Road Trips Starting from Billings, MT
Best National Parks Near Billings, MT
You'll have to do some driving to reach any national parks from Billings, but there are several great options that will definitely be worth the trip.
The nearest national park to Billings is the famous Yellowstone National Park, which is located approximately 172 miles southwest of the city. This site, which was the country's first national park, sprawls over 3,472 square miles, making it bigger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined. It also sits atop a dormant volcano. Yellowstone is known for its huge collection of geysers and hot springs, including the world-famous Old Faithful. The park is also home to many interesting wildlife species, such as bison, moose, and bighorn sheep. You can enjoy various recreational activities around the park, including hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and camping.
If you drive about 372 miles southwest of Billings, you can visit the breathtaking Grand Teton National Park. The park offers stunning mountain views, crystal blue lakes, and miles of scenic hiking trails to explore. There are tons of recreational opportunities around the area, such as mountaineering, horseback riding, scenic driving, camping, and wildlife viewing. Visitors can also head to the nearby town of Jackson Hole to enjoy some skiing, go floating on the river, or check out a dude ranch.
Grasslands National Park is located in Saskatchewan, approximately 310 miles north of Billings in Canada. As the name suggests, the park is most known for its picturesque prairie grasslands. During your visit, you can hike through the peaceful area and watch for the local wildlife, which includes foxes, bison, coyotes, and owls. The park also offers lots of wonderful areas for remote camping, and the lack of nearby light pollution makes for exceptional stargazing.
Popular State Parks Near Billings, MT
While there aren't any state parks in the direct vicinity of Billings, there are several to choose from if you don't mind driving for a while.
One great state park worth visiting is Buffalo Bill State Park, located roughly 118 miles north of Billings. The park is built around Buffalo Bill Dam, which was built in 1905. The natural area is an excellent place for outdoor recreation, featuring two well-maintained campgrounds, several boat ramps, and some scenic hiking routes to explore, including the Eagle Point Trail. You can also head to the park's reservoir for a day of boating, fishing, or windsurfing. Before you leave, be sure to check out the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitors Center.
Located about 120 miles southeast of Billings, Tongue River Reservoir State Park is home to a 12-mile reservoir as well as picturesque prairies and canyons. The park is an excellent destination for water-based recreation, including fishing, boating, and swimming. When you visit the 642-acre park, you can also explore the scenic hiking trails, have a picnic in the day-use area, and observe the local wildlife, which includes deer, antelope, and blue herons.
Another state park to consider visiting is Boysen State Park, which lies approximately 211 miles south of Billings. Located in Central Wyoming, the vast park comprises some 35,000 acres around the sizable Boysen Reservoir, which offers excellent opportunities for fishing, boating, and waterskiing. The lake is known as one of the state's best destinations for catching walleye and trout. Geocaching, stargazing, hiking, wildlife viewing, and camping are popular activities around the park as well.
Must-see Monuments and Landmarks Near Billings, MT
Although Billings isn't home to any national sites or monuments, there are quite a few interesting ones to see for travelers who are up for a bit of a drive.
One national site to check out is Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, which is situated about 90 miles southeast of Billings. The rugged natural area has many diverse features, including a sizable canyon lake, massive rock cliffs, and 27 miles of scenic hiking trails. Additionally, the site contains several historic ranches where you can learn about the history of the area.
If you're a history buff, it's definitely worth heading 62 miles southeast of Billings to visit Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. This monument serves as a memorial to the battle between the U.S. Army and Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. You can learn all about the historic battle at the visitor center and explore the actual land where it took place.
Located roughly 400 miles from Billings in Wyoming, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway stretches between Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. As you drive along the parkway, you'll enjoy gorgeous views of crystal-clear lakes, geysers, waterfalls, and volcanic rocks. There are also quite a few wonderful hiking trails to explore along the route, such as the Glade Creek Trail and the Continental Divide Trail to Heart Lake.
RVshare’s Top Picks for Nearby RV Parks & Campgrounds
There are many quality campgrounds in and around Billings, and one great example is the Old West RV Park. Located in the small, quiet town of Reed Point, MT, this peaceful campground has 15 RV campsites available with full RV hookups. The campsites are spacious and shaded by trees, and the park offers various amenities, including showers, picnic tables, and Wi-Fi.
Another campground to consider is Hardin KOA in Hardin, MT. This excellent family campground features grassy RV campsites, a clubhouse, a playground, a hot tub, propane, and firewood. If you want to go for a bicycle ride on one of the nearby trails, the campground also offers bike rentals.
If you travel through Red Lodge, MT, you can stay at Red Lodge KOA Journey, which is located conveniently close to the highway and has full-hookup RV campsites available. This RV park boasts a pool that's open all summer long as well as various other amenities like showers, a snack bar, bike rentals, a covered pavilion, and even fishing spots.
RV Dump Stations Near Billings, MT
There are plenty of convenient RV dump stations to choose from in and around Billings. For example, you could stop by Cabela's on King Avenue East, which provides free dumping for customers. The dump station is also free for Cabela's Club members, but nonmembers must pay a $5 fee. Additionally, this site offers a horse corral and dog kennels.
Another dump station in the area can be found at the Big Sky Campground in Billings. At this dump station, dumping is free for registered guests, but other visitors will have to pay a nominal fee. The campground also has water available.
Also located in Billings is the Yellowstone River Campground, which is open year-round. The site also offers potable water and rinse water, but the dump station is only available to registered guests.
