19 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds surrounding Forsyth, Montana provide varied camping experiences along the Yellowstone River corridor. Wagon Wheel Campground offers developed sites with full hookups, showers, and cabin accommodations for travelers seeking amenities, while Rosebud East Fishing Access Site features shaded sites under cottonwood trees with both primitive and electric-hookup options. Several riverside campgrounds, including Far West Fishing Access Site, provide free tent and RV camping with basic facilities like vault toilets and fire rings, particularly appealing to anglers and water enthusiasts.
Road conditions remain generally accessible for most vehicles throughout the camping season, though occasional rain can create muddy conditions at unpaved sites. "Giant cottonwood trees and a great fishing spot. We ate walleye 3 nights in a row," noted one visitor about Rosebud East. Most fishing access campgrounds have a 7-day stay limit and operate on a first-come basis without reservations. Campers should be prepared for train noise at several riverside locations, particularly at night, with multiple reviewers recommending earplugs for light sleepers. Cell service varies but remains generally reliable near Forsyth and Rosebud, with AT&T users reporting full LTE at Far West Fishing Access Site.
The Yellowstone River defines the camping experience in this region, with multiple fishing access sites offering direct water access. Visitors appreciate the spacious, level sites at locations like Far West, which rarely reach capacity except on holiday weekends. A camper described it as "a great spot to camp if you're road tripping and want easy access to I-94. Quiet, walking trail, several spots available." While amenities remain basic at the fishing access sites, the town of Forsyth provides supplies and services within a 15-minute drive of most campgrounds. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 100°F, making the shaded sites at Rosebud East particularly valuable. Mixed-use campgrounds throughout the area accommodate both tent and RV campers, though hookup availability remains limited to developed facilities like Wagon Wheel Campground.
"Picture-perfect Montana Rockies beauty. Didn’t use the lake but many were. Wooded small campground with basic primitive sites. Owned by National Forest & kept well."
"Nice sites, forested area, cool access to Yellowstone River. Clean pit toilets, reasonable rates. But oh boy, the trains came all night, announcing their arrival."
"You can get your laundry and groceries in town, only 3min drive away. You can even catch a movie at the theatre."
"There is a short hiking trail to the river. Not far from the campsites is a boat launch. I drive through this campground almost daily and in the last year have only seen it 80% full at the most. "
"There’s a delicious drive thru coffee place 12 min away called Cattle Coffee in Forsyth. Definitely worth the trip!"
"Lots of spots around pond and along river. I had a nice cozy spot in between trees and next to the pond. Not many people. Picnic tables and fire pit with cooking grill."
"It is a quarter mile drive down a well managed dirt road to arrive to the site. There are ~10 camp sites."
"Back in sites facing the lake. Awesome to explore and watch the boaters. Drive the perimeter and explore the different areas of the lake. Full hookups."
"Tucked away on the outskirts of the city. Close to stores if needed. Nice sites. Friendly helpful staff. Full hookups. Shaded. Space between sites. Big trees. Bathroom/laundry facilities."
"It’s naturally close to the interstate and very nicely maintained. The bathhouse had been recently painted and the showers recently tiled. The staff were very kind and welcoming."
from $58 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Right next to the creek/dam, you can fish or play in the water with your dog. The 2 vault toilets were always clean & stocked."
"Once it was light out we could see how well Mainers the grass was, there were paths to the river, mowed by whomever takes care of this place. Would defiantly stay here again!!"
"Walking paths very, very clean."
"We found shade for van adjacent to toilets and picnic pavilion."
GuideLocated just outside the town of Miles City. Matthew’s Recreation Area is a great little spot. It has 3-4 FCFS campsites with tables and fire rings. Our site (not numbered) is the first site off the parking lot area, nestled along the feeder creek and the river. It is convenient, clean, includes vault toilets and some sites have grills. There is even one large group camp site.
ScoutSpent 2 nights here. Other than the occasional train was nice and quiet. Plenty of space. Nicely maintained grounds and pit toilets.
TravelerWe had an awesome weekend at 12 Mile Dam. The grounds were clean, the grass was freshly mowed, and it was obvious the area is well maintained. While we were there, staff even came through and cleaned the bathrooms, which was a nice surprise and much appreciated.
We spent the weekend fishing and had a great time, catching channel cats. It's a beautiful place to camp, fish, and relax. A big thank you to everyone who helps keep this recreation area in such great condition. We'll definitely be back!
We towed a 29ft camper and had plenty of room to navigate to the camp spots. It is a tight squeeze, but very doable. I'm not sure about anything over 35ft or a taller camper. Hope this helps!
ScoutRead the reviews and was a bit worried but upon arrival found the area freshly mowed and the restroom clean. Only saw two picnic tables and 1 definite “site”. Only negative is this is in a cellular dead zone for me.
TravelerClean staff was amazing Take exit 135 if you go through town there's a low 11 foot bridge and id bet its shorter
TravelerLoved staying here we showed up on Wednesday and only a handful of people showed up on Thursday morning, beautiful clean sites, out house available, a few spots had lake access. Very nice area!
GuidePlenty of open area to park with some fire rings. Great views of the river or badlands area. Road is pretty easy to get down when dry but may be difficult when wet.
TravelerSuper easy to find, not far from the main town, off a small road with a little bit of semi truck traffic, but not bad. I got down here with a 2 door jeep and a 12 foot trailer. Don’t think I should have issues going back up. But there is an immediate hill you have to reverse to get to the spots. I took the first spot, but there’s more down the road, I think. Super peaceful super pretty relatively clean!
ScoutNice quiet spot to overnight. Slightly cheaper than the KOA in Hardin but no amenities except a wonderful restaurant.
