Tongue River Reservoir State Park
RV Guide
Introduction
Tongue River Reservoir State Park, which is surrounded by juniper canyons and open prairie hills, is a fantastic destination for RV camping trips. Located just north of the Montana-Wyoming state line, the 642-acre park sits at an elevation of 3,468 feet and is a nature lover’s dream. Anglers, boaters, and campers love to visit the park for their RV vacation because of the large number of opportunities for recreational activities available.
Large bodies of water, such as the 12-mile long Tongue River Reservoir are rare in Montana, and these waterways encourage more than 50,000 people to visit the park annually to enjoy some water fun. Some of the water activities to enjoy at Tongue River State Park include fishing, boating, swimming, water skiing, and windsurfing, and the lake in the park is a fun place to create new memories with your friends and family. Winter can also be fun here, too, because of activities like ice fishing, picnicking, bird watching, ice skating, and photography.
Tongue River Reservoir State Park has six campgrounds with 156 campsites, all of which are pet-friendly and available for RVs and tents. Facilities available at the park include fire rings with grills, picnic tables, dump stations, boat rental, groceries, and drinking water. The park also has a store at the marina that sells necessities like gas, groceries, ice, and firewood as well as souvenirs, snacks, drinks, bait, hunting and fishing licenses, and tackle. You can even store your RV or boat here or rent a boat if you don’t have one.
RV Rentals in Tongue River Reservoir State Park
Transportation
Driving
Tongue River Reservoir State Park’s location, just north of the Montana-Wyoming state line and six miles north of Decker, in Big Horn County makes this park easy to find off of I-90, but be aware that the curvy roads make it hard to maneuver by RV or when pulling a trailer. In fact, MT-314 and MT-566 are both extremely curvy roads, which are difficult even when you are driving a normal-sized vehicle. It is best to take it slow and easy while on these roads, no matter what you are driving.
These winding roads meander alongside the Tongue River, giving you and your passengers a beautiful view to enjoy all the way to the park. Make sure your passengers have their phones or cameras ready to take some pictures. You may even want to pull over on one of the turnouts to take a break and enjoy the scenery.
The various campgrounds and areas in the park are easily accessible, too, by the local road network within the park. There are no driving restrictions within Tongue River Reservoir State Park. There is only one parking lot for RVs and trailers in Tongue River State Park, and it is located by the boat ramp in Pee Wee North Campground. If your vehicle or trailer does not fit in the campsite parking spot, they will need to be moved to the parking lot outside the campground. Where no outside parking is available, a second campsite must be purchased.
Parking
Public Transportation
Campgrounds and parking in Tongue River Reservoir State Park
Campsites in Tongue River Reservoir State Park
Reservations camping
Sheridan/Big Horn Mountains KOA
The Sheridan/Big Horn Mountains KOA has something for everyone. Relax after a day of touring the terrain by taking a dip in the hot tub or spending time around the community fire pit. Take some time to play miniature golf, horseshoes, or even basketball. Children love the playground, and there’s also a Kamp K-9 for the pups. Conveniently located between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park, this campground features mature shade trees and a seasonal swimming pool. At up to 90 feet, pull-through sites can accommodate big rigs. Wi-Fi is available at the campground as well as on-site fishing. Clean restrooms, hot showers, and laundry facilities help bring all the comforts of a home directly to the campground’s guests.
Hardin KOA
The Hardin KOA is perfectly located when traveling between large attractions such as Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore. Visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Pompey's Pillar National Monument, or the Bighorn River and witness first-hand key places of our nation’s history. Relax in the cool pool or soothing sauna after a long day of walking, or soak in the bubbling hot tub. Cook a meal in the convenient Kamping Kitchen or rent a bike to tour the terrain. Spend the night in your choice of grassy tent campsites, level RV spots with hookups, or comfortable cabins with all the amenities.
Buffalo KOA
Take a day trip to Yellowstone and make your home base at the Buffalo KOA. The grand Bighorn Mountains are just minutes away, where you can hike, fish, see a wide variety of wildlife, and take in the natural beauty of the area. At the Buffalo KOA, big rigs are welcome along with toy haulers. Deluxe RV sites with patios, privacy fences, and grills, and even a site with a hot tub are also available. Enjoy the seasonal pool, bike rentals, and Kamping Kitchen. Wi-Fi and cable TV hookups are available, as well as the usual amenities of clean bathrooms and hot showers.
