Camping near Bridger, Montana provides access to both mountainside retreats and riverside sites within south-central Montana. Located at approximately 3,700 feet elevation, Bridger sits between the Beartooth Mountains and the Bighorn Canyon area with summer temperatures often reaching above 90°F. The camping season typically runs May through October with several fishing access sites requiring Montana conservation licenses for overnight stays.
What to Do
Beartooth Highway exploration: Use Red Lodge KOA as your basecamp for driving this scenic route. "Beartooth hwy was undescribable! Amazing views. Close to Red lodge. It's not perfect by no means but felt safe," notes Michael M., who advises against trying to see all of Yellowstone from this location.
Creek fishing access: Rock Creek offers accessible fishing spots at Horsethief Station Fishing Access. Brandon T. shares, "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." A Montana conservation license ($10/year) is required to camp here.
Hiking mountain trails: Mountainside camping areas provide direct trail access. Bob R. at Basin Campground reports: "Basin Campground is just a few miles outside Red Lodge, Montana at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains. The road in is paved and passes through beautiful elk country and along the West Fork of Rock Creek."
What Campers Like
Budget-friendly options: Several campgrounds offer affordable stays with basic amenities. At Bridger City Campground, campers appreciate the wallet-friendly rates for sites with utilities. Similarly, Itch-Kep-Pe Park gets positive reviews for being free: "We pulled in as evening was coming on, and got one of the last of the spread-out, fairly flat sites. Although near the road, we were also near the river, and could not hear road noise much above the river water's beautiful noise," shares Andrea B.
Waterfront camping: Water Birch offers sites directly along Rock Creek. According to Shannon T., "Quaint little campground with several spots right along Rock Creek. Some loss of parking where the 2022 flooding washed out the loop at the end of the road. The campground is right off the highway, but the creek drowns out the road noise."
River sounds and fishing: At Perry's RV and Campgrounds, the stream location enhances the experience. Kim B. notes, "Tent sites give you a primitive feel and are right on the heavy flowing Rock Creek making sleeping nice. We had the only kids onsite but quickly found out from other campers this is a site that has repeat visitors."
What You Should Know
Conservation license requirement: Most fishing access camping sites require a Montana conservation license. Edward R. explains at Horsethief Station: "Many spots, you need to have a Montana conservation license $10 which you can purchase online, there is great service with Verizon."
Limited shade at fishing access sites: Several camping areas around Rock Creek have minimal tree coverage. Lindsey A. notes about Horsethief Station: "All the sites are in a long row with no privacy between them and multiple houses and barns in view. Easy place to park an RV with two pull through spots and two entrances/exits."
Mosquitoes can be problematic: River locations often mean insect issues. At Perry's RV and Campgrounds, Kim B. warns, "The mosquitoes in the area can carry you away so prepare your campsite for that."
Cell service varies: Connectivity is inconsistent throughout the region. At Billings KOA Holiday, about 45 minutes from Bridger, connectivity is strong, while Bob R. reports at Basin Campground: "We had no cell coverage with T-Mobile and so-so reception with Starlink due to the tree cover."
Tips for Camping with Families
Look for playground-equipped sites: Campgrounds with play areas keep children occupied. Hailey L. recommends Red Lodge KOA: "Safe and clean sites with lots of fun things for the kids! Pool is great with showers close by. Super fun campground to explore!"
Reserve ahead during summer: Many best places to camp near Bridger, Montana fill quickly during peak season. Sasha W. from Basin Campground advises: "It was summertime when we came and it was super busy. We had to reserve our spot ahead of time, otherwise we wouldn't have received a spot. Even the 'walk-in' spots were all taken."
Consider shoulder seasons: Late spring and early fall offer more availability and moderate temperatures. For summer stays, Cullen C. cautions about Cooney State Park: "There were almost no trees, which meant no privacy from other campers. The campsite was EXTREMELY overpriced. We paid $36 for one night of tent camping."
Ask about family activities: Some campgrounds offer recreational options. Bjorn S. notes about Red Lodge KOA: "The north tentsite side has the benefit of river ambience, while the south side has the kid playground amenities. They were renovating the pool as of early June but looked to be making good progress."
Tips from RVers
Check site dimensions carefully: Many RV sites are tight or on grass pads. At Bridger City Campground, Marc G. advises: "Sites are set up to oppose one another with a shared pedestal in between, so scout your site first to decide which way you're going to pull in. If you come in off of East Broadway, watch your overhead clearance on the trees."
Utilities access varies widely: Some campgrounds offer full hookups while others provide limited amenities. Deb K. found Red Lodge KOA had "ample renovations" with "hook ups are awesome, heated pool, immaculate facilities, and awesome trail off the CG. The only drawback was spotty WiFi and limited channels using antenna."
Dust conditions: Several campgrounds experience dust issues during dry periods. Morgan G. experienced this at Itch-Kep-Pe Park: "This is a free campsite on the river. Lots of site available but pretty busy. It was windy while we were here and that caused quite a bit of dust to blow through all the campsites."
