Camping is a quintessential Montana experience – but these days, it’s usually anything but spontaneous. With Montana campground reservations at the best campgrounds in the state often being accepted nearly a year in advance, sometimes your favorite spots get snatched up before you can even plan your vacation dates.

Luckily, there are some campgrounds in the Last Best Place where reservations are not required. While that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get a spot (they are first-come, first-served, after all), if you time your trip right, your odds will be good. These are a few places that will take your tents and trailers, with no reservation required.

1. Holland Lake Campground, Condon
Holland Lake Campground, Condon, MT 59826, USA
Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr
Located on the shores of Holland Lake in the Swan Valley, the Holland Lake Campground features 40 clean campsites, a day-use area, and a group site available for tent and RV camping. Some spots are solely available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Let's visit Holland Lake Campground for a little camping in MT in this virtual tour of the campsites you'll find in Swan Valley:
2. Cut Bank Campground, Glacier National Park
Cut Bank, West Glacier, MT 59936, USA
Jonathan C. Wheeler / Flickr
You'll find the Cut Bank Campground on the east side of Glacier National Park, and this small, peaceful place is nice and quiet. This is a primitive camping experience, meaning you should bring your own water and leave your RV at home. This is one of the most pristine no reservation campgrounds in Montana.
3. Missouri Headwaters State Park, Three Forks
Missouri Headwaters State Park, 1585 Trident Rd, Three Forks, MT 59752, USA
sweetmarie / TripAdvisor
Want to camp where Lewis and Clark once stayed in 1805? Missouri Headwaters State Park is located just 3 miles from I-90, and while reservations are accepted, they also welcome last-minute arrivals based on availability.
4. Sundance Campground, Columbia Falls
Sundance Campground, 10545 U.S. Rte 2, Columbia Falls, MT 59912
Sundance Campground & RV Park/Facebook
When your campgrounds of choice at Glacier National Park are full, you could very well have some luck here. Sundance Campground has most of the comforts of home, from showers, laundry service, and bathrooms to very friendly owners. Sundance Campground is right beside Highway 2 at Mile Post 147 in Columbia Falls, MT.

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5. Rainbow Point Campground, West Yellowstone
Rainbow Point Campground, Rainbow Point Rd, West Yellowstone, MT 59758, USA
Jean K / Yelp
Rainbow Point Campground is definitely a popular place during the summer, so if you don't make a reservation, you should come mid-week if you'd like to secure a spot. Located on the banks of scenic Hebgen Lake, there are several single-family campsites, many of which have electric hookups. There are also picnic tables and campfire rings.

Rainbow Point Campground in West Yellowstone is a beautiful campground to enjoy some camping in Montana. View some footage of this lovely area in this review from the Gimpy Camper before you head out to enjoy your camping trip:
6. Spire Rock Campground, Gallatin Canyon
Spire Rock Campground, Storm Castle Rd, Bozeman, MT 59718, USA
Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr
The 20 sites at Spire Rock Campground in the beautiful Gallatin Canyon can be reserved, but last-minute arrivals are always welcome. While the campground doesn't have drinking water, it does have handicapped-accessible toilets, picnic tables, firewood for sale, fire rings, trash pickup service, and fishing access.
7. Kintla Lake Campground, Glacier National Park
Kintla Lake, Montana 59928, USA
Maggie Tacheny / Flickr
Kintla Lake Campground is Glacier National Park's most remote front country and car camping campground, located in the northwest section of the park known as the North Fork. Due to its remote location, it's rarely filled, offering campers a true sense of isolation. There are 13 campsites that sit right on the shores of the beautiful lake.
8. Hay Canyon Campground, Lewis & Clark National Forest
Hay Canyon Campground, Great Falls, MT 59401, USA
Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr
Fall asleep to the sounds of the South Fork Judith River, which will be mere feet from your tent at the Hay Canyon Campground. The 6 rustic campsites here are first-come, first-served, and there is no fee. Restrooms are provided, but you'll have to supply drinking water and everything else you need.
9. Whitefish Lake State Park
Whitefish Lake State Park, 1615 W Lakeshore Dr, Whitefish, MT 59937, USA
Benny-boy70 / TripAdvisor
Located on the outskirts of Whitefish, this state park camping has 25 campsites that offer a variety of tent-only and RV camping opportunities, plus a new hike-bike campsite convenient for cyclists traveling the nearby Great Divide route. As with all Montana state parks, reservations are accepted, but they're not required, and last-minute campers have been known to score some great spots.

Enjoy a virtual tour of Whitefish Lake State Park in this montage of camping photos that show some of the RV and tent sites you can expect to find:

In Montana, campground reservations can be hard to come by. So, this list makes us want to grab our sleeping bags and gear and go off the grid for a while. Share your favorite places to go camping in Montana with a comment.

Are you ready for another beautiful season of camping in Montana underneath the Big Sky? Here are some of Montana’s most popular camping spots.

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More to Explore

Campgrounds in Montana

Jessica Wick | June 07, 2019

What are some of the best campgrounds in Montana?

Some of the best campgrounds in Montana include:

  • Butte KOA Journey: The Butte KOA Journey earns a spot near the top of the list for its amenities, especially the fried chicken at The Chicken Shack.
  • Woodbine Campground: The Woodbine Campground in Nye is shaded and secluded, resting on the banks of the Stillwater River.
  • Rainbow Point Campground: Rainbow Point Campground in West Yellowstone is also a popular pick for its close proximity to Yellowstone National Park. It rests on the banks of Hebgen Lake, so it's a favorite among local boaters.
  • Kintla Lake Campground: If you want to go off the grid, Glacier National Park's Kintla Lake Campground is both beautiful and remote... in fact, it's the park's most remote campground, so make sure to take everything you need.

 

Are you allowed to camp in Montana state parks?

Some of Montana's state parks do allow camping, like Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell and Whitefish State Park. However, some of our state parks are day use only. The best way to find out if the state park you're interested in allows camping is to visit https://fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/.

What are some of the things I need to take on a camping trip?

Some of the things to take on a camping trip include:

  • Extra batteries
  • Bug repellant
  • Toiletries
  • Snacks
  • Games
  • Fire starting materials
  • A hatchet

 

Aside from the obvious (a tent or camper, sleeping bags, and flashlights), you'll want to pack extra batteries, layers of clothing, bug repellant, sunscreen, and everything you'll need to keep yourself comfortable, such as camping chairs or hammocks. If you're tent camping, take extra stakes and a tarp. Pack plenty of food for meals and snacks and lots of extra water. Find out if the campground or campsite you're visiting has flush toilets, showers, firewood, and other basic amenities, and plan accordingly. Also, pack a lantern or two for any late-night lighting needs.

 

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