Camping in Montana. Wherever you are in Montana, there’s a place where you can pitch a tent, lay out your sleeping bag or park your rolling roost under the stars. You can dive as deep in the backcountry as your boots will take you, grill some grub with a view, or hop your way between unexpected campground luxuries like thermal pools, horseshoe pits, tepee rentals and quirky travelers’ libraries.
Conveniences like picnic tables, bathrooms and water pumps make the developed sites in our national forests and state parks handy for spur-of-the-moment overnights. You can look for these amenities ahead of time, right here. If you plan to camp in Northwest Montana or Glacier National Park, be sure to stay in a designated site, or stop by the ranger station to get a backcountry permit when in the National Parks. Camping in National Forest is allowed without permit for up to 14 days.
Keep in mind temperature swings can be quite dramatic here in Big Sky Country, so be sure to bring adequate clothing and shelter so you can fine-tune the luxury of your experience. The stars overhead and that first hot beverage in the morning add the final touches.
If you are camping around Flathead Lake be sure to ensure you have the correct tribal permits to camp on Indian Land.
If you are more into Campgrounds when Camping in Montana.
For those of us who enjoy flushable toilets’ when camping, Montana State Parks are your spot. Be sure to make your reservations online as the campgrounds around Flathead Lake fill very quickly during the summer months.
One of the more popular Montana State Park campgrounds is the Finley Point Campground.
The Finley Point unit of Flathead Lake State Park is located 12 miles north of Polson on the southeast shore of Flathead Lake. This park sits in an open ponderosa pine forest.
The campground has 18 RV campsites with electricity, including one wheelchair accessible site; 7 tent-only campsites; 4 boat camping slips with electricity; and 14 boat slips. The maximum RV/trailer length is 40 feet. Bear resistant storage lockers are available. For more information about camping or specific campsites, visit montanastateparks.reserveamerica.com or call 855-922-6768.
This park is located within the Flathead Reservation and all recreation on tribal land outside of the park requires a tribal recreation permit and is subject to all tribal rules and regulations. A tribal fishing license is required for fishing on the southern half of Flathead Lake and all other waters within the reservation. For more information regarding the Flathead Reservation, visit csktribes.org.