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Camping near Cooke City, Montana ranges from developed campgrounds to dispersed sites situated between Yellowstone National Park and the Beartooth Mountains. Soda Butte Campground and Colter Campground provide established sites with basic amenities, while dispersed camping is available along the Beartooth Scenic Byway and at Lady of the Lake Trail on Lulu Pass. Hard-sided camping requirements are common in many locations due to bear activity, limiting tent camping options. The proximity to both Yellowstone National Park and the scenic Beartooth Highway makes this area a strategic basecamp for exploring both destinations.
The camping season in this high-elevation region typically runs from late June through September, with many facilities closing by early fall. "Low branches, big potholes - big rig be cautious," notes one visitor about Colter Campground, highlighting access challenges common in the area. Road conditions vary significantly, with some dispersed sites requiring high-clearance vehicles to navigate rough forest roads. Weather can change rapidly at these elevations, with snow possible even in summer months. Most developed campgrounds provide basic amenities such as vault toilets and potable water, though hookups are limited. Bear safety is a primary concern throughout the region, with bear boxes required for food storage at all campgrounds and hard-sided camping requirements at several sites.
Campers frequently mention wildlife encounters as a highlight of staying in the Cooke City area. "We truly loved this place. It was so isolated and peaceful. The camp sites are scattered throughout the trails and are not close to each other," reports one visitor about the Lady of the Lake Trail area, where moose sightings are common. The mix of forest and mountain views creates a scenic backdrop at most sites. Colter Campground receives praise for its well-maintained facilities, with one review noting it has "the most well kept vault toilet I have ever seen." For those seeking maximum solitude, dispersed sites along Beartooth Scenic Byway offer primitive camping with mountain views and creek access. Visitors appreciate the quieter experience these campgrounds provide compared to the more crowded options within Yellowstone National Park.
"Near the town of Cooke City. Great campground with plenty of space. Bear an off-road trail. Grizzly bear country. Cooke City was great little restaurants."
"We slept in the car and put our coolers and bins in the Bear box next to the site. The campground was full of campers and wasn't too bad with the generators."
"The road is easy to miss, just a little dirt road off the left side of the road coming out of the NE entrance of Yellowstone 10 minutes passed Cooke city."
"Several spots just off Beartooth highway from Joseph Highway west to the Montana boarder. Most turnoffs have places for three or four different groups to camp. Some with bear boxes and some without."
"Colter is the best USFS campground near Cooke City. The bathrooms are clean and very well kept with hand sanitizer and welcome mats. First come is a plus for local folks."
"A little pricey at $20 but very close to Cooke City and Lamar Valley in Yellowstone. No cell service with Verizon."
from $4 - $20 / night
Check Availability"We made the mistake of taking our TT down to the lake but missed the right turn going to the campground loop, wound up stuck at the boat launch area. DON'T make the same mistake we did."
"Take a gravel road to Lily Lake off the southern end of Beartooth Hwy."
"This site was quiet the night we stayed here and had good views of the surrounding mountains but there was a few excavating machines near the site."
"The camp sites are scattered throughout the trails and are not close to each other. They are easy to spot and not to bad to get to."
"There is no dump station here, and the closest is quite a drive, so RV's need to be prepared to haul out black water."
"We entered Yellowstone through the Northeast from Silver Gate Montana to avoid traffic and locate a smaller campground. Pebble Creek was great for tent camping."
"Three have bear boxes and are right by a hiking trail. Add to this the beautiful mountains, ease of access to Yellowstone or Red Lodge, and a clean vault toilet and we would stay again."
"We had to get away from our reservations at big moose because of terrible conditions. We called at 6:00 at night and they brought us in. Showers were clean. Nice river on the side. Staff was great"
from $8 / night
Check Availability"Crazy Creek Campground is a nice wooded campground near the North East entrance to Yellowstone National Park. "
"Nice, clean, about 20 sites not too close to each other with picnic tables, fire rings, food storage boxes, and vault toilets."
"The campground is very clean, with access to water and vault toilets that are well maintained (honestly the only vault toilet I haven't dreaded going into)."
TravelerStarted out in Basin Campground and was very well received, went in w/o a reservation and was able to get a great spot for a few nights, then the host turned me on to some campers who where moving from a GREAT dispersed site right up the road. Snagged a nice spot and was able to explore Beartooth area for several days. Bonus is it’s up at about 7k feet so nice and cool.
