Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park near Cardwell, Montana sits at an elevation of approximately 4,300 feet, creating a high desert environment with hot summer days and cool nights. The region features a circular campground design with multiple accommodation options beyond the well-known caves. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing, making seasonal considerations important for visitors planning camping trips.
What to do
Explore river headwaters: Missouri Headwaters State Park offers visitors the opportunity to witness where three major rivers converge to form the Missouri River. "You're right at the spot where the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin Rivers come together to form the Missouri River. The area is scenic, peaceful, and full of history with several short walking trails along the water and through the park," notes a camper at Missouri Headwaters State Park Campground.
Kids' ranger program: Many families enjoy the educational programs designed for children at Lewis & Clark Caverns. "Did you know you can print out a packet for your little ones to become Cub Rangers at this State Park? There are great amenities for both camping and RV'S with a child's playground located on the camp," shares a visitor to Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park.
Paddle boarding on calm lakes: The nearby lakes provide excellent opportunities for water activities. At Delmoe Lake, a camper reported, "The water is nearly always calm and great for paddle boarding!! There are dirt bike trikes up above and didn't mind it at all, in fact I thought it was awesome for those that do enjoy biking."
Hot springs access: When camping in the Cardwell area, visitors can enjoy natural hot springs. "Proximity to the Hot Springs nice, would have liked to see a little price break to use the spa facility. The sites were nice and large friendly staff," reports a visitor to Fairmont RV Resort, which is located adjacent to the hot springs.
What campers like
Quiet locations: Campers praise the peaceful settings found around Cardwell. A visitor to Spire Rock Campground described it as "Small and quiet campground located in between Big Sky and Bozeman. Camp hosts were very nice and made sure to go over bear safety thoroughly. We stayed in site 10, which was a short walk to the vault toilets and the creek."
Family-friendly amenities: Families appreciate campgrounds with facilities for children. A visitor to Three Forks KOA Journey reported, "Very family friendly. Park for children. Great walking paths. Fire pit accessible. Trash and dumpsters."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the cleanliness of facilities. At Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park, one visitor noted, "Bathrooms were clean, showers were good- cost 50¢ per minute with a minimum of 6 minutes, there was a change machine outside the bathrooms but we had quarters so I can't say whether it works or not."
Tipi accommodations: Unique glamping options near Cardwell include tipis. A camper at Missouri Headwaters State Park shared, "My husband and I on our way to Glacier found this great place to camp. They have several campsites, electric and non electric plus handicap sites. A neat feature as well is they have one teepee that my husband and I stayed in for the night."
What you should know
Mosquito awareness: Some camping areas around Cardwell have significant mosquito populations. A visitor to Missouri Headwaters State Park warned, "Really nice campground with sites being spread apart and not too close to each other. When the sun sets in June and July the mosquitos will come out. They are quite nasty but an hour after sunset they are gone, having a campfire going helps too."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely across glamping locations near Cardwell. A reviewer at Delmoe Lake observed, "Some have 3 bars of 4G Verizon, others none. Peaceful spot."
Road conditions: Access to some sites requires driving on unpaved roads. A visitor to Spire Rock Campground cautioned, "The area is stunning, but we could not get to the campground. Our campervan felt like it was going to tip over because of the ruts."
Train noise: At certain sites, proximity to train tracks can affect the camping experience. A camper at Toston Dam Campground mentioned, "Small campground tucked away from highway. Right on shore of river/reservoir. Heavily used train tracks on opposite shore, so you get some train noise but not horrible."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature playgrounds that keep children entertained. At Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park, a visitor shared, "We camped here with a group of families and the playground was nice for the kids. There aren't many trees and the land is flat but we were able to really keep a decent eye of the kids running around because of it."
Educational opportunities: Families can enhance their glamping experience close to Cardwell, Montana with educational programs. A visitor to Butte KOA appreciated the "children's mining activity" among other amenities, adding they were "extremely impressed with the cleanliness and variety of activities including outdoor oversized chess."
Level camping areas: Parents appreciate flat terrain for setting up family camping gear. At Three Forks KOA Journey, one visitor noted, "Sites are shady unless you have a big rig - that area does not have shade. Decent dog park. Decent playground."
Safety considerations: Bear awareness is important for family camping in this area. A camper at Spire Rock Campground mentioned that "camp hosts were very nice and made sure to go over bear safety thoroughly," which is essential information for families camping with children.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: RVers should prepare for varying terrain. A camper at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park noted, "Had to use all our jack stands to combat the slope of our site (P007). Others looked much more level."
Hookup variations: Electrical options differ between sites. A visitor at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park explained, "Electric only campsite. Water fill and dump station are separate from sites. One to 2 bars on at&t or Verizon."
Big rig accessibility: Some campgrounds have limited space for larger vehicles. A reviewer at 2 Bar Lazy H RV Campground observed, "The campground as well laid out plenty of room to drive around with big rigs. Each site has a picnic bench. The staff was friendly."
Dump station information: RV campers should note dump station locations and fees. At Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park, a camper mentioned, "Warm showers $3. (Cave tours not included in camp fee, dump is $5 also)."
