Campgrounds and RV parks near Joliet, MT

Water recreation drives most trips. Cooney Reservoir supports walleye and rainbow trout fishing, boating, water-skiing, and swimming, with three boat ramps and a fish cleaning station at the Red Lodge Arm. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks manages the reservoir and its fishery. Drives and hikes fill the rest of the itinerary. The Beartooth Highway begins near Red Lodge and climbs a 69-mile National Scenic Byway past alpine lakes toward the northeast entrance of Yellowstone, cresting near 11,000 feet at Beartooth Pass. Rock Creek offers fly fishing steps from Red Lodge KOA Journey, and downtown Red Lodge adds historic mining-era streets, breweries, and family events. Winter visitors ice fish and cross-country ski at Cooney and downhill ski at Red Lodge Mountain.

Peak RV season runs from late May through late September, when Cooney State Park operates its full suite of amenities including drinking water, flush toilets, and metered showers, available from May 15 to September 27. July and August are the busiest weeks, and shoreline sites at Cooney fill quickly on weekends. Shoulder months bring trade-offs. Late spring can still see snow on Beartooth Pass, which usually opens by late May and closes with the first heavy snowfall in the fall. Autumn delivers cooler nights, thinner crowds, and reliable fishing, but water systems at state park campgrounds are shut off once freezing sets in. Winter is quiet. Cooney State Park stays open year-round for ice fishing and cross-country skiing, and electricity in the campgrounds remains on, but water is shut off during the winter months and access roads can drift with snow. Red Lodge remains active thanks to the ski resort, though most private RV parks in the area close for the season.

Elevation and open terrain shape the experience. Cooney sits at 4,252 feet in a largely treeless landscape with limited natural shade, so awnings and sun protection matter. Interior roads within the park include gravel sections, and shoreline sites can feel exposed on windy afternoons. Hookups vary by campground. Cooney has 19 electric sites and no sewer hookups, and a dump station is available on site. Red Lodge KOA Journey offers full hookups and pull-through options for larger rigs. Cell coverage is generally reliable near Red Lodge and along U.S. 212 but can drop on side roads. Expect wildlife, cool nights even in summer, and afternoon thunderstorms in June. Pack layers, secure food, and check road conditions before winter travel.