site 2 miles down but not before claiming 1-2 valuable pieces of your RV.
Anyway—we turned around and all was well.
Get off on Merrill Rd. Take a right on Green Rd and you’re all good.

The sites are big and could fit out 37” motorhome with room! There are about 7 sites & on a Friday it was pretty busy with people turning around because there was nothing left.

We arrived after 4 pm on a Friday and backed into space #1 (#5 was also available). It had a nice long gravel parking pad, with a raised gravel pad for the metal picnic table and fire ring. It also had a nice level area with smaller sized gravel for pitching a tent. Followed the Google Maps directions in with no problem. After the paved road ended it turned to a VERY WELL maintained gravel road up to the Federal Land line, then it became a more typical gravel road (maybe an 8th of a mile), but still easily accessible with our truck and 31' 5th wheel. Fortunately our neighbors, like us, preferred not to use any generators so it was a very quiet and peaceful experience. Beautiful view of the night sky and crickets to serenade you to sleep. Did not check out the vault toilets as we prefer our own. All our neighbors left early Sunday morning so we had the place to ourselves.