Best Campgrounds in Montana: 2026 Guide

Montana earns its "Last Best Place" nickname every time you pull into a campground and realize the nearest traffic light might be 80 miles away. This is a state where grizzly bears still fish the same streams you'll cast into, where wolf packs howl across valleys that haven't changed much since Lewis and Clark passed through, and where the night sky is so dark that the Milky Way casts actual shadows. Camping in Montana isn't a weekend hobby — it's an immersion into one of North America's last great wilderness frontiers.

Why Montana Stands Out

Remoteness is Montana's superpower. While other western states have pockets of wilderness surrounded by development, Montana offers vast stretches where the forest simply continues for days in every direction. Glacier National Park anchors the northwest corner with its iconic alpine scenery, but the real Montana camping experience extends far beyond park boundaries — into the Bitterroot, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Beartooth Plateau, and countless national forest campgrounds where you might be the only one there on a Tuesday night. Wildlife encounters here are not a bonus; they're a near-certainty. Proper food storage isn't optional — it's survival protocol.

Top Campgrounds to Explore

Apgar Campground

The flagship campground at Glacier National Park's west entrance, Apgar sits near the shores of Lake McDonald. It's the most accessible base camp for exploring the park's famous Going-to-the-Sun Road and the trails that branch off it into alpine country.

Avalanche Campground

Deep inside Glacier National Park west of the Continental Divide, Avalanche accommodates both tent and RV campers in one of the park's most popular sections. The Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake trail start right from camp — old-growth forest and turquoise water within easy reach.

Big Larch Campground

On the east shoreline of Seeley Lake in the Lolo National Forest, Big Larch offers beach access and a boat launch for days on the water. The surrounding forest provides a quieter alternative to the national park crowds while still delivering classic Montana lake country scenery.

Alta Campground

In the heart of the Bitterroot National Forest near Darby, Alta sits along the West Fork of the Bitterroot River. This is prime fly fishing territory and a starting point for backpacking trips into some of Montana's most rugged backcountry.

Basin Montana Campground

Seven miles west of the charming town of Red Lodge on a paved forest road, Basin is a popular base for hiking, backpacking, and accessing the Beartooth Highway — one of America's most spectacular mountain drives leading toward Yellowstone's northeast entrance.

Bear Creek Campground

At the base of the western slope of the Madison Range near Ennis, Bear Creek provides access to some of southwest Montana's finest landscapes. The Madison River nearby is legendary among fly fishers, and the surrounding peaks offer challenging day hikes.

Bend Guard Station

This historic Lolo National Forest cabin near Plains has been updated with modern amenities including a full kitchen. It offers a unique lodging experience — sleeping in a piece of Forest Service history while surrounded by northwestern Montana's wild landscape.

Birch Creek Cabin

A historic log cabin with electricity near Dillon, Birch Creek provides access to hiking, OHV trails, and winter cross-country skiing. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest setting offers solitude that's hard to find in more trafficked states.

Aspen Grove Group Campground

On the banks of the legendary Blackfoot River near Lincoln at 4,800 feet, Aspen Grove combines forested mountain terrain with riverside camping. The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest surrounding camp offers trails and wildlife viewing in every direction.

Planning Tips

Bear safety is non-negotiable. Carry bear spray, store food in approved containers, and know the difference between grizzly and black bear behavior. Summer is short. Most Montana campgrounds open late May and close by mid-September — the prime window is July and August. Prepare for isolation. Cell service is absent at many campgrounds, and the nearest supply run could be an hour or more. Stock up before you head in. Watch the weather. Mountain storms can bring snow any month of the year at higher elevations — pack cold-weather gear even for August trips.

Find More Montana Campgrounds

Explore all Montana camping options on our Montana campgrounds page, or browse our full campground directory to plan your wilderness retreat.