Best Campgrounds near Big Timber, MT

Campgrounds near Big Timber, Montana range from established sites with amenities to primitive fishing access areas along the Yellowstone River. Spring Creek Campground & Trout Ranch provides tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations about 5 miles from town on Boulder Road. Several fishing access sites including Otter Creek, Grey Bear, and Big Rock offer more rustic camping experiences with basic amenities such as fire rings and vault toilets. Most sites accommodate both tent and RV camping, with a few locations like the Big Timber-Greycliff KOA also offering glamping options.

Road conditions vary significantly depending on the campground location, with some requiring travel on rough gravel roads. Most fishing access sites are easily accessible from highways, while forest campgrounds like Halfmoon require navigation of bumpy roads. As one visitor noted, "The road in is gravel and rough at times. There are a lot of cabins or homes along the road and we encountered a lot of traffic." Camping season generally runs from April through October, though some sites are open year-round. Summer temperatures can be quite warm, making waterfront locations particularly desirable. Many campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis with typical stay limits of 14-16 days. Cell service varies by location but is generally available at sites closer to town.

The Yellowstone River provides the backdrop for several popular camping areas, with sites often situated directly along the shoreline. Multiple reviewers mentioned the peaceful sound of flowing water as a highlight of their stay. A camper at Grey Bear noted, "Very nice campground about 6 miles out of Big Timber Montana. Shady campground...very loud trains at night...overall a nice place to stay...fishing can be decent." Wildlife viewing opportunities exist throughout the region, though bears are present in some areas and proper food storage is essential. Campgrounds at higher elevations in the surrounding mountains offer cooler temperatures and scenic views but require more planning to access. Fishing is a primary activity for many visitors, with trout being the main catch in area rivers and stocked ponds.

Best Camping Sites Near Big Timber, Montana (87)

    1. Spring Creek Campground & Trout Ranch

    21 Reviews
    Big Timber, MT
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 932-4387

    "Campground is situated on Boulder River. Office staff was friendly. Laundry facility was clean but dated. (Harvest gold dryers from the 70’s dated). Great proximity to downtown big timber, MT."

    "If you get a spot next to the river they the sound of the water is phenomenal! They also stock the ponds with trout so that for dinner you can eat fish. They also clean the fish for you."

    2. Otter Creek Fishing Access Site

    22 Reviews
    Big Timber, MT
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 444-2535

    "Beautiful location with several spots. All have fire pits but picnic tables are in bad shape. Going to sleep with sound of Rushing Water 20 ft away from me."

    "This is a free Montana Fishing Access Site next to the Yellowstone River north of Big Timber. There was one clean single vault toilet for about 5 sites."

    3. Big Timber-Greycliff KOA

    18 Reviews
    Greycliff, MT
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 932-6569

    "It's better to exit off the interstate just east of the campground."

    "Usually we stay at KOAs for stopover convenience, but being tired of driving we decided to stick around for an extra night. For a KOA, this was a really decent spot."

    4. Grey Bear

    7 Reviews
    Big Timber, MT
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 444-2535

    "Very nice campground about 6 miles out of Big Timber Montana."

    "There are trains close by but that didn't bother too much. If you stay with kids there are spots where the river current is quite strong close to shore."

    5. Big Rock

    6 Reviews
    Big Timber, MT
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 444-2535

    "Great spot not too far in from Big timber. Lots of river running through the campground and low enough to enjoy a swim, fish, or get your feet wet. Restroom is located here."

    "Awesome location, 10 minutes from the expressway and on the river.  About a half dozen sites with a pit toilet that was stocked and clean.  "

    6. Otter Creek Fishing Access

    3 Reviews
    Big Timber, MT
    2 miles

    "Only four or five spots right next to the river but plenty of open spots in the field next to where people Park their boats."

    "Several areas for campers and travel trailers and even big rigs and popular area for fishing so rather than normal BLM 14 days it's a 7-Day Max but it's beautiful just next to the river so you can hear"

    7. Pelican Fishing Access Site

    3 Reviews
    Greycliff, MT
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 444-2535

    8. Halfmoon Campground

    11 Reviews
    Melville, MT
    20 miles
    Website

    "Don't miss Big Timber falls! Black bear and Moose are frequent visitors."

    "I arrived around 1pm on a Friday and there were only two spots remaining. I grabbed spot #8, it certainly is not the most desirable but it was a spot nonetheless."

    9. Pig Farm Fishing Access Camp

    11 Reviews
    Livingston, MT
    21 miles

    "There are train tracks nearby, which wasn't necessarily negative for us since we live next to train tracks at home ."

    "It is close to the train track and you can see the trucks in the freeway."

