The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Fort Smith, MT

288 Reviews

Cottonwood Camp offers cabins and camping sites that welcome pets along the Bighorn River, with excellent access for dog owners who enjoy fishing. The campground sits off the highway far enough to provide a quiet environment for pets and campers. Trail Creek/Barrys Landing in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area provides pet-friendly tent and RV sites with bear boxes at each location, allowing dogs to join their owners while exploring the scenic recreation area. Each campsite includes fire rings, picnic tables, and utility posts where leashed pets can rest while campers enjoy the outdoors. The sites remain well-maintained with clean toilets available, though no shower facilities exist for rinsing off muddy paws after outdoor adventures.

Multiple fishing access sites around Fort Smith permit pets at dispersed camping areas along the river, creating spaces where dogs can explore shorelines while their owners fish. Mallards Landing provides riverside camping with vault toilets and a boat ramp, allowing dogs to roam with space between campsites. The sites feature beautiful views and cooling breezes beneficial during warmer months when pet owners need to consider heat exposure. For travelers seeking more amenities, 7th Ranch RV Park in nearby Garryowen offers pet-friendly RV sites, tent camping, cabins and glamping options with water, electric and sewer hookups. The campground maintains spotless shower facilities and bathrooms, essential after outdoor activities with pets. Some camping areas enforce no-fire restrictions, requiring pet owners to plan alternative cooking methods when preparing meals at campsites with animals present.

Map showing campgrounds near Fort Smith, MontanaExplore the Map

Detours Nearby

LOCAL FAVORITES PRESENTED BYToyota Trucks
Dead Swede

Dead Swede

2 hrs 43 min away

Trail Creek/Barrys Landing - Bighorn Canyon National Rec Area

Trail Creek/Barrys Landing - Bighorn Canyon National Rec Area

3 hrs 9 min away

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Fort Smith Contest

Enter to Win

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Fort Smith, Montana (41)

    1. Cottonwood Camp

    1 Review
    Fort Smith, MT
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 666-2391

    "The place is off of the highway a good distance so you dont get noise from the road. Definitely will return to the campground."

    2. 7th Ranch RV Park

    37 Reviews
    Garryowen, MT
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 638-2438

    "You are given a map of the camp that has helpful information about the surrounding area on the back (vet and doctor contacts, etc.)"

    "Plenty of open area to get out and walk. We travel with 2 large dogs and the campground has excellent places to walk dogs. They also don’t mind your dog off leash if outside the “fenced”area."

    3. Bighorn Fishing Access Site

    1 Review
    Fort Smith, MT
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 444-2535

    4. Trail Creek/Barrys Landing - Bighorn Canyon National Rec Area

    6 Reviews
    Cowley, MT
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 666-2412

    "This place is not quite in the most traveled areas of Montana which makes it wonderful if you want to escape the tourist crowds in the summer."

    "And provides wonderful hiking and boating opportunities with amazing views in walking distance from the sites. There weren’t any bugs. The spots were spacious."

    5. Mallards Landing

    3 Reviews
    Garryowen, MT
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 444-2535

    "Other places along the river had too many people for my liking stayed here no one else right place for my dog to Rome nice breeze did have Bug issues"

    "Multiple sites dispersed around. Has mobile phone service via t mobile. Lte speeds"

    6. Billings KOA Holiday

    47 Reviews
    Billings, MT
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 252-3104

    "We normally avoid KOA campgrounds - preferring to stay away from large campers pushed together. Our experience was not what we expected. We were the only ones in the last loop."

    "great dog park and close to biking trails."

    7. Grandview Campground

    16 Reviews
    Hardin, MT
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 671-0121

    $37 - $50 / night

    "This is no more/no less than expected from a private campground in eastern Montana. Very convenient off the highway and to town, also about 20 minutes to Little Big Horn."

    "Grass at pad which is nice for dogs. Clean good night sleep except for someone mowing at 6:30"

    8. Hardin KOA

    11 Reviews
    Hardin, MT
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 665-1635

    $30 - $75 / night

    "Vending machines in the laundromat, one of the offers ice cream, and frozen food. 2 Huge dog parks and pet wash. Bathrooms are clean and staff is very friendly.."

    "Washing machine room is big and an adjacent room to wash your dog! This KOA has a Pizza/Wings store attached to office."

    9. Two Leggins

    2 Reviews
    Hardin, MT
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 444-2535

    10. Porcupine Campground (WY)

    5 Reviews
    Shell, WY
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 587-9054

    $19 / night

    "My favorite part of the trip to this area was the Native American Medicine Wheel site, but we found some great hikes around here too. Good wildlife viewing."

    "Camphost  is located at the Bald Mountain Campground.  Sites are small with picnic table, fire ring, back in sites.  Some sites are good for solar and some are shady. "

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 41 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Fort Smith Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Fort Smith, MT

23 Photos of 41 Fort Smith Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Fort Smith, MT

288 Reviews of 41 Fort Smith Campgrounds

  • Kristy M.
    Aug. 19, 2024

    Hardin KOA

    New owners! Tons of new improvements

    New owners have been here about a year and you can see all of the new improvements! Cute store! Vending machines in the laundromat, one of the offers ice cream, and frozen food. 2 Huge dog parks and pet wash. Bathrooms are clean and staff is very friendly..

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2024

    Love's RV Stop-Hardin MT 679

    Clean, new, easy in and out, nice amenities

    Can’t beat the proximity to gas & propane, great convenience store and nice RV Stop amenities. Dog park, pickle ball courts, trash, playground, great views of the surrounding hills and local flavor. Level sites

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 14, 2019

    Billings KOA Holiday

    Surprisingly nice stay (and those showers!)

    We normally avoid KOA campgrounds - preferring to stay away from large campers pushed together. Our experience was not what we expected. We were the only ones in the last loop. With the way our teardrop faced we couldn’t see anyone else. This gave us a small campground feel. 

    There are lots of activities - from mini-golf to dog park to river access. We took advantage of the amazing showers. 

    Walking around was a surprise too. We followed a trail by the river and it led around a pond  it was short but away from everything.

  • Kelly D.
    Sep. 19, 2021

    Billings KOA Holiday

    Great amenities and beautiful grounds

    Great spot on our way to Yellowstone. Right off the Yellowstone River. Large sites. Mini golf pool etc. great dog park and close to biking trails.

  • Pat M.
    Jun. 29, 2019

    Billings KOA Holiday

    Top Notch

    Beautiful Campground, great customer service! Dog park, pool, putt-putt golf. They serve breakfast and ice cream for a few!

  • A
    Jun. 30, 2022

    7th Ranch RV Park

    Best park yet!

    We pulled in yesterday and were immediately impressed by the warm and professional check in processs. You are given a map of the camp that has helpful information about the surrounding area on the back (vet and doctor contacts, etc.) Charles leads you to your spot, which is level gravel and spacious. Each and every spot has an incredible view of the hills.

    The camp is on a Mennonite farm, and the family has outdone themselves with making the surrounding area beautiful and clean. All sites are pull thru. No dog park but a great couple of trails up the hills behind the camp. Extremely family friendly. And just 6 miles from Little Bighorn Battlefield. We hope to be back!

  • MaryAnn B.
    Aug. 28, 2020

    Billings KOA Holiday

    All around great experience

    Friendly staff, clean, well maintained grounds, quiet and charming. This place had everything we needed for a few nights of work, rest and play. And to top it off the internet worked great. They have a pool, mini golf, kids play grounds, and an enclosed dog park. The laundry and bathrooms were exceptionally clean and updated. We splurged a little got the deluxe pull through with the swing, patio and fire pit, and saved a little with our AAA membership. And, after having gone through death valley and the High Sierra Valley having the lovely tree coverage was awesome. This camp ground is tucked into a residential area, and far enough off the interstate to not hear the noise, but close enough to town and all the other amenities to make it very convenient. It’s also on the river, but we didn’t have a chance to take advantage of that on this trip. I only gave four stars because we were positioned right behind the maintenance residence and there was a lot of noisy activity coming and going at all hours. I’m not complaining, they did an excellent job of maintaining and I’m sure if we were in any other location on site we’d not been bothered by this at all. We’d definitely stay here again.

