Defined by its spectacular and diverse terrain from the rugged Rocky Mountains to the endless Great Plains, Montana is home to some of the most breathtaking landscapes, national reserves, and state parks in the country. Aptly named ‘Big Sky Country,’ the western state features a wealth of national reserves and state parks that offer all types of camping from primitive and tents to RV and equestrian camps with corrals. Head to some of these family-friendly parks, recreation areas and campgrounds to experience the beauty and tranquility of Montana untamed terrain.
Big Arm - Flathead Lake State Park
Nestled on the southwest shore of Flathead Lake, the Big Arm Unit Campground in Flathead Lake State Park offers 40 campsites and three yurts situated along the shoreline and boasting spectacular views of the Mission Mountains.
The campsite has restrooms with showers, flushing toilets and washing up facilities, and popular activities in the area include swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking on the many trails in the area. It is also a popular spot to launch boats for trips to Wild Horse Island.
The campsite is situated at the southern end of Flathead Lake, which is based on the Flathead Indian Reservation, so Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe fishing licenses are required to fish in the lake.
Map, 28031 Big Arm State Park Road, Big Arm, MT 59910
Finley Point Campground
Located on the south end of Flathead Lake, Finley Point Campground is a shady campground surrounded by a mature Ponderosa pine forest with 16 RV campsites, two primitive walk-in campsites, and four boat camping slips with water and electric hookups.
All campsites have picnic tables and fire rings, and campground amenities include comfort stations with hot showers and vault toilets, a marina with 16 boat slips, a boat ramp, a boat sewage dump, and a day-use picnic area. Finley Point offers a wealth of recreational activities, including hiking, mountain biking, boating, paddling, canoeing, fishing, swimming, and wildlife watching. Close to the park, visitors can enjoy golf, dining out, shopping, and other forms of entertainment.
Finley Point Campground, 31453 S Finley Point Rd, Polson, MT 59860, Phone: 406-887-2715
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park is a state park in southeastern Jefferson County that is named for its primary feature – the namesake limestone caverns. Montana's first and best-known state park was established to showcase the spectacular limestone caverns, which are naturally air-conditioned and lined with massive columns, helictites, stalactites, and stalagmites.
The park is also home to a new visitor’s center with an amphitheater, a large campground with overnight cabins, a tipi, and showers that are open year-round, picnic areas, and several hiking trails. Amenities and services in the park include mountain biking, fishing, guided and self-guided interpretive nature walks, bird and wildlife watching.
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park, Whitehall, MT 59759, Phone: 406-287-3541
Logan State Park
Nestled on the north shore of Middle Thompson Lake, Logan State Park is a public recreation area encompassing 17 acres between Libby and Kalispell that offers a wealth of outdoor activities. Situated within the 3,000-acre Thompson Chain of Lakes State Park, Logan State Park features spectacular forests of ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, western larch, and the Upper, Middle, and Lower Thompson lakes offer boating, fishing, swimming, and water-skiing.
Logan State Park has a campground with sites for tents, vans, trailers, and RVs with picnic tables, fire rings, restrooms with hot showers and vault toilets and potable water. There is also a dump station, an information station, and several day-use picnic areas.
Logan State Park, U.S. Hwy 2 W, Kalispell, MT 59901, Phone: 406-752-5501
Placid Lake State Park
Spread over 31 acres along the eastern edge of Lake Placid, Placid Lake State Park is a public recreation area 28 miles northeast of Missoula that is renowned for its spectacular natural beauty, world-class trout fishing, diverse variety of wildlife and wealth of recreational activities.
Placid Lake State Park has 40 campsites, including 17 with electricity hookups, as well as a hike-bike camping site equipped bicycle racks that accommodate nine tents and has bear-resistant food lockers, fire rings, potable water, and a covered shelter with picnic table and electrical outlets. Recreational activities include fishing, swimming, canoeing, boating, bird-watching, kayaking, picnicking, and water-skiing.
