Best Campgrounds near Billings, MT

The Billings area encompasses a diverse range of camping options along the Yellowstone River and surrounding plains. Within 30 minutes of downtown, campers find established facilities like Billings KOA Holiday and Yellowstone River RV Park, both offering full hookups and amenities for RVs and tent campers. For those seeking more primitive experiences, Acton Recreation Area provides free dispersed camping on BLM land about 25 miles north of the city with basic vault toilets but no water or hookups. Several fishing access sites along the Yellowstone River, including Captain Clark and Voyagers Rest, offer simple camping with fire rings and picnic tables in scenic riverside settings.

Montana's variable climate significantly impacts camping conditions, with strong winds common throughout the region. A Montana Conservation License ($10 for non-residents) is required at many fishing access sites and state-managed areas. As one camper noted, "Acton Recreation Area has easy access, nice gravel even road, well marked entrance and even leveled sites." Cell service varies considerably, with some areas like Grant Marsh having no coverage while others maintain strong signals. Many campgrounds operate seasonally, typically from April through October, though several RV parks remain open year-round. Summer brings mosquitoes and occasional severe weather, with campers advised to bring insect repellent.

Riverside locations receive consistently positive reviews, with the Yellowstone River providing scenic backdrops at multiple campgrounds. "The park is in a quiet area with easy access on and off the interstate Highway in southeast Billings," noted one visitor about Yellowstone River RV Park. Campers frequently mention using Billings-area campgrounds as convenient bases for exploring regional attractions like Pompey's Pillar, Little Bighorn Battlefield, and the Beartooth Mountains. Noise levels vary significantly, with interstate and railway sounds affecting some locations. City parks in smaller towns like Columbus (Itch-Kep-Pe Park) and Laurel (Riverside City Park) offer affordable alternatives with basic amenities and are described as "extremely easy to get into" and "nice and spread out" by visitors seeking economical overnight options.

Best Camping Sites Near Billings, Montana (49)

    1. Billings KOA Holiday

    47 Reviews
    Billings, MT
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 252-3104

    "This KOA sits right along the Yellowstone River along the eastern outskirts of Billings."

    "On the backside of campground several spots around a small pond. There's a public swimming pool and a nice small general store with laundry. Downtown Billings is minutes away."

    2. Yellowstone River RV Park & Campground

    13 Reviews
    Billings, MT
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 259-0878

    "The park is in a quiet area with easy access on and off the interstate Highway in southeast Billings. The exit is he same one that leads to the road to downtown, the ball park, and the airport."

    "The closest "river" is a completely dry bed which is probably an over flow channel and then it's another long trail through field and bramble to get to the actual river. Aside from that."

    3. Acton Recreation Area

    23 Reviews
    Acton, MT
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 896-5013

    "One of the nicest BLMs if that’s what’s called. 30 min from Billings, easy access, nice gravel even road, well marked entrance and even leveled sites."

    "Great spot short drive into Billing’s but in the countryside"

    4. Riverside City Park

    6 Reviews
    Laurel, MT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 628-4796

    "Close to town. Only issue with this campground is how they have sites marked. Took a little bit to figure out the site markers for tent camping."

    "Scenery is marred a bit by an oil refinery nearby but overall it is very nice.  We are in site #PT2 at $20 per night."

    5. Creekside Camp at Prairie Skies

    1 Review
    Billings, MT
    12 miles
    +1 (406) 672-9833

    $35 - $40 / night

    6. Itch-Kep-Pe Park

    45 Reviews
    Fishtail, MT
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 322-5313

    "Close enough to Billings."

    "We spent 9 days here (8/25-9/2) to work in nearby Billings (40 miles east) before heading to Washington State. The park was quiet and clean and we had no issues with neighbors at all."

    8. Mountain Range RV Park

    11 Reviews
    Fishtail, MT
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 322-1140

    $64 - $108 / night

    "Very clean RV/tent campground just outside of Billings with full hookups and a lovely area for tent camping. Laundry facilities, showers."

    "We wanted to show a few pictures of our beautiful park here in Columbus Montana. We invite you to come see us and stay with us."

