campgrounds.fyiIndependent · federal campgrounds · no paid placements
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USFSCuster Gallatin National Forest · Montana

Palisades Campground

Palisades Campground is a free campground, located at the end of Palisades Road #2010 near Red Lodge, just below Red Lodge Mountain Ski Resort and the palisades geological formation.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.6,339ft
Comf.Jun-Sep4 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Billings1h34real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 6,339 ft, Palisades Campground has a 4-month comfortable window (Jun-Sep). Winter nights average around 15°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: 13 peaks, lake or river access.

The campground at a glance

01 · CHARACTER
QuietCoolRoomyShadeRV-fitReserv.

Reads strongest on cool nights and quiet. Softest on quiet.

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
JFMAMJJASOND
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Aug
Jun-Sep
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
73%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Jun 2
Last spring frost; first fall frost Sep 22.
51°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Billings
64 mi
1h34
02
Bozeman
153 mi
2h52
03
Helena
251 mi
4h40
04
Missoula
356 mi
6h09
By drive time
Billings · 1h34Bozeman · 2h52Helena · 4h40Missoula · 6h09Camp

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 2.8 mi away.

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Trail segments
345
Peaks
13
Viewpoints
1

Water & Access

Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
2.8 mi
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.

Check availability on Recreation.gov →