Billings KOA
Stay at the world’s very first KOA and the first KOA Holiday Campground! The award-winning Billings KOA campground, on the banks of the Yellowstone River, features RV sites with Wi-Fi, cable TV, full hookups, and gravel parking pads. Some sites offer patios, swings, fire pits, and tables with umbrellas. Campground amenities include modern restrooms with running water, hot showers, a heated pool, and even a hot tub. You’ll also find a Kamping Kitchen, recreational facilities, bike rentals, a well-stocked convenience store, and planned activities. A snack bar on the grounds offers pancake breakfasts, barbecue dinners, ice cream socials, and more.
Sand Point Campground
Sand Point Campground boasts 32 spacious and family-friendly waterfront campsites available for both tents and RVs. These campsites in Sand Point Campground have electrical hookups for your convenience, and the sites here can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 80 feet. You’ll have a campfire pit with a grill to cook on and a large picnic table that seats eight people comfortably. Several restrooms and potable water spigots are available nearby, as well.
All these campsites are directly on the water so that you will have easy access to all water play, including fishing, boating, floating, and swimming. Whether you want to enjoy the view or partake in water sports, these spots are a favorite of many. Bring your furbabies too because they are welcome here.
Riverside Campground
Riverside Campground is at the most northern end of the reservoir, giving its visitors a spot by the Tongue River as the water enters the lake. The riverside location offers campers easy access to all kinds of swimming, floating, and fishing activities right near their RV. This campground features 14 campsites available for RVs as well as tents. There are no electric hookups at Riverside Campground, but you will have access to potable water spigots, and there are restrooms nearby.
The sites at Riverside can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 50 feet. Each of the sites has a large picnic table and a fire pit with a grill for cooking. Open fires are only allowed in the fire pit or grill. You can bring your pooch but keep it leashed and supervised during your stay. You’ll need a reservation to stay here, so make sure you reserve your spot well in advance.
Rattlesnake Point Campground
Rattlesnake Point Campground, located in the southern part of the park, features seven large campsites available each with its own picnic table and a campfire ring with a grill for cooking on. These waterfront sites at Rattlesnake Point have electrical hookups and they can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 80 feet. Restrooms and an RV sanitation dumpsite are nearby for your convenience. Reservations are needed and can be made one day or up to six months in advance.
The campground's location at the southern end of the Tongue River Reservoir makes the swimming and fishing here awesome. You can grab an inner tube or raft and go on your own mini-float trip as the reservoir meets the river. Be sure to wear a life jacket just in case because the current can get strong at times in certain spots. Pets are welcome but must be on a leash and accompanied at all times during your stay.
Pee Wee South Campground
Pee Wee South Campground is the largest campground in the park and features 54 campsites that are available for both RVs and tents. Twenty-seven sites in the campground are double campsites with electricity, 14 are standard campsites equipped with electric RV hookups, and 13 are standard campsites without RV hookups. The 13 campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Some of these campsites are ADA accessible, as are the restrooms nearby. The RV length limit at the campground is 146 feet. Five different restrooms are available at the campground, as well as access to the water. In fact, 22 of these sites are right on the waterfront. Open fires are allowed only in established iron fire rings and grills. It’s fine for you to bring your pup, but make sure it is restrained and supervised the whole time you are here.
Pee Wee North Campground
While eight of the campsites at the Pee Wee North Campground are right on the lake, the others are just a short walk away. You can see the water from all of the spots in this campground. None of the campsites in Pee Wee North are equipped with hookups for RVs, but potable water spigots are available in the campground, and there are two restrooms nearby. The RV length limit at the campground is 79 feet, and each site has a picnic table and campfire ring.
Besides being close to the lake, the Pee Wee North Campground also boasts a boat ramp to give you access to the water if you want to go boating. You’ll be glad to know that your furry family members can join you on your RV vacation too. Just make sure you supervise and properly restrain them while you are here. Reservations are required at least one day in advance. Quiet hours are enforced from 10 PM to 7 AM, so generators should not be used during this time.
Campers Point (South) Campground
With all of their campsites being waterfront sites, Campers Point South Campground is one of the most popular places to stay. This campground consists of 32 campsites available for both RVs and tents. Each campsite at Campers Point South has electrical hookups, and the sites here can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 65 feet. In addition, you’ll have a campfire pit with a grill to cook on and a picnic table that seats eight.
