Dispersed camping opportunities near Custer Gallatin National Forest range from free sites at Travertine Road and Taylor Fork Road to developed facilities with amenities. The national forest provides multiple options for tent and RV camping, with sites like Canyon Campground located approximately 16 miles from Yellowstone's north entrance in Gardiner. Carbella Recreation Area offers riverside camping along the Yellowstone River, while several campgrounds provide proximity to popular hiking trails and fishing locations throughout the region.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with many sites closed during winter months due to snow accumulation and freezing temperatures. Red Cliff Campground, for example, operates from May 15 to September 15, while Canyon Campground remains open year-round with limited amenities. Roads to more remote areas like Tom Miner Campground require navigation on unpaved surfaces. One visitor noted, "Tom miner campground is tucked back about 12 miles off US 89 in paradise valley. Once you turn off 89 on Tom Miner rd it takes a good 20 minutes driving on a dirt road to reach the campsite." Bear-aware camping practices are mandatory throughout the region, with food storage regulations enforced at all sites due to black bear and grizzly bear activity.
Canyon Campground receives consistent praise for its affordability and proximity to Yellowstone National Park. The campground charges $7-10 per night and serves as a practical alternative when park campgrounds fill up. Several visitors mention the large boulders that create natural privacy barriers between campsites. A camper observed, "Canyon campground located in a canyon just across the highway from the Yellowstone River is a pleasant campground with plenty of boulders for kids and adults to climb." Carbella Recreation Area stands out for its free camping and riverside location, with amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and bear boxes at designated sites. Both locations offer good cell service coverage for Verizon customers, allowing campers to maintain connectivity while enjoying the natural setting.
"Great spot for travelers or people who didn't book a site in or close to Yosemite."
"Great views into the valley around Gardiner with easy access to Yellowstone (North Entrance). Plenty of space for a few tents or a camper."
$25 / night
"Access to so many great wonders this park has to offer. Also on a don’t miss drive into Montana for one of the most beautiful mountain drives ever."
"Beautiful campground near Mammoth Hot Springs and the surrounding village."
$26 - $35 / night
"We have a small camper and scored one of the spots near the south end, which is also close to the Elkhorn Creek Trailhead."
"Easy access to big sky Montana and a hour ish drive to west Yellowstone. Sites are easy to access with smaller rv. But have bigger sites for larger rigs. No t mobile or att service."
$10 / night
"The proximity to Yellowstone, the price, and the charm of this place made me love it, but I think there are a few things that would annoy people."
"This place is right outside the northern entrance to Yellowstone."
$15 / night
"Our “go to” camping spot near Yellowstone NP. It is convenient to hwy but away from noise of traffic, near Yellowstone River. Winds consistent overnight but temps only down to 40°s."
"Camp site was 20 feet away from the Beautiful Yellowstone River. The river was moving at a very good clip, as was the wind! Clean vault toilet, didn't see any water hook ups or pumps."
"You cannot hear traffic from the highway which is about 1/3 miles away. There are wooden horse fences and corrals which are for public use."
"My wife and I ended up staying at the very end of the campsites near the outhouse. It was a bit closer to other campers than I would have preferred."
$133 / night
"Great little camp ground next to the river. Clean bathrooms, hot showers, laundry, wifi. A bit pricey, but probably due to the location being near the Yellowstone entrance"
"This was close to the North entrance. Great town to drive through and places to eat and get gas."
"Several roadside sites along this road that branches off Travertine Rd. A few sites are large enough for multiple tents/vans. Good Verizon service, poor AT&T service ."
"Pulled into a spot less than an 1/8 of a mile before the marker, positioned on a hill with a clear view of the mountain range. Looks like plenty of spots in this area and pretty easy drive in."
$26 - $35 / night
"Nice campground in Custer Gallatin national forest. Road coming in was terrible wash board bumpy"
"We happened on this campground when the one nearby was full. Happy to have spent the night here. It is further off the road: about 4 miles of paved road and about 2 miles unpaved."
$122 / night
"Within walking distance of everything in town and the entrance to Yellowstone."
"Great location, right outside Yellowstone’s North Entrance. Great views of the mountains and elk hanging around. The staff was super friendly and helpful."
ScoutIt was close to town and Yellowstone but far enough to not have the noise of traffic. The potholes and erosion on gravel road made limited traffic (in early October) slowdown to avoid potholes so that helped. I liked the flat cleared space in the trees for my tent. And it was quiet at least this time of year
GuideClose proximity to west Yellowstone, pretty much no highway noise and I was in one of the closer campsites. Most likely no noise if you go farther down. Road was pretty bumpy, it was dry so don’t know how it’d be after rain. No issues with my truck even without 4wd. Heard some elk bugling which was cool. Only saw one or two other campers.