Camping options near Forsyth, Montana center around the Yellowstone River corridor, which cuts through the eastern Montana plains at roughly 2,500 feet elevation. Summer temperatures in this region regularly climb above 90°F from June through August, making water access a priority for many campers. Several campgrounds feature dedicated fishing access points, reflecting the area's popularity among anglers targeting walleye and other river species.
Riverside hiking trails: Far West Fishing Access Site offers several mowed paths through the prairie for walking opportunities. "There are several paths mowed down for great walks through the prairie," notes one visitor, who adds that "the pond and surrounding scenery are gorgeous."
Rock collecting: Rosebud East Fishing Access Site provides excellent opportunities for finding interesting rocks along the Yellowstone River shoreline. "Great little campground right in the river. Fun for swimming, fishing, and rock collecting," reports one camper who enjoyed the riverside activities.
Fishing: BLM Mathews Recreation Area offers boat access to the Yellowstone River for anglers. The recreation area features "a boat landing" and is described as a "nice scenic location by the river side with boat access," making it convenient for fishing enthusiasts.
Shaded sites: Twelve Mile Dam Fishing Access receives praise for its natural setting. "Pretty nice spot for a few days. Fire rings, picnic tables, a super cute stream that runs through, nice, level spots, vault toilets, and quiet, gorgeous views," shares a satisfied camper.
Cleanliness: The vault toilets at Far West Fishing Access Site earn positive reviews for maintenance. "Vault toilet was stocked and clean. Game warden drove by during my stay making sure trash wasn't left out," reports one visitor who appreciated the upkeep.
Spacious camping areas: Miles City KOA offers well-maintained facilities with room to spread out. "This is a very nice KOA, well maintained and clean with a cute store, playground, dog area, pool and pavilion area. Walking distance to downtown and to the Yellowstone river," notes a reviewer who valued the amenities.
Train noise: Multiple campgrounds along the Yellowstone River corridor experience train noise. A visitor at BLM Mathews Recreation Area cautions about "6 trains in the night just a quarter mile away," suggesting light sleepers should come prepared.
Weather conditions: Summer heat can be intense, and insects may be problematic. At Rosebud East, a camper reported: "It was quite and site are spaced out. Other then 104 degrees and a horrible amount of gnats, flies and mosquitoes it was a nice stop."
Cell service: Far West Fishing Access Site offers reliable connectivity for those needing to stay connected. "Had full LTE service via AT&T. There's a delicious drive thru coffee place 12 min away called Cattle Coffee in Forsyth," notes a visitor who appreciated both connectivity and nearby amenities.
Swimming opportunities: Twelve Mile Dam provides safe water access for children. "Right next to the creek/dam, you can fish or play in the water with your dog," shares a camper who spent five nights enjoying the area.
Playground access: Miles City KOA features facilities designed for children. "This place is very relaxing a great little heated pool, playground and dog park (our dog loves being off leash!) super clean bathrooms and a great communal pavilion with grills to use," reports a family who enjoyed their stay.
Educational opportunities: Myers Bridge offers nature exploration along its island trail. "A nice 1 1/2 mile trail runs around the island," notes a visitor, making it suitable for family nature walks and wildlife spotting.
Site leveling: Most campsites at Far West Fishing Access Site accommodate various RV sizes. "Sites are well groomed and demarcated, with fire pits and picnic tables. Although I pulled in on a Friday at 5:30 pm only one site was occupied. I got a nice spot next to the creek," reports one RVer.
Hookup availability: Wagon Wheel Campground offers full hookups for those requiring amenities. "Very pet friendly with wonderful ammenities. We have a 35 foot fifth wheel and felt we had plenty of room to put out out awning and really spread out," shares a long-term RV camper.
Road access: BLM Mathews Recreation Area features accessible entry for larger rigs. "This is a very well maintained camping area. Handicap accessible with concrete walks for easy mobility," notes a visitor, highlighting its suitability for RVers with mobility concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far are camping areas from the town of Forsyth, MT?
Several camping options exist within easy driving distance of Forsyth. Far West Fishing Access Site is located approximately 5-10 miles from Forsyth along the Yellowstone River, providing convenient river access for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. For those willing to drive a bit further, Myers Bridge near Hysham is about 20-25 miles from Forsyth. If you're looking for more developed facilities and don't mind a longer drive, camping options in Miles City are approximately 40 miles east of Forsyth. These locations offer varying distances depending on your preference for proximity to town versus natural seclusion.
What amenities are available at Forsyth, MT campgrounds?
Amenities vary significantly between campgrounds near Forsyth. Far West Fishing Access Site offers basic facilities including flat camping sites (mostly pull-through), fire rings, picnic tables, and clean vault toilets. This free campground provides access to a pond suitable for swimming and hiking trails to the Yellowstone River. For those seeking more amenities, Wagon Wheel Campground provides hookups and proximity to town services, though spaces may be tight. Many campgrounds in the region are primitive with minimal facilities, focusing instead on natural surroundings and outdoor recreation opportunities including fishing, swimming, and hiking.
Where are the best campgrounds in Forsyth, MT?
The most highly-rated campground near Forsyth is Miles City KOA, located about 40 miles east. This well-maintained KOA features shaded sites, full hookups, and convenient access to stores while maintaining a peaceful atmosphere. Closer to Forsyth, Rosebud East offers a more rustic experience with beautiful Montana scenery, wooded sites, and lake access. This National Forest-managed campground fills up quickly during peak season, so arriving early is recommended. Both locations provide distinct camping experiences - Miles City KOA offers more amenities and comfort, while Rosebud East delivers a more immersive natural setting with exceptional views.
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