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Best Campgrounds in Montana

5,315 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!

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Best Camping Sites in Montana (1,428)

    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. 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."

    5. West Glacier KOA Resort

    48 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. "

    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. 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."

    8. 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."

    9. Travertine Road Dispersed - Yellowstone

    45 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."

    10. Itch-Kep-Pe Park

    45 Reviews
    Fishtail, MT
    Website
    +1 (406) 322-5313

    "Close to the Yellowstone. We camped on the second loop and at the end near the boat dock is a trail that follows the river. We enjoyed the walk with our dogs. Lots of folks fishing."

    "Only a 5 min drive off the highway so it’s very convenient as a road trip stop.

    It has lots of shade and is located right next to the Yellowstone River."

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Recent Camping Photos in Montana

1191 Photos of 1428 Montana Campgrounds

Recent Reviews in Montana

5315 Reviews of 1428 Montana Campgrounds

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park and Resort

    Nice spot

    Very friendly and accommodating people work here. Very clean showers, bathrooms and showers. Small lots so no camp fires or wood burning; charcoal and propane is ok. Plastic like table tops so you cannot cook directly on top unless you use a barrier to protect the tables. Liked the place so much I extended the stay.

  • Caroline T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Hyalite Canyon Dispersed

    TENT CAMP ONLY - no drive in

    Came here looking to camp in our rooftop tent. These 3-4 camp spots are tent only because the spots are about a 5 minute walk into the woods and you cannot drive up. We unfortunately had to find camp elsewhere

  • h
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Chief Joseph Campground

    Basic but nice and quiet

    This campground is on the edge of Harlowton. A small town that has very adequate basic services. The campground is in the city park / rodeo grounds. Very quiet. Clean. If you have dogs go out the south entrance where the is a rails to trails walkway. Nice for human and k-nines alike. Only electric at the sites. But there is a dump station Anna potable water spigot. Our kind of campground. Only draw back would be when the Rodeo is in progress. It would be one hopping place then. We have stayed here in July and first of October. Beautiful and pleasant both times.

  • Vinny A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Middle Fork Flathead River Dispersed

    Riverside Camping

    Very nice spot close to Glacier NP. As others have mentioned, the road getting in is very rough, but i made it up/down several times with my Promaster 2500 van with no issues, just got to be strategic about how you take the ruts. Awesome views of river. Road is a little noisy at times, but nothing to complain about. Plenty of other people camping there. Cell service was pretty good.

  • yThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    The Hibernation Station

    Great campsite, very expensive

    I enjoyed the staff and property and would have liked to potentially stay a little longer. The cost was super high for me personally per night. It came out to $115 for a 40 ft back in site in late September.

  • Caroline T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Hyalite Canyon Dispersed - FS 1046

    Not what other reviews make it seem

    We came here looking for a dispersed site to camp in a rooftop tent. There was only about 3 spots all super unlevel, and seem somewhat sketchy. I didn’t feel safe camping here and we ended up going somewhere else. Not sure what these other reviews are talking about.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Hood Creek Campground

    Outstanding

    I had such a fantastic September stay at Hood Creek with gorgeous weather and peaceful views. Of all the sites only a few were undesirable with the vast majority being awesome. Signs posted this weekend that gate is closing for the season at 12:00PM 9/28/25. Never saw a forest service staff member or any representative for the recreation area this weekend. A massive bummer that boils my blood is I had no less than 5 nearby spots all reserved for multiple nights where nobody showed during the entire weekend while others strolled thru looking for a place to camp. Total garbage. Something has to improve on this because affluent people don’t give an ounce of care by booking and not using. The reservoir was nearly 25ft below full this time of year. Bathrooms were very clean but definitely stenchy. I believe that there was a water spigot there but wasn’t paying much attention to that. Overall just a tremendous place to spend a solid few days enjoying.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Fairy Lake Dispersed Camping

    Great spot!

    I towed my small camper up the mountain fairly easily, although this is by far the roughest road I’ve encountered so far. Not for the faint of heart! I saw a couple sprinter vans coming up but no other RV’s. There are a handful of spots to camp on the way up the mountain but I found one about 1/4 mile before the campground. There is sun, shade, a fire ring and 3 other neighboring sites. 2 of those sites aren’t very accessible by car but this site is big enough for multiple vehicles. It’s also walking distance to the Fairy Lake trailhead and to the lake itself, which is very popular on the weekends. Would absolutely stay here again. No bugs, no bear scat nearby, some traffic but still private.

  • Tim T.
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Elliston Dispersed Camping on Forest Road 314

    Nice Spot - No Traffic

    This was an easy to get to camping spot with nice, dispersed sites and we had the place all to ourselves.  The access when you turn off at Elliston is not clearly marked but there is only one road that turns off there so its not too difficult to get on the right road. We had the area to ourselves and did not hear or see any other vehicles on the road the whole time we were there.  There were lots of free range cattle though.

    One thing worth mentioning is that these sites are not far from the main road and the train tracks.  The trains come by on a semi-frequent basis and you will definitely hear the train whistle and track noise.  It wasn't a deal breaker for us, but something to keep in mind.

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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