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

Red Shale Campground

A campground on the Ashland Ranger District.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.3,150ft
Comf.May-Oct6 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Billings2h30real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 3,150 ft, Red Shale Campground has a 6-month comfortable window (May-Oct). Winter nights average around 18°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: 1 peak, 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 · Nov
May-Oct
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
88%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
May 1
Last spring frost; first fall frost Oct 5.
62°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Billings
130 mi
2h30
02
Bozeman
273 mi
4h54
03
Helena
370 mi
6h41
04
Missoula
476 mi
8h10
By drive time
Billings · 2h30Bozeman · 4h54Helena · 6h41Missoula · 8h10Camp

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 0.3 mi away.

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Peaks
1

Water & Access

Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
0.3 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 →