Best Campgrounds near Missoula, MT
Missoula, Montana serves as a gateway to multiple camping destinations within the surrounding national forests and public lands. Established campgrounds like Charles Waters and Lolo Creek provide tent and RV sites with standard amenities including picnic tables, vault toilets, and fire rings. Blue Mountain Forest Road offers dispersed camping options approximately 5 miles southwest of downtown, while KOA and Jim & Mary's RV Park cater to travelers seeking more developed facilities with hookups, showers, and cabin accommodations.
Camping in the area operates seasonally, with most developed campgrounds open from May through September or early October. Higher elevation sites typically remain snow-covered until late spring. "Beautiful spot very close to the highway," notes one camper about Russell Gates, highlighting the proximity to transportation corridors that characterizes many sites in the region. Road conditions vary significantly, with some campgrounds requiring high-clearance vehicles to navigate forest roads. Most established campgrounds near Missoula maintain accessible facilities, while dispersed camping areas may have limited amenities and require campers to pack out all waste. Reservations are recommended for developed campgrounds during summer weekends, particularly for sites with electricity or water hookups.
The Bitterroot Mountains and Clark Fork River provide scenic backdrops for camping experiences in the region. Campers frequently mention the quality of fishing access along the Blackfoot and Clark Fork rivers. One visitor described Charles Waters Campground as having "HUGE and so beautiful" sites, with Bass Creek just "50 yards from the camper and so clear." Mosquitoes can be problematic at waterfront locations, particularly at Chief Looking Glass Campground according to visitor reports. Noise considerations include train activity near some northern campgrounds and highway sounds at sites adjacent to major routes. Winter camping options are limited primarily to year-round RV parks, though some primitive sites remain accessible depending on snow conditions and road closures.
