The best camping near Chief Plenty Coups State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Chief Plenty Coups State Park adventure.

Visit the historic home of a visionary Crow chief who bridged the gap between war and peace.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Chief Plenty Coups State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near Chief Plenty Coups State Park

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Big Sky Vistas

10 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Columbus, MT

Peaceful and quiet surrounded by lots of wildflowers, wildlife, and the pleasant aroma of sagebrush. Parking area is reasonably flat. Remote subdivision on 4500-foot ridge, 10 miles from Columbus exit 408, off of Interstate 90. Your camping spot is near the road for easy access, but the road is private and dead-ends just beyond my property, so traffic is very minimal. I aim to treat all my guests as if you were a long-time friend. I try to be your personal concierge, so anything you need or want to know, just ask.

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(175)

Trees, Lake view, Rock buttes!

14 sites · RVs, Tents1000 acres · Lockwood, MT

4 miles from Billings. 1000 acres. We try to keep things as natural as possible except we do mow the common area in the trees. For security reasons, we will meet you at the gates and escort you to your camping spot upon 1st arrival. Fire wood available for sale $10 - needs to be discussed before hand. Camping available on the butte for viewing of northern lights. Lots of room to explore. Long term camping is available. 1 porta-potty on site. There is 1 mile of dirt road after leaving the pavement. We are 6 miles from Walmart. This is a working cattle ranch and the cows come through time to time. The listing computer keeps putting us in LOCKWOOD but we are actually 3 miles north of Billings. Last minute bookings are fine, if we are around -we will let you stay. We live 1 mile from the camp site and 2 miles from the gates where we will meet you. If you are looking for a RV park or campground - this is not it. We have cows, birds, wild animals and dirt roads. There is no power but we could hook you up to a generator if needed. There is a new camper on site that may be rented ( owned by a different party) message us for details. The morning of you arrival, please send an ETA so we know how to plan our day, then give us a 30 minute heads up before arrival so we can meet you at the gates. Sometimes we also are 30 minutes away. A lot of the time you may be the only campers out here.

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(3)

Chance, Montana

1 site · RV, Tent12 acres · Belfry, MT

10 miles south of Belfry. Right on the Clark's Fork River. On the Meeteetse trail. Beartoith mtns out front. You can go fishing, take 4 wheelers across Meeteetse trail to Red Lodge. Enjoy the peaceful Ness of just being in the country. Quiet we are 37 miles to Cody wyoming, 25 miles to Red Lodge both have entrances to the Yellowstone park.

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Pheasant's Hideaway

2 sites · RVs, Tents2 acres · Billings, MT

Come enjoy a quiet night on 2 acres just outside of the busy city of Billings. It feels like country living but is just minutes to downtown shopping and everything else the city has to offer. Located with easy access to the I-90. Stop to rest your eyes or stay a while and enjoy the big city life and rich history of this part of Montana. We have a fire ring for those chilly evenings. 15, 30 and 50 amp electric hookups with Sewer and potable water connections at your site. Most mornings can be greated by pheasants, deer and rabbits. On the lucky occasion one might see an owl. DanWalt gardens just two houses down the road is the best way to enjoy your cup of coffee in the morning.

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Tucker Ranch with amazing views

11 sites · RVs23 acres · Red Lodge, MT

It is a peaceful, quiet 23 acres but located only minutes from downtown Red Lodge. This can be your base camp to explore beartooth pass and Yellowstone National Park....but back at camp you have mountain views and bubbling creeks right by your campsite. We do have cell phone service, as well, which can be tricky to find while dispersed camping in the area. Hiking, biking, fishing are all quick access.

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Nature Resort on the Bighorn River

33 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents17 acres · Fort Smith, MT

Cottonwood Camp is nestled under towering cottonwood trees on 17 historical acres, overlooking 3 Mile Access on the legendary Bighorn River. These hallowed grounds are surrounded by 300 wildlife filled acres of Bighorn Canyon National Rec' Area land. Excellent boating, water sports, and additional fishing opportunities are a short 15 minute drive away at Bighorn Canyon Lake. Our 14 cabins all have a personality of their own with occupancy capacity ranging from 2 all the way up to 18! All feature a fully equipped kitchen + outdoor social space w/ bbq grill. In addition we have FHU & W/E RV sites and plenty of pitch tent sites that have use of our two bathhouses. Guests are greeted in our full service fly shop that can get you hooked up on a guided trip, shuttle, or drift boat rental. Whether you want an action packed day on the Bighorn, a relaxing day on the Lake or just wanna escape your day to day to hear the sights & sounds of Big Sky Country, you can't go wrong with Cottonwood Camp!

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Creekside Camp at Prairie Skies

5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents22 acres · Billings, MT

Learn more about this land:Close to many amenities in Billings but far enough away to feel secluded. Must check in with owner. Generators are okay but MUST be elevated. 15 min to downtown Billings.

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(4)

Bear Trap Ranch

13 sites · RVs130 acres · Belfry, MT

High prairie, with incredible views of the Beartooth Mountains. We boarder a hundred square miles of the BLM, (public access lands) We have a stocked pond, where you can set your tent up. There are two bathhouses available for our campers. We have tipis that are available to rent, nightly, weekly, or monthly. Full service hook ups for trailers and RVs. A large fire pit sits in the middle of a lovely green space. We are 2 miles off the main road. There is a stocked pond too!

