Painted Rocks Campground

The Bitterroot Valley is one of the fastest-growing regions of Montana, and it’s not hard to see why – people from all around the country want to move here to take advantage of its amazing outdoor recreation. Anglers are going to love camping at Painted Rocks Campground, as the Bitterroot Valley is one of Montana’s best fly-fishing regions. The Bitterroot River has ample trout stocks, and thanks to its warmer weather compared to the rest of the state, the valley is blessed with a longer fly-fishing season.

Hikers will appreciate the bevy of opportunities in the high peaks overlooking the Bitterroot Valley. The Continental Divide Trail largely follows Montana’s southwestern curves below Darby and north of Lolo Pass. The CDT doesn’t have the same following as other long-distance trails like the Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian Trail, but you may find a few weary thru-hikers on the trail – be sure to offer them encouragement and maybe some snacks, no doubt they’ll have some stories to tell.

For a big adventure, consider renting a mountain bike in Hamilton to hit the Magruder Corridor. The 100-mile-long jeep road between Darby and Red River, Idaho, is one of the most unique trails in the country as it runs between the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness and the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. Together they represent the largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states, and as such, the Magruder Corridor feels like one of the wildest places in America. More than likely, you will not complete the entire route while RV camping at Painted Rocks Campground, but doing just a short section still feels like a crazy adventure.

If riding rocky trails isn’t your idea of cycling, the Bitterroot Trail between Missoula and Hamilton is a great option for pavement enthusiasts. The 50-mile-long trail largely parallels Highway 93, so you’ll never be far from help if you run into trouble, but you’ll have to opportunity to stop and enjoy the scenery in a way you never could in a motorized vehicle.

The closest town to Painted Rocks Campground is Darby, but its diminutive size means you won’t find too many attractions or reasons to spend time there – though it has a great brewery if you’re looking for quality ale. Most travelers will head to Hamilton, about 20 minutes' drive to the north. Hamilton was founded by Marcus Daly, one of the “Copper Kings,” who played a prominent role in Montana’s development in the 19th century. His stately mansion turned museum is open for tours and is a great place to start your tour of the town. Montana has the second-highest number of craft breweries per capita, so its no surprise Hamilton also has a couple of breweries of its own.

Another hour's drive to the north is Missoula, the cultural capital of Montana and home to the University of Montana. The progressive city is an anomaly in mostly conservative Montana, and its downtown has a decidedly hippie vibe that wouldn’t feel out of place in coastal cities like Portland or Seattle with independent theaters, sustainable goods shops, and artisanal candy stores lining Higgins Ave.

If you’re a lover of ghost towns, you’ll have the opportunity to explore a few when camping in an RV near Darby. Bannack is one of the most well preserved of Montana’s 19th-century mining towns, and it’s only about two hours' drive southeast of Darby. Granite Ghost Town State Park is a couple of hours to the east, a few miles from the town of Phillipsburg, a favorite of Montana road trippers. Few of Granite’s buildings have survived, but the mine’s head frame is mostly intact and is a fascinating structure to go poking around on. An adding benefit – a trip to Granite involves driving the incredibly scenic Skalkaho Highway between Hamilton and Phillipsburg.