Camping is a quintessential Montana experience — but these days, it’s usually anything but spontaneous. With reservations at the best campgrounds in Montana often being accepted nearly a year in advance, sometimes your favorite spots get snatched up before you can even plan your vacation dates.
Luckily, there are some campgrounds in the Last Best Place where reservations are not required. While that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get a spot (they are first-come, first-served, after all), if you time your trip right, your odds will be good. These are a few places that will take your tents and trailers, no reservation required.
- Holland Lake Campground, Condon
Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr Located on the shores of Holland Lake in the Swan Valley, the Holland Lake Campground features 40 clean campsites, a day use area and a group site available for tent and RV camping. Some spots are solely available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Cut Bank Campground, Glacier National Park
Jonathan C. Wheeler / Flickr You’ll find the Cut Bank Campground on the east side of the park, and this small, peaceful place is nice and quiet. This is a primitive camping experience, meaning you should bring your own water and leave your RV at home. Reservations are not accepted here.
- Missouri Headwaters State Park, Three Forks
sweetmarie / TripAdvisor Want to camp where Lewis and Clark once stayed in 1805? This state park is located just 3 miles from I-90, and while reservations are accepted, they also welcome last-minute arrivals based on availability.
Address: 1585 Trident Road, Three Forks, MT, 59752
- Sundance Campground, Columbia Falls
AM / Yelp When your campgrounds of choice at Glacier National Park are full, you could very well have some luck here. Sundance Campground has most of the comforts of home, from showers, laundry service and bathrooms to very friendly owners.
Address: 10545 Highway 2 East, Columbia Falls, MT, 59912
- Rainbow Point Campground, West Yellowstone
Jean K / Yelp Rainbow Point Campground is definitely a popular place during the summer, so if you don’t make a reservation, you should come mid-week if you’d like to secure a spot. Located on the banks of scenic Hebgen Lake, there are several single-family campsites, many of which have electric hookups. There are also picnic tables and campfire rings.
Address: Rainbow Point Road, West Yellowstone, MT, 59758
- Spire Rock Campground, Gallatin Canyon
Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr The 20 sites at Spire Rock Campground can be reserved, but last-minute arrivals are always welcome. While the campground doesn’t have drinking water, it does have handicapped accessible toilets, picnic tables, firewood for sale, fire rings, trash pickup service and fishing access.
- Kintla Lake Campground, Glacier National Park
Maggie Tacheny / Flickr Kintla Lake campground is Glacier National Park’s most remote frontcountry and car camping campground, located in the northwest section of the park known as the North Fork. Due to its remote location, it’s rarely filled, offering campers a true sense of isolation. There are 13 campsites that sit right on the shores of the beautiful lake.
- Hay Canyon Campground, Lewis & Clark National Forest
Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr Fall asleep to the sounds of the South Fork Judith River, which will be mere feet from your tent at the Hay Canyon Campground. The 6 rustic campsites here are first-come, first-served, and there is no fee. Restrooms are provided, but you’ll have to supply drinking water and everything else you need.
- Whitefish Lake State Park
Benny-boy70 / TripAdvisor Located on the outskirts of Whitefish, this state park camping has 25 campsites which offer a variety of tent only and RV camping opportunities, plus a new hike-bike campsite convenient for cyclists traveling the nearby Great Divide route. As with all Montana state parks, reservations are accepted, but they’re not required, and last-minute campers have been known to score some great spots.
Address: 1615 West Lakeshore Drive, Whitefish, MT, 59937
This list makes us want to grab our sleeping bags and gear and go off this grid for awhile. Are you ready for another beautiful season of camping in Montana underneath the Big Sky? Here are some of Montana’s most popular camping spots.
Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr
Located on the shores of Holland Lake in the Swan Valley, the Holland Lake Campground features 40 clean campsites, a day use area and a group site available for tent and RV camping. Some spots are solely available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Jonathan C. Wheeler / Flickr
You’ll find the Cut Bank Campground on the east side of the park, and this small, peaceful place is nice and quiet. This is a primitive camping experience, meaning you should bring your own water and leave your RV at home. Reservations are not accepted here.
sweetmarie / TripAdvisor
Want to camp where Lewis and Clark once stayed in 1805? This state park is located just 3 miles from I-90, and while reservations are accepted, they also welcome last-minute arrivals based on availability.
Address: 1585 Trident Road, Three Forks, MT, 59752
AM / Yelp
When your campgrounds of choice at Glacier National Park are full, you could very well have some luck here. Sundance Campground has most of the comforts of home, from showers, laundry service and bathrooms to very friendly owners.
Address: 10545 Highway 2 East, Columbia Falls, MT, 59912
Jean K / Yelp
Rainbow Point Campground is definitely a popular place during the summer, so if you don’t make a reservation, you should come mid-week if you’d like to secure a spot. Located on the banks of scenic Hebgen Lake, there are several single-family campsites, many of which have electric hookups. There are also picnic tables and campfire rings.
Address: Rainbow Point Road, West Yellowstone, MT, 59758
The 20 sites at Spire Rock Campground can be reserved, but last-minute arrivals are always welcome. While the campground doesn’t have drinking water, it does have handicapped accessible toilets, picnic tables, firewood for sale, fire rings, trash pickup service and fishing access.
