3.9418 reviews
Price
$5 - $20/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
17 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
$5 - $20/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
17 campsites
Season
Open seasonally from...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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Colter Campground, Custer Gallatin National Forest, Gardiner Ranger District, Montana
RV campers who want a quiet, clean base for Yellowstone and the Beartooth Scenic Byway. Spur sites (ask the host about Site 18) give shade and real privacy; loop sites trade that for open peak views. At $20 a night with potable water, bear lockers, and accessible vault toilets, i
Tent campers can't stay here at all, full stop. No dump station, no showers, no card payments, so bring cash or a check. Rigs over 48 feet will have trouble on the access road, and large motorhomes can struggle exiting the loop.
Reference information about Colter Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>THIS CAMPGROUND IS HARD SIDED VEHICLES ONLY - NO TENT CAMPING.</p><p>Open July 1 - September 7, weather dependent.</p><p>A campground in Beartooth Country on the Gardiner District.</p><p><br clear="all" /> </p><p><b>Maps:</b> <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5200430.pdf">Colter Campground Map</a></p><p><b>Camp sites:</b> 18</p>
The elevation is 7,560 ft. NOTE: (1) The Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone National Park is 5.5 miles west of campground. (2) Only hard-sided RVs are permitted - no tents The campground is located off and above the 68-mile Beartooth Scenic Byway (US Rt. 212), affording a spectacular view of high snowcapped mountains. It has two unnamed sections, a spur and a loop. The loop winds around a hilltop and sites in this section have outstanding views of the surrounding mountains but little shade. The spur section stretches around a large grass and wildflower meadow with campsites tucked in tall Lodgepole pines and Englemann spruce. Although these campsites do not have the 360 degree views, they do enjoy ample shade and privacy that a couple might consider them to be "Honeymoon sites." Separation between campsites provides good to excellent privacy throughot campground. Possible daytrips are Yellowstone National Park and Beartooth and Chief Joesph Scenic Highways. These two scenic byways have some of the most beautiful mountain views in the country. Cooke City is nearby for a cooks- night-out. This is bear country; practice safe food storage techniques. A food storage order is in effect from March 1 through December 1; check fee board for details. Bear proof food storage boxes for the campers to stow food stuff are located at each campsite.
Open July 1 through September 7 - weather dependent
The parking aprons are gravel. There are waste stations available for a fee in back of the Chamber of Commerce in Red Lodge, MT and at Painter Outpost, 4 Van Dyke Rd. Cody, WY. A threaded RV water fill-up spigot is located between campsites 16 and 17. Note: Exiting the loop may be a challenge for large motorhomes. Gallatin National Forest 201
From Cooke City, MT, take US Rt. 212 east 1.5 miles to campground sign. Turn left at sign into campground.
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Summer brings mild days in the mid-50s to mid-60s with nights dropping into the 20s and 30s. Trails and the Beartooth Byway are fully accessible, wildflowers peak in July and August, and you'll spot elk, moose, and mountain goats in the high country. Crowds stay moderate except holiday weekends. Winter dumps heavy snow and closes access entirely. Mosquitoes can be thick during peak summer.
Open July 1–Sept; mild days, wildflower peak and full access to scenic byway; peak season.
THIS CAMPGROUND IS HARD SIDED VEHICLES ONLY - NO TENT CAMPING. Access road not suitable for vehicles longer than 48'
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