If you are coming to enjoy the beautiful Big Sky scenery in Montana there are a variety of campgrounds to provide you with a home base while you explore. From Glacier National Park to the Hot Springs in Bozeman there some truly unique experiences. Here are the 5 best places to camp in Montana this summer.
1. Glacier National Park, Apgar Campground
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You may have seen photos of Glacier National Park, but until you see the crystal blue waters in person you won’t get the whole picture. Glacier National Park is in the far northwest corner of Montana, bordering Canada. There are multiple campgrounds in the area but the largest is Apgar Campground that has 200 campsites and a shuttle to the famous “Going-to-the-Sun-Road”. Keep you eyes open on this beautiful hiking trail for elk, bighorn sheep and mountain goats. Although you probably won’t see one, Glacier National Park has one of the largest grizzly bear populations left in the lower 48!
One nice feature is that the campsites are spread out so you have plenty of room to enjoy a private retreat. The Apgar village has all the necessities including a camp store, restrooms and hot showers on site.
| Apgar Campground | |
|---|---|
| Location | In Glacier National Park on the south shore of Lake McDonald |
| Nearest City | West Glacier, MT |
| RV/Tent Sites | 200 sites, some with electric and water |
| Picnic Tables at each site | Yes |
| Fire Pit at each site | Yes |
| Amenities | Restrooms, showers, camp store, shuttle to trail, boat rental |
| Pet Friendly | Yes |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Staying right in Glacier National Park! |
2. Yellowstone Park West Gate KOA Holiday
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Although Yellowstone Park is mostly in Wyoming, just over the border in Montana is the Yellowstone Park West Gate KOA holiday campground. It is only 6 miles from the west entrance to the park and only 30 miles from Old Faithful. Visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and hike along the trails to view the lower falls. Black bears are common in Yellowstone so be sure to keep your distance and keep your food secure at your campsite. You may also see elk, river otters or a gray wolf. Back at the campground you will have all the amenities of a resort with an indoor pool, horseback riding, outdoor movie screen and nightly rodeo’s. There is a variety of camping options from RV sites with full hookup, cabins with private baths and kitchens and tent sites. Definitely one of the best places to camp in Montana this summer.
| Location | 6 miles west of the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park |
| Nearest City | West Yellowstone, MT |
| RV Sites | Yes, some water/electric, some full hookup |
| Tent Sites | Yes |
| Deluxe Cabins (with bathroom and kitchen) | Yes |
| Picnic Tables at each site | Yes |
| Fire Pit at each site | Yes |
| Amenities | Restrooms, hot showers, laundry, playground, indoor pool, outdoor movie screen, mini-golf, rodeo |
| Pet Friendly | Yes |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Stay right next to Yellowstone Park with a heated indoor pool! |
3. Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park
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If you have spelunking on your bucket list then camping at the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park will give you the opportunity to explore some of the most amazing caves. Take a guided tour of the caves in the summer where you will see the beautiful limestone cave formations, stalactites and stalagmites, as well as a colony of bats or more! The campground offers RV sites, tent sites and 3 cabins. There are a total of 46 sites altogether in the campground, which also has a visitor center, amphitheater and lots of hiking trails.
| Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park | |
|---|---|
| Location | Just south of Helena |
| Nearest City | Helena, MT |
| RV/Tent Sites | 46 sites, 18 with electric hookup |
| Picnic Tables at each site | Yes |
| Fire Pit at each site | Yes |
| Amenities | Restrooms, showers, visitor center, amphitheater |
| Pet Friendly | Yes |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Camp next to some of the best caves in Montana! |
4. Big Arm State Park
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Do you want to camp right next to one of the most beautiful lakes in the Montana? Then camping at Big Arm State Park is the place. Located on the west shore of the large Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the western U.S. It is a known hot spot for lake trout fishing and other fish. Visitors enjoy swimming, boating, scuba diving as well as hiking and biking along the many trails. You can also boat out to Wild Horse Island where, yes, they have actual wild horses! Have you ever stayed in a yurt? The campground has three yurts available for reservations and can provide a unique camping experience. There are 41 campsites and 3 yurts so make your reservations early as sites fill fast, especially during the summer. This is definitely one of the best places to camp in Montana this summer!
| Big Arm State Park | |
|---|---|
| Location | Northwestern Montana |
| Nearest City | Polson |
| RV/Tent Sites | 41 sites |
| Yurts | 3 sites |
| Picnic Tables at each site | Yes |
| Fire Pit at each site | Yes |
| Amenities | Restrooms, showers, water, bear lockers, boat launch |
| Pet Friendly | Yes |
| Reservations | Yes, make them early |
| What makes it one of the best | Camping right on one of the largest recreational lakes in western U.S. |
5. Bozeman Hot Springs Campground
©iStock.com/Dmytro Aslanian
One of the best places to camp in Montana this summer is right next to the Bozeman Hot Springs. Enjoy the day hiking, biking and fly-fishing then head to the hot spring pools next door to unwind. There are 4 outdoor pools and 8 indoor pools that range from 90-103 degrees… nice! Bozeman also has the Museum of the Rockies and a variety of shops and restaurants. The campground has basic tent campsites, deluxe campsites (on the creek with electric and water), cabins (1 or 2 room) and nice concrete pad RV sites, some with full hookups. There is a clubhouse with games for the kids and a giant outdoor chess set!
| Bozeman Hot Springs Campground | |
|---|---|
| Location | Just west of Bozeman |
| Nearest City | Bozeman, MT |
| RV Sites | Yes, variety of full hookup, water/electric, can accommodate 90’ max, nice concrete sites with picnic tables and fire pit |
| Cabins | 1 room or 2 room basic cabins, no restrooms in the cabin, outdoor picnic table |
| Deluxe Tent Sites | Yes, electric and water, on the creek |
| Tent Sites | Yes, picnic table and fire pit |
| Picnic Tables at each site | Yes |
| Fire Pit at each site | Yes |
| Amenities | Restrooms, showers, laundry, game room, gift shop, club house, Bozeman Hot Springs and Pool is right next door |
| Pet Friendly | Yes |
| Reservations | Yes |
| What makes it one of the best | Two words… Hot Springs! |
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