RV campgrounds near Miles City, Montana sit along the Yellowstone River valley at an elevation of approximately 2,300 feet. The area experiences hot summer temperatures often exceeding 90°F, while winter nights regularly drop below freezing. Summer campers should prepare for potential afternoon thunderstorms that can bring high winds between June and August.
What to do
**Riverside exploration: Try rock collecting along the Yellowstone River near Rosebud East, located 56 miles west of Miles City. "Fun for swimming, fishing, and rock collecting. Campground was clean and shaded, with potable water, a pit toilet, and trash cans," notes camper Kathy Y.
**Fishing access: Twelve Mile Dam, 15 minutes from Miles City, offers easy river access for anglers. "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," reports Abby M. at Twelve Mile Dam Fishing Access.
**Walking trails: Explore BLM land at Mathews Recreation Area with concrete walking paths. "There is a walking trail from the main parking lot, and there may be more spots to hike in that I didn't explore," shares one visitor. "Handicap accessible with concrete walks for easy mobility," adds another camper.
What campers like
**Riverside camping: Sites alongside water access rank highly with visitors to BLM Mathews Recreation Area. "This is a free BLM campground with a camp host on location. Nice scenic location by the river side with boat access," explains Beryl A. The area allows stays up to 16 days without fees.
**Clean facilities: The KOA in Miles City maintains well-rated shower buildings. "The bathhouse had been recently painted and the showers recently tiled. The staff were very kind and welcoming," reports Amy E. Another visitor adds, "The showers are very nice and very clean. Probably the best part of our trip generally, the place looks like it has been recently updated."
**Overnight convenience: Terry RV Oasis, 28 miles east of Miles City, offers 16 full-hookup sites from April through November. "Small campground but clean. Owner was very accommodating as we wanted to switch sites," shares Roger J., though he notes, "No wifi. Could only get 2 channels for tv."
What you should know
**Train noise: Several campgrounds experience railroad disruptions. "There's a train that passes by about 5 times throughout the night. It's about 6 blocks away but still very noticeable," warns a visitor to Rosebud East. Another camper advises: "Beautiful campground...but oh boy, the trains came all night, announcing their arrival. So bring some earplugs and you'll have a better night's sleep."
**Seasonal bugs: Summer months bring insects to many campgrounds. At Miles City KOA, one visitor observed, "Bring bug spray as there are quite a few mosquitoes." Another camper at Rosebud East noted their stay included "104 degrees and a horrible amount of gnats, flies and mosquitoes."
**Limited water access: Some primitive sites require bringing your own water supply. "No source of water other than the river, so bring your own," warns Mark C. about Mathews Recreation Area. Another visitor to Terry notes, "The water in Terry has a lot of iron. I'm sure it's potable, but it looks cloudy and brown. Not the campgrounds fault."
Tips for camping with families
**Playgrounds and pools: Look for RV parks with family amenities. Small Towne RV Campground in Terry offers a unique small-town experience. "The campground isn't super updated but the small town with gravel roads and kind people make up for it. There's a rodeo on the 4th of July and it's just nice," shares Kandice.
**Kid-friendly water access: Some sites offer safe water play options. "This place is very relaxing with a great little heated pool, playground and dog park. Super clean bathrooms and a great communal pavilion with grills to use," notes a KOA visitor. Another adds, "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."
**Safe site selection: Choose campgrounds with good reviews for security. "I felt very safe at this campground. We chose a spot right by the river that's a little more secluded but still near the pit toilet and it was a good night," reports a camper at Twelve Mile Dam.
Tips from RVers
**Route planning: Pay attention to bridge clearances when approaching RV campgrounds in Miles City. Several parks warn about an 11-foot clearance bridge in town. Bypass routes exist but require advance planning using campground-provided directions.
**Site selection: Strawberry Hill Recreation Area offers dispersed camping options but requires vehicle consideration. "Primitive style camping with a rough road leading to potential site. Definitely need AWD or 4WD," advises Bryan. Another RVer adds, "Sites access best suited for vans, pickup campers or small class C. Small trailer might be able to make it."
**Power options: For RVers requiring electricity in primitive settings, Rosebud East provides an affordable option. "We had the choice of electric hookup spots or not... $5 extra for the power, totally worth it!" shares Nikki K., who notes they successfully parked their "42ft. 5th wheel camper here and there is plenty of room."