ScoutWe got here after dark and were very confused by the no trespassing signs and small pull offs. We didn’t go very high up on the road but camped right where the pin was set up. Gorgeous in the morning and very quiet peaceful place to stay for the night. Not necessarily “camping” with room to move around or set up but easy for one night.
ScoutWe have a 24ft motorhome with one sleeping side slider. Fitting into the full hookup is tight. Our door opens up right into the next spot. Slider can’t open full. Crammed campers for everyone.
LegendWell, maintained campground with flat spots. Everything you need from electric to toilets and reasonably priced. I caught it a few days before it closed. And the campground hosts are very engaged in taking care of it and on top of everything that is happening. Super nice.
GuideCame from Colter Bay and that was urban camping. Packed in like sardines, this place is awsome for us. There is highway noise but I will take it over people noise. We have a fire pit and lucky enough to score electricity. It is the first of October alot of campgrounds are closed. This switched to first come first serve. So happy we found it. We also have a site close to the exceptionally clean pit toilets. The sites are also pretty far apart. Love it.
ScoutBeautiful sites near a river. , clean pit toilets, potable water, 3 miles from west glacier, public showers, grocery stores, restaurants
RangerI live in Bozeman and this is the first time staying at Taylor Fork. Incredible. I settled at spot 11 and the peace is tremendous. Of course I won’t give it 5 stars if there’s not a picnic table or bathrooms or other amenities but that’s fine, this is a definite treasure trove. Today we drove a couple miles up the road and got on a trailhead to a basin that might’ve been the best hike of my life. Beautiful. Solo. Perfect amount of difficulty. Views. This will certainly be one of my top 3 go-to spots for the future since I live in Bozeman and it’s so easy to get away.
RangerThe views are truly unbeatable! 6 miles of washboard gravel road leading to the lake made the journey difficult, but still worth it. Also, the winds were incredibly strong, making it impossible to cook outside or have a fire. But the views ...
Dispersed camping options near Custer Gallatin National Forest offer distinct advantages for outdoor enthusiasts seeking alternatives to developed campgrounds. The forest spans over 3 million acres across south-central Montana, with elevations ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 feet creating varied camping climates throughout the seasons. Summer temperatures typically reach 70-85°F during the day while dropping to 40-50°F at night, with afternoon thunderstorms common in July and August.
Fishing access at Dailey Lake: The shallow waters make this an excellent spot for catching rainbow trout and brown trout, especially in early summer. Campers can use the boat ramp for watercraft access. "Nice place with lots of room. Windy! It keeps the bugs away," notes a visitor at Dailey Lake.
Rock climbing at Red Cliff: Located along the Gallatin River, Red Cliff features bolted sport routes ranging from beginner 5.6 difficulty to advanced 5.11 and 5.12 routes. The cliff formations are accessible via a trailhead directly from the campground. "There is a great onsite trailhead for hiking and horseback riding. The Cliffs themselves are developed for rock climbing with bolted sport routes from 5.6 up to 5.11 and 5.12," explains a camper at Red Cliff Campground.
Wildlife viewing near northern entrance: The Jardine Road area offers excellent vantage points for spotting elk, deer, and occasionally bears. "Keep your eyes peeled! The view up the road is DROP DEAD GORGEOUS... you can see Mammoth Hot Springs in the distance! The road is pretty well maintained and windy," reports a visitor to the forest's dispersed camping areas.
Privacy among boulders: Canyon Campground sites tucked between large rock formations create natural separation between campers. "Beautiful tucked away campsites in large boulders. Adorable bunnies living in the sites. Great shade in some spots," shares a Canyon Campground visitor about the unique landscape features that define this camping experience.
River views and fishing access: Multiple sites directly on the Yellowstone River allow for convenient fishing and relaxing water sounds. "Only good things to say about this location. Our level gravel site backed up to the Yellowstone River where we watched the antelope feed on the cliffs and listened to the peaceful sounds of the river," notes a camper at Yellowstone RV Park.
Free camping with mountain views: Travertine Road offers no-cost sites with panoramic mountain vistas. "Very nice sites. We picked one of the first we saw. A little bit windy but absolutely stunning mountain views," says a visitor at Travertine Road Dispersed. Another camper adds, "No crowds at all! There was a car or two that drive past. Absolutely beautiful views!"
Road conditions vary significantly: Access roads to remote sites often feature washboard surfaces and may require high-clearance vehicles. "Great but difficult to access. The dirt road you have to drive on to access it is super bumpy due to many potholes and large rocks. This is likely no problem for a truck or suv but my sedan had a difficult time getting up the road," warns a Travertine Road visitor.