    10. Boulder Forks

    2 Reviews
    Mcleod, MT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 444-2535

    "Must have a montana conservation tag. Bring your own wood. Bring a water filter. Outhouse on site"

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Recent Reviews near Big Timber, MT

444 Reviews of 87 Big Timber Campgrounds


  • VanRumschpringa V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    South Fork Brackett Creek Dispersed Site

    Quiet with a relatively easy approach

    The road has some potholes but nothing too problematic. There are a lot of small pull-ups and some large spaces as well. You’ll be buried deep in the woods near Bridger bowl. I camped at the trailhead for Lower South Brackett trail. I did not explore what lay beyond my site. It was 28° or less overnight and there is a pretty dusting of snow on the ground when I woke.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Buffalo Jump Camp

    Beautiful but small

    There are only 2 spots for camping here. It’s a nice spot with river access, but close to road and no room for big rig.

  • h
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Chief Joseph Campground

    Basic but nice and quiet

    This campground is on the edge of Harlowton. A small town that has very adequate basic services. The campground is in the city park / rodeo grounds. Very quiet. Clean. If you have dogs go out the south entrance where the is a rails to trails walkway. Nice for human and k-nines alike. Only electric at the sites. But there is a dump station Anna potable water spigot. Our kind of campground. Only draw back would be when the Rodeo is in progress. It would be one hopping place then. We have stayed here in July and first of October. Beautiful and pleasant both times.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Fairy Lake Dispersed Camping

    Great spot!

    I towed my small camper up the mountain fairly easily, although this is by far the roughest road I’ve encountered so far. Not for the faint of heart! I saw a couple sprinter vans coming up but no other RV’s. There are a handful of spots to camp on the way up the mountain but I found one about 1/4 mile before the campground. There is sun, shade, a fire ring and 3 other neighboring sites. 2 of those sites aren’t very accessible by car but this site is big enough for multiple vehicles. It’s also walking distance to the Fairy Lake trailhead and to the lake itself, which is very popular on the weekends. Would absolutely stay here again. No bugs, no bear scat nearby, some traffic but still private.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 26, 2025

    Battle Ridge Campground

    Great for tents

    We found this spot to be lovely but don’t go up the mountain if you have an rv. We ended up at the dead end and we had to back down our 30 foot rv down the mountain. Lots of people living at this spot in the late fall so be aware of that. Cool spot but not big rig friendly passed the main turn in area.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Otter Creek Fishing Access Site

    Overnight stop

    Permit required if you look hard enough to notice. Pit toilet, no water, no electric, rock fire rings, several spots to set up, boat ramp. I was just passing through and needed a place to sleep for the night. It's a nice little spot with some great scenery. When I stayed, there were about 4 others there as well, all scattered about. It was quiet except for the train horn that woke me from my slumber a couple of times throughout the night. Nice little spot. Would stay again despite the train.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Fairy Lake Campground

    Gorgeous Mountains and Crystal Clear Water

    The drive up is very rough, most vehicles I saw were Toyotas and Subarus. 4 Wheel drive is recommended, however I took my Ram Promaster 3500 Campervan up to the top where the campground is. The campground is a little higher up than the lake, but the Mountain View’s are worth not having a campsite directly on the water. There is a stream that runs through a few sites tho. Anyway it was beautiful and plenty of space between other sites, but there were people there all weekend long. The weekdays we were basically alone at the campground.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Old West RV Park

    Cute place

    Super friendly owners, very accommodating. Very clean laundry room. Walkable to local store, bar & grill. Sites were close to each other and overpriced because of location to Yellowstone but cheaper than others in the area n


Guide to Big Timber

The Boulder River offers an alternative to the more crowded Yellowstone River locations for camping spots near Big Timber, Montana. Most campsites in this area sit at elevations between 4,500-5,000 feet, with summer daytime temperatures averaging 80-90°F and nighttime temperatures dropping to 45-55°F. Cell service varies significantly by location, with stronger coverage at fishing access sites closer to Interstate 90 and spotty or non-existent service in higher elevation campgrounds.

What to do

Fishing for trout: The Boulder River provides excellent fishing opportunities at Spring Creek Campground & Trout Ranch, where they stock ponds with trout and even clean fish for campers. "They also stock the ponds with trout so that for dinner you can eat fish. They also clean the fish for you," notes one visitor.

Swim in the river: During hot summer days, the cool river waters provide relief at sites like Big Rock. A camper mentioned, "Lots of river running through the campground and low enough to enjoy a swim, fish, or get your feet wet."

Hiking to alpine lakes: For those seeking higher elevations, trails from Halfmoon Campground lead to scenic mountain lakes. The challenging hike to Granite Lake is "4mi and it was hard but worth the effort for sure," according to one hiker.

Wildlife viewing: Prairie Dog Town State Park is within walking distance of Big Timber-Greycliff KOA. A visitor notes it's "a cute place to watch prairie dogs and check out the local flora."

What campers like

Riverside camping sites: Many fishing access areas provide direct river access with the soothing sounds of flowing water. At Grey Bear, campers enjoy "camping and fishing on the Yellowstone river. Fun for the kids and only a few miles from town to get supplies."