Restrooms and an RV dump station are available at the campground, as well as access to the waterfront. In fact, you will only be a few steps from the lake if you choose to camp in any of these sites. Go ahead and bring your furbaby with you too because pets are welcome. However, you must keep it restrained and supervised at all times. Reservations are required and can be made up to six months in advance.
Campers Point (North) Campground
Campers Point North Campground in Tongue River Reservoir State Park has eight spacious campsites for both RVs and tents. These waterfront campsites have electrical hookups and can accommodate RVs up to 65 feet. Each campsite has its own picnic table and fire ring with a grill for cooking. Restrooms and a boat ramp are available at the campground for your convenience, and the RV dump site is not far away.
All eight of these sites are right on the water and are large and well-maintained. You can bring your pooch along to camp with you as long as you accompany it at all times and keep it adequately restrained during your visit. Open fires are allowed only in established iron fire rings and grills. Reservations are needed and can be made up to six months in advance.
Seasonal activities in Tongue River Reservoir State Park
Off-Season
Ice Skating
Tongue River Reservoir State Park offers ice skating opportunities for RV campers in the winter months. With the proper gear, the ice-skating experience on the reservoir promises to be memorable for every camper. What’s more, the marina store in the park is equipped with supplies and gear for campers interested in ice skating. It is essential to check the depth of the ice before getting out on the frozen water because you need about four to six inches of ice to be safe.
Wildlife Viewing
Tongue River Reservoir State Park is a great place to enjoy wildlife viewing while on an RV holiday. Thanks to the abundant osprey, blue herons, deer, antelope, and a few bald eagles in the park, campers and visitors are treated to scenic and beautiful views of the wildlife in summer. Take a walk along the 12 miles of shoreline, and you can spot all kinds of wild critters. If you bring a camera, you can get some fantastic photos to share on your favorite social media pages.
Picnicking
The waterfront and scenic view that Tongue River Reservoir offers campers and visitors at the park, especially during picnics and outdoor activities, is unparalleled. While enjoying meals and picnics with family and friends at the park, RV campers are treated to great amenities that make their picnicking experience memorable. What’s more, these picnic areas are open to all, and picnic shelters are available. Sand Point and Campers Point both have covered picnic areas with barbeque pits near the water where you can enjoy a bite to eat as you watch the water.
Rock Climbing
If you are an adventurer and like to climb, bring your climbing gear with you on your camping trip because there are several spots in and around the park where you can do some bouldering. The Tongue River Canyon Trail is a 3.4-mile hike, which takes you to some awesome limestone walls that have the elements for a fantastic climb. From the 5.6 level traditional climb named Elf to the 5.12 level sporting climb named Pangs of Battle, there is a variety of routes so you can find something for everyone. The park even has some bouldering opportunities for kids.
In-Season
Swimming
Gather the beach toys and pack them in the RV before heading to the park. Swimming is allowed in several designated areas around Tongue River Reservoir State Park, offering RV campers the opportunity to enjoy swimming in the lake. Sand Point has a designated swimming beach, but all swimmers are required to be safety conscious while in the lake as there are no lifeguards on duty here. Whether you are in the reservoir or the river, be cautious of the current that can be strong at times.
Boating
Whether you visit Tongue River Reservoir State Park with your boat attached to your RV or not, you are guaranteed a pleasant boating experience here. The park has two launches for you to get your boat into the water, one located at Pee Wee North and the other near Campers Point by the marina. With the boat rentals, boat storage, and other amenities available at the marina store, the park has got you covered for the entire time you set out on your boating adventure on the lake.
Fishing
Tongue River Reservoir State Park is the ideal place to bring your love of fishing to life on your RV vacation. Boasting excellent quantities of pike, bass, walleye, and crappie, the Tongue River Reservoir offers terrific opportunities for anglers to enjoy themselves. Numerous fish that held state records have been pulled from the reservoir. Even more, fly fishers get to test their skills on the river in the park. Even in winter, the reservoir is a popular ice fishing location. Facilities that add to the excellent fishing experience are a fish cleaning station and a marina store at Campers Point, where fishing supplies are available.
Hiking
Whether you want to take a walk through the woods or along the 12 miles of shoreline, you will find what you are looking for at Tongue River State Park. Take a fishing pole and some bait, and you can even catch some nice sized crappie, pike, walleye, and bass while you are out on the trails. When you are done with your hike, bring your catch back with you and toss the fish on the grill in the picnic area or back at the campsite to enjoy a fresh-fish dinner. Make sure you have a Montana state fishing license before tossing out that line.
