USFSCuster Gallatin National Forest · Montana
Soda Butte Campground
THIS CAMPGROUND IS HARD SIDED CAMPING ONLY Open late June - Labor Day, weather dependent.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.7,858ft
Comf.Jun-Sep4 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Bozeman3h16real 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 7,858 ft, Soda Butte Campground has a 4-month comfortable window (Jun-Sep). Winter nights average around 10°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: 10 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 · Jul
Jun-Sep
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
78%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Jun 23
Last spring frost; first fall frost Sep 15.
45°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Bozeman
135 mi
3h16
02
Billings
124 mi
3h21
03
Helena
232 mi
5h04
04
Missoula
338 mi
6h32
By drive time
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Trail segments
33
Peaks
10
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.