Campsite Review: Beavertail Hill Campground is south of Interstate 90 twenty-five miles east of Missoula Montana. After departing the Interstate turn south on Bonita Station Road for less than one mile.
The campground is along a bend in the Clark Fork River which flows westward to the Columbia River. The Lewis and Clark Expedition followed this river and the river is named for William Clark.
The nearest city with services is in Missoula. The campsite has 24 campsites for RVs and two Sioux style tipis for rent.
Beavertail Hill State Park is a very nice campground.
Details
Website: Beavertail Hill State Park
Address: 29895 Bonita Station Rd, Clinton, MT 59825
Link to Google Map for the area: Beavertail Hill State Park
Phone Number/Reservations: (855) 922-6768
Dates stayed: Sept 9-14, 2020
Comfort: Temperatures were nice. Cold in the morning, hot in late afternoon
Elevation: 3600′
Season: May 1 – October 30 depending on weather and snow depth. Walk-in during winter months.
Price Paid: $24/night, Montana resident price. See our post on how non-residents can get a Monatan State Parks Pass and pay the same price as residents. Montana State Parks Pass
Our Site: #3
Hook-ups: Electric only – 50 amp
Dump station: No
Restