Best Campgrounds near Shawmut, MT

This review is from an overnight or short stay perspective. While planning our Alaska adventure, we came across some glowing reviews of this campground (CG) and were happy to say it lived up to the hype. Its incredibly easy to find just off I-90. If you're heading west, you’ll take a right off I-90 and be there in seconds. Coming from the east, its a left turn, but keep in mind theres a 13' 9" overpass. That's fine for most rigs, but with our Brinkley G3500 and it's high-profile A/C units, it would've been a tight squeeze. Thankfully, we were coming from the west, so no issue. We had booked Site 4 online, and since this isn't a huge CG, it was easy to spot our long gravel pull-through with full hookups. The utility connections were thoughtfully centered on the pad, making setup a breeze. As we were getting settled, we were greeted by Jerad. He welcomed us warmly and mentioned the$10 one-time pet fee, which we hadn't noticed when we booked(it was a while ago). That fee includes a handy little poop bag holder with a built-in flashlight a fun and useful touch for dog owners. Water pressure was a solid 50 psi. We had 4 bars each on both Verizon and T-Mobile, and the CG Wi-Fi clocked in at 26.5 Mbps down and 11.9 Mbps up, pretty solid for a small CG. The sites are nicely spaced for a private park, with lush grass between pads and newer picnic tables. While there isn't a designated dog area, there's some green space to walk your pup, and the town itself is charming and very walkable. We had a great chat with Jerad and Ivy, the CG's new owners as of November 2024. They were both welcoming and genuinely interested in feedback, something you don't always see. They're already working on bathhouse and laundry upgrades, and it’s clear they’re passionate about making this a top-notch stop for travelers. Yes, you'll hear some highway and occasional train noise, but it didn't bother us. For an overnight stop, this place hit all the marks to include walking distance to the Waterhole Saloon with good drinks& food—you get a 10% discount on food and drinks when you mention you're staying at the campground. And with fishing access just up the road and more local exploring to do, we'd definitely consider a longer stay next time.

Deadman’s Basin Montana FWP Campground 10/24 Stopover for one night in 10/24. The reservoir along which this cg lies is low this time of year. Reservoir must be prettier in the spring and early summer when the water level is higher. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)

Overall Rating: 4 Price 2024: See pricing in photo. Contrary to posted signs the website says that camping is free. Screenshot of website is also provided in photos . Security: no Usage during visit: our loop empty. Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: no Site Spacing: good Pad surface: dirt Reservations: First come first serve Campground Noise: According to signage some action has been taken. Outside Road Noise: no Through Traffic in campground: no Electric Hookup: no Sewer Hookup: no Dump Station: no Potable Water Available: no Generators: sb allowed Bathroom: a clean pit toilet Showers: no Pull Throughs: yes Cell Service (AT&T): 1 bar Setting: near reservoir Recent Weather: clear and w highs in70s and 80s.
Solar: very good Insects: none Host: no Rig Size: large rigs should fit in some sites. Sites: see pics.