Bannack State Park RV & Campground Guide
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In 1862, Bannack was established in a remote area in Montana that was only accessible via the Montana Trail. Despite its remoteness, this gold mining town’s population grew to roughly 10 thousand people and had more than 50 buildings, including saloons, bakeries, hotels, a grocery store, a brewery, and other structures. Outlaws, shootouts, and vigilante justice highlight its history. By the 1970s, however, the town was completely abandoned due to a decline in gold value. Bannack State Park is now the home of this ghost town, and it is also a National Historic Landmark. The state park sits along Grasshopper Creek.
This rural area of Montana has a semi-arid climate with short, mild summers and long, frigid winters. The record low of negative 52 F has been reached several times over the years. The record high is 100 F. While summers are often dry, snowfall is common throughout many months from fall to spring.
Nearby towns:
Dillon, MT
Jackson, MT
Grant, MT
Ford, MT
Spring 19-61 F
Summer 41-81 F
Fall 15-69 F
Winter 7-34 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Bannack State Park
Campground Accommodations
Vigilante Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 40 feet
Other amenities: Picnic tables, fire rings, firewood, vault toilets
Road Agent Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 40 feet
Other amenities: Picnic tables, fire rings, firewood, flush toilets
Dillon KOA
Just like most KOA campgrounds, Dillon KOA is an ideal place for families looking to have fun camping together. This campground offers a variety of wonderful amenities, as well as friendly staff that is always happy to help. Best of all, the campground is within walking distance of downtown Dillon—an ideal location if you ask us!
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Clean bathhouses; swimming pool; laundry facilities; play area for kids; recreational activities; pet area
Southside RV Park
Another great option in the town of Dillon is Southside RV Park. This park also has plenty of friendly staff available to help, and is within walking distance of some Dillon businesses. Pull-through sites make parking a breeze, and the fact that the campground is so clean and quiet makes for a very relaxing ambiance.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Clean bathhouses; recreational opportunities; pet area; laundry facilities
Countryside RV Park
Finally, we must mention Countryside RV Park. People love how roomy and quiet this park is. The mountain views add to the beauty of the place, and the fact that it is so close to I-15 makes it convenient as well. The park is about 3 miles from downtown Dillon, so you may not want to walk it, but it is an easy drive.
Water hookup: Yes
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other amenities: Bathhouses; recreation opportunities; pet area; laundry facilities
What to Do at
Bannack State Park
One of the most popular activities at Bannack State Park is touring the ghost town, and guided tours are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day. On the third weekend in July, Bannack Days features re-enactments, unique displays, and other festivities. Ice skating, horseback riding, horseshoes, fishing, and biking are also great ways to spend time at Bannack State Park.
Bannack State Park is open year-round and offers varied recreational adventures for visitors to enjoy.
Inside Bannack State Park
What will you do during your time spent in Bannack State Park? As far as we can tell, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding things to do. The more difficult thing will be choosing from the long list of options:
Living History — The main draw at Bannack State Park is the incredible history lessons that can be found here. Walking through original 19th-century buildings really gives you a taste of what things must’ve been like. Of course, visiting during one of the park’s many living history events helps bring the whole town to life, making your trip back in time even more vivid.
Ghost Walks — Like to be a bit frightened? You’ll love the ghost walks in Bannack State Park. You see, there are said to be ghosts in this old ghost town, and the guided ghost walks offered by the park’s rangers might just get you up close and personal with one.
Gold Panning — As mentioned earlier, Bannack was once a mining town. Therefore, it only makes sense that visitors to the town are given the opportunity to pan for gold. This is a wonderful family activity that the kids are sure to love!
Earn a Badge — Another great kids activity in this park is the Junior Ranger Program. Kids can complete a set of activities within the park to earn a badge. This is a great way to get kids excited about their visit and help keep them engaged throughout.
Fishing
Grasshopper Creek winds through Bannack State Park, including near many of the campsites in both campgrounds. Brown trout, brook trout, and rainbow trout live in the creek. You can fish from shore near your campsite or on a kayak or raft.
Nature Watching
Birds are abundant at Bannack State Park, making it an ideal place for birdwatching. Some of the species that you may be able to add to your birding journal are warblers, woodpeckers, and bluebirds.
Stargazing
The closest large city to the state park is Butte, which has a population of 34,000 and is 87 miles away. Given the remote location of Bannack State Park, light pollution is negligible. Stargazing is an excellent year-round activity at the park, and you can take an evening meal to one of the picnic areas to view stars, planets, and galaxies.
Hiking
Several well-maintained trails are available to explore, and they vary in length and difficulty. The Bannack State Park Trail takes you on a 1.5-mile loop by many of the ghost town’s buildings, and this is among the most commonly traveled trails in the park. The 3.5-mile Beaverhead River Trail provides great countryside views as it meanders near the water.
Swimming
If you visit Bannack State Park during the summer, you can take a dip in Grasshopper Creek to cool off. You can access the creek from numerous places in the park, including the campgrounds.
Biking
Biking is a popular activity on designated trails in Bannack State Park. While biking, be observant of hikers. The park asks that you stay on designated paths to avoid disturbing natural habitats.
How to Get to
Bannack State Park
While Bannack State Park is in a remote area of Montana, it is relatively easy to reach. Interstate 15 runs between Butte and Idaho Falls, and the turnoff for the park is located in between these towns. Just south of Dillon on Interstate 15, you will take Highway 278 west. After traveling several miles, you will see Bannack Bench Road on the left. Turn left and follow this road for a few miles until you reach the park’s visitor center.
Entering Bannack State Park
Parking is available at the visitor center and at both campgrounds.
The daily entrance fee to Bannack State Park is $8 per vehicle. However, if you are a Montana resident who paid the state park fee with your vehicle registration, entrance is free. Camping fees range from $4 to $34 nightly.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bannack State Park
Ghost town tours are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day, making the summer months the best time to visit Bannack State Park. The Bannack Days festivities are held annually on the third weekend of July and include re-enactments, special exhibits, and more. If you visit during the winter, you can enjoy ice skating.
Bannack State Park is known for its excellent birdwatching opportunities. You can spot bluebirds, woodpeckers, and warblers in the campgrounds and along the nature trails.
Many of the camping spots in Bannack State Park can accommodate large RVs, but there are no designated RV spots. Because of variations in campsite sizes and the limited availability of the campsites, reserving your campsite before arrival is advisable.
Bannack State Park offers only 28 camping spots, including four tent-only hike-in sites. Eight campsites are held on a first-come, first-serve basis and cannot be reserved. The remaining 16 campsites can be reserved up to six months in advance, and there is no fee to guarantee a spot.
Dogs are welcome at Bannack State Park, but they must always be on a leash. Pets are not permitted in the buildings or the swimming areas adjacent to the campgrounds. Owners must pick up after their pets and prevent them from disturbing wildlife habitats.