  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2022

    Grandview Campground

    The office behind the front counter is really gross. Unclean. Junk piled up to the ceiling. Unprofessional.

    Dog poo is everywhere. People aren’t picking up after their pets.

  • W
    Jul. 23, 2021

    Lazy R Campground

    Loved this one!

    We stayed here for 3 nights on our trip from Texas. Quiet, pet and kid friendly, and the staff was great! Clean grounds that they are constantly working on- and the bakery was delicious for breakfast. Close to Montana, Big Horn National park, Sheridan, etc. great location! But the staff was just above and beyond- so friendly, so helpful, and we’d stay here again!

Guide to Fort Smith

Fort Smith sits in southeast Montana along the Bighorn River where it exits Yellowstone Canyon. The area ranges from 3,500-4,300 feet in elevation with a semi-arid climate that creates warm summers and cold winters. Dispersed camping options exist on public lands surrounding Fort Smith, typically without established facilities or reservations.

What to do

Hiking near Medicine Wheel: Drive 90 minutes to Porcupine Campground where trails connect to historic sites. "My favorite part of the trip to this area was the Native American Medicine Wheel site, but we found some great hikes around here too. Good wildlife viewing," notes a visitor who appreciated the cultural significance.

Fishing access points: Multiple fishing sites along the Bighorn River provide excellent angling opportunities at Two Leggins. "Great Fishing Spot with a toilet and boat ramp. Downside is no fires or propane stove use," explains a camper, highlighting the restrictions that apply at fishing access sites.

Boating and water recreation: Launch boats at designated ramps near camping areas to explore the river. "This place is not quite in the most traveled areas of Montana which makes it wonderful if you want to escape the tourist crowds in the summer," shares a camper about Trail Creek/Barrys Landing, noting the less crowded water access points.

What campers like

Disconnected camping experience: Trail Creek/Barrys Landing provides a technology-free environment. "Be warned: ZERO cell signal. I mean none at all. But that's my favorite part! It is so peaceful and beautiful!" explains a visitor who enjoyed the isolation from digital distractions.

Accessible outdoor infrastructure: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Fort Smith provide essential facilities while maintaining a natural setting. "Each site has a fire ring, picnic table, utility post and bear-box," notes a camper about the organized but rustic amenities at Trail Creek/Barrys Landing.

Natural waterfront sites: Campers prefer spots close to the Bighorn River for cooling effects during summer. "Other places along the river had too many people for my liking stayed here no one else right place for my dog to Rome nice breeze," reports a visitor at Mallards Landing about finding less crowded waterfront spots.

What you should know

Bear safety requirements: Several campgrounds require proper food storage in provided bear boxes. "There are also two separate sets of two pit toilets, and each site has its own large bear locker," reports a camper about the safety infrastructure at Trail Creek/Barrys Landing.

Fire restrictions: Many fishing access sites prohibit open flames. "Great Fishing Spot with a toilet and boat ramp. Downside is no fires or propane stove use," warns a camper about limitations at Two Leggins that affect meal preparation options.

Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites offer minimal amenities. "This WAS a campground. Now just dispersed camping with a pit toilet. Multiple sites dispersed around," explains a camper about the basic setup at Mallards Landing, noting the transition from developed to more primitive camping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Fort Smith, MT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Fort Smith, MT is Cottonwood Camp with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Fort Smith, MT?

TheDyrt.com has all 41 dog-friendly camping locations near Fort Smith, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring