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Best Campgrounds in Montana

5,345 Reviews

A state of staggering variety, Montana is truly one of the nation’s best camping destinations. The eastern part of the state characterized by badlands and prairie, the west is where most of the fun is found. Camping in Montana means sleeping in some of the most sensational landscapes anywhere in the USA.

With no fewer than 50 state parks and two of the greatest national parks in America, Montana is an adventurer’s paradise. The brightest star in Montana’s firmament is Glacier National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is blessed with magnificent mountainscapes. If you’re looking to go camping in Montana, Glacier should be at the top of your list.

Many explorers look for camping in Montana’s Yellowstone National Park, a sliver of which lies along the state’s southwestern border. Few people know this, but Montana is a superb access point to the world’s very first national park. If a visit to Yellowstone is on your itinerary, make sure to enter the park via the scenic Beartooth Highway.

Another great camping destination in Montana is gorgeous Flathead Lake, located within the Kootenai Tribes Flathead Reservation and the contiguous USA’s largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Numerous recreation areas surround Flathead Lake, offering excellent picnicking, fishing and camping. More adventure-minded travelers might want to attempt an ascent of Granite Peak, the highest mountain in the state.

If you’re looking to travel off the beaten path, Montana offers you plenty of opportunities to do so. With more than 70 different mountain ranges belonging to the giant Rocky Mountains chain, it is easy to unplug and get closer to nature while camping in Montana. Pick a lesser-known campground and explore Montana “behind the scenes”.

In addition to fishing, rock climbing, and camping in Montana, there are myriad other ways to enjoy the state’s glorious natural scenery. Go mountain biking, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, backpacking...the list of choices is never-ending!

Map showing campgrounds in MontanaExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites in Montana (1,430)

    1. Fish Creek Campground — Glacier National Park

    62 Reviews
    West Glacier, MT
    Website
    +1 (406) 888-7800

    $30 / night

    "We have stayed in Many Glacier and Avalanche Creek but this is our favorite campsite in the park because of its proximity to Lake Mcdonald as well as Apgar village."

    "Now the good: We were really close to Apgar village and other sites along the Road to the Sun road. The rangers were nice and pleasant to interact with."

    2. Apgar Campground — Glacier National Park

    59 Reviews
    West Glacier, MT
    Website
    +1 (406) 888-7800

    $45 - $90 / night

    "Apgar is walking distance from the Apgar Visitor Center and park shuttles, as well as Apgar Village, camp store, equipment rentals, etc."

    "I could see 6 or 7 other camp fires burning while sitting next to mine. We stayed three nights and every night heard someone a site or two over as he was talking too loud (and too much)."

    3. Glacier Campground

    51 Reviews
    West Glacier, MT
    Website
    +1 (406) 387-5689

    $45 - $120 / night

    "Montana is absolutely gorgeous! I may be biased because I go to college in Montana, but there is so many great outdoor activities. The mountains and scenery are my favorite."

    "Great place tucked away from the road. Sites are smaller. Place was clear even the showers. Hot water in the morning not so much at night."

    4. West Glacier KOA Resort

    49 Reviews
    West Glacier, MT
    Website
    +1 (406) 387-5341

    "This is a big RV resort close to West Glacier town and park entrance. We came with our 25’ RV and reserved a tent pad site to ensure we were up against the edge of the resort."

    "9/13/19 West Glacier, Montana  West Glacier KOA Resort

    Most beautiful location of the KOAs I've stayed at. Nestled against the mountains and less than 3 miles to Glacier National Park. "

    5. Many Glacier Campground — Glacier National Park

    47 Reviews
    Siyeh Bend, MT
    Website
    +1 (406) 732-7740

    $90 / night

    "When you stay at Many Glacier you are situated in the heart of the best hiking and wildlife viewing in the park. Grizzly sightings on the slopes nearby are an almost nightly occurrence."

    "There is a store and restaurant close by in walking distance along with showers and laundry(you have to pay). Multille hiking trails, fishing and an abundance of wildlife."

    6. Middle Fork Flathead River Dispersed

    49 Reviews
    Coram, MT
    Website

    "It’s so close to the National Park entrance and a beautiful place to stay. The road is a bit bumpy getting down here but there’s plenty of room for tent camping and RVs. Be careful though!"

    "Perfect spot for camping outside the west entrance, about 25 minutes away. That road is a little rough coming in but it’s short and manageable, even saw a little Mazda make it in."

    7. Travertine Road Dispersed - Yellowstone

    46 Reviews
    Gardiner, MT

    "Great spot for travelers or people who didn't book a site in or close to Yosemite."

    "It was last minute I read about this spot on Dyrt and was pretty relieved to find something with great reviews and relatively close to home in Bozeman."

    8. St Mary Campground - Glacier National Park — Glacier National Park

    48 Reviews
    Babb, MT
    Website
    +1 (406) 732-7708

    $40 / night

    "They had new bear boxes for every 4 sites this year with extra around bathrooms. Make sure you keep your camp bearproof as rangers will make sure it is."

