RV Parks In Red Lodge, Montana

For hookups, the Red Lodge KOA Holiday north of town is the standout, with full 30 and 50 amp sites, pull-throughs, and a pool, while Perry's RV Park & Campground offers creekside sites along Rock Creek closer to the Beartooth. For public-land camping, the Custer Gallatin National Forest runs a string of no-hookup campgrounds up Rock Creek and the Beartooth Highway, including Parkside, Basin, and the lakeside Beartooth Lake Campground. Between these you can choose full services and convenience in town or scenic, rustic forest sites along blue-ribbon trout water just minutes away.

The private parks do. The Red Lodge KOA offers full hookups with water, sewer, and 30 or 50 amp electric on pull-through sites that handle big rigs, and Perry's RV Park provides hookup options along Rock Creek. The Custer Gallatin National Forest campgrounds up Rock Creek and the Beartooth Highway, however, have no hookups; they offer drinking water and vault toilets but no electric or sewer at the sites. If you need to plug in and fill up, stay at one of the private parks; if you are set up for dry camping, the forest sites open up far more scenic, affordable options.

Costs depend on the service level. The private hookup parks, led by the Red Lodge KOA, generally run about $50 to $70 a night in peak summer for a full-hookup pull-through. Creekside private sites vary with hookups. Public-land camping is much cheaper: the Custer Gallatin National Forest campgrounds along Rock Creek typically cost about $20 to $26 a night without hookups, and dispersed forest camping is free for self-contained rigs. Many RVers mix a couple of full-service KOA nights with cheaper forest nights. Shoulder-season rates in late spring and fall run lower than the July and August peak.

For summer, book well ahead. The Custer Gallatin National Forest campgrounds along Rock Creek release on recreation.gov and fill quickly for July and August weekends, so reserve as soon as your window opens. The Red Lodge KOA also books out its hookup sites in peak season. Watch the calendar for the Beartooth Rally in July, which packs the town and campgrounds with motorcyclists. Some forest sites remain first-come, and dispersed camping on national forest land is the dependable backup, but for a guaranteed spot in summer, reserve weeks to months in advance.

Late June through September is the prime window, when the Beartooth Highway is open, the campgrounds are running, and Yellowstone's northeast corner is in easy reach. Summer days are warm and pleasant, though nights stay cool at elevation and the high country can be cold. Fall is a favorite for many, with golden color, crisp air, and thinner crowds, though campgrounds and the highway begin closing in October. Spring is unpredictable with lingering snow and the pass usually opening by Memorial Day, and winter shuts most camping while the ski area runs.

Big rigs are fine in town, but the highway is another matter. The Red Lodge KOA handles full-size motorhomes and fifth wheels with pull-through full-hookup sites. The Beartooth Highway, however, climbs through steep, tight switchbacks to nearly 11,000 feet, which is genuinely difficult and stressful for a 40-foot rig. Most experienced RVers base the big rig in town or at a lower Rock Creek campground and drive the pass in a tow vehicle. Smaller, nimble rigs manage the highway in good weather, but always check conditions, since snow and closures happen even in summer.

Yes, for the park's northeast corner. From Red Lodge you can reach Yellowstone's northeast entrance and the wildlife-rich Lamar Valley via the Beartooth Highway to Cooke City or the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, both spectacular drives of roughly 65 miles. That makes Red Lodge ideal for travelers focused on the Lamar Valley and the park's quieter side. Keep in mind the famous geyser basins and Old Faithful are much farther across the park, so plan long days or split your trip. The drive itself, over the Beartooth, is a highlight as much as a commute.

Yes, and they are a big part of the appeal. The Custer Gallatin National Forest runs a string of campgrounds up Rock Creek and along the Beartooth Highway south of town, including Parkside about 12 miles out, Basin on the West Fork of Rock Creek around 7 miles from town, and the lakeside Beartooth Lake Campground roughly 31 miles up the highway. They offer drinking water and vault toilets but no hookups, with creekside and lakeside settings, fishing, and quick trail access. Most book on recreation.gov, though some sites remain first-come, and the scenery is hard to beat.

Excellent fishing, yes. Rock Creek runs right through and south of town and is considered blue-ribbon trout water, with many of the Custer Gallatin forest campgrounds sitting directly on its banks. You can fish steps from your site at places like Basin and Parkside, and Beartooth Lake high on the highway offers lakeside fishing with a boat ramp. Bring a Montana fishing license and check current regulations, which can include special rules on certain stretches. For anglers, basing at a creekside campground is one of the real joys of an RV trip to Red Lodge.

