Where to Camp Near Billings Without Driving All Day

Montana locals have their favorite places to camp, and in this article, we won't be spilling any top-secret locations. This is for those who might be new to Billings, new to camping, or have out-of-town guests visiting the area looking for a place to pitch a tent or park a camper for a night or two relatively close to town.

If you're not much of an outdoors person, but your young-ish kids have been pestering you for a night under the stars (perhaps on an uncomfortable air mattress), with s'mores and ghost stories around a campfire, here are some easy-to-access camping spots that are about an hour or less from Billings.

Read More: Fun Father’s Day Weekend Ideas In and Around Billings

1. Cooney State Park ~45 Minutes

Cooney is a crowd favorite for good reason. Multiple campgrounds, boat ramps, decent fishing when it's not swarming with boats, and decent swimming spots make it an attractive option. Later in the summer, when the water level is low, this reservoir even has fairly sandy "beaches", mainly along the south shore.

Pro tip: go during the week. Cooney gets crowded on the water and in the campgrounds, especially on the weekend.

2. Emerald Lake (West Rosebud Drainage) ~60 Minutes

Cool mountain air, quiet nights, and starry skies make this an epic spot for campers who want to feel far from home. It might be tough to get a spot on busy weekends, so plan accordingly.

3. Dispersed Camping near Chief Plenty Coups State Park ~40 Minutes

Chief Plenty Coups itself doesn’t offer campgrounds, but nearby BLM and Forest Service lands do. So you can soak in history during the day, then set up camp under the stars just a few miles away.

4. Shepherd Ah Nei Recreation Area ~25 Minutes

Off-roaders can enjoy miles of OHV trails on over 1,000 acres here, with another 4,000 acres for hiking, camping, horseback riding, and exploring. The Bull Mountains offer a nice backdrop to the north.

5. Riverside Park in Laurel ~20 Minutes

This campground is not particularly quiet, with a refinery and power plant across the river and steady highway traffic on 212, but it is convenient and provides boat-ramp-on-the-water access to the Yellowstone River. It's one minute from I-90, and less than 5 minutes from Walmart and Albertsons, in case you forget any camping necessities.

Tent camping is $20 per night, and RV spots are $25 - $30 per night.

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6. Acton Recreation Area ~20 minutes

North of Billings, campers will discover a diverse landscape with primitive camping amenities. There are no RV hookups, but the area provides limitless opportunities for boondocking.

7. Itch-Kep-Pe Park ~45 minutes

Columbus is an easy drive from Billings, and Itch-Kep-Pe park is a convenient campground for tent and RV camping. Located at the confluence of the Stillwater River and the Yellowstone River, fishing is an obvious option, and this spot is a great basecamp for exploring the Absarokee area.

Pro tip: watch for deer (and other wildlife) on the roads, year-round.

Other options... ~time may vary

Many Fishing Access Sites (FAS) along the Yellowstone River/I-90 corridor allow overnight camping. Most are fairly rustic, with a vault toilet and that's about it. Bring water, bring firewood, ice, your fishing gear, whatever. Watch for open-flame/fire restrictions throughout the summer season.