    "Our site had no shade and felt very exposed (A loop was better) but we enjoyed the proximity to the visitors center and ability to walk to the shuttle."

    9. Billings KOA Holiday

    47 Reviews
    Billings, MT
    Website
    +1 (406) 252-3104

    "This camp ground is tucked into a residential area, and far enough off the interstate to not hear the noise, but close enough to town and all the other amenities to make it very convenient."

    "This KOA sits right along the Yellowstone River along the eastern outskirts of Billings."

    10. Makoshika State Park Campground

    42 Reviews
    Glendive, MT
    Website
    +1 (406) 377-6256

    $12 - $50 / night

    "We had planned to travel through the area but hadn’t planned to stop—until we hit the Tourist Center at the Montana border and found a brochure for thus park."

    "This is a beautiful area of Montana that goes under visited and under appreciated. The campground is just as nice as you would find in one of the national parks."

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Recent Camping Photos in Montana

1194 Photos of 1430 Montana Campgrounds

Recent Reviews in Montana

5345 Reviews of 1430 Montana Campgrounds

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 21, 2025

    4 or 5 dispersed sites along Chaffin Creek road

    Pleasant and next to creek

    Being only a very short distance from the main road, the dirt access road is smooth though it has scattered potholes and is through a country residential area. Once you pass the private properties, you enter into the forest and drive fairly close to a creek. There are numerous pull outs along the road with a few of them only a few steps away from the creek. Verizon is one bar. It is primitive camping at its best, no services but a fabulous place to spend a night or two. The road had more traffic on it than I expected, but there were no problems. The sites were all clean, and a few had fire pits. Just passed the second (actual) cattle guard which is where the private property seems to end, you'll find a cluster of sites that are well isolated - I went beyond that to a very nice pull out as I wanted to be a little further from the private property.

  • Cable A.
    Oct. 20, 2025

    Fort Harrison RV Park

    Great resupply & laundry spot

    Friendly people. Standard RV park, not a campground. Close to everything you need and has laundry and a gym available.

  • Cable A.
    Oct. 20, 2025

    Park Lake Campground

    Nice spot, busy on weekends

    Great views and walking space for dogs. Lots of wildlife. Water and vault toilets. Canoes, kayaks and paddle boards can be used on the lake. Good fly fishing spot.

  • Cable A.
    Oct. 20, 2025

    Makoshika State Park Campground

    Nice place, better views

    Nice place to stop for a few days. Toilets, water & trash available. Great walking paths. Disc golf course.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 19, 2025

    Cut Bank Campground — Glacier National Park

    Beautiful, but crowded

    Leaving going to the sun road headed east we camped at Cut Bank campground for two nights. Heading back into the campsite it seemed secluded until we got back there to see that half of the sites were taken and they were pretty close to one another. The campground is also at a trail head where many people go. The next morning we found ourselves waking up to people talking loudly and showing up to hike or take wedding photos. The view of the mountains were amazing.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 19, 2025

    Blair Flats

    Paradise

    We stayed here for 4 or 5 days while on our 5 week trip across the west in our campervan. We stayed at the most wonderful places and this was hands down our favorite! It was mainly just us the entire time. We stayed through the week, so the only people who came through were bikers looking for a spot to sleep. Other than that it was just us. The vault toilet was clean also! Site 1 offers sun, shade and access to the river.

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Travellers Rest Cabins & RV Park

    Travellers Rest Cabins & RV Park

    We stayed in a couple of the cabins over the course of a week while waiting for a vehicle repair to be completed. The first couple nights were in the Bear Cabin--this is a cozier, older cabin. The final few nights were in the Whitetail Cabin, which had a bit more room to move around in. The owner/employees were friendly and helpful during our entire stay. The cell service and wifi were quite unreliable most of the day and evenings when streaming movies or videos. Right next to downtown, so plenty of shops, restaurants, and saloons nearby for something to do. I loved the 406 Saloon and the Used Book Store.

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    FS Road 5634 dispersed

    FS Road 5634 dispersed

    Found this spot on our way to hike the Baker, Middle, & Gem Lake Trail. There's just one proper dispersed site on this long switchback dirt road, but it's quite the spot if you can grab it! The views are amazing, but unfortunately it's right off the road at a switchback. There's only enough room for a standard vehicle or a camper van. Much of this road has no cell service, but this campsite did have a good AT&T signal. No amenities, so as always, clean up after yourself and keep Montana beautiful.

  • VanRumschpringa V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    South Fork Brackett Creek Dispersed Site

    Quiet with a relatively easy approach

    The road has some potholes but nothing too problematic. There are a lot of small pull-ups and some large spaces as well. You’ll be buried deep in the woods near Bridger bowl. I camped at the trailhead for Lower South Brackett trail. I did not explore what lay beyond my site. It was 28° or less overnight and there is a pretty dusting of snow on the ground when I woke.

Guide to Montana

Camping in Montana offers a unique blend of stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures. From serene lakes to rugged mountains, there's something for everyone, whether you're a tent camper or an RV enthusiast.

