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Best Dispersed Camping near Pray, MT

127 Reviews

Travertine Road and surrounding areas in the Custer-Gallatin National Forest offer several free dispersed camping options near Pray, Montana. Most sites accommodate tents with some areas supporting RVs, particularly along Hyalite Canyon. These primitive sites provide no amenities - no toilets, drinking water, or trash service, requiring campers to pack out everything they bring in.

Road conditions vary significantly by location and season. One visitor noted of Hyalite Canyon, "The road is very rutted but even sedans are able to make the drive in." Access to more remote sites may require higher-clearance vehicles. Several dispersed areas feature established fire rings, though fire restrictions commonly apply during summer months. Falls Creek offers a more developed option with picnic tables and seasonal water, though a camper shared, "There is no electricity and the water spigot doesn't work." Most dispersed sites in the region follow standard backcountry camping duration limits of 14 days within a 30-day period.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Pray, Montana (46)

    1. Travertine Road Dispersed - Yellowstone

    45 Reviews
    Gardiner, MT
    25 miles

    "No amenities, so pack in everything you need and leave no trace. Would 100% come back for the views alone. One of the best dispersed sites I’ve stayed at."

    "Perfect dispersed camping. Note it is a windy dirt road, so a pickup or camper van can make it, but don't try a Class A or Class C RV. Our 20 footer made it fine."

    2. Hyalite Canyon Dispersed - FS 1046

    14 Reviews
    Gallatin Gateway, MT
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 522-2520

    "Definitely busier than I expected, especially with the condition of the road; we had multiple cars coming down the road we were on and then they would turn around and come back but it wasn’t obnoxious."

    "Dispersed camping all along a pass through the canyon. Very remote and private. I drove up the mountain a ways and found a perfect spot to set up ."

    3. Snowbank Trailhead

    1 Review
    Pray, MT
    10 miles

    "This trailhead parking is across the street from Snowbank CG that costs $26/night. It’s flat, pretty and has a pit toilet. Access to the Wicked Creek trails."

    4. Custer-Gallatin National Forest Dispersed Camping

    13 Reviews
    Gardiner, MT
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 587-6701

    "We arrived to the Yellowstone area in the evening, and since we had been traveling around the U.S. for almost a year, we were well-versed in finding alternative camping options near national parks."

    "Take a left and drive in 3 miles on National Forest Road to areas where camping is allowed. There are mile marker signs."

    5. Hyalite Canyon Dispersed

    3 Reviews
    Emigrant, MT
    15 miles

    "We had to park in a tiny road and walk about 5 min to our campsite. Super comfy and quiet tho for a getaway night ! The spot only had 3-4 sites tho"

    6. Pig Farm Fishing Access Camp

    11 Reviews
    Livingston, MT
    26 miles

    "There are no facilities whatsoever, make sure to pack everything out and stock up on gas and supplies before heading out there!"

    "Very easy to get to with several camping and RV areas although little shade."

    7. Little Trail Creek Road - Dispersed Site

    8 Reviews
    Gardiner, MT
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 848-7375

    "Perfect pull outs off Travertine up Trail Creek/FS 1701 just 7-10 minutes out of Gardine. We ended up at the very end of the road where it loops back on itself in our truck camper."

    "Drove through a few open gates but there were clearly dispersed sites in this area. Nice flat sites, road was rocky and bumpy but not bad."

    8. Falls Creek

    3 Reviews
    Mcleod, MT
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 932-5155

    "Warning: google maps will take you down a small road with houses. Skip that one. Continue straight on the main road and it will have a turn off for the camp. "

    "You park, and then depending on your site, you’re either directly at your campsite or you walk about 100 yards to your site."

