Have you ever unzipped a tent at dawn and felt cold, clean air rush in like it owns the place? In Montana, that first breath hits different. Pine scent hangs low, your sleeping bag still holds last night’s warmth, and the quiet feels almost loud.
This state earns its tent camping reputation with variety, from Makoshika’s badlands shapes to Glacier’s ice-carved peaks. In this guide, you’ll get the well known campgrounds, a few less talked about bases, plus safety and gear notes that keep the trip smooth.
Best Regions for Tent Camping
Montana is big enough to give you four totally different camping moods in the same week. Pick a region based on what you want to wake up to, and how close you want to be to food, showers, and trailheads.
Glacier National Park and the Flathead Valley
Glacier packs a lot into one corner of the state. The park has 13 front country campgrounds with more than 1,000 sites, and several are solid for tent campers, including Apgar, Fish Creek, Many Glacier, and St. Mary.
You can roll into camp, set up fast, then spend the rest of the day on the shuttle, on the water, or on a trail instead of driving all over.
Outside the boundary, campgrounds near West Glacier and along the Flathead River add a little comfort without pulling you far from the park. Think hot showers, camp stores, and an easier resupply run, while still keeping Glacier close enough for early starts.
Yellowstone (Montana Gateways)
If Yellowstone is on your list, Montana’s gateway side makes a smart base. Around West Yellowstone and Hebgen Lake, you’ll find tent sites at places like Yellowstone Park / West Gate KOA Holiday, plus lakefront camping at Yellowstone Holiday on Hebgen Lake.
These spots work well for families and first timers because you can clean up with a real shower, grab ice or snacks on site, and still reach the park for day trips without burning your whole day in the car.
Hebgen also gives you a bonus: you can fish, paddle, or sit by the water when you want a slower pace between Yellowstone days.
Western Montana: Missoula, Bitterroot, and Lakes
Western Montana blends forest service campgrounds and private parks, so you can choose how simple or how comfortable you want your nights.
Family-friendly options include Glacier Campground, near West Glacier, and Kootenai River Campground, near Troy in the far northwest, where the river stays close and the pace feels calmer.
In the Bitterroot, lakes like Lake Como give you easy access to swimming, paddling, and short hikes without a long drive. It’s a good region for people who want active days and relaxed evenings, with Missoula nearby when you need groceries or a meal that doesn’t come from a cooler.
Central and Southwest Montana
Central and Southwest Montana are great when you want mountain views, solid hiking, and towns close enough to make life easier.
State parks like Lost Creek and Lewis and Clark Caverns add variety, and campgrounds near Fairmont Hot Springs make it simple to end the day with a soak.
With towns like Butte, Anaconda, and White Sulphur Springs nearby, you can mix trail time with small-town stops, resupply runs, and hot springs breaks that feel like a reward you didn’t have to earn twice.
Iconic Tent Campgrounds to Target
Some campgrounds don’t just give you a place to sleep. They put you close to the best trails, the best water, and those early mornings where Montana feels quiet and brand new.
Apgar and Fish Creek (Glacier National Park)
Apgar is Glacier’s biggest campground, sitting right near Lake McDonald with close to 200 sites. It’s a strong pick for tent campers who want convenience since you’re near Apgar Village, basic services, and the park shuttle.
The trade off is popularity. In summer, it can feel busy, and you’ll notice more foot traffic and more car doors closing at night.
Fish Creek is the second largest campground, with 178 sites, and it feels more tucked in. It sits in thicker forest near Camas Road, so you get better shade and a bit more privacy. If you like falling asleep to wind moving through trees instead of campground chatter, Fish Creek often feels like the calmer choice.
Many Glacier and St. Mary (Glacier East Side)
Many Glacier Campground has 109 sites, including some tent-only areas, and the big win here is location. You can step out of your tent and head straight toward trailheads that lead to lakes and high alpine hikes.
When your legs are tired, you’ve also got boat tours nearby and the historic lodge close enough for a change of pace.
St. Mary Campground is the largest on Glacier’s east side, with 148 sites. It comes with wide mountain views and easy access to the east entrance of Going to the Sun Road. If you want sunrise light on peaks and quick starts for scenic drives, St. Mary makes that simple.
Tent Sites near West Yellowstone
If you want Yellowstone days with an easy return to camp, the West Yellowstone area delivers. Yellowstone Park / West Gate KOA Holiday offers individual tent sites, and some include water and electric, which can be handy for families or longer stays.
Showers, a camp store, and kid friendly extras make it feel low stress, even when the park gets crowded.
Over on Hebgen Lake, Yellowstone Holiday RV Campground and Marina adds a lakeside setting, with cabins and RV sites, plus tent-friendly options. It’s a good setup if you want mornings on the water, quick boating access, and fishing time that doesn’t require a long drive.
Family Friendly Private Campgrounds
Private campgrounds can be a real comfort boost, especially if your group wants a soft landing at night. Glacier Campground in West Glacier sits on about 40 wooded acres, roughly a mile from the park entrance. You’ll find shaded tent sites, a restaurant, and quick access to rafting and other activities nearby.