Placid Lake State Park, 5001 N Placid Lake Rd, Seeley Lake, MT 59868, Phone: 406-677-6804
Salmon Lake State Park
Salmon Lake State Park is a public recreation area occupying 42 acres on the eastern side of Salmon Lake that provides a beautiful and tranquil setting to enjoy an array of water recreation activities. Based 32 miles northeast of Missoula in the Clearwater River chain between the Mission and Swan mountain ranges, Salmon Lake State Park has a family-friendly campground in a lovely woodland setting with 24 campsites.
It also has a hike-bike campsite equipped with a bicycle rack and a bicycle maintenance stand that can accommodate up to 10 tents, along with bear-resistant food lockers, fire ring, bear-resistant food lockers, potable water, electrical outlets and covered shelter with picnic tables. Recreational activities include fishing, swimming, canoeing, boating, bird-watching, kayaking, picnicking, and water-skiing.
Salmon Lake State Park, 2329 Mount Hwy 83, Seeley Lake, MT 59868, Phone: 406-677-6804
Montana Campgrounds: Upper Thompson Lake Campground
Stretching for over 20 miles between Kalispell and Libby and spread over 3,000 acres, Thompson Chain of Lakes State Park is an extensive area that is home to 18 lakes including Lower Thompson Lake, Middle Thompson Lake, Upper Thompson Lake, McGregor Lake, Little McGregor Lake, Horseshoe Lake, and Loon Lake.
Upper Thompson Lake Campground is set on the shores of the lake and features 83 standard campsites and eight group campsites, all of which are rustic and do not have without drinking water. Amenities include a boat ramp, established fire pits, picnic tables and vault toilets, and recreational activities in the area range from camping, boating, and fishing to swimming, water skiing, and canoeing.
Upper Thompson Lake Campground, 68 Thompsons Lake Rd, East Berne, NY 12059, Phone: 518-872-1674
Wayfarers / Flathead Lake State Park
Wayfarers State Park is a public recreation area half a mile south of the charming town of Bigfork with beautiful views over Flathead Lake, including some of the best sunsets in the state. The campground has 30 campsites with sites for tents and RVs, picnic tables, fire rings, and comfort stations with coin-operated showers, vault and pit toilets, and potable water.
Amenities in the park include boat and trailer dump stations, firewood and ice sales, and group-use shelter, and children’s playground is located in the adjacent Harry Horn Park. Activities in the park range from camping, boating, and fishing to swimming, canoeing.
Wayfarers / Flathead Lake State Park, 8600 Mount Hwy 35, Bigfork, MT 59911, Phone: 406-837-3041
Bozeman Hot Springs Campground
Located in a picturesque setting next to the Bozeman Hot Springs and the Gallatin River, the Bozeman Hot Springs Campground is an ideal base for those wanting to enjoy the hot springs and other activities in the area.
The campground has sites for tents and RVs with electrical and water hookups, as well as overnight cabins, modern restrooms with flushing toilets, hot showers, and potable water, and coin-operated laundry services.
Campground amenities include a clubhouse, a games room, ladder golf, horseshoes, a children’s playground, and an outdoor chessboard, and activities range from hiking, mountain biking, fishing, swimming in the river, and soaking in the hot springs. Open seasonally.
Bozeman Hot Springs Campground, 81123 Gallatin Rd, Bozeman, MT 59718, Phone: 406-587-3030
Warm Springs Campground
Nestled along the banks of Crazy Creek at an elevation of 4,500 feet in the Bitterroot National Forest, Warm Springs Campground has 14 tent and small RV sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets.
There are handicap accessible restrooms with showers and potable water, and laundry facilities, camping essentials, and food can be found within five miles of the campground. The surrounding forests offer excellent hiking and mountain biking, and fishing and swimming can be enjoyed in the Crazy Creek.
Warm Springs Campground, Conner, MT 59827
Woodbine Campground
Tucked away in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in southwestern Montana, Woodbine Campground is a remote spot with plenty of shade and spectacular views of the surrounding snow-covered mountain peaks. Set on the banks of the Stillwater River at an elevation of 5,300 feet, the campground offers single and group sites, some of which are handicap accessible, along with picnic tables, campfire rings with grills, vault toilets, and drinking water.
The Stillwater River offers excellent fishing opportunities for various species of trout, and the 1.5-mile round-trip Woodbine Falls Trail is a popular hiking trail. Other activities in the area include horseback riding on the Stillwater Trail, which leads to the beautiful Sioux Charley Lake.
Woodbine Campground, Nye, MT 59068, Phone: 406-587-9054
Swan Lake Campground
Nestled in the heart Flathead National Forest and surrounded by the rugged, snow-covered peaks of the Swan Mountain Range, Swan Lake Campground is a family-friendly recreation area near the village of Swan Lake that features 38 family-sized campsites and large group site.
The campground has two loops offering both open, spacious sites and more clustered and shady options, along with paved parking areas, picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, and drinking water. Recreational activities include power and non-motorized boating with easy access to a boat ramp, kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding, swimming, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking.
Swan Lake Campground, Swan Lake, MT 59911, Phone: 406-886-2266
Rocky Gorge Campground
Rocky Gorge Campground offers camping next to the 90-mile-long Lake Koocanusa in the Kootenai National Forest. Surrounded by breathtaking forests and grassy islands, the campsite features 60 campsites for RVs and tents with picnic tables, fire rings, potable water, and vault toilets. Some sites have tent pads, and a dock and a fully developed boat launch are available for campers to use. Recreational activities include power and non-motorized boating with easy access to a boat ramp, kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding, swimming, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking.
MT-37, Eureka, MT 59917, Phone: 406-296-2536
Home Gulch Campground
Stretching along the North Fork of the Sun River between two towering cliffs at an elevation of 4,580 feet, Home Gulch Campground features 15 shady sites overlooking the river for tents and RVs.
Sites have picnic tables, established fire pits, grills, and there are restrooms with handicap-accessible toilets and drinking water. Activities in and around the campground include hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, swimming, and seasonal hunting. The campsite is open year-round and offers a quiet getaway for camping enthusiasts, families with children, and outdoor-lovers.
Home Gulch Campground, Choteau, MT 59422, Phone: 406-466-5341
Big Larch Campground
Big Larch Campground is set on the eastern shoreline of Seeley Lake and offers plenty of space for camping, picnicking, and recreating on the water. A shady campsite has first-come, first-served basis individual sites for tent camping with tables and campfire rings with grills, and two group camping areas are available for larger groups.
Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided, along with trash collection and recycling bins, and a day-use picnic area has access to a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and boat trailer parking. Resting at an elevation of about 4,000 feet, the campground experiences a pleasant climate during the summer months with plenty of shade from tall larch and pine trees.
Big Larch Campground, 3335 Mount Hwy 83, Seeley Lake, MT 59868, Phone: 406-677-2233
Glacier Campground
Located a mile from the west entrance to Glacier National Park and surrounded by the Flathead National Forest, Glacier Campground is spread over 40 wooded acres and offers cozy, secluded wooded sites with plenty of privacy.
The campground has sites for tents, vans, trailers, and RVs with picnic tables, fire rings, restrooms with hot showers, toilets, and potable water.
There is also a dump station, an on-site restaurant and general store, laundry facilities, a recreation room for rainy days, and a children’s playground. Nearby Glacier National Park is a natural wonderland and outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, with a range of recreational activities to enjoy, from hiking, biking, mountain climbing, and wildlife watching.
Glacier Campground, 12070 US-2, West Glacier, MT 59936, Phone: 406-387-5689
Divide Bridge Campground
Resting at an elevation of 5,400 feet along the banks of the Big Hole River, the Divide Bridge Recreation Area encompasses 80 acres and is home to the Divide Bridge Campground that features 24 camping sites with picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, and potable water.
The area boasts spectacular natural beauty and offers an array of outdoor activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and white-water rafting. Rafting guides are available during the summer season, and pets are allowed in the campsite on a leash.
