The sound of the river is audible from nearly every camping spot at Otter Creek Fishing Access, a dispersed site managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks along the banks outside Big Timber. Shade is limited. Most of the open ground runs riverside without significant tree cover, though a handful of spots do sit beneath some trees if campers arrive early enough to claim them.
Capacity here is modest, and that matters for planning. One reviewer counted roughly five defined spots before an open grassy field takes over, and a visit during peak season found those spots already full. The field provides overflow room, but the grass had grown extremely high during a June visit, and privacy across the site is minimal. Crowding is a real possibility on summer weekends.
The access site exists primarily to serve anglers and boaters. A vault toilet and boat ramp sit to the north, giving the area basic infrastructure without developed campground amenities. As Steve M. noted, "you can fall asleep to the sounds of the river rushing by," which captures what the site does reliably provide. Fishing access along Otter Creek is the draw, not the campsite comforts.
Campers who want more developed options nearby can look at Spring Creek Campground & Trout Ranch to the southwest. For this site specifically, arriving early on summer weekends gives the best chance of securing one of the shaded spots before the riverside openings fill.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsOtter Creek Fishing Access is located in Montana near Big Timber
Dispersed CampingCoordinates
45.85494361 N
109.9160263 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 26 usersLast on 9/12/26- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 11 usersLast on 9/12/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 11 usersLast on 9/12/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 26 usersLast on 9/12/26
- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 11 usersLast on 9/12/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 11 usersLast on 9/12/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Features
DISPERSED CAMPING
Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.
PERMIT might be REQUIRED
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Otter Creek Fishing Access needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 50 min from Bozeman, MT
- 1 hr 10 min from Billings, MT
- 2 hrs 14 min from Helena, MT
- 2 hrs 45 min from Great Falls, MT
