If you're looking for a place to pitch your tent near Forsyth, look no further. You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Forsyth, Montana's most popular destinations.
Please call the local BLM Office for current recreation site conditions and restrictions. Howrey Island Trail is damaged from river flooding. Travel at your own risk Howrey Island Recreation Area consists of approximately 592 BLM-administered acres and is in the floodplain of the Yellowstone River. This is a 'Pack In, Pack Out' area and all garbage must be removed. Some road sections may be closed due to high river flows or to protect habitat. The entire area is open to walk-in visitation, regardless of conditions. Overnight camping is permitted. No fireworks are allowed. Be mindful of seasonal and area fire restrictions.
Traveler
Easily accessible. Tent camping was great, and no one was around us. Restrooms are great. Very clean overall and nice easy to check in if you come late.
TravelerBring bug spray as there are quite a few mosquitoes, but the tent sites are clean and they pick up garbage every morning from your site! Great helpful staff members and a small store with a few necessities. There are a few restaurants and stores in town to check out such as the oldest bar in MT!
Legend
Stayed 5 nights and it sure was lovely! 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. Lawn was mowed while here and everyone was respectful of each other’s space. Can’t hear much noise from the highway. There’s two farms that back against the place so you may hear some noise from it. There’s at least 8 spots here and a tent site. Definitely enough room for all rig sizes. Picnic table and fire ring at each site. Had 2-3 bars of LTE via AT&T. Definitely would stay here again! Only 15 minutes from mile city. No water, no trash but it’s free!
Guide
We were tent camping. Keep that in mind.
First the bad: There’s a train that passes by about 5 times throughout the night. It’s about 6 blocks away- but still very noticeable. However- this is a problem for almost every campground in the area. Also theres a ton of GIANT dead cottonwood branches overhead EVERYWHERE. They need to send a crew out to clean that up. Someone is going to get hurt one of these days (I’m an arborist! LOL)
The good: They have trees. Big ones. It’s pretty. There’s a big river a 30 second’s walk from the campground. There’s pit toilets. They stink, but they’re clean and stocked. There is running water and it tastes good! Each campsite has a picnic table. The campsites are not crammed one on top of eachother. You can come in late- they don’t lock the gates at night BUT YOU DO HAVE TO OPEN THE GATE YOURSELF. Minus the train, it’s SUPER quiet and dark.
Legend
I think we've been spoiled by all the forested campgrounds we've stayed in. This was a convenient one night stop for us, and we knew what we were getting into just off I94. There's a lot of road noise although it may not bother most of the campers who have large, air conditioned RVs.
On the plus side, there's electricity, water hookup, clean bathrooms and showers, wifi and a dump station. There's a pool, a small playground and a grass area for tents.
Sites for RVs are in parallel rows very close together, and there is no possibility of shade. The neighbors in large RVs on both sides of us pulled in, hooked up their hose, plugged into the electricity, and went inside. We didn't see them again.
This place filled up in the early evening. It's truly a one night stay except for some people who must be living/working in the area. There are also some mobile homes at the back of the park. It's a well maintained place to sleep for a night.
Scout
Flat camping sites, mostly pull thru, with fire rings, picknic tables. One vault toilet, always clean,always has paper. Campground is free and open all year. Some sites are alongside a pond, where I have seen people swimming. 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. Con: no electricity, no drinking water. Stay limit of 7 days. Very well maintained.
The town of Rosebud has a bar, that is open in the weekends, and serves dinner.
The town of Forsyth is 15 minutes away, and has a grocery store, hardware store(s) and gas station(s). Also a one room movie theater, completely restored with lounge chairs. Forsyth has a bowling alley. Great place for camping, fishing, swimming, shopping, and relaxing.
I have good connection with Verizon here.
LegendThis was a quiet little spot. Stayed a few days leading up to Memorial Day weekend and had 3 campers come Wednesday and pick a spot then left their camper so they had it for the weekend. There’s 10 spots in the camping area then an additional 2 by the boat launch. Vault toilet was stocked and clean. Game warden drove by during my stay making sure trash wasn’t left out, etc. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Most spots are open with direct sunlight (good for solar) and the sites can accommodate most rigs since they are small - large. Had full LTE service via AT&T. There’s a delicious drive thru coffee place 12 min away called Cattle Coffee in Forsyth. Definitely worth the trip!
TravelerGreat place to crash in my tent on my long road trip. Quick hike down to the Yellowstone River where there is great rock picking and it’s the perfect spot to cool off in the middle of a hot Montana summer. The cicadas were pretty loud, but that’s inevitable! Nice, clean showers and bathrooms were a plus on my long trip!
TravelerMy two hunting dogs ran amok for hours. There was nobody in the park but us. A few people drove through. The park is kept immaculate. There are several paths mowed down for great walks through the prairie. This is a dry campsite. If my dogs are happy, I'm happy. I can deal with rustic accommodations if I can exercise my dogs freely without leash laws! The pond and surrounding scenery are gorgeous. I actually enjoyed hearing the train and nearby farm equipment. It was a whole vibe. I did need to purchase my conservation license for Montana. I didn't know it was "a thing." $10....worth it!!! There was an abandoned campsite that the critters got into the garbage. From the looks of it, this person was here with a dog within the last week. There's a generator and deflated tent, fishing pole, and cooler with rotten food in it. I'd love to know the story there. Lots of wood ticks, btw. 🤮
TravelerGood shade for Montana. Level sites. Well maintained. Great over night stop. Definitely do it again
RangerPicture-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. Filled up by mid-afternoon, were lucky to get there early. Exceptional views.