    9. Voyagers Rest

    1 Review
    Pompeys Pillar, MT
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 444-2535

    10. Cooney State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Roberts, MT
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 445-2326

    $18 - $90 / night

    "The lake has nice options for all levels of use. Be prepared for gravel roads to get to them."

    "It lacks trees at most campsites, but that’s ok…it’s easy to get in and out of, the sites are level and every one has a view of the lake."

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Recent Reviews near Billings, MT

267 Reviews of 49 Billings Campgrounds


  • Luckybreak R.
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Itch-Kep-Pe Park

    City park on the river

    Mostly level gravel sites, well spaced, some with shade and some sunny. Restrooms are well maintained. Lower campground is 1/2 mile further in and only has a single vault toilet. Will definitely return again.

  • Wandering Resonance The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    General Custer Fishing Access Road

    Just skip it!

    Not a bad site in theory, the access road is good and there is a toilet. However, there are only three campsites, one of which requires running a gauntlet of overgrown willow bushes and scratching a substantial amount of paint off the sides of your vehicle to access, which we did as the other two sites were taken. The mosquitoes here are horrid as it's a marsh, we considered peeing in a jar in our van instead of risking opening the insect mesh. Standard array of trash...cigarette butts, beer cans, water bottles etc.

  • andrew The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Hardin KOA

    Quiet and clean

    We stayed for two nights and went to see Custers last stand. Pool was great for afternoon. Laundry and bathrooms clean and just fine. My only issue was the dump hook up at our FHU site. It was about 1ft above ground level and almost made it impossible to dump with an accordion hose. Other than that, great stay.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Afterbay Campground — Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

    Afterbay Campground

    Will maintained and set up campground. No sewer or showers however, electricity and water and vault toilets. Cell reception is good with Verizon, cell Internet is marginal. Local town has almost no resources. A nearby fishing shop/market has bare minimum supplies.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Bridger City Campground

    Bridger campground

    We had a long day driving and needed a place to stay for the night. It’s first come first serve and has full hooks. There were a couple trailers with guys working in town that are staying here from Alaska. It’s a quiet little town. 6 spaces to camp, they are very close to each other. Cute little park for kids to play at. It was a great little place to stop for one night! The town is quaint. Did some laundry, but make sure you have quarters. The locals are very friendly.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Hardin KOA

    Lovely Campground

    Clean, well maintained. Washing machine room is big and an adjacent room to wash your dog! This KOA has a Pizza/Wings store attached to office. Spoke to the new owners and told us of their expansion plan which is only waiting on permit approval from state/town. Adjacent to alfalfa fields, bring mosquito bug spray.

  • Brandon T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Horsethief Station Fishing Access

    dispersed camping in quiet residentially zoned area

    Came here for a day, first time in Montana so I had to get the conservation license to camp here but apparently that's a must in all public land of Montana so I got it. $10 for the year. Perfect place to bring solar since there's no shade, and perfect place for my dogs, because they enjoy the creek parallel to all the camp spots. Great quiet spot .

  • M
    Aug. 14, 2025

    Acton Recreation Area

    Acton Recreational Park

    The park is beautiful, the sites are spacious and the views are spectacular.

  • Lindsey A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2025

    Horsethief Station

    Full sun spots, no privacy

    You’ll need to get a Montana fishing or hunting license to stay here, which isn’t a problem. However all the sites are in a long row with no privacy between them and multiple houses and barns in view. I wanted more privacy so I moved along. Only three RVs were staying when I arrived around 3pm.

    Easy place to park an RV with two pull through spots and and two entrances/exits and no need to turn around.


Guide to Billings

Camping near Billings, MT, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor lovers. From family-friendly campgrounds to serene spots for RVers, there's something for everyone in this beautiful region.