    9. Big Creek Crossing on Hyalite Creek Road

    1 Review
    Emigrant, MT
    14 miles

    10. Chestnut Mountain Trailhead Dispersed

    3 Reviews
    Bozeman, MT
    20 miles
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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Pray, MT

107 Photos of 46 Pray Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Pray, MT

127 Reviews of 46 Pray Campgrounds

  • E
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Travertine Road Dispersed - Yellowstone

    Beautiful view

    Absolutely stunning spot. The mountain views from camp were unreal — especially at sunrise. Super peaceful, with minimal noise. No amenities, so pack in everything you need and leave no trace. Would 100% come back for the views alone. One of the best dispersed sites I’ve stayed at.

  • m
    Jun. 8, 2021

    Travertine Road Dispersed - Yellowstone

    Perfect dispersed camping

    Perfect dispersed camping. Note it is a windy dirt road, so a pickup or camper van can make it, but don't try a Class A or Class C RV. Our 20 footer made it fine. Also wouldn't want to drive it if rain forecasted as I bet the dirt turns to impassible mud real fast.

    The spots themselves are wonderful, some very open, some tucked away along the rocks, all very spread out from each other. Super quiet. I can't believe how quiet it was.

    If you want to feel like you are camping on a mountain in the middle of no where, this is it.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 12, 2019

    2S1 Yellowstone National Park Backcountry — Yellowstone National Park

    Ranger review Morsel Spork XL at Yellowstone Backcountry site 2S1

    Camp among wide meadows, lush forests, towering peaks and wildlife

    Yellowstone National Park's back-country site 2S1 is definitely the most amazing back-country site our Venturing Crew has backpacked to this summer, and we have been to quiet a few. Back-country site 2S1 is located along Slough Creek in a beautiful valley where Sandhill Cranes calls fill the valley in the evening and early morning. It is a 4.3 mile hike along the Slough Creek Trail to the spur trail for site 2S1, then a.6 mile hike to the campsite. Being.6 miles from the trail would usually mean solitude, but this site appears to be a popular fishing location as well as their was always someone fishing in the area. But don't worry, the campsite is fairly hidden from the creek and those fishing were very considerate. The campsite has numerous flat locations to pitch a tent. Their is a pole suspended between two trees for handing your food, but you don't need to use it as a bear proof locker has been placed at the site. A rock fire ring is available for fires and has large logs on two sides to sit on. Plenty of firewood is available in the form of large trees that are scattered on the ground through out the area, just find one of the older ones that are rotting and pull them apart and in a few minutes you have a nice pile of wood that will start easy. You don't need much wood at any one time on the fire to have a nice hot fire as this dry rotted wood really burns hot. If you are planning on having a fire be sure to bring a container to bring water from the creek to put it out with, as you are at least 50 yards from the creek. The view is amazing from camp, a wondering creek going though a wide valley with steep mountains on each side. In the evening we were treated to the alpine glow on the mountain tops for a good 15 minutes. Do you want to see wildlife, well we say plenty on this backpack trip. Hundreds of bison on the drive to the trail head, watched a black bear munching on various vegetation 100 feet from the trail, a young fox walked right by us on the trail, squirrels, chipmunks, a badger, sandhill cranes and other song birds as well. To get to back-country site 2S1 start at Slough Creek Trail head(2K5) and hike the 4.3 miles to the spur trail to the campsite. You will have one hard climb right of the bat, the first.7 miles is a steep climb, after that it is a easy hike. A warning, don't be shocked when you see lots of tourist heading out on the trail completely unprepared. We are talking about hiking in flip flops, no water, no bear spray, and this on a steep trail to start where we spotted the bear along the trail edge.8 miles in.

    Ranger review of the Morsel Spork XL

    We have been using the Morsel XL spork with out Scouts on several backpacking trips this summer and the unanimous opinion is a big thumbs up. We have used our Morsels with MRE's, and they truly out perform compared to the plastic spoon those meals provide. With backpacking dehydrated meals we are able to get out every little bit out of the corners of the bag without getting our hands messy. Bowls, cups, and plates, no problem getting to all the food, which makes clean-up after a meal easier. The variety of colors is helpful as well, as we can give each scout a different color so no one confuses their Morsel with anyone else, and we can quickly figure out who dropped theirs or left it laying around. The Morsel Spork XL is now our go to utensil for our backpacking adventures.

