Camping near Fort Smith, MT

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.