Most are not. The private RV parks and the Custer Gallatin forest campgrounds operate seasonally, generally from late spring through early fall, and close once snow sets in. The Beartooth Highway is closed in winter, and the town shifts to a ski-season rhythm around Red Lodge Mountain. If you visit in the cold months you will find camping options very limited and the high country inaccessible. For an RV trip, plan your visit between late June and September when the campgrounds are open, the highway is clear, and the weather is most cooperative.

Plenty beyond the famous drive. Rock Creek offers blue-ribbon trout fishing right in and south of town. Red Lodge Mountain provides skiing in winter and golf and hiking in summer. The historic downtown is walkable and full of shops, brewpubs, and good food, and the Beartooth Nature Center is a fun family stop. Hiking and dispersed camping fill the surrounding Custer Gallatin National Forest, and Yellowstone's Lamar Valley is a doable day trip. Between the river, the mountains, the town, and the park, Red Lodge easily justifies several nights rather than a quick pass-through.

Yes. The Custer Gallatin National Forest surrounding Red Lodge offers dispersed camping on forest roads, which is free for self-contained RVers willing to go without hookups, water, or toilets. You will find options south and west of town once you get onto forest land. As always with dispersed camping, you need to be fully self-sufficient, pack out everything, camp on durable surfaces, and follow fire restrictions, which are often strict in the dry months. Dispersed camping is a reliable backup when the developed campgrounds fill on summer weekends, and the solitude and scenery are a draw in their own right.

The private parks are your full-service option. The Red Lodge KOA and Perry's RV Park offer hookups and on-site dumping, and several of the Custer Gallatin forest campgrounds provide drinking water even though they lack sewer hookups. If you are dry camping at a forest site or boondocking, fill fresh water before you head out and plan your dump stops accordingly, since services thin out south of town and up the Beartooth. For a full rundown of dump-station locations in the area, see our companion RV dump stations guide for Red Lodge, which covers the utility side of a visit.

For hookups, the Red Lodge KOA Holiday north of town is the standout, with full 30 and 50 amp sites, pull-throughs, and a pool, while Perry's RV Park & Campground offers creekside sites along Rock Creek closer to the Beartooth. For public-land camping, the Custer Gallatin National Forest runs a string of no-hookup campgrounds up Rock Creek and the Beartooth Highway, including Parkside, Basin, and the lakeside Beartooth Lake Campground. Between these you can choose full services and convenience in town or scenic, rustic forest sites along blue-ribbon trout water just minutes away.

The private parks do. The Red Lodge KOA offers full hookups with water, sewer, and 30 or 50 amp electric on pull-through sites that handle big rigs, and Perry's RV Park provides hookup options along Rock Creek. The Custer Gallatin National Forest campgrounds up Rock Creek and the Beartooth Highway, however, have no hookups; they offer drinking water and vault toilets but no electric or sewer at the sites. If you need to plug in and fill up, stay at one of the private parks; if you are set up for dry camping, the forest sites open up far more scenic, affordable options.

Costs depend on the service level. The private hookup parks, led by the Red Lodge KOA, generally run about $50 to $70 a night in peak summer for a full-hookup pull-through. Creekside private sites vary with hookups. Public-land camping is much cheaper: the Custer Gallatin National Forest campgrounds along Rock Creek typically cost about $20 to $26 a night without hookups, and dispersed forest camping is free for self-contained rigs. Many RVers mix a couple of full-service KOA nights with cheaper forest nights. Shoulder-season rates in late spring and fall run lower than the July and August peak.

For summer, book well ahead. The Custer Gallatin National Forest campgrounds along Rock Creek release on recreation.gov and fill quickly for July and August weekends, so reserve as soon as your window opens. The Red Lodge KOA also books out its hookup sites in peak season. Watch the calendar for the Beartooth Rally in July, which packs the town and campgrounds with motorcyclists. Some forest sites remain first-come, and dispersed camping on national forest land is the dependable backup, but for a guaranteed spot in summer, reserve weeks to months in advance.

Late June through September is the prime window, when the Beartooth Highway is open, the campgrounds are running, and Yellowstone's northeast corner is in easy reach. Summer days are warm and pleasant, though nights stay cool at elevation and the high country can be cold. Fall is a favorite for many, with golden color, crisp air, and thinner crowds, though campgrounds and the highway begin closing in October. Spring is unpredictable with lingering snow and the pass usually opening by Memorial Day, and winter shuts most camping while the ski area runs.

Big rigs are fine in town, but the highway is another matter. The Red Lodge KOA handles full-size motorhomes and fifth wheels with pull-through full-hookup sites. The Beartooth Highway, however, climbs through steep, tight switchbacks to nearly 11,000 feet, which is genuinely difficult and stressful for a 40-foot rig. Most experienced RVers base the big rig in town or at a lower Rock Creek campground and drive the pass in a tow vehicle. Smaller, nimble rigs manage the highway in good weather, but always check conditions, since snow and closures happen even in summer.

Yes, for the park's northeast corner. From Red Lodge you can reach Yellowstone's northeast entrance and the wildlife-rich Lamar Valley via the Beartooth Highway to Cooke City or the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, both spectacular drives of roughly 65 miles. That makes Red Lodge ideal for travelers focused on the Lamar Valley and the park's quieter side. Keep in mind the famous geyser basins and Old Faithful are much farther across the park, so plan long days or split your trip. The drive itself, over the Beartooth, is a highlight as much as a commute.

Yes, and they are a big part of the appeal. The Custer Gallatin National Forest runs a string of campgrounds up Rock Creek and along the Beartooth Highway south of town, including Parkside about 12 miles out, Basin on the West Fork of Rock Creek around 7 miles from town, and the lakeside Beartooth Lake Campground roughly 31 miles up the highway. They offer drinking water and vault toilets but no hookups, with creekside and lakeside settings, fishing, and quick trail access. Most book on recreation.gov, though some sites remain first-come, and the scenery is hard to beat.

Excellent fishing, yes. Rock Creek runs right through and south of town and is considered blue-ribbon trout water, with many of the Custer Gallatin forest campgrounds sitting directly on its banks. You can fish steps from your site at places like Basin and Parkside, and Beartooth Lake high on the highway offers lakeside fishing with a boat ramp. Bring a Montana fishing license and check current regulations, which can include special rules on certain stretches. For anglers, basing at a creekside campground is one of the real joys of an RV trip to Red Lodge.

Most are not. The private RV parks and the Custer Gallatin forest campgrounds operate seasonally, generally from late spring through early fall, and close once snow sets in. The Beartooth Highway is closed in winter, and the town shifts to a ski-season rhythm around Red Lodge Mountain. If you visit in the cold months you will find camping options very limited and the high country inaccessible. For an RV trip, plan your visit between late June and September when the campgrounds are open, the highway is clear, and the weather is most cooperative.

Plenty beyond the famous drive. Rock Creek offers blue-ribbon trout fishing right in and south of town. Red Lodge Mountain provides skiing in winter and golf and hiking in summer. The historic downtown is walkable and full of shops, brewpubs, and good food, and the Beartooth Nature Center is a fun family stop. Hiking and dispersed camping fill the surrounding Custer Gallatin National Forest, and Yellowstone's Lamar Valley is a doable day trip. Between the river, the mountains, the town, and the park, Red Lodge easily justifies several nights rather than a quick pass-through.

Yes. The Custer Gallatin National Forest surrounding Red Lodge offers dispersed camping on forest roads, which is free for self-contained RVers willing to go without hookups, water, or toilets. You will find options south and west of town once you get onto forest land. As always with dispersed camping, you need to be fully self-sufficient, pack out everything, camp on durable surfaces, and follow fire restrictions, which are often strict in the dry months. Dispersed camping is a reliable backup when the developed campgrounds fill on summer weekends, and the solitude and scenery are a draw in their own right.

The private parks are your full-service option. The Red Lodge KOA and Perry's RV Park offer hookups and on-site dumping, and several of the Custer Gallatin forest campgrounds provide drinking water even though they lack sewer hookups. If you are dry camping at a forest site or boondocking, fill fresh water before you head out and plan your dump stops accordingly, since services thin out south of town and up the Beartooth. For a full rundown of dump-station locations in the area, see our companion RV dump stations guide for Red Lodge, which covers the utility side of a visit.

Yes — there are free RV waste disposal options available near Red Lodge.