Divide Bridge Campground, 74916 MT-43, Divide, MT 59727
Log Gulch Campground
The Log Gulch Campground is set on the banks of Wolf Creek and features 70 campsites for RV or tent camping on grassy, flat tent camping surfaces.
Campsites are primitive, without hookups, but sites have picnic tables, fire pits, and picnic tables and restrooms with toilets, showers, and potable water are accessible at various spots throughout the area. Log Gulch Campground has a beach with an enclosed swimming area, a loading dock with a boat ramp, and two first-come, first-served docks with boat slips. Activities in the area include hiking, mountain biking, fishing, boating, and swimming.
Log Gulch Campground, Wolf Creek, MT 59648
Willow Creek Campground
Willow Creek Campground is set on the shores of Willow Creek Reservoir and is a renowned spot for world-class trout fishing. Located several miles north of Augusta along the Rocky Mountain Front, the campground has sites for tents, vans, trailers, and RVs with electric hookups, picnic tables, fire rings, and handicap-accessible restrooms with showers, and toilets.
The campground has access to the lake where there are boat ramps, docks with boat slips and moorings, and activities in the area include fishing, boating, and swimming, as well as hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife watching.
Willow Creek Campground, Chester, MT 59522, Phone: 406-759-5077
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is a vast national park that rests on the United States-Canada border, encompassing over 1 million acres, two mountain ranges, over 130 lakes, and thousands of plant and animal species.
This natural wonderland is at the center of what is referred to as the "Crown of the Continent Ecosystem" and is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, with a range of recreational activities to enjoy, from hiking, biking, mountain climbing, and wildlife watching. The Park is home to the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road, an engineering marvel that spans 50 miles through the park's wild interior and boasting some of the most spectacular sights and views in Montana.
Glacier National Park has 13 front-country campgrounds with more than 1,000 campsites with tent and RV pull-through sites with or without hookups, bathhouses with hot showers and flushing toilets, drinking water, and dump stations. Glacier National Park is open every day of the year.
Glacier National Park, West Glacier, MT, Phone: 406-888-7800
Hellgate Campground
Resting on the banks of the Canyon Ferry Reservoir and surrounded by the magnificent Big Belt and Elkhorns mountain ranges, Hellgate Campground and Group Use Shelter Area features 69 campsites and is the largest developed campground on the reservoir.
The campground provides a mixture of single and double campsites, as well as three group use shelter areas with electric hookups, picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, and potable water. Canyon Ferry Reservoir offers a wealth of year-round recreational opportunities, ranging from boating, fishing, swimming, and sailing to wind-surfing, water-skiing, canoeing, and kayaking. The lake provides ice-fishing and ice-skating in the wintertime.
Hellgate Campground, Helena, MT 59602, Phone: 406-475-3921
Holland Lake Campground
Holland Lake Campground is surrounded by the Flathead National Forest and encompasses an area of 24 acres at an elevation of 3,500 feet. Resting on the edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness at the base of the Swan Mountain Range, the campsite features 39 designated spacious campsites spread around two loops with picnic tables, fire rings, restrooms with hot showers, toilets, and potable water.
The campground is close to the 400-acre Holland Lake, which offers boating, fishing, swimming, canoeing, and kayaking. Hiking and backcountry camping can be enjoyed in the area and the nearby Bob Marshall Wilderness.
Holland Lake Campground, Flathead National Forest, 200 Ranger Station Road, Bigfork, MT 59911, Phone: 406-646-1012
Langohr Springs Campground
Nestled in the picturesque Hyalite Canyon on the Bozeman Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest, the Langohr Springs Campground is a beautiful region that offers many outdoor recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking, and climbing.
Located 12 miles south of Bozeman, the Langohr Springs Campground offers several single-family campsites in open meadows along the banks of the Hyalite Creek and a large group site that can accommodate up to 50 people. Sites have picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets, drinking water, and trash collection. Hyalite Creek provides excellent fishing and swimming, and there are many hiking trails in and around Hyalite Canyon.
Langohr Springs Campground, Bozeman, MT 59718
