Camping in Montana gives you the greatest Montana views. Several of these well-established camping spots are among the state’s many state parks, national forests, and national parks.
And they’re all within sight of famous Montana scenery like glacial lakes, snow-capped mountains, and river systems teeming with trout.
Montana campsites extend far beyond Glacier National Park’s limits, particularly in the state’s western and mountainous regions.
This section of the state is synonymous with camping and adventure, from Bighorn Canyon to the many campsites surrounding Flathead Lake.
Extensive caves, well-preserved ghost towns, and historic headwaters are among the other unique landscapes to check out from Montana campgrounds.
Summary
| Guide | Camping in Montana |
|---|---|
| Things to bring | Tent, torch, etc |
| Campgrounds | Flathead Lake State Park, and more |
| Best places to visit | Missoula, and more |
| Situated | U.S. |
Camping In Montana
1. Apgar Campground
Glacier National Park is also known as the Crown of the Continent and is in northwest Montana.
The largest campground in Glacier is Apgar, which is on the park’s west side.
That campground is also one of the campgrounds that are busy most of the time, with all 194 sites routinely filling up between the peak months of June and August.
You can use tents and bring your RV to the campsite, and almost all sites are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Apgar Campground has five group sites that you can rent ahead of time. Apgar Campground is near Lake McDonald and is in connection to the park’s 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road on the west end.
The St. Mary Campground, located on the other end of Going-to-the-Sun Road, is the park’s largest campground on the east side, with almost 150 campsites.
Address: US Hwy 2, West Glacier, MT 59901
2. Big Arm/Flathead Lake State Park
The lake of Flathead is one of the biggest freshwater lakes in the country, having almost 150 miles of shoreline in total.
Boating, fishing, and the seasonal cherries that thrive in the lake-effect environment are just a few of the things that draw campers to this rocky region of northwest Montana.
Flathead Lake State Park also provides various camping alternatives for those interested.
Flathead Lake State Park has six sections that encircle the lake. The Big Arm State Park unit on the west side of the lake has one of themost extensive and popular campgrounds on the lake.
From the campsite, the towering Mission and Swan Mountains give a stunning perspective over the sea.
Almost all of the 40 campsites at Big Arm Campground may be reserved ahead of time.
Address: 28031 Big Arm State Park Road, Big Arm, Montana
3. Lewis and Clark Caverns Campground
The Lewis and Clark Caverns, an hour west of Bozeman and conveniently accessible off Interstate 90, is a popular destination on a Montana road trip.
It’s one of the Northwest’s largest limestone caves, as well as Montana’s first state park.
You can see Lewis and Clark Caverns’ stalactites and speleothems on a guided tour given by the park (May through September).
After spending time below, the state park’s campsite features around 40 sites distributed across a flat, green valley.
Tent and RV camping sites are available, as well as three big cottages for rent. At the campsite, all overnight visitors have access to flushing toilets and hot showers.
Address: 25 Lewis & Clark Caverns Road, Whitehall, Montana
4. Holland Lake Campground, Flathead National Forest
The Holland Lake Campground, in the gorgeous Swan Valley in northeastern Montana, offers large campsites with easy access to the campground’s namesake feature.
The park has flushing facilities and potable water, with 40 campsites for tents and RVs spaced out across two loops.
You can not use electrical or water hookups as they are not available at the campground.
Several hiking routes, including the Holland Falls National Recreation Trail, go from the campsite to the 400-acre lake, which is popular for boating and fishing.
The bulk of sites may be reserved up to six months ahead of time. During the summer, many of the locations are almost full.
Highway 83 south of Holland Lake is in line with a slew of additional Forest Service campsites.
Address: Condon, MT 59826
Best Places To Visit Near Montana
Great Falls
The Great Falls, often known as the Electric City, is in the very heart of Montana.
Great Falls is frequently used as a pit stop on the way through Montana or to visit adjacent national parks, but the city has a lot to offer on its own.
You may, for example, spend a day at the Ryan Dam, which has miles of surrounding hiking trails and is the source of the city’s moniker, “Electric City.”
At Giant Springs State Park and the nearby Lewis and Clark National Interpretive Center, you may also wander along the Missouri River’s banks, feed the trout, and learn more about American history.
Missoula
The Missoula, Montana’s second-biggest city, is home to the University of Montana’s enormous campus.
Missoula was formerly a major rail center, and antique and maintained train stations are still visible around the city.
The Caras Park Carousel, the Missoula Art Museum, and the renowned Roxy Theater are all worth a visit for history buffs.
You may also try rafting along the Clark Fork River or strolling along the waterfront Kim Williams Trail, which runs through the heart of Missoula and is a leisure hotspot.
Downtown offers a variety of local breweries, superb independent eateries, and boutique stores where you can pick up one-of-a-kind gifts.
Read: Camping In Santa Barbara
Checklist Before Camping In Montana
One of the finest ways to explore Montana’s wonderful outdoors is to go camping.
It provides a direct connection to the outdoors that is difficult to acquire through day trips or hotel stays.
Cooking, eating, sleeping, and living outside offers you a whole new perspective on our natural wonders.
There are many various methods to enjoy camping in Montana, but you have to have the gears suitable for the location.
- Personal face mask
- Backpack
- Pack cover
- Garbage bag
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Hiking boots (waterproof)
- Whistle
- Rain gear (jacket and pants)
- Long underwear top and bottom
- Warm pants (wool or fleece)
- Jacket (fleece or down)
- Gloves or mittens
- Sweater or shirt (wool or fleece)
- Three pairs of socks (wool or polypro)
- Extra camp socks
- Camp shoes such as Crocks
FAQ
What does "Primitive Status" signify for a campground in Montana?
There are no flush toilets or potable water in primitive campgrounds.
Are there showers at the Montana camgrounds?
This solely depends on which campground you are choosing to go to because some have showers and some do not.
Is it possible to make bookings for an RV park?
Yes, you can make reservations, but how you do so depends entirely on the campsite, you’ll be visiting.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
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