The 5 Best Places to Camp in Montana This Summer

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 five best places to camp in Montana this summer.

1. Glacier National Park, Apgar Campground

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 your 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.

2. Yellowstone Park West Gate KOA Holiday

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 six 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.

3. Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park

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 three cabins. There are a total of 46 sites altogether in the campground, which also has a visitor center, amphitheater and lots of hiking trails.

4. Big Arm State Park

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 three 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!

5. Bozeman Hot Springs Campground

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 four outdoor pools and eight indoor pools that range from 90-103 degrees Fahrenheit … 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 (one or two rooms) 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!

Summary of 5 Best Places to Camp in Montana this Summer

Here’s a recap of Montana’s top five summer camping spots that we took a look at.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © VIKVAD/Shutterstock.com

WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more.

Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day.

Thanks for subscribing!