  • Marasha L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2024

    Olson Creek Dispersed

    Really a 4.5 star spot

    Beautiful space with views and birdsongs aplenty. Spaces are small and right off the road, but for a free night not far from I-94 with solitude and nature, it’s fantastic. There are a few more pull-offs (again, no privacy and right off the Forest Road) if you drive on down toward Skunk Rd, but road gets rougher (high clearance and/or 4WD fine) from especially if it has recently rained. Those spots were also all taken. Went about a 1/2 mile beyond the GPS coordinates for spot with wee bit more space but the pull-off with these exact coordinates ended up getting claimed by an RV at some point in the night—this road gets solid use in the summer—saw at least a dozen vehicles in the 14 hours here.

  • owen T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 29, 2024

    Cottonwood Reservoir Dispersed Camping

    Cottonwood reservoir wilsall montana

    Cottonwood Reseravoir DNRC land section.  accessible for overnight camping under DNRC rules.  The reservoir has Yellowstone cutthroat trout and white suckers.  No wifi, no trash, no bathrooms. Completely wild. Stars at night amazing. All kinds of waterfowl passing seasonal. No amenities.

  • McKenna R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 28, 2021

    Travertine Road Dispersed - Yellowstone

    Stunning Views, Challenging Drive

    Got into a spot around 6 or 7pm after spending the day at Yellowstone in late May and wow, you can’t beat the views for $0! We took the first spot we saw due to road conditions (we were towing a Uhaul trailer with our Subaru Forester) so we didn’t bother going up further.

    Definitely a bumpy and steep ride for our towing situation but dang the views were insane over Gardiner and the mountains. Only one other camper van in view a ways down. Our spot had pretty bumpy ground so we ended up skipping the tent and just sleeping in the car. Woke up to a serious snowfall in the morning so we got out of there quickly, but we’d definitely stay here again if we weren’t towing.

  • SwitchbackKids
    Jul. 27, 2017

    Custer-Gallatin National Forest Dispersed Camping

    An oasis from the hustle and bustle of Yellowstone, with all the wilderness

    We arrived to the Yellowstone area in the evening, and since we had been traveling around the U.S. for almost a year, we were well-versed in finding alternative camping options near national parks.

    Instead of camping somewhere in the park, we decided to drive through Gallatin National Forest, to the north of the park, until we found a good place to camp. We found a perfect overlook where we pitched our tent and watched the most gorgeous sunset. The best part? No people around for miles and miles.

    Dispersed camping in the U.S. Forest Service land is almost always a win: the sites are free and remote; there are usually plenty of available spots; and you get a very unique camping experience. Just remember to look up regulations for the specific area you’re looking at, and don’t forget the toilet paper!

    In Yellowstone, we worked our way from north to south, hitting the highlights. Many of the hiking trails were closed due to bear activity, so we stuck mostly to the close sights: driving through Lamar Valley, viewing Old Faithful & many other geysers, seeing Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and spotting wildlife everywhere we went.

    You can read much more about our five days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Yellowstone)

  • Kimberly L.
    Aug. 2, 2022

    South Fork Brackett Creek Dispersed Site

    Gorgeous mountain views

    I went a little further up the mountain than the coordinates (about 5 miles) and found a spot off the road (4wd highly recommended, no big rigs). The mountains were pink and purple at sunrise, awesome views! I went for a little walk in the woods and saw a black bear (keep your food and trash stored safe!) No amenities of course but most sites have a fire ring already there. It's about 20-30 minutes outside of Bozeman, MT. Happy camping!

  • M
    Sep. 14, 2020

    Travertine Road Dispersed - Yellowstone

    Sketchy... Not for Tent Camping

    I'm sorry, I have to be the voice of reason here y'all. Or at least the realistic one.

    If you are sleeping in your car, camper, van, etc, then this could totally work for you. 

    If you are camping alone, using a tent, looking for enough space to camp (cook, sleep, etc), this is most likely not for you.

    The road itself is fine.

    As a young woman traveling alone in a Subaru Outback, sleeping in a tent, this was such a huge hell no for me.

    Some of the pullouts have graffiti with extremely offensive language and a crapload of shotgun shells. I could tell local people use the space as a party ground quite often. I know this all sounds like I have a stick up my butt, but I'm not some conservative person. I am all for foul language and partying in the mountains. This wasn't that. This was sketchy. Maybe that's just because I am traveling alone.

    A few years back I traveled in a converted Toyota Sequoia with a sleeping dock in the back with my partner and this spot would be good for a situation like that, but not my current situation. 

    I do not think there's really any reasonable place up there to set up a tent between the exposure, wind, noise, space, and threat of danger.

    The overlook spot is awesome... its also only about 10 feet of sand on the side of the dirt road with steep drops on all sides. Might be cool for a small van or if you are sleeping in your car. You will still be dealing with noise all night. I saw people going up the road all through the late evening and coming back down.

Guide to Pray

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Pray, Montana, where nature's tranquility awaits. With stunning landscapes and a variety of camping options, this area is perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Pray, Montana

Dispersed campers should check out Custer-Gallatin National Forest

  • The Custer-Gallatin National Forest Dispersed Camping offers numerous pull-offs with breathtaking views, making it a popular choice for campers seeking solitude.
  • This area is known for its lack of amenities, so be prepared for a true backcountry experience without cell service or trash disposal.
  • Many campers have reported enjoying the peacefulness and scenic beauty, especially during the evenings when the stars come out.

Stunning views at Hyalite Canyon

  • Hyalite Canyon Dispersed - FS 1046 is conveniently located near Bozeman, providing easy access to hiking trails and stunning mountain views.
  • The road leading to the dispersed sites can be rough, but the picturesque surroundings make the journey worthwhile.
  • Campers have noted that the area can get busy, especially during peak seasons, so arriving early is advisable to secure a good spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is free camping available near Pray and Livingston, Montana?

Yes, free camping is available near Pray and Livingston. Olson Creek Dispersed offers beautiful free sites with abundant views and birdsongs, though spaces are small and positioned right off the road. For solitude and nature not far from I-94, this is an excellent no-cost option. Cottonwood Reservoir Dispersed Camping is another free option on DNRC land, offering completely wild camping with amazing stargazing opportunities and seasonal waterfowl. Remember that these free sites have no amenities—no WiFi, trash service, or bathrooms—so you'll need to pack in all supplies and practice leave-no-trace principles.

How far is Pray's dispersed camping from Bozeman?

Pray, Montana is approximately 55-60 miles southeast of Bozeman, typically a 1-1.5 hour drive depending on traffic and weather conditions. For dispersed camping options between these locations, Hyalite Canyon Dispersed is about 30 minutes south of Bozeman, offering a closer alternative to Pray. Battle Ridge Dispersed camping areas in the Bridger Mountains are approximately 45 minutes from Bozeman on the way toward Pray. The travel time increases during winter months or inclement weather, so plan accordingly and check road conditions before departing, especially if heading to more remote dispersed sites.

Where are the best spots for dispersed camping near Pray, Montana?

Travertine Road Dispersed - Yellowstone offers stunning mountain views, especially at sunrise, with peaceful, minimal-noise camping. The dirt road is manageable for pickup trucks and camper vans (up to 20ft), though not suitable for larger RVs or during rainy weather when mud becomes an issue. Another excellent option is Falls Creek, where sites are nestled among trees and moss directly beside the Boulder River. Each site features a picnic table and fire ring, with some accessible directly from parking areas while others require a short 100-yard walk.

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