GuideNot one of my favorites. There are some smaller private sites suitable for tents. The only thing this campground has going for it is that it’s right on the yellowstone river. Someone took our campsite while we were in town and there is no campground host. It is right next to railroad tracks which are in use (about 6 or so went by throughout the night)
LegendQuiet Montana FAS campground along the Yellowstone River. It is part of the extensive network of fishing access sites. Some are free, some aren’t and other FAS have no camping. There is a downloadable pamphlet with info on these facilities. Photo is of the gravel near the boat launch which a short drive from camping area.
Vault toilet/picnic table
Free
We were there in October 2019 plus September 2020
Scout
If you’re just staying for the night, it’s great. It’s FREE! Go down a short gravel road and pass a semi-maintained pit toilet. It looked great when I visited!
Further down the road there are two fire rings on your left. About 100 ft from each other. If you’re using just one tent there is a spot right on the river bank! I wish I had seen it the night before. There’s also some room on the right under the bridge.
The noise from the cars & the boats in the morning is the only bad thing. But it’s not terrible and I slept fine.
Saw a huge eagle looming over everything across the river.
Have fun
Guide
This place has great proximity to Yellowstone but that’s where the positives end. The spaces were very tight to the point where you need to watch out for your awning or slide. You butt up to the RV behind you and share water/electric and sewer with them. The whole place felt over crowded. The pet area is a gravel lot across the alley and down a ways. Still worth staying here because you can watch sunset in the park and be set up and in bed so quickly.
ScoutStayed here overnight on our way to Big Sky. Very easy to get to right off of I94. Friendly host, easy check in. Full hook ups, Wi-Fi, pull through site which was level so it didn’t take much to set up camp. Bathroom/shower facility was clean. Plenty of shade.
GuideThough it’s not the most glitzy spot, it is clean and the management it extremely accommodating. You can get your laundry and groceries in town, only 3min drive away. You can even catch a movie at the theatre.
ScoutA nice shady campground beside the Yellowstone River. There is a rail line nearby, so if that bothers you … but the sound of the river and of neighboring horses was lovely.
GuidePlenty off pull off areas. There are 3 campgrounds in the park, two lake, rushing stream. Great kayaking and fishing. Bear spray recommended. Grizzly look for easy meals at night.
GuideCheap by comparison, 30$, with electric, showers and bathrooms
GuideWas easy to get to, pulled in our 32ft trailer very easily. Lots of open spaces and fire pits at every site. We had a water spout right by our site which was very convenient! Other then 104 degrees and a horrible amount of gnats, flies and mosquitoes it was a nice stop. It’s was quite and site are spaced out.
ScoutGreat little campground right in the river. Fun for swimming, fishing, and rock collecting. Campground was clean and shaded, with potable water, a pit toilet, and trash cans.
RangerI can’t decide how I feel about this campground. I’m VERY happy with my site, but can see how others may not be. It’s a small campground, located in a quiet area of town, but a few blocks distance from center of town. It’s quiet at the campground. It’s small, right quarters, and some sites face the road (side road). It’s well shaded, full hook up, has bathrooms and showers, and owners are super sweet and very accommodating! My site is right in the middle and perfect! I’m not sure I’d stay here again, unless I was sure to get my choice of sites. I’m here for 4 nights and am enjoying my stay. Centrally located to easy access at west entrance
TravelerThis was a tight space to be able to back in and pull out of. Staff was kind. Restroom was okay. Didn't use the showers. It served it's purpose as An easy place to sleep as we go in and out of YNP
Scout
If you like a nice little place close to the Yellowstone River this is. Just off the freeway but still out of the way.
TravelerIt’s cramped. Very close spaces with no room to do much else. The spaces are staggered enough you’re not side by side, but still very cramped.
Showers and restrooms are not the finest, 2 out of 4 toilets somewhat work and showers needed to be cleaned.
It is costly to stay here. There is internet (slow, so don’t expect to download a movie) and cable, water and electric are standard.
Parking is difficult. you have to park out away from your camper and walk back through the campground. The cramped conditions keep people from backing into the tight spaces; therefore, making you park away from your campsite.
There is a game room, but beware you have to pay for every game.
You are close to Yellowstone NP and that is about the only nice thing about staying here.
In summery, if you need just a place to hookup and sleep and don’t mind being close to other campers this place will work. If you like some privacy and want to actually camp with the family this is not very suitable, no place to set up the hammock, no camp fires, and no extra room for your favorite camp chair!
Just the observation of a family guy with wife and kids who love to camp and love our National Parks...
ScoutWe pulled our 42ft. 5th wheel camper here and there is plenty of room. Giant cottonwood trees and a great fishing spot. We ate walleye 3 nights in a row. We had the choice of electric hookup spots or not.. $5. extra for the power, totally worth it!The town is lovely and ppl are friendly and welcoming. We will be back.
Tent camping near Forsyth, Montana offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the area while enjoying a range of outdoor activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Forsyth, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Forsyth, MT is Far West on the Yellowstone River with a 3-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Forsyth, MT?
TheDyrt.com has all 3 tent camping locations near Forsyth, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
