USFSCuster Gallatin National Forest · Montana
Emerald Lake Campground
Emerald Lake is in the West Rosebud drainage and is nestled in the trees between Emerald Lake and West Rosebud Lake.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.6,342ft
Comf.May-Sep5 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Billings2h00real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
At 6,342 ft, Emerald Lake Campground has a 5-month comfortable window (May-Sep). Winter nights average around 18°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: 4 peaks, lake or river access.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.
When to go
02 · CLIMATE
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Nov
May-Sep
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
61%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
May 31
Last spring frost; first fall frost Sep 26.
53°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Billings
82 mi
2h00
02
Bozeman
142 mi
2h51
03
Helena
240 mi
4h39
04
Missoula
345 mi
6h08
By drive time
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Trail segments
11
Peaks
4
Viewpoints
1
Water & Access
Lake / river access
yes
Method
We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.