GuideThe mountain is beautiful, the. road in is not bad at all, but the mosquitoes will chew your legs off and drag your body into the woods to consume you. Long pants, long sleeves and copious amounts of bug spray are required at all times. The spots are nice and well spaced, but several locals have decided that these free dispersed camping spots belong exclusively to them, there were at least three spots occupied by abandoned RVs, trailers and such. This is becoming more and more prevalent the more i visit our national forests. Campsites must be occupied the first night and every 24 hours after that for a maximum stay of 16 days. Going to start reporting these abandoned units, who knows, we might be able to pick them up cheap at a government auction.
GuideGood road coming in, sites are well spaced host are wonderful. No tent camping or soft sided campers allowed. Big time bear country. 20 dollars a nite or 10 with the senior lifetime card. No hookups but water available.
TravelerFishing access site with several designated campsites, each with a picnic table and fire ring. I didn’t think the noise from the interstate or trains was too bad. Beautiful while passing through, but not “destination camping.” I had the place to myself on a weeknight.
I think you’re supposed to have a conservation license to stay here, I bought one online for $10 when I got here just in case. See my photo.
Guide3 miles from Yellowstone’s east entrance, nice campground, 20 sites, with one working pump water site. All sites dry. Trash receptacles available. $20 per night. Lots of stickers in the site, and I got bit by a hornet or something…
GuideBeautiful campsites, helpful host fantastic scenery. The only reason I didn’t give it a five is the spots are pretty tight a couple you got plenty of room like the one I have but if you got more than a 25 foot you are not going to find a spot. The road in and out is good mosquitoes pretty bad so be sure you bring spray. Some folks wearing face nets.
ScoutVery easy to work with. Electric and water hook-ups, but there aren’t any sewer connections. This was definitely not a dealbreaker.
LegendWe secured a one night stop in Yellowstone. We were warned of a bear frequently seen in the campground and were disappointed that she didn’t choose to visit while we were there. Staff were very friendly and efficient at check in. Campground was full but still quite pleasant with everyone respecting the quiet hours. Spaces were close but we still felt we had some privacy. Facilities were clean and the fresh potable water at the restroom tasted like fresh spring water.
LegendFirst stop on our way west after visiting family in SD. Big storm rolling through as we left Cody, passing the reservoir but was done before we reached the site. We set up camp and watched the last of the lightning and listened to the rumble. We camped at the trailhead. A couple of vehicles came in early to hike but didn’t disturb us. We awoke to a herd of cows with calves cleaning up the parking lot. They moved on quickly and didn’t seem concerned that we might have interrupted their breakfast. Great views of the reservoir and surrounding mountains.
Camping sites near Cooke City, Montana offer unique opportunities for backcountry experiences at elevations averaging 7,600-8,000 feet. The camping season typically runs mid-June through early September, with nighttime temperatures frequently dropping below freezing even in summer. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with afternoon thunderstorms common and occasional snow possible in July and August.
Creek exploration: Crazy Creek Campground features a waterfall trail accessible directly from the campground. "A trail from the campground takes you across the highway to the trail, a very short hike brings you to Crazy Creek falls," notes Dexter I. The falls provide a refreshing destination during hot summer days.
Wildlife viewing: Lily Lake Campground offers excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting from your campsite. "The cattle from nearby farms would come by and visit in the mornings and drink from the lake," reports Jade G. who camped on a cliff overlooking the water. Many campers also report moose sightings in the surrounding meadows.
Mountain driving: Beartooth Scenic Byway provides access to numerous dispersed camping spots and spectacular mountain vistas. "Follow the byway all the way to Red Lodge for some fantastic views," recommends Kim B. The highway reaches elevations over 10,000 feet, offering alpine terrain rarely accessible by vehicle.
Creek-side camping: Multiple campsites along Beartooth Scenic Byway offer prime riverside locations. "I backed my van right up to the river with an amazing view of Pilot Peak in the background, and fell asleep to the sounds of the rushing water," says Stavros M. These dispersed sites provide natural white noise for sleeping.
Privacy between sites: At Lady of the Lake Trail on Lulu Pass, sites are well separated. "The camp sites are scattered throughout the trails and are not close to each other. They are easy to spot and not too bad to get to," explains Rosstin W. This arrangement allows for more solitude than typical campgrounds.
Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain vault toilets to high standards. At Colter Campground, Angela G. notes, "The host was wonderful! She clearly cared about the campground and her guests. The vault toilet was the most well kept I have ever seen. Fun decorations painted on the walls, air fresheners, and a small light."
Hard-sided camping requirements: Many campgrounds near Cooke City restrict tent camping due to bear activity. At Soda Butte Campground, Ryan confirms: "This is definitely bear country here so hard sided units only. There was a brutal bear attack here around 10 years ago leaving one dead and two severely injured, so just a heads up!"
