Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Gardiner, MT

Tom Miner Campground is tucked away 12 mile west of U.S. 89 and only 17 miles from Gardiner and the entrance to Yellowstone NP.  This nice campground is set in a mature fir tree forest which provides plenty of shade.  The sites 16 campsite are nicely spread apart and each features a picnic table, metal fire ring and bear lockers.  Water is available from a hand pump and vault toilets are available.  This is a Trash-in/Trash-out camp gound.A small creek runs along the edge of the campground.  Tom Miner sits at the edge of the Gallatin Petrified Forest and has a nature trail that take you to some cliffs with petrified wood embedded in the rock.  Scavengers have taken most of the petrified wood along the trail but still some nice specimens can be seen.  A permit is required if you wish to search the forest for your own petrified wood.  The road to the campground is very well maintained most of the way, the last few miles are narrow and a little bumpier.  Right before the campground the road forks at a forest service information sign, turn right for the campground, turning left will take you to an area of disperse camping.

This camp ground had about three established campsites I believe, and they were all pretty private from one another. A creek runs through camp and it's heavily forested. Even during the busiest seasons this free campground is vacant but there is good reason for this.

The drive up was rough, take your vehicle at your own risk. If it's not AWD or 4WD you likely will not make it and trust me, you don't want to get stuck on the narrow road on the edge of a cliff. There's also a couple grave yards about a mile from the camp site which is pretty ominous.

There was a grouse preforming it's drumbing mating performance in the camp at all hours of the day and off and on through the night that got pretty annoying, but I doubt you'll have the same experience.

It is about 7 miles from Gardiner and there was some distressed screaming coming from the woods that cause me to decide to pack up camp and leave, so be weary. I'm certain it wasn't an animal (I'm a wildlife ecology student and am very familiar with animal calls in the area) but I have no idea what had went on.

Other than that, this camp site was pretty and probably the only quiet option near Yellowstone.

Booked 6 months in advance and based it on many good reviews. Was promised a new, upgraded campground with a premium site. Found new section is not completed and under construction. Was placed on site 40, which is terribly unlevel, a muddy mess with no crush, no patio and a tree that lays disgusting bushy bug-like buds every day all over everything. The only site like this. We could not enjoy it outside at all. No dog park as advertised. Paid a good deal for a week and was very disappointed. It was far from all the attractions at Yellowstone. It takes 30 min to get to the west gate, and over an hour and half to any points in the park. People seemed nice enough. Did see a moose close by and the laundry room and store were nice. The store was way overpriced tho. West Yellowstone seemed much nicer and closer to NP. Wouldn't stay here again. So disappointed that we booked a week here. The site was horrible and I was told it was a nice site when I questioned it by staff.

West Yellowstone Grizzly campground is located close to the West Yellowstone entrance. It is an Rv Park, lodging, and cabins. It is also in the town of West Yellowstone which is a darling little town with so much to do. The Rv sites are full hook ups and they have picnic benches on a leveled gravel site. There are no fires allowed here and it is pet friendly. . They have WiFi and cable. The sites are pretty close together, which I did not like. There is a grass area on each site which is wonderful for dogs. There are 4 laundry rooms and clean bathrooms and showers. We stayed for 2 days and would stay again.