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Best Campgrounds near Fort Smith, MT

293 Reviews

Fort Smith, Montana provides access to several campgrounds within the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, including Afterbay Campground, Black Canyon Campground, and Trail Creek/Barrys Landing. The area features a mix of established campgrounds with varying amenities and accommodation types, from tent-only sites to RV-friendly locations with hookups. Cottonwood Camp offers cabin camping options alongside tent and RV sites, while fishing access sites like Bighorn Fishing Access and Mallards Landing provide opportunities for waterfront camping. The surrounding landscape combines prairie views with proximity to the Bighorn River and Bighorn Canyon, creating diverse camping environments within a relatively compact geographic area.

Road conditions and accessibility vary throughout the region, with some campgrounds requiring travel on unpaved roads. "The roads are horrible... if it rained you have to be in a jacked up 4x4 to get through," noted one visitor describing access to a nearby campground. Summer temperatures can be quite hot, particularly at lower elevations, while spring and fall offer more moderate conditions. Most established campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with limited winter camping options. Cell service is inconsistent throughout the region, with better coverage near Fort Smith proper and diminished signals in canyon areas. Campgrounds like Afterbay and Black Canyon have specific regulations regarding fires and pets, with some prohibiting both entirely.

Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers visiting the Fort Smith area. The Bighorn River provides excellent fishing opportunities, with several access points designed specifically for anglers. According to one visitor, "Great access to the river with a little boat ramp" makes sites like Mallards Landing popular despite limited amenities. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with visitors reporting moose and deer sightings at campgrounds in the broader region. Campers frequently mention the contrast between the developed amenities at places like 7th Ranch RV Park, which offers full hookups and "amazing sunset views," and the more rustic experiences available at primitive sites. The area's relative distance from major population centers means that even during peak summer months, campers can often find available sites without advance reservations except on holiday weekends.

Best Camping Sites Near Fort Smith, Montana (62)

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Recent Reviews near Fort Smith, MT

293 Reviews of 62 Fort Smith Campgrounds

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 29, 2025

    7th Ranch RV Park

    Return Stay, Still Excellent

    We had stayed here a few years ago, so we already knew the route, and both RV Trip Wizard and Waze guided us directly to the campground (CG) located about three miles off I-90. The new office was finished, and check-in was super easy and friendly. We received complimentary ice cream bars and were then escorted to pull-through Site A32 with FHUs (50/30/20 AMP). The pad was plenty long, which allowed us to position our rig for an easier reach to the sewer connection toward the back of the pad while still having room to park our F-450. One feature we really appreciated was that the campground intentionally spaced guests apart when occupancy was low, so campers weren’t placed right next to each other unless requested. All utilities functioned well. We had 3 bars on T-Mobile and 1 bar on Verizon and used our T-Mobile Home Internet. The campground also offered free WiFi with no passcode through the local rural phone service; staff clearly explained the security limitations, and the connection was only suitable for light browsing and email, so we chose not to use it. Scattered trees were present throughout the park, but satellite users, including Starlink, should still have reasonable connectivity. The shower house and laundry facilities were clean and well maintained. The owners were great to work with and allowed us to choose a site farther from other campers. We did need leveling blocks on the door side, but that was a minor issue. There was some distant highway noise from I-90, and most of the additional noise came from periodic trains during the night. The large disc-golf area provided a perfect open space for our young pup to run off leash, and she absolutely loved it. Another bonus was that the water here was very soft. Overall, we enjoyed another excellent stay at this well-run campground.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2025

    Love's RV Stop-Hardin MT 679

    Easy Off Highway Stop

    Very easy stop, flat sites, very exposed, views of loves, can be rather noisy, expensive for what it is. Not a lot of options so it works. Would use it again. I just think it’s way to expensive for area, but they kind of have you trapped in area if you’re done driving for the day. It is clean, safe feeling, with all the amenities you need on site.

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Lovell Camper Park

    Lovell Camper Park

    After a full day of driving, we pulled up yesterday evening just as it was getting dark and the camp area was blocked off and closed--no notices on the city's website... so I'll leave a review here as a heads up to others traveling through anytime soon. Drove to the police station and asked if it'd be okay to park alongside the park on the street or in another section there and were given directions to a couple truck stops nearby.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Voyagers Rest

    Voyagers Rest

    Place was easy to find and easy to get our truck camper in. Fire ring was fine. There were tons of mosquitoes so beware

  • aThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Bighorn National Forest Sibley Lake Campground

    A good one night stay

    A pretty good campground, clean with clean Porta potty toilets, water at the campground, but not at campsites, electric and non-electric the drive to get here though is amazing

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2025

    7th Ranch RV Park

    Beautiful stop over

    Nice small park close to i-90 interstate with lengthy pull through sites and full hookups. Clean updated bathrooms and beautiful scenery all around. Very close to Custer State Park. About half the sites have a tree wi th shade available. Our site does not have shade. Pads are all gravel and leveling maybe needed.

  • Wandering Resonance The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    General Custer Fishing Access Road

    Just skip it!

    Not a bad site in theory, the access road is good and there is a toilet. However, there are only three campsites, one of which requires running a gauntlet of overgrown willow bushes and scratching a substantial amount of paint off the sides of your vehicle to access, which we did as the other two sites were taken. The mosquitoes here are horrid as it's a marsh, we considered peeing in a jar in our van instead of risking opening the insect mesh. Standard array of trash...cigarette butts, beer cans, water bottles etc.

  • andrew The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Hardin KOA

    Quiet and clean

    We stayed for two nights and went to see Custers last stand. Pool was great for afternoon. Laundry and bathrooms clean and just fine. My only issue was the dump hook up at our FHU site. It was about 1ft above ground level and almost made it impossible to dump with an accordion hose. Other than that, great stay.

  • Jennifer K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 19, 2025

    Horseshoe Bend Campground — Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

    Beautiful area but people are loud

    This campground has really gorgeous scenery. The picnic tables, fire pits and sun/wind shades are all newer and well kept. Clearly states bear area and to keep all foods properly contained. However as far as I've seen there are only bear boxes in the picnic area by the marina and there's really no trees around. You would have to use a bear safe container or the sun/wind shades to hang your food if your in a tent but not all sites have them. A lot of sites have water and electric in loops A and B. There is a water fill and dump station on the road before the turn off of the campground. The potable water has a nozzle on it and you can not hook a hose to it. However the sites with water have a normal garden hose spigot. My only complaint would be the people are inconsiderate and quite loud all day and there's not many people here. It's not even half full but some are clearly quite drunk most of the day. There's a family that pulled in and set up right around 10 pm right next to us. Banging and screaming about for over an hour. Our neighbors just let their dog run loose. Ive found discarded fish carcasses that someone had filleted and just tossed behind a bush. Also a lot of trash all over the place. The first site in loop A is marked as the host...I've never seen them so clearly they dont care. So as long as you dont want peace and quiet then this place is fine. I cant imagine what it's like when it's mostly full on the weekend. We really wanted to see the canyon though so we opted to stay here for the night on the way to Custer national forest.

Guide to Fort Smith

Fort Smith camping spots sit along the Bighorn River near the Montana-Wyoming border at an elevation around 3,000 feet. The area's semi-arid climate creates stark contrasts between hot summer days and cool evenings, with late spring and early fall offering the most moderate temperatures. Cell service varies greatly between campgrounds, with stronger signals closer to Fort Smith proper and weaker reception in canyon areas.

What to do

Kayaking the Bighorn River: Afterbay Campground provides direct water access for paddlers. "Nice campground, did some kayaking," reports one visitor who gave the location five stars. The campground's proximity to the water makes it convenient for day trips on the river.

Hiking nearby trails: Explore the hiking options accessible from Trail Creek/Barrys Landing. "This campground is beautiful! And affordable! And provides wonderful hiking and boating opportunities with amazing views in walking distance from the sites," notes one camper. Several trail options connect directly to camping areas.

Fishing access: Multiple dedicated fishing access points exist around Fort Smith. Mallards Landing offers anglers easy river entry. "It's a wide open group camp spot with vaulted toilet only no showers. Great access to the river with a little boat ramp," writes one reviewer who frequents the spot.

What campers like

Waterfront camping: Many campers appreciate sites with water views. At Afterbay Campground, one visitor noted it's a "Clean and quiet campsite on the water. There are several water spigots and there are sites with electrical hookups for RVs."

Wildlife viewing: The area attracts diverse wildlife. "During my stay there was lots of bear activity, but the bears avoided human contact and were not a threat," reports an Afterbay Campground visitor, highlighting the nature observation opportunities.

Peaceful, remote settings: Cottonwood Camp earns praise for its seclusion. "The place is off of the highway a good distance so you don't get noise from the road," writes one camper who appreciated the quiet location.

What you should know

Limited supplies: Most campgrounds are distant from major shopping. As one Afterbay Campground visitor notes, "Local town has almost no resources. A nearby fishing shop/market has bare minimum supplies."

Boat-in only sites: Some campgrounds can only be reached by water. One visitor warns about Black Canyon Campground: "There is no road access to any of the campgrounds located inside the canyon. The only road access campsites are downstream of dam in the afterbay."

Road conditions: Access roads to some Fort Smith camping areas can be challenging. The road to 7th Ranch RV Park requires caution as one camper advises: "Warning: the last mile or so is a dirt road that is very rough, so go slow!"

Tips for camping with families

Sites with amenities: Families often prefer campgrounds with facilities. 7th Ranch offers "a small play ground. Kids had a great time," according to one family. The campground also maintains clean facilities which many parents appreciate.

Water activities for children: Look for campgrounds with easy water access. Trail Creek/Barrys Landing offers "wonderful hiking and boating opportunities with amazing views in walking distance from the sites. There weren't any bugs. The spots were spacious."

Bear safety: Teach children proper food storage. "Each site has its own large bear locker," notes a visitor to Trail Creek/Barrys Landing, providing secure storage for food and scented items away from sleeping areas.

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: Electric hookups are limited near Fort Smith. At Afterbay Campground, an RVer notes there's "No sewer or showers however, electricity and water and vault toilets. Cell reception is good with Verizon, cell Internet is marginal."

Site layouts: Many RV sites offer pull-through access. "7th Ranch RV Park has "large pull through sites for big rigs" and one visitor confirms they "can accommodate any size rig."

Leveling needs: Be prepared to level your RV. According to one RVer at 7th Ranch: "Pads are all gravel and leveling maybe needed." Bringing leveling blocks is recommended for most Fort Smith area campgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Fort Smith campgrounds?

Campgrounds around Fort Smith offer varying amenities to accommodate different camping styles. Cottonwood Camp provides basic amenities including water and toilet facilities. For those seeking more comforts, 7th Ranch RV Park offers full hookups on a family-run property with clean, well-maintained grounds. Most public campgrounds in the area typically provide vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. RV campers will find several parks with electric and water hookups, while tent campers can enjoy more primitive sites with beautiful natural surroundings. Many campgrounds are situated near water for fishing and boating activities.

Where are the best camping sites in Fort Smith?

Fort Smith offers excellent camping opportunities centered around the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Afterbay Campground is highly rated for its beautiful location with convenient access to hiking trails and water activities. It's perfect for outdoor enthusiasts wanting to experience Montana's natural beauty. Another excellent option is Trail Creek/Barrys Landing, which provides a more secluded experience away from tourist crowds while still offering gorgeous views and access to fishing and boating on the Bighorn River. Both campgrounds showcase the spectacular scenery that makes this region a favorite for nature lovers.

Do I need reservations for camping in Fort Smith?

Reservations are recommended for camping in the Fort Smith area, especially during the peak summer season from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Black Canyon Campground and other Bighorn Canyon Recreation Area campgrounds can fill quickly during weekends and holidays. Private facilities like Grandview Campground strongly suggest reservations to secure a spot, particularly if you need specific amenities or hookups. Some smaller public campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis, but arriving early is advised during busy periods. Off-season camping (fall through spring) typically offers more flexibility with walk-up availability.

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