Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Red Lodge, MT

Campgrounds near Red Lodge offer access to the Beartooth Mountains with elevations ranging from 5,500 feet in town to over 12,000 feet in the nearby peaks. The camping season typically runs from mid-May through September, with July and August providing the most reliable weather. Forest Service campgrounds near Red Lodge generally don't offer shower facilities but provide vault toilets and bear boxes for food storage.

What to do

Fishing at waterfront sites: Basin Campground provides excellent access to Rock Creek for anglers. "Waterfront sites right on Rock Creek. Great fishing area makes this site ideal for anglers or anyone that enjoys being right on the water with a stunning view," notes Kayko S. from Basin Campground.

Hiking to mountain lakes: Several trails near Red Lodge lead to alpine lakes. "We used this as a base camp for heading up to Lower and Upper Timberline Lakes last year and were delighted by the quality of the sites. While staying here it's also a good idea to head up and over Beartooth Pass if you haven't already by going to Yellowstone!" reports Alan B. about Basin Campground.

ATV trail riding: The forest roads provide extensive off-road opportunities. "This is a great area to go out and ride trails for days. The campground is really forested with water running near by. Very peaceful," says Nick P. about Basin Campground.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate well-spaced sites. "The sites were all very far apart from each other," notes Tonya Y. about Basin Campground. "The site was beautiful and very close to the river (the sound was great)."

Clean vault toilets: Despite the primitive setting, bathroom facilities are maintained. "The vault toilets were very clean and there is water available at several pump spigots throughout the campground," reports Bob R. about Basin Campground.

Level camping spots: "Sites are paved and mostly level and nestled in the pine trees - gorgeous!" continues Bob R., noting the quality of the actual camping pads at Basin Campground.

What you should know

Reserve ahead in summer: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "It was summertime when we came and it was super busy. We had to reserve our spot ahead of time, otherwise we wouldn't have received a spot. Even the 'walk-in' spots were all taken," advises Sasha W. about Basin Campground.

Bring bug spray: Insects can be prevalent near water. "Tons of bugs because it's close to a river. Bring your bug spray!" continues Sasha W.

Cell service varies by location: Connectivity is spotty throughout the area. "We had no cell coverage with T-Mobile and so-so reception with Starlink due to the tree cover," notes Bob R. about Basin. At Horsethief Station Fishing Access Site, Edward R. reports "there is great service with Verizon."

Tips for camping with families

Tent sites with creek access: Perry's RV and Campgrounds offers tent camping along Rock Creek. "The tent sites at the bottom of the hill by the creek are amazing. Makes you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere," says Nick M.

Clean shower facilities: "The bathroom and shower facility is perfect and everything on the site is always well maintained. Have never had a bad experience here, always pleasant," notes Kyla about Perry's RV and Campgrounds.

Playground access for kids: "The camp sites are large and spacious," notes Shannon T. about Parkside Campground. The campground layout works well for families with children who need space to play.

Tips from RVers

Multiple dog-friendly campgrounds: Nearly all campgrounds near Red Lodge welcome pets. At Red Lodge KOA, campers appreciate the pet-friendly policy. "Office staff and owners are great! Areas are clean and neat," reports Tina N.

RV sites with full hookups: "The hook ups are awesome, heated pool, immaculate facilities, and awesome trail off the CG," says Deb K. about Red Lodge KOA. "Sites were level, patio sites are beautiful and cabins are new or completely refurbished."

Variety of site options: "The north tentsite side has the benefit of river ambience, while the south side has the kid playground amenities," observes Bjorn S. about Red Lodge KOA, noting the differences between camping areas.