LA to Coeur D'Alene via Utah, Wyoming & Montana
 

Will be driving with my son, camping equipment and bikes...need great ideas for what to do and where to stay!

Have about 8 days to get to Idaho, leaving July 21....

Fatkitty,

Places to stay and camp along the way without going too far off I-15 would be:

Zion
Bryce
Capitol Reef
any of the mountains along I-15 between Torrey and SLC
Sun Valley and Stanley, ID area

I would suggest looking on the National Forest website for campgrounds. Be sure to have advance reservations for the weekend nights for campgrounds in Utah.

Know that you might need to stay flexible if your chosen campground is closed due to fires. There are MANY campgrounds and some commercial ones if you must resort to those.

Is this mainly a road trip with camping, or a camping vacation?

Visit Craters of the Moon. They have a 51 site campground behind the visitor center. FCFS pick a site you like and pay the $10. http://www.nps.gov/crmo/planyourvisi...servations.htm
I'm guessing you have a National Parks pass (America the Beautiful or equal).

Thank you all for your kind suggestions. This is a road trip with camping, and I have a national parks pass. I haven't been thru these parts since I was 12 and I'm 52 but I do many road trips, primarily thru California, AZ and OR. I am nature-oriented and really looking forward to revisiting these states.

There are different ways for you to go. One way is to go on I-15 through Idaho to Montana, then go west on I-90 to Coeur d'Alene. If you go this way, there a nice national forest campground around Spencer, Idaho (fills up on weekends). Just before you get to Dillon, Mont. you can go on 278 to the ghost town of Bannack (campground there) & then go 43, and 93 to Missoula (campgrounds on 93). If you want to stay on the freeway go I-15 to 90 to get to Missoula & continue on 90 to your destination. Deer Lodge has a prison/car museum in town & a KOA. Either route goes through a lot of national forests, so I'd check for campgrounds on the web site Reserve America or other sites. You'll probably only need reservations on the weekends but be aware July 24th is a holiday in Utah. Have a great trip!

I know this is no help but I love your profile picture, Fatkitty.

If you follow annieO's itinerary along I-15 and US 93 or I-90 I second her suggestion to stay at Bannack.
The campground and the whole setting of the ghost town are really nice.
Once you get to Missoula, you can do a short detour up North on 93/200/212 to do the loop drive thru the National Bison Range.