Madison River
Madison River Campground is located in southwestern Montana just beyond the banks of it’s namesake river. It is approximately 34 miles south of Ennis and about 45 miles west of Yellowstone National Park. The ten site campground borders a Douglas Fir covered hillside to the back, with the Madison River just across the road, on the front side. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water taps are located near each site, along the one-way road. Visitors enjoy fishing, sight-seeing and nearby hiking and ATV trails.
More like this: reservable in Montana · pets allowed in Montana
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 11 |
Site guide
11 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Back-in | 40 | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 2 | A | Back-in | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 3 | Yes | Prime | |
| 3 | A | Back-in | 40 | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 4 | A | Back-in | 50 | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 5 | A | Back-in | 40 | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 6 | A | Back-in | 18 | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 7 | A | Back-in | 45 | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 8 | A | Back-in | 60 | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 9 | A | Back-in | 40 | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 10 | A | Back-in | 42 | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 30 ft |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Fee to reserve campsite is non-refundable within 14 days of arrival date. Any changes in reserved dates may be assessed an additional fee by the National Recreation Reservation Service. |
There are two vault toilets and four drinking water spigots spread throughout the campground. Water is available May to September, exact dates being dependent upon weather. Picnic tables and fire rings are located in each site. “Bear proof” bins enable compliance with food storage regulations. The camp sites lie along a one way through road which parallels and reconnects with the access road. There is no garbage service. Cellular service is available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest |
| Booking | To make reservations, call toll free 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance. |
| Fees | There is a $15.00 per night fee at this campground. Cash or Check only. There is no change available, so please bring correct amount. |
| Rules | 16 day stay limit. Food Storage Requirements. |
Weather by month
Getting there
Travel south from Ennis for 33 miles on US Highway 287. Approximately one mile beyond the Lyon Rest Area, turn west at signs indicating West Fork RV Camp. Cross the Old Kirby Bridge (maximum height 12’ 7”, maximum weight four tons) and turn left onto West Madison road #8381. Travel about one mile to campground.
| Nearest town | Ennis, Montana |
| Coordinates | 44.8772° N, 111.5757° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Hell'S Canyon
42 mi from the campground
- PrescribedShenango Pile Rx
43 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 27.7 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Eagle's Curios ↗ | 27.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
What does Yellowstone’s Madison Campground look like? Know before you book!
Worth a stop
Wade and Cliff Lakes are ten miles away. Riverview and West Fork Campgrounds are less than one mile away, and available on a first come, first served basis, while Wade, Cliff Point and Hilltop Campgrounds are ten miles. The west entrance to Yellowstone National Park is less than 40 miles east, at West Yellowstone. The Earthquake Lake Visitor Center and Geologic Site is only about a ten minute drive.
- 5.5 mi
- 7 miWindy Point Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 8.7 miPalisades Day Use ↗Day use
- 9.3 miQuake Lake Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 14.7 miWatkins Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.4 miWest Fork Madison Spur0.4 mi trail
- 0.5 miBlack Butte Loop Snowmobile ↗49.7 mi trail
- 1.3 miGold Butte3.1 mi trail
- 1.4 miPapoose Creek ↗8.4 mi trail
- 2.1 miFlatiron Loop Snowmobile ↗15.1 mi trail
- 2.7 miPapoose Bench3.4 mi trail
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
Lee Metcalf Wilderness begins about 10.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 10.2 miLee Metcalf Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 242,068 acres
- 13.5 miRed Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 85,504 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
- Hutchins BridgeStructure · Cameron · 0.8 mi
Natural features
At an elevation of 5910 feet, the campground is situated on the west side of the world renowned Madison River and at the southern end of the Gravelly Mountain range. The Lee Metcalf Wilderness is about two miles directly to the west. Wade and Cliff Lakes are about ten miles away. The campground is backed by a forest of predominantly Douglas Fir trees.
Recreation
Just across the gravel road, and for about a 40 mile length, the world renowned Madison River offers blue ribbon flyfishing. Nearby Wade and Cliff Lakes also offer fishing opportunities as well as small craft boating, canoeing and swimming. Hebgen and Henry's Lakes are each about a 30 minute drive. There are many hiking trails in the area, including just beyond the highway in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. Off Road Vehicle trail riding is popular in the Gravelly range.
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 Madison River?
Sites at Madison River are reservable on Recreation.gov. To make reservations, call toll free 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Madison River?
Fee to reserve campsite is non-refundable within 14 days of arrival date. Any changes in reserved dates may be assessed an additional fee by the National Recreation Reservation Service.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Madison River?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Madison River open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Madison River have?
11 sites, including 11 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Madison River?
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Madison River?
Yes, pets are allowed at Madison River. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Madison River?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. 16 day stay limit.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Madison River?
FCC coverage maps show 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 Madison River?
Just across the gravel road, and for about a 40 mile length, the world renowned Madison River offers blue ribbon flyfishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Madison River?
Ennis, Montana. Wade and Cliff Lakes are ten miles away.
Source: Getting there
What if Madison River is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are West Fork Madison Campground (0.5 mi), Riverview Campground (0.5 mi), and Wade Lake (5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby