Jo Bonner Campground
Jo Bonner Campground is located at the Northeastern end of Canyon Ferry Reservoir; 30 miles east of Helena, Montana and offers year-round access to a wide range of recreational opportunities. Jo Bonner Campground is named for Josephine Agnes Martin Bonner (1907-1965) by Montana's Governor John Bonner (1902-1970). Today, Jo Bonner Campground is a small quaint campground that offers easy access.
More like this: reservable in Montana · big rigs in Montana · pets allowed in Montana
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 17 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 100 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
17 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 70 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 002 | 100 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |||
| 003 | 20 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 004 | 32 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 005 | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 006 | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 007 | 47 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 008 | 57 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 009 | 57 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 010 | 100 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 05:00 PM, checkout 04:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 100 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | We only charge fees during "Peak Seasons" the 1st weekend of May through the second weekend of September. |
| Accessibility | Site 012 is listed accessible |
Jo Bonner Campground has 17 designated campsites. Each campsite has a picnic table and a fire rings. During the recreation season facilities at Jo Bonner campground include two vault toilets, potable water, trash dumpster, and a campground host. There is a gravel boat launch with a courtesty dock located just outside of the campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Heading north along MT Highway 12/287 from Townsend, MT, turn right onto Spokane Creek Road. Follow Spokane Creek Road for 4.6 miles and turn right onto County Road 430/Canyon Ferry Road and continue 7.9 miles. Turn right on to East Shore Drive and continue straight.3 miles to Jo Bonner Campground.
| Nearest town | Helena, Montana |
| Coordinates | 46.6446° N, 111.6836° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedBear Gulch Rx
20 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedWakina Sky Rx
20 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedSure Thing Swamp Rx
33 mi from the campground · 180 acres
- PrescribedHogum Creek Road Piles Rx
45 mi from the campground · 5 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 9.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | D & D RV Center ↗ | 15.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sierra ↗ | 15.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Jo Bonner Campground on Canyon Ferry Reservoir is located halfway between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park along with the capital city of Helena, Montana.
- 5.3 miNever Sweat Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 7.2 miClark's Bay Day Use Site ↗Day use
- 14.2 miMissouri River Fishing Access Site ↗Fishing site
Trails nearby
- 1.5 miCave Ridge ↗9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
- 1.6 miFrontage Trail4.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.4 miHoliday1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
- 2.4 miLittle Hellgate ↗6.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest begins about 10.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 10.4 miHelena-Lewis and Clark National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,177,729 acres
- 13.1 miGates of the Mountains Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 28,460 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Spokane Hill Airway BeaconStructure · Winston · 7.2 mi
- W. C. Child RanchBuilding · East Helena · 12.1 mi
- Montana Aeronautics Commission Operations Historic DistrictBuilding · Helena · 15 mi
Natural features
Jo Bonner Campground is located at northern end of Canyon Ferry Reservoir between the Big Belt and Elkhorns mountain ranges.
Recreation
Canyon Ferry Reservoir offers a wide range of year-round recreational opportunities. Water related activities include everything from swimming and fishing to sailing and motor-boating. Canoeists and kayakers explore the many quiet backwater bays. Jet skiers, windsurfers and water skiers skim the summer waves, while winter draws ice fishermen, ice boaters and ice skaters.
Guidebooks for Montana
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Jo Bonner Campground?
Sites at Jo Bonner Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Jo Bonner Campground?
We only charge fees during "Peak Seasons" the 1st weekend of May through the second weekend of September.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Jo Bonner Campground?
Check-in 05:00 PM, checkout 04:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Jo Bonner Campground have?
17 sites, including 17 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Jo Bonner Campground?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Jo Bonner Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Jo Bonner Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Jo Bonner Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Jo Bonner Campground?
Site 012 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Jo Bonner Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Jo Bonner Campground?
Canyon Ferry Reservoir offers a wide range of year-round recreational opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Jo Bonner Campground?
Helena, Montana. Jo Bonner Campground on Canyon Ferry Reservoir is located halfway between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park along with the capital city of Helena, Montana.
Source: Getting there
What if Jo Bonner Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Chinamen's Campground (1.2 mi), Court Sheriff Campground (1.5 mi), and Riverside Campground (2.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby