Montana's 147,000 square miles are varied. Most noted for its mountains along the backbone of the Northern Rockies, Montana also features grass-covered plains, deep canyons and rivers, broad river valleys and Badlands. Elevations span from 12,799 feet in the Beartooth Mountains to 1,800 feet on the Kootenai River. For trailer campers, the changes in elevation have special significance. You have to make sure the trailer is not carrying too much weight for the tow vehicle, and that the tow vehicle has power enough to both pull and stop the trailer.
Montana has strict rules of the road for trailer camping. Height limit is 14 feet, width limit is 8.5 feet and the combination of trailer and towing vehicle cannot exceed 65 feet in length. If the trailer unloaded weighs 3,000 pounds or more, you must have trailer brakes. A breakaway switch is required. You must have flares or reflective signs aboard. Tire chains can be required any time and anywhere in Montana. If chains are required in mountain passes a chain-up sign will be posted.
In Montana, regulations allow passengers to ride in a fifth-wheel trailer but never in a travel trailer.
To protect the habitat, trailers must camp at least 25 feet from any river, stream or fishing access site.
Overnight parking is permitted only in those state rest areas where permission signs are posted.
America's first National Park, Yellowstone National Park, is accessed through Montana. There are a number of private RV parks outside the most used Montana entrances at Gardiner and West Yellowstone. All trailer camping locations inside Yellowstone National Park are very popular and reservations well in advance are recommended.
Campgrounds inside Yellowstone National Park are operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts. These campgrounds have varying seasonal open and close dates, are at varying elevations, have differing reservation policies, site length and width limits, prices, and facilities such as fresh water, restrooms, phone, firewood and sanitary dump stations. What Xanterra operated campgrounds share in common (except for Fishing Bridge RV Park) is a maximum 14 day stay limit. For information, contact Xanterra's Yellowstone Reservation Center: 866-439-7375 or 307-344-7311.
Inside Yellowstone National Park, there is an RV park with water and sewer hookup at each site. It is centrally located at Fishing Bridge near Yellowstone Lake. While there are no picnic tables, fire grates or electricity available, the complex does have a coin laundry, showers for a fee, a store and a sanitary dump station.
Fishing Bridge RV Park
Elevation 8,000 feet
Open May 15 to September 27
Hard-sided units only (no tent trailers because of bear activity)
Maximum length 40 feet
Sites: about 250
For reservation information, phone 307-344-7311
Glacier National Park's 1.4 million acres represent one of the largest and most intact ecosystems in North America. One of Glacier's most popular attractions for visitors is the 50 mile east-west Going-to-the-Sun Road that bisects the park and crosses the Continental Divide. If you want to travel it consider camping in a private campground outside the park, since the park has specific vehicle-size restrictions to keep traffic flowing and visitors and their vehicles safe. You cannot drive certain sections of the Going-to-the-Sun Road if your vehicle or vehicle combination is longer than 21 feet including bumpers, and wider than 8 feet including mirrors. Rock overhangs limit vehicle height to 10 feet. A safe and convenient approach is to either drive your tow vehicle over Going-to-the-Sun provided it meets the size requirements, or take one of the available tour buses or shuttles.
One of the private campgrounds close to Glacier National Park is Johnson's of St. Mary RV Park:
Elevation 4,550 feet
Open May 1 to October 15
Sites: 83 RV sites: 51 gravel, 32 grass, some shaded; 61 pull-throughs are 20 by 65 feet, back-in sites are 15 by 70 feet
Electricity: 20/30 amps
For reservation information: 406-732-4207
