What Campers Should Know About Idaho's New Ticketmaster-Style Reservation System

The secret is out: Idaho truly does live up to its name as the "Gem State." From vast high desert wilderness teeming with wild grasses and colorful wildflowers, to expansive mountain ranges with jagged peaks and glistening alpine lakes, Idaho has a little bit of everything. It's truly a one-of-a-kind bucket list adventure destination. Increasingly, the state is gaining popularity, attracting more annual visitors alongside a rapidly growing population. So, it's no wonder that with the increased demand comes a new system to address this demand. Enter Idaho Time, Idaho's new Department of Parks and Recreation reservation system. This Ticketmaster-style system sets pricing for each of the state parks' campgrounds and reservable lodging it manages, depending on the location, demand, seasonality, and peak times.

This dynamic pricing model has not come without controversy, as many local residents have expressed concerns about being 'priced out' of some of the more popular camping spots. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR), however, believes that this change will make camping more affordable for many Idahoans. They agree that some of the more popular sites will have higher prices, especially during the weekends, peak season, and holidays — but assert that campers who are more flexible will actually pay less than they would have otherwise when the pricing for each site was fixed. Robbie Johnson, communications manager for IDPR, told local news station KTVB 7, "We are not trying to price out Idahoans from camping. We want to encourage and make it easy for Idahoans to camp."

The IDPR manages all of Idaho's state parks, for which there are currently 23 locations throughout the state. While all are certainly worth a visit, a few stand out above the rest with unmatched beauty and unique features that are hard to find anywhere else. Situated in the central portion of the state, Ponderosa State Park in McCall, Idaho, is an impressive location to visit for those who seek deep, lush pine forests, glistening lakes, and a great jumping-off point for world-class whitewater rafting and kayaking. All within a short drive of McCall, one of the many stunning cities in this Western state full of restaurants, bars, shopping, and lodging. This is a highly popular destination for locals and visitors alike, especially during the Fourth of July weekend, when the town holds beloved festivities and a substantial fireworks display over Lake Ponderosa. (So make reservations early.) Just about two hours north of Idaho's state capital, Boise, this is a great destination and should absolutely make it onto your Idaho bucket list.

Another fantastic place for adventure in Idaho is Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park, about an hour from Boise. This park surrounds, you guessed it, dunes. But not just any dunes, the tallest single-mass sand dunes in all of North America. At this unique Northwestern state park you can rent sand boards and cruise down the 470-foot mountainous dune, and then take a dip, kayak, or paddleboard in the small lake at the base. Since Bruneau is one of the least light-polluted places in the United States, it offers excellent stargazing opportunities. The park even features its own observatory, which is open in the evening from Thursday through Saturday during the spring and summer months.

For those who are worried about being priced out of camping or concerned about limited availability (especially on busier summer weekends), there are some easy ways to save money and still get the most out of your camping experience. First, flexibility is key. Being willing to camp during the shoulder seasons, or on weekdays rather than weekends and holidays, will allow you to find much more availability and affordability of sites in the state parks. Another way to save is to search for parks that are less busy, yet still offer what you hope to get out of camping. While Idaho has a lot of diversity, there are some parks that are similar. For example, Ponderosa State Park is very popular and books up quickly, but just 40 minutes south of it is another awesome state park with many similarities, called Lake Cascade State Park. 

One of the beautiful things about Idaho is the vast amount of public lands within the state. This means that almost anywhere you go, you will find Forest Service-run campgrounds, as well as free and dispersed campsites. In Idaho, as long as you are within the bounds of the national forests or Bureau of Land Management lands, you can camp basically anywhere off the roads (other than designated fee zones and private property) for free for up to 14 days at a time. In many places, there are more established dispersed sites scattered throughout, and many spots are carved off directly from the main roads and highways, allowing you to pull in and camp. Forest Service roads are a great bet to find free dispersed camping in the national forests. 

Wherever you choose to camp, Idaho is home to many breathtaking destinations worth exploring, and the new reservation system makes it easy to plan and accommodate camping within your budget.