Campgrounds and RV parks near Carlton, MT

Carlton is a small unincorporated community in the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula, tucked between the Bitterroot Range to the west and the Sapphire Mountains to the east. National forest land surrounds the area, and the Bitterroot River runs along the valley floor. Most RV travelers use Carlton as a quiet base for exploring Lolo National Forest, the Bitterroot corridor, and downtown Missoula, roughly a 20-minute drive north. RV options cluster along the US-93 and I-90 corridors. Yellowrock Campground sits along Lolo Creek and offers both RV and tent sites in a wooded setting. Closer to the city, Missoula KOA Holiday, Jim and Mary's RV Park, and Granite Peak RV Resort provide full-hookup sites with pull-throughs, laundry, and Wi-Fi. East of Missoula on I-90, Turah RV Park and Store serves travelers arriving from the Butte and Bozeman direction. Public-land camping is also plentiful. Lolo National Forest operates about 20 developed campgrounds within reach, ranging from creekside sites to mountaintop lookout rentals available on Recreation.gov.

Private RV parks in the Missoula area, including Missoula KOA Holiday, Granite Peak RV Resort, Jim and Mary's RV Park, and Turah RV Park and Store, take reservations directly through their websites or by phone. Summer weekends fill early, especially around the Fourth of July and university events, so booking eight to twelve weeks ahead is prudent. Yellowrock Campground also books direct. Lolo National Forest developed campgrounds use Recreation.gov, with a standard six-month rolling window for reservable sites. Some sites remain first-come, first-served. Montana State Parks reservations run through the state's ReserveAmerica portal, and out-of-state visitors can buy a Nonresident Entrance Pass valid for a year that also discounts nightly camping fees.