Family-friendly facilities: Several campgrounds cater specifically to families with children. Spring Creek Campground receives praise from parents: "I have 5 kids of all ages. They love it here. Fishing ponds and river too. The husband and wife have worked so hard to make this place fun for everyone."

Affordable options: Free camping is available at several fishing access sites with basic amenities. At Otter Creek, "This is a free Montana Fishing Access Site next to the Yellowstone River north of Big Timber. There was one clean single vault toilet for about 5 sites. No water or garbage available but each site has a picnic table and fire ring."

Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer well-spaced sites that provide privacy. Halfmoon Campground features "well separated, timbered sites with miles of hiking available."

What you should know

Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds requires travel on rough roads. Halfmoon Campground requires "about 45-60 minutes outside of Big Timber to get here" and "the last 4 [miles] having vehicle crawl. If you go more than 10 miles an hour in this section you will probably pop a tire."

Train noise: Several riverside camping areas are near train tracks. At Pig Farm Fishing Access Camp, "Train whistles woke us up four times" during the night, according to one camper.

Limited amenities at fishing access sites: Most fishing access sites have only vault toilets and fire rings. One visitor to Big Rock noted, "This is primitive. Not water or hook ups or trash but there is a pit toilet."

Weather variability: Mountain campsites can experience extreme weather changes. At Halfmoon Campground, campers "woke up to the craziest wind storm around 1am!!! Our tent took quite a beating, we are estimating that winds were above 50mph!!!"

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly fishing: Big Timber-Greycliff KOA offers various activities for children. "Lots of kids having a blast at the pool, riding their bikes and playing in the creek that borders the campground," notes one visitor.

Entertainment options: Spring Creek Campground provides multiple ways to keep kids engaged. A camper shared, "Kids got to feed fish in the pond just stop in and ask for the food. They are kind to kids and pets as well."

Swimming access: Look for camping spots with gentle river access. One camper at Big Rock mentioned, "Lovely little spot! Beautiful scenery and river running through."

Local treats: Combine camping with trips to town for special treats. One Spring Creek visitor suggested, "Right down the road to Big Timber is a small drug store with the best shakes that brings a perfect end to the day."

Tips from RVers

Spacious sites: Otter Creek Fishing Access Site offers generous parking areas for RVs. "Only four or five spots right next to the river but plenty of open spots in the field next to where people Park their boats," notes one RVer.

Level site considerations: For those with larger rigs, Spring Creek Campground has "level [sites] with gravel, framed out, and have nice grass."

RV size limitations: Some fishing access sites have restrictions on rig size. At Boulder Forks, camping is "dispersed-like so find a campfire ring and set up" but it's not suited for larger RVs.

Hookup availability: Spring Creek Campground offers various hookup options. "We didn't have sewer hookup, but they had a honey wagon," noted one RVer who stayed nearly two weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best campgrounds near Big Timber, MT?

The best campgrounds near Big Timber offer a mix of scenic views and outdoor recreation opportunities. Halfmoon Campground stands out with well-separated, timbered sites and miles of hiking trails. Don't miss Big Timber Falls while staying here, and keep an eye out for wildlife like black bears and moose. The campground features immaculately clean bathrooms, though it fills quickly on weekends. Big Rock is another excellent option not far from town, with the river running through the campground at a level suitable for swimming and fishing. It includes restroom facilities and provides easy access to town for supplies or dining. For more remote experiences, consider East Boulder Campground, offering creek-side sites with picnic tables and fire rings.

What are the camping options in and around Big Timber?

Big Timber offers several camping options along the Yellowstone River. Otter Creek Fishing Access Site provides free camping with fire pits and picnic tables just 3 miles from town. The sites offer river views and boat launch access, though there are no hookups or water available. Grey Bear is another option about 6 miles from Big Timber, offering a shady campground with vault toilets but no water or trash service. Additional options include Pelican Fishing Access Site (limited shade but easy access), Big Rock (good for swimming and fishing with restroom facilities), and East Boulder Campground for smaller rigs and tent camping. Most fishing access sites are free but offer minimal amenities, while paid options with more facilities are available slightly further from town.

What RV parks are available in Big Timber, Montana?

Spring Creek Campground & Trout Ranch is the premier RV option near Big Timber, offering 50-amp full hookup sites with spacious, level gravel pads and grassy areas on the patio side. Located on the Boulder River, the park features stocked fishing ponds, laundry facilities, and friendly staff. Not all sites have full hookups, so reservations are recommended for specific amenities. For more basic RV camping, Pelican Fishing Access Site provides an easily accessible option very near Big Timber, though it lacks shade and hookups. Otter Creek Fishing Access Site has approximately three RV spots alongside tent camping areas, offering river views but no hookups, water, or power. Most public fishing access sites accommodate smaller RVs but have limited amenities.