Wind conditions at open sites: Lakeside campgrounds without tree cover experience strong, persistent winds. "We had a hard time finding this place via Google maps and had to switch it into topographic view to find our way there. Nice sites but it was very windy when we arrived and had to use the car to block the wind to even get the tent set up," reports a camper at Dailey Lake.
Limited reservation options: Many prime sites operate on first-come, first-served basis, requiring early arrival during peak season. "Mammoth Campground is very clean and well kept. The sites are tight but we spent of our time off exploring and never found this to be an issue," explains a visitor to Mammoth Campground. Another adds, "Have to queue in the morning to get a campsite and sites are pretty close together."
Boulder climbing opportunities: Several campgrounds feature natural rock formations that provide built-in recreation for children. "Canyon campground located in a canyon just across the highway from the Yellowstone River is a pleasant campground with plenty of boulders for kids and adults to climb," notes a camper about the family-friendly terrain.
Creek access for safer water play: Taylor Fork Road sites offer shallow creek access better suited for younger children than swift-moving rivers. "This is very remote feeling with no cell reception or views of any paved roads or buildings. The area is wooded with green grass and wildflowers everywhere. Dogs loved the location, and we enjoyed the quiet location," reports a camper at Taylor Fork Road.
Wildlife viewing safety: Maintain proper distance from elk, especially during calving season (May-June) when females become aggressive. "We were there during elk calving season, with elk and their babies wandering through the area... although stay away from those mean mammas! I had one stalk me around the bathrooms during the night; she was none to pleased I was moving around in her area," warns a visitor.
Electric site availability: Some campgrounds offer limited electrical hookups, though they fill quickly in peak months. "This time, we camped in the section right along the river with electric hookups—such a great spot. Water is available at nearby spigots, and our site had plenty of space plus a small trail that led down to the river," notes a camper at Rainbow Point Campground.
Length restrictions enforcement: Check site length limitations carefully as some campgrounds have physical barriers preventing overhang. "We squeezed our 39'8" fifth wheel into a 35' site (Loop D), but site lengths are strictly enforced—there are concrete barriers at the back of each pad, so no overhang is possible," cautions a Rainbow Point visitor.
Cell service considerations: Coverage varies dramatically by location and provider. "Tent camping sites are snug and offer no privacy. Scenic spot high above the river. Good overnight if you plan to explore Mammoth and Lamar Valley," reports a Yellowstone RV Park visitor, while another adds, "Good Verizon signal and AT&T."
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at Custer Gallatin National Forest campgrounds?
Custer Gallatin National Forest campgrounds typically offer basic amenities including vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings or pits. Spire Rock Campground provides toilets, fire pits, tables, and borders a river offering great night photography spots. Langohr Campground features 19 spacious single sites plus a group picnic area for day use, located along Hyalite Creek. Most forest campgrounds don't offer showers or electrical hookups. Water availability varies by location, with some providing potable water via spigots during peak season. Garbage service is limited, so plan to pack out your trash. Cell service is spotty throughout the forest, with most campgrounds having limited or no connectivity. For more amenities, consider staying at campgrounds near towns like Big Sky or West Yellowstone.
Do I need permits for camping in Custer Gallatin National Forest?
For developed campgrounds in Custer Gallatin National Forest, no special permits are required beyond paying the standard camping fee at the entrance or self-pay station. Beaver Creek Campground and similar established sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis or through recreation.gov reservations depending on the location. For dispersed camping, such as at Travertine Road Dispersed, no permits are needed, but you must follow forest regulations: camp at least 100 feet from water sources, stay within existing dispersed sites, and observe the 16-day stay limit. If planning activities like backcountry hiking or fishing, separate permits may be required. Always check with the nearest ranger district office for current regulations, especially during fire season when restrictions may be in place.
Where are the best campgrounds in Custer Gallatin National Forest?
The best campgrounds in Custer Gallatin National Forest offer stunning mountain views and access to outdoor activities. Red Cliff Campground stands out with clean facilities, friendly hosts, and convenient access to Big Sky (just 10 minutes away). It accommodates both smaller RVs and larger rigs with varying site sizes. Eagle Creek Campground provides a more intimate experience with just 16 sites near Gardiner, minutes from Yellowstone's north entrance. The steep 2-mile access road is challenging but rewards campers with beautiful surroundings. For those seeking proximity to water, several campgrounds border rivers and lakes throughout the forest. If you prefer more amenities while staying near the forest, consider facilities outside forest boundaries like Henrys Lake State Park or Yellowstone-adjacent campgrounds offering stunning sunset views and access to hiking trails.
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