Fairmont RV Resort, near Anaconda, and Kootenai River Campground, near Troy, also welcome tents and add extra perks like pools, playgrounds, or river access. These spots work well when you want a comfortable base camp while still keeping the day wide open for hiking, paddling, or scenic drives.
How to Choose the Right Spot
The best campsite isn’t always the most famous one. It’s the one that matches your pace, your comfort level, and what you want your mornings and evenings to feel like.
Crowds vs. Solitude
Front country national park campgrounds like Apgar and Many Glacier put you right next to the action, and that’s why they fill quickly in summer.
You get prime access to trails and scenic areas, but you also get more people, more noise, and less breathing room between sites. Yellowstone’s bigger camp areas can feel the same way, especially in peak weeks.
If you’d rather hear wind in the trees than your neighbor’s cooler lid, aim for quieter options. National forest campgrounds, some state parks, and smaller private campgrounds like Kootenai River Campground tend to feel calmer. You may trade a bit of convenience, but you gain a more relaxed night and a slower morning.
Amenities vs. Rustic Feel
Private campgrounds near towns and park gateways often come with the comforts that make a trip easier. Hot showers, Wi-Fi, laundry, and on-site stores can be a lifesaver on longer stays, or when you’re camping with kids and want fewer moving parts.
Public campgrounds run by the park service or the forest service usually keep things simple. Expect basics like toilets, potable water, fire rings, and picnic tables, then plan to bring the rest.
That means you’ll want a solid sleep setup, a good food plan, and extra layers so you’re not caught off guard when temperatures drop.
Here’s a quick way to decide: if comfort keeps your group happy, lean private. If quiet and simplicity feel like the whole point, lean public.
Access to Activities
Think about what you plan to do during the day, then pick a campground that cuts down on driving. Glacier campgrounds set you up for scenic drives, boat tours, and major trailheads, which matters when you want early starts and long hikes without a long commute.
Yellowstone area campgrounds focus more on geysers, wildlife watching, and lake time. If you’re basing around West Yellowstone or Hebgen Lake, you’ll likely spend your days moving between thermal areas and animal viewing spots, then come back to camp for a quieter evening.
Western Montana and central areas give you a wider mix: lake swimming, paddling, fishing, and even caving at Lewis and Clark Caverns. Add in hot springs days between hikes, and you’ve got a plan that stays active without feeling nonstop.
Essential Montana Tent Camping Tips
Montana tent camping feels simple until the weather flips or a bear sign shows up near the dumpsters. A few smart habits keep your trip comfortable, safe, and a lot less stressful.
Season and Weather
Most higher-elevation campgrounds in Glacier and the Yellowstone area run roughly from mid May through September. Some places open earlier or stay open later with fewer services, and you’ll sometimes see lower fees in shoulder season.
Still, don’t let the calendar fool you. Nights can turn cold even in July and August, especially near water or higher up.
Pack like you expect a chilly night, not like you’re heading to a summer backyard sleepover. A three-season tent helps, a warm sleeping bag matters, and layers save the day when the sun drops behind the peaks.
A simple rule that works: if you feel warm in camp at sunset, you’ll probably feel cold two hours later.
Reservations and Regulations
The big-name campgrounds in Glacier, like Many Glacier, Fish Creek, and St. Mary, often run through recreation.gov, and prime summer dates can disappear months ahead. Some Yellowstone-area campgrounds work the same way in peak season. If you know your dates, reserve early and stop thinking about it.
Other campgrounds run first come, first serve. Two Medicine and smaller forest service campgrounds can fall into that category. This style is great for flexible travelers, but it rewards early arrivals and backup plans.
If you’re doing first-come camping, show up earlier than you think you need to, and keep a second option in mind in case your first pick is full.
Also, keep an eye on fire restrictions. Dry summers can bring tight rules, and you don’t want dinner to depend on a campfire that isn’t allowed.
Wildlife and Food Storage
Glacier and Yellowstone country are both grizzly and black bear areas, and the rules around food storage aren’t suggestions. Many campgrounds provide bear-proof lockers, while others require hard-sided storage for all food and scented items. Either way, your job is the same: keep smells out of reach and keep your campsite clean.
Store anything with a scent, not just food. That includes toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen, dish soap, and garbage. After meals, clean up right away, and don’t leave scraps or wrappers out while you “deal with it later.” Later is when animals wander through.
Follow posted rules closely. It keeps you safe, protects wildlife, and helps prevent fines or even campground closures when bears get habituated.
Conclusion
Montana has a tent campsite for every kind of camper, from easy lakeside nights to quiet spots that feel far from everything. If you’re aiming for Glacier or the Yellowstone gateways in summer, lock in your reservations early, then keep a little flexibility for public lands where plans can change fast.
Book what you need, stay open to small detours, and let the weather steer you a bit. The best campsite isn’t the one with the most amenities; it’s the one that changes your perspective.