Best Camping in Montana

Montana's camping is extraordinary — from Glacier National Park's mountain campgrounds to the remote wilderness of the Bob Marshall to the open prairie camps of the Missouri River Breaks.

Glacier National Park: Apgar and Fish Creek Campgrounds
Apgar (194 sites) on the south shore of Lake McDonald is the largest campground in Glacier and the most convenient base for the park's west side. Fish Creek (180 sites) is on the north shore of Lake McDonald — quieter and forested. Both fill by mid-morning in July and August; reserve months in advance via recreation.gov.

Many Glacier Campground
The most dramatically located campground in Glacier — in the Many Glacier Valley surrounded by Swiftcurrent Lake, Grinnell Point, and the mountains above the Continental Divide. The campground puts you within walking distance of the best wildlife watching in the park (grizzly bears frequent the valley) and the trailheads for Grinnell Glacier and Iceberg Lake.

Beartooth Lake Campground (Shoshone NF, WY, near Red Lodge)
Just below the summit plateau of the Beartooth Highway, Beartooth Lake Campground sits at 9,000 feet with views of the plateau and a clear mountain lake. The altitude keeps temperatures cool even in midsummer. Fishing for cutthroat trout in the lake is excellent.

Bowman Lake Campground (Glacier NP, North Fork)
Remote by Glacier standards — reached via 30 miles of rough dirt road from Polebridge. The campground at the foot of Bowman Lake (in the shadow of Numa Ridge and Rainbow Peak) is quiet, wild, and one of the finest in the park. No hookups; no services. The Polebridge Mercantile's baked goods are a legendary reward for the rough drive.

Lewis and Clark National Forest (Dispersed)
The Lewis and Clark National Forest surrounding Great Falls allows dispersed camping throughout — particularly along the Sun River and the remote Rocky Mountain Front. Grizzly bears inhabit the front; bear canisters are required.