Campgrounds and RV parks near Arco, ID

Arco sits on U.S. Highway 20/26/93 in east-central Idaho, at the north edge of the Snake River Plain and about 18 miles from the entrance to Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. The town functions as the main service stop for travelers heading to the monument, and its RV parks are built around that traffic. Mountain View RV Park, Moose Crossing RV Park, and Wagon Wheel Motel and RV Park sit within town limits and offer full-hookup sites for travelers who want power, water, and a dump station between park visits. Craters of the Moon / Arco KOA Journey provides a franchised option a short drive from the monument turnoff, useful for renters who want a predictable KOA layout. Inside the park itself, Lava Flow Campground is a 42-site campground accessible by automobile from May through November depending on snow conditions, with all sites available on a first-come, first-served basis and no hookups, though some sites accommodate large RVs. Because the in-park campground has no hookups and limited water, most RV renters split their stay: nights in town for services, days inside the monument for hiking and the Loop Road.

Reservation systems differ sharply between in-park and in-town options. Lava Flow Campground does not offer reservations through Recreation.gov, and all 42 individual sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Plan to arrive by early afternoon in July and August, and have a backup in Arco. The monument's group site is the exception. It is available by reservation through Recreation.gov during the summer season and is tent-only, so RV groups need to combine a group tent booking with individual RV sites in town. Private parks in Arco, including Mountain View RV Park, Moose Crossing RV Park, Wagon Wheel Motel and RV Park, and the Craters of the Moon / Arco KOA Journey, take reservations directly by phone or through their own websites. Book several weeks ahead for July and August weekends.