Camping options near Sweet Grass, Montana provide strategic stopping points along the U.S.-Canadian border. The region experiences extreme seasonal temperature variations with winter lows often below 0°F and summer highs reaching 90°F. Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from May through September, though Trails West RV Park remains open year-round for travelers needing accommodations during winter border crossings.
What to do
Fishing access: Williamson Memorial City Park offers primitive camping right on the Marias River, making it a popular spot for anglers. "Decent campground, we only go here to fish. Plenty of spots, very reasonable priced. No hookups, right on the Maria's river," notes one visitor.
Lake activities: At Lake Frances City Park Campground, campers enjoy water recreation just steps from their sites. "The lake has lots of open shoreline," shares one camper, though they suggest improvements could be made: "Would be nice if there were walkways down to the water so you didn't have to beat through the trees and shrubbery."
Walking trails: Lake Shel-oole Campground offers more than just camping sites. "If you follow the bike trail it will take you to a paved exercise trail," explains one reviewer who appreciated the active options. The campground also features "baseball diamonds, a nice little dog run with a couple of obstacles, a fishing dock" making it suitable for varied outdoor interests.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Despite its basic appearance, Lewis & Clark RV Park receives consistently positive feedback for maintenance. "Shining star is the bathroom and shower house. Clean. Updated and hot hot water if you like a nice hot shower," notes one camper. Another adds, "Best shower we've had in months! Private - clean - great water pressure - hot water."
Quiet environment: Lake Shel-oole Campground provides peace even in a railroad town. "Campground was quiet even for being in a railroad town. Hardly heard any train noise," reports one visitor. Another camper adds it's "Relatively far from any highways and train tracks, so was very quiet."
Border proximity: Campgrounds in this region serve as strategic stopping points before crossing into Canada. One traveler at Shelby RV Park & Resort noted, "We stopped here after leaving Canada, but would be a great last spot before entering Canada also." Lake Shel-oole similarly offers "a decent place to stop over on your trip to or return from Canada."
What you should know
Self-registration systems: Several campgrounds use honor systems for payment. At Lake Shel-oole, "Payment is on an honor system and drop cash into an envelope in a box near the entrance." The campground is regularly monitored, as "The local sheriffs office went through multiple times."
Seasonal limitations: Water availability varies with lake levels at certain times. "Lake was low during our stay, so not clear what activities might be available when the water is higher," mentions one Lake Shel-oole visitor. Similarly, at Lake Shel-oole, "Most water spickets did not seem to work so had to haul water from the spicket behind the RV dump station."
Border crossing preparation: Glacier Mist RV Park is recognized for owner assistance with border crossing information. "The owners are wonderful people. He is a wealth of knowledge and willing to share. Listen to him. He saved us from taking things to Canada that we shouldn't take but were going to," explains one grateful RVer who stopped before continuing north.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Lake Frances City Park Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "There is a playground for kids," notes one reviewer, making it suitable for families with young children needing recreational options beyond camping.
Sports facilities: Trails West RV Park has nearby play areas where children can burn energy. At Lake Shel-oole, campers report "we heard the happy sound of kids playing in the background" from the adjacent playing fields.
Wildlife viewing: Kids often enjoy the small wildlife present at campgrounds near Sweet Grass. One Lewis & Clark RV Park visitor mentioned, "Lots of prairie dogs and bunnies to entertain our four legged camper," suggesting children might similarly enjoy watching these creatures.
Tips from RVers
Water connections: At Shelby RV Park & Resort, water access points vary by site. "Make sure you have a long water hose as some of the water connections are far away," advises one RV camper. Similarly at Lake Shel-oole, "the spigots, on some sites, were bizarrely distant from the normal location near the electrical box, requiring long hoses."
Cell service considerations: RV camping near Sweet Grass, Montana offers varying connectivity options. At Lewis & Clark RV Park, one visitor reported impressive internet speeds: "The CG's 5G Guest Wi-Fi was surprisingly good, delivering 124 Mbps download and 10.2 Mbps upload."
Electrical details: Lake Shel-oole provides electrical hookups at $25 per night, though amperage may vary. "Most sites have at least electric and some are water/electric. Some sites are also 50amp," explains one RVer who appreciated the campground's value compared to hotel costs in the area.
