Dispersed camping options near Glendive, Montana extend beyond the primary developed sites. The badlands terrain presents challenges in summer when temperatures consistently rise above 95°F, creating difficult hiking conditions from June through August. Cell reception throughout the area is unreliable, with most campers reporting no service in badland valleys and minimal connection even at higher elevations.
What to do
Disc golf in badlands terrain: Makoshika State Park offers a unique disc golf experience with challenging terrain. "Nice place to stop for a few days. Toilets, water & trash available. Great walking paths. Disc golf course," reports one camper at Makoshika State Park Campground.
Badlands exploration for kids: Children particularly enjoy the paleontology features and educational elements. "Kids would love this park. The campground I stayed at has a reservable TP, a pit toilet and good sized sites but not much shade. The hiking was awesome! You can actually walk through the hills and on top and around," notes a visitor.
Offroading on established trails: Short Pine OHV Area provides dedicated trails for off-road enthusiasts. "This was an excellent spot for jeeps/off road vehicles. Very private, lots of fun if you have dirt bikes or four wheelers with you to explore," explains a visitor to Short Pine OHV Area.
What campers like
Private tent sites with badlands views: The secluded Pine on Rocks campground at Makoshika gets top marks for privacy. "We had a very private site #20 with our own clean private vault toilet and garbage can. It was down a single track rutted road but our 24' pop up truck camper made it with ease," shares one camper.
Cottonwood shade along Yellowstone River: Intake Dam provides natural shade that's rare in the region. "We stayed here for 2 nights just relaxing along the Yellowstone River. The sites were wide and spacious. The huge cottonwoods were turning gold. The sites are really spread out and several like ours were by the river."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Bird watching is productive along the Yellowstone River. "Pelicans at falls! Very off the beaten track, I arrived on a Saturday as park was full, still plenty of sites open," notes a visitor to Intake Dam.
What you should know
Extreme seasonal temperature variations: Summer heat can limit activities significantly. "The heat is BRUTAL in August and we weren't able to hike as much as we wanted," notes one camper, while winter camping presents different challenges entirely.
Limited water and dump station access: RV campers face challenges with services. "There is no dump station at the park, nor in Glendive, so you have to drive to Miles City or Wibaux to dump," reports one RVer.
Road conditions vary dramatically: Some campgrounds require navigating difficult terrain. At Buffalo Gap Campground, which makes a good alternative base, a camper notes: "Easy access, nice parking pads, have picnic tables and fire rings at each camp site. Offers RV dump and potable water in campground."
Tips for camping with families
Reservable tipis for unique stays: Makoshika State Park offers specialty accommodations that appeal to children. "The campground I stayed at has a reservable TP, a pit toilet and good sized sites but not much shade. My site ran right up to the edge of a drop off," warns one visitor.
Educational fossil opportunities: The paleontology focus makes this area exceptional for school-age children. As a visitor describes: "This is one of the coolest state parks this side of the Cenozoic Period!"
Winter and shoulder season advantages: Considering a non-summer visit can provide better experiences. At Small Towne RV Campground in nearby Terry, visitors note: "The campground isn't super updated but the small town with gravel roads and kind people make up for it. There's a rodeo on the 4th of July and it's just nice."
Tips from RVers
Generator use restrictions: RV campers should note limitations on power generation. At Buffalo Gap Campground, a visitor notes: "Does not have hook ups and have limited times to run a generator."
Full hookup options in town: Glendive Campground provides in-town access but mixed experiences. "The owners were very accommodating to our weary group. We got in late, but they didn't have any problems with helping us get set up in the dark," reports one camper.
Shade considerations for summer stays: Seek out camping spots near Glendive with natural shade. One RVer at Intake Dam recommends: "We were there September 2020 and few people were there. The huge cottonwoods were turning gold. The sites are really spread out and several like ours were by the river."