Kroney Island

4 sites · RVs, Tents6 acres · Columbus, MT

Property is on the Yellowstone river, with private fire pit. You can fish kayak and raft right to campsite. There are two fishing access to launch your kayak or raft nearby. . Walking distance to restaurants and brewery . Electricity, potable water available and a porta potty are available on site.

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(2)

Beartooth Mountain Retreat

4 sites · RVs, Tents21 acres · Belfry, MT

21.5 acres directly at the base of the Beartooth Mountains! Embark on unbeatable adventures with amazing views on multiple off road trails perfect for horses, or your sxs!!! Float the Clarksfork of the Yellowstone and connect with your inner fisherman with the river being just 10 minutes away. Only 1 hour from Cody Wyo, and from Billings Montana. Minutes from Red Lodge!

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(55)

Lance and Vivian's North Field

2 sites · RVs4 acres · Billings, MT

We own 4 acres here and operate a Custom cabinet shop on the property.We also live on the property and host an Airbnb out of the bonus room above our Garage.We welcome the idea of having travelers from all over the country stopping by on there way to where ever they may be traveling.Thanks for considering our North field!Learn more about this land:Billings is called the Gateway city to Yellowstone park and the North western Rockies.We have a perfect spot for a quick overnight stay as you head through Montana, right off I90.Easy access for the big campers and a clean flat spot if you are just needing a spot for your tent.You will be able to pull-through as this field is 1 Acre in size.We are close to Downtown and the 5 breweries in that area, along with multiple restaurants.

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Camp at the Rafter JB

1 site · RV8 acres · Lovell, WY

We have been blessed with this beautiful property and want to share it with others. We have been operating an Airbnb out of the old barn for 3 years now. The barn was the old feed store in Cody and was moved to this property. Buffalo Bill supposedly bought feed from the store. Lovell is known as the Rose Capitol of Wyoming with the climate being perfect for growing roses. The Pryor Mountain Wild Mustangs are just minutes from our place and we almost always see them out there. Cody, only 50 to the west is a town loaded with history of the old west and features Cody Nite Rodeo every night of the summer from June 1 through August 30 as well as numerous museums and other attractions. Buffalo Bill Museum of the West will keep you busy for a couple of days if you are a museum buff. Just about everyday in the summer, you are likely to see a gunfight on the street in front of the historic Irma Hotel. There is also Old Trail Town, a recreated old west town. Further to the west just 90 miles from here is the East gate of Yellowstone open from the end of May until first of November. Thermopolis with their giant hot springs is just about 100 miles to the south of us. The Bighorn National Recreation is just minutes from Lovell featuring the 3rd Largest Canyon in the United States with breathtaking views of the Reservoir from Devil's Overlook. Further to the east are the Bighorn Mountains where you can frequently see moose, elk, deer and other wildlife. Learn more about this land: Traveling in your RV but don't want a traditional "trailer park"? At the Rafter JB you will be the only trailer here, you will enjoy a large landscaped outdoor space which is shared with an Airbnb rental, but there is plenty of room for privacy. You will be away from the main road and can enjoy the pond, fire pit, bbq grill as well as the resident horses.

The best camping near Chief Plenty Coups State Park guide

Overview

About

Take a step back in time to see where a great chief settled after living as a nomad, warrior, and peace negotiator for the Crow people. Under an hour south of Billings sits a tranquil farm where Chief Plenty Coups once settled after leading a nomadic life on the plains. He became a traditional Crow Chief in his late 20s and lived through times of war but also led his people into peace times from his farm. The day-use state park named after him is made up of 195 acres of the farm that he willed to his wife, Strikes the Iron, with the intent of developing a park. Now, the log cabin remains intact for visitors, and the farm offers access to a sacred spring and picnic sites. A unique combination of cultural displays and outdoor recreation make Chief Plenty Coups State Park a wonderful place to visit, although no overnight camping is allowed.

Notable campgrounds

Chief Plenty Coups State Park is open for day-use only with no overnight camping, but you can find camping options nearby.

Best for anglers: Nature Resort on the Bighorn River offers access to world-class trout fishing and a vibrant recreation area.
Best for small groups: Silo and Bloom Flower Farm is close to Plenty Coups State Park and offers privacy and riverfront access for RVs and tents.
Best for RVs: Cowtown Ranch offers RV and tent sites on a 110-acre ranch near the Pryor Mountains and the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

When to go

The park is open daily from 8am to 8pm from mid-May to mid-September. Hours are reduced during winter with closures on Monday and Tuesday. Near Yellowstone National Park and the Bighorn National Recreation Area, the park is ideal for summer visitors passing through. Being somewhat removed from any major populous, visitors can reasonably expect mild crowds and plenty of space throughout the busy season.

Know before you go

Montana State Parks require entrance fees per vehicle or per visitor without a vehicle. Annual passes are available.
Chief Plenty Coups State Park is ADA accessible with toilets and a picnic shelter.
Pets are allowed in this park without a stated leash requirement.
The visitor center is a must-visit to learn about Chief Plenty Coups and the history of the park and region.