Weather variability: The high elevation means rapidly changing conditions. Corda B. reports from Beartooth Scenic Byway: "We had our itinerary set to stay at this site and then the weather turned terrible and it started snowing. We only had a tent with us and the wind was whipping so we had to pack up and head to Red Lodge."
Road conditions: Many camping areas have challenging access. At Lily Lake, Shannon T. warns: "Terribly rough rutted out road to get to the campground. Would not recommend for low clearance cars." Always check road conditions before heading to remote campsites.
Early arrival strategies: For Pebble Creek Campground in Yellowstone, arrive very early to secure sites. "In order to secure a site at this campground, which is open from mid-June to mid-September, you need to arrive early, sometimes by 6:30 AM," advises Kari T. The day they arrived, the campground was full by 8:00 AM.
Child-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds offer features that work well for younger campers. Alan B. notes that Pebble Creek Campground is "very child friendly. There was a permanent fire pit and a picnic in addition to vault toilets."
Wildlife education opportunities: The area offers excellent chances to teach children about wildlife. At Lily Lake, Anna K. advises: "Frequent grizzly area so nat'l forests warnings about proper food storage." This provides practical lessons in conservation and safety.
Size restrictions: Many campgrounds have limited space for larger vehicles. At Colter Campground, Kimberly N. warns: "I really wanted to camp here but after scouting we would not have fit our fifth wheel. The trees were about 7.5-8' wide and height clearance was probably close to 12'. If you go to the end and turn around there's some sites you could possibly tuck a big rig into but the turn around is very tight."
Solar opportunities: Several campgrounds offer good solar charging potential. At Beartooth Lake Campground, Kathryn N. found "sites were well maintained, spacious and protected from others." N I. adds that Soda Butte Campground has "a lot of open areas which is great for solar. Large rigs will do great in this campground."
Early exit planning: Due to weather unpredictability, RVers should have contingency plans. Jeremy H. from Beartooth Scenic Byway advises: "We were driving into Yellowstone from Billings and wanted something that would give us early access to the park. This was perfect." Having an exit strategy is essential when mountain weather changes quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time of year to camp in Cooke City?
Summer (mid-June through early September) is prime camping season in Cooke City when temperatures are mild and access is easiest. The area sits at approximately 6,500 feet elevation, making it a refreshing escape from summer heat. Hunter Peak campground offers dramatic scenery during this perfect summer window. Late spring (late May to early June) can be beautiful but expect some facilities to be limited as they open seasonally. Crazy Creek campground provides excellent access to both Yellowstone and the Beartooths during summer months, with spectacular sunset views of Pilot Peak. Fall brings vibrant colors but increasingly cold nights, while winter camping is extremely challenging due to heavy snowfall and limited access.
Where are the best campgrounds near Cooke City, MT?
Cooke City offers excellent camping options in the Yellowstone region. Colter Campground stands out as the best USFS campground near town with clean facilities, helpful hosts, and level sites with good privacy. It's first-come, first-served and conveniently close to town. Soda Butte Campground is another great option with spacious sites near an off-road trail, though campers should note it's in grizzly bear country. For those seeking spectacular mountain views, several campgrounds along the Beartooth Highway offer scenic settings. If you prefer dispersed camping, options are available just minutes outside town off the Beartooth Scenic Byway.
Is the Colter Campground in Cooke City a good option for families?
Yes, Colter Campground is an excellent option for families visiting Cooke City. The campground features clean, well-maintained vault toilets with thoughtful touches like hand sanitizer and even decorative painted walls. The camp hosts are known for being exceptionally helpful and attentive, creating a welcoming atmosphere for all ages. Sites are level with good privacy between them, making it comfortable for family camping. While the $20 nightly fee might seem a bit high for a forest service campground, the quality of maintenance and proximity to town amenities make it worthwhile. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis, which can be convenient for families with flexible schedules looking to camp near Cooke City.
What RV camping options are available in Cooke City, Montana?
RV camping options near Cooke City are somewhat limited, especially for larger rigs. Beartooth Scenic Byway Camping offers dispersed camping opportunities along the highway with several turnoffs that can accommodate smaller RVs. These sites are free and first-come, first-served. For those seeking more amenities, Chief Joseph Campground can accommodate RVs and offers basic facilities including water and toilets. Be cautious when navigating to campgrounds in the area, as some roads are not suitable for larger rigs. Lily Lake area has a boat launch that can create difficulties for trailers if you miss the correct turn. Most campgrounds in this region are better suited for smaller RVs rather than big rigs.
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