What to do:

  • Mini Golf and Swimming: At Billings KOA, families can enjoy mini golf and a swimming pool. One visitor mentioned, "Kids had a blast with both and the playground."
  • Fishing and Boating: Captain Clark is great for fishing and has a boat ramp. A reviewer noted, "There is a great swimming hole on the other side of the boat launch."
  • Hiking and Trails: The Acton Recreation Area offers cool trails for walking and biking. One camper shared, "Some cool trails to walk the dog and bike leading from the area."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at Yellowstone River RV Park & Campground. A visitor said, "Very clean campground lots of hot water in the shower very clean."
  • Friendly Staff: Many campers rave about the welcoming atmosphere. At Hardin KOA, one reviewer mentioned, "The owners are wonderful and all employees have been fantastic!"
  • Scenic Views: Campers enjoy the beautiful surroundings. A review for Mountain Range RV Park noted, "Nice pull through sites, clean bathrooms and showers."

What you should know:

  • Pricing: Some campgrounds can be pricey. A camper at Billings KOA mentioned, "A little pricey for a quick turn but nice neighbors and great amenities."
  • Site Proximity: At Yellowstone River RV Park & Campground, tent camping can feel crowded. One camper said, "You basically pitch a tent in the middle of a bunch of RVs with very little tree cover."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. A visitor at Itch-Kep-Pe Park noted, "There are public toilets but no showers."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places like Billings KOA that offer playgrounds and activities. One parent said, "Nice full hook up back in spot. A little pricey for a quick turn but nice neighbors and great amenities."
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to check out the amenities before you go. A camper at Mountain Range RV Park mentioned, "There was a nice area with horseshoes and another toss game."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Having food on hand can save time and money. A visitor at Hardin KOA appreciated the "vending machines in the laundromat, one of the offers ice cream, and frozen food."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Hookups: Make sure the campground has the right hookups for your RV. A reviewer at Yellowstone River RV Park & Campground noted, "This park has very nice full hookups sites with trees and lawns."
  • Be Prepared for Noise: Some campgrounds can be noisy due to nearby roads or trains. A camper at Mountain Range RV Park mentioned, "Trains can be heard occasionally while outside but inside with our fan running we never heard them."
  • Explore Nearby Towns: Don't forget to check out local attractions. A visitor at Red Lodge KOA said, "What a great clean campground near the Beartooth Hwy, Chief Joseph hwy and beautiful Red Lodge."

Camping near Billings, MT, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for family fun or a peaceful retreat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find RV camping in Billings, Montana?

RV campers have several good options in and around Billings. Acton Recreation Area is a well-maintained BLM site about 30 minutes from Billings with easy access, a nicely graded gravel road, well-marked entrance, and level sites. For those wanting to stay closer to town, Eastwood Estates Mobile Home & RV Park offers convenient city access with big-rig-friendly spaces. Many RV parks in the area provide full hookups, and some offer pull-through sites that can accommodate larger rigs, making Billings a good stopping point for RVers traveling through Montana.

What are the best campgrounds near Billings, MT?

Several highly-rated campgrounds are located within a short drive of Billings. Yellowstone River RV Park & Campground offers full hookups with trees and lawns in a quiet area with easy interstate access in southeast Billings. The park features beautiful views along the Yellowstone River. For a different experience, Billings KOA Holiday sits along the Yellowstone River on the eastern outskirts of town, offering standard KOA amenities and views of a historic cliff where Native Americans once drove bison. Both locations provide convenient access to the city while enjoying Montana's natural beauty.

Are there any national forest campgrounds near Billings, MT?

While there aren't national forest campgrounds immediately adjacent to Billings, several public land camping options exist within driving distance. Trail Creek/Barrys Landing - Bighorn Canyon National Rec Area offers beautiful camping away from tourist crowds with access to water activities, though it's a bit of a drive. Closer to town, Captain Clark provides dispersed camping along the Yellowstone River with fire rings and exceptional scenery. These sites provide access to public lands and natural areas while being more accessible from Billings than the national forests, which are located further to the south and west.

Is there tent camping available near Billings, Montana?

Tent campers will find several good options near Billings. Grant Marsh offers pull-in sites about 30 miles from Billings along the Big Horn River, perfect for tent campers seeking water access. Horsethief Station provides tent camping sites, though you'll need a Montana fishing or hunting license to stay here. For those looking for established facilities, Yellowstone River RV Park also accommodates tent campers with dedicated tent-only sites at the rear of the park. These locations offer various amenities and surroundings, from riverside settings to more developed campgrounds, giving tent campers several options within reasonable driving distance of Billings.