campgrounds.fyiIndependent · federal campgrounds · no paid placements
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USFSKootenai National Forest · Montana

Willow Creek Campground

The Willow Creek Campground is appoximately 19 miles northeast of Trout Creek on road 154.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.3,645ft
Comf.May-Oct6 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Missoula3h34real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 3,645 ft, Willow Creek Campground has a 6-month comfortable window (May-Oct). Winter nights average around 24°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
QuietCoolRoomyShadeRV-fitReserv.

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

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 · Jul
May-Oct
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
82%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
May 4
Last spring frost; first fall frost Oct 15.
59°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Missoula
132 mi
3h34
02
Helena
268 mi
5h28
03
Bozeman
334 mi
6h51
04
Billings
475 mi
9h12
By drive time
Missoula · 3h34Helena · 5h28Bozeman · 6h51Billings · 9h12Camp

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 10.8 mi away.

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Peaks
4

Water & Access

Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
10.8 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 →