Maggie Tacheny / Flickr
Kintla Lake campground is Glacier National Park’s most remote frontcountry and car camping campground, located in the northwest section of the park known as the North Fork. Due to its remote location, it’s rarely filled, offering campers a true sense of isolation. There are 13 campsites that sit right on the shores of the beautiful lake.
Fall asleep to the sounds of the South Fork Judith River, which will be mere feet from your tent at the Hay Canyon Campground. The 6 rustic campsites here are first-come, first-served, and there is no fee. Restrooms are provided, but you’ll have to supply drinking water and everything else you need.
Benny-boy70 / TripAdvisor
Located on the outskirts of Whitefish, this state park camping has 25 campsites which offer a variety of tent only and RV camping opportunities, plus a new hike-bike campsite convenient for cyclists traveling the nearby Great Divide route. As with all Montana state parks, reservations are accepted, but they’re not required, and last-minute campers have been known to score some great spots.
Address: 1615 West Lakeshore Drive, Whitefish, MT, 59937
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Campgrounds in Montana June 07, 2019 Jessica Wick What are some of the best campgrounds in Montana? This really depends on what kind of experience you’d like to have. The Butte KOA Journey earns a spot near the top of the list for its amenities, especially the fried chicken at The Chicken Shack. The Woodbine Campground in Nye is shaded and secluded, resting on the banks of the Stillwater River. If you want to go off the grid, Glacier National Park’s Kintla Lake Campground is both beautiful and remote… in fact, it’s the park’s most remote campground, so make sure to take everything you need. Rainbow Point Campground in West Yellowstone is also a popular pick for its close proximity to Yellowstone National Park. It rests on the banks of Hebgen Lake, so it’s a favorite among local boaters. Are you allowed to camp in Montana state parks? Some of Montana’s state parks do allow camping, like Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell and Whitefish State Park. However, some of our state parks are day use only. The best way to find out if the state park you’re interested in allows camping is to visit http://stateparks.mt.gov/. What are some of the things I need to take on a camping trip? Aside from the obvious (a tent or camper, sleeping bags, and flashlights), you’ll want to pack extra batteries, layers of clothing, bug repellant, sunscreen, and everything you’ll need to keep yourself comfortable, such as camping chairs or hammocks. If you’re tent camping, take extra stakes and a tarp. Pack plenty of food for meals and snacks and lots of extra water. Find out if the campground or campsite you’re visiting has flush toilets, showers, firewood, and other basic amenities, and plan accordingly. Also, pack a lantern or two for any late night lighting needs.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Campgrounds in Montana
June 07, 2019
Jessica Wick
What are some of the best campgrounds in Montana? This really depends on what kind of experience you’d like to have. The Butte KOA Journey earns a spot near the top of the list for its amenities, especially the fried chicken at The Chicken Shack. The Woodbine Campground in Nye is shaded and secluded, resting on the banks of the Stillwater River. If you want to go off the grid, Glacier National Park’s Kintla Lake Campground is both beautiful and remote… in fact, it’s the park’s most remote campground, so make sure to take everything you need. Rainbow Point Campground in West Yellowstone is also a popular pick for its close proximity to Yellowstone National Park. It rests on the banks of Hebgen Lake, so it’s a favorite among local boaters. Are you allowed to camp in Montana state parks? Some of Montana’s state parks do allow camping, like Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell and Whitefish State Park. However, some of our state parks are day use only. The best way to find out if the state park you’re interested in allows camping is to visit http://stateparks.mt.gov/. What are some of the things I need to take on a camping trip? Aside from the obvious (a tent or camper, sleeping bags, and flashlights), you’ll want to pack extra batteries, layers of clothing, bug repellant, sunscreen, and everything you’ll need to keep yourself comfortable, such as camping chairs or hammocks. If you’re tent camping, take extra stakes and a tarp. Pack plenty of food for meals and snacks and lots of extra water. Find out if the campground or campsite you’re visiting has flush toilets, showers, firewood, and other basic amenities, and plan accordingly. Also, pack a lantern or two for any late night lighting needs.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
This really depends on what kind of experience you’d like to have. The Butte KOA Journey earns a spot near the top of the list for its amenities, especially the fried chicken at The Chicken Shack. The Woodbine Campground in Nye is shaded and secluded, resting on the banks of the Stillwater River. If you want to go off the grid, Glacier National Park’s Kintla Lake Campground is both beautiful and remote… in fact, it’s the park’s most remote campground, so make sure to take everything you need. Rainbow Point Campground in West Yellowstone is also a popular pick for its close proximity to Yellowstone National Park. It rests on the banks of Hebgen Lake, so it’s a favorite among local boaters.
Are you allowed to camp in Montana state parks?
Some of Montana’s state parks do allow camping, like Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell and Whitefish State Park. However, some of our state parks are day use only. The best way to find out if the state park you’re interested in allows camping is to visit http://stateparks.mt.gov/.
What are some of the things I need to take on a camping trip?
Aside from the obvious (a tent or camper, sleeping bags, and flashlights), you’ll want to pack extra batteries, layers of clothing, bug repellant, sunscreen, and everything you’ll need to keep yourself comfortable, such as camping chairs or hammocks. If you’re tent camping, take extra stakes and a tarp. Pack plenty of food for meals and snacks and lots of extra water. Find out if the campground or campsite you’re visiting has flush toilets, showers, firewood, and other basic amenities, and plan accordingly. Also, pack a lantern or two for any late night lighting needs.
