Deer Lodge KOA

The Great Outdoor

Deer Lodge is flanked by some spectacular mountain ranges too: the Anaconda Range, Boulder Range, and Flint Creek Range. Each has a vast network of public hiking trails and some spectacular views from the mountains’ summits. Unlike the trails near Montana’s more populous cities, there’s a good chance you won’t see another soul during your hike. So come prepared for solitude and enjoy the peace and quiet.One of the closest green spaces to Deer Lodge KOA, though, is the Warm Springs Wildlife Management Area. It’s not a particularly interesting area to hike since it’s quite flat and trails just meander around its streams and ponds, but it is a place to do some bird watching or take your four-legged friend out for a walk. The wildlife management area is only 20 minutes' drive from Deer Lodge, making it a good choice if you don’t have a lot of time between exploring the sights in town.If you’re looking to get out on the water when you camp in an RV near Deer Lodge, Georgetown Lake is the place to do it. This beautiful body of water sits at 6,000 feet, which means it can be a bit chilly outside the height of summer, but it’s a fantastic place to paddle a kayak or canoe. Rentals are available in nearby towns, and if you’ve got the proper state license, the fishing is excellent too.

Exploring the City

You certainly won’t have any trouble navigating Deer Lodge as there’s only one main street and both ends of it touch Interstate 90. This is where you’ll find gas stations, restaurants, and most of the attractions when you’re camping at Deer Lodge KOA. In fact, the town is probably small enough that you can leave your campervan rental at the RV park and just walk the length of it; almost everything can be reached in 15 minutes on foot.Deer Lodge is perhaps most well known for being home to the Montana State Prison, just outside of town. While the active prison is definitely not open to tourists, the Old Prison Complex in the center of Deer Lodge is and serves as the town’s top attraction. Step inside the turreted brick monolith, and you’ll be transported back to the early 20th century when Montana was a much more lawless state filled with cowboys and those looking to get away from the authorities back east. Many visitors say that former inmates haunt the prison and that they experienced paranormal phenomenon while roaming its hallways.Separate from the prison but still attached to the complex is the Montana Auto Museum, which houses an extensive collection of classic cars and was listed one of the top ten car museums in America by USA Today. If you’re a gearhead, this is a must see when you get an RV rental in Deer Lodge. History buffs that are motorhome camping near Deer Lodge should check out Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site on the edge of town. It was once the headquarters of a ten million-acre cattle ranch and today you can take a tour of the ranch house and some of the shop buildings.No trip through Deer Lodge would be complete without trying the regional delicacy though – pasties! Thanks to the nearby mines, Deer Lodge received a number of immigrants from the Cornish region of Britain who were experienced in the trade. They brought a taste for their flaky meat pies, and today, you can find a number of restaurants near Deer Lodge, Butte, and Anaconda serving them.