What to do

  • Explore Nature: Montana is home to beautiful parks like Kiwanis Park, where you can enjoy a park-like atmosphere. One camper mentioned, “Road noise disappears at night,” making it a peaceful spot for relaxation.
  • Fishing and Water Activities: At Ackley Lake State Park Campground, you can fish, swim, and kayak. A visitor shared, “Good spot for camping, fishing, swimming, kayaking!”
  • Hiking: The James Kipp Campground offers great hiking trails. One camper noted, “We took a nice hike along the river,” highlighting the scenic views.

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate clean restrooms and well-maintained sites. A review from Chief Joseph City Park stated, “The bathrooms are clean and have flushing toilets.”
  • Wildlife Sightings: Many campers enjoy spotting wildlife. One reviewer at Deadmans Basin said, “Great views! It was pretty windy the night we were there,” indicating a connection with nature.
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Campgrounds like Petrolia Reservoir offer a peaceful experience. A camper mentioned, “We woke up to cows mooing and a beautiful sunrise over the lake.”

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Crystal Lake Campground, lack drinking water and electric hookups. A visitor remarked, “There is not much privacy now as every camp site can be watched by all the other campers.”
  • First-Come, First-Served: Many sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis. At Ackley Lake State Park, a camper noted, “They only have 26 spots, first come first serve.”
  • Seasonal Access: Some campgrounds are only open during certain months. For example, Mountain Acres RV Park is open from May 1 to October 31.

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Parks: Look for parks with playgrounds and activities. Chief Joseph City Park has a five-star play area for kids, making it a great choice.
  • Plan for Activities: Bring games and outdoor toys. One family at Kiwanis Park enjoyed the park-like atmosphere, saying, “No fire rings, but a park-like atmosphere.”
  • Pack Snacks: Keep snacks handy for hikes and outings. A camper at Ackley Lake State Park mentioned, “We stocked up on some snacks,” which is always a good idea for family trips.

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Mountain Acres RV Park noted, “Sites are big,” which is helpful for larger rigs.
  • Be Prepared for Limited Services: Some campgrounds don’t have full hookups. A camper at James Kipp Campground mentioned, “There was no water available during my stay.”
  • Explore Nearby Attractions: Many campgrounds are close to local attractions. One RV traveler at Deadmans Basin said, “It’s a beautiful place to stay,” encouraging exploration of the surrounding area.

Montana camping is all about enjoying the great outdoors, so pack your gear and get ready for an adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find RV-friendly camping sites in Montana?

Montana offers numerous RV-friendly camping options. North American RV Park & Yurt Village is conveniently located just 5 minutes from the West Glacier Park entrance with full hookups and amenities. Trout Creek Motel & RV Park near the Idaho border provides peaceful sites with easy access to local amenities. For those visiting Yellowstone, several RV parks around West Yellowstone offer convenient access to the national park. Many KOAs throughout Montana are excellent for RVers, featuring pull-through sites, full hookups, and amenities like laundry facilities and WiFi. National Forest campgrounds sometimes accommodate RVs, but check size restrictions and hookup availability before arrival.

Are there any free or low-cost camping options in Montana?

Montana offers several affordable camping options for budget-conscious outdoor enthusiasts. Peck Gulch Campground provides basic amenities like vault toilets and water access at minimal cost while offering stunning views. Indian Road Campground near Townsend offers reasonably priced camping along the Missouri River. Many National Forest campgrounds throughout Montana provide primitive camping for low fees, often between $5-15 per night. For completely free options, dispersed camping is allowed in most national forests with a 16-day stay limit. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas also offer free dispersed camping throughout the state. Always practice Leave No Trace principles and check local regulations as they may change seasonally.

What are the best campgrounds in Montana for scenic views?

Montana offers breathtaking scenic views at numerous campgrounds. Crystal Lake Campground provides peaceful lakeside camping with clear waters, surrounding meadows filled with summer wildflowers, and beautiful hiking trails. Gird Point in the Bitterroot National Forest offers stunning mountain vistas from its elevated location. For riverside beauty, consider camping along the Madison River between Hebgen Lake and Earthquake Lake. Glacier National Park campgrounds are also exceptional for scenery, with options providing views of mountain peaks, glacial lakes, and abundant wildlife. The diverse landscapes across Montana ensure scenic camping experiences, whether you prefer mountain views, riverside serenity, or alpine lake settings.

What's the best time of year for camping in Montana?

The prime camping season in Montana runs from late June through early September when temperatures are most comfortable and high-elevation sites are accessible. Apgar Campground in Glacier National Park is typically open May through September, with July-August offering the warmest conditions. Basin Campground and other mountain locations shine in summer when wildflowers bloom and hiking trails are fully accessible. Be aware that summer wildfires can affect air quality, particularly in August. Spring (May-June) offers fewer crowds but potential snowmelt and mud. Fall (September-early October) brings beautiful colors and fewer visitors, though nights get quite cold. Most high-elevation campgrounds close by mid-October, while some lower-elevation sites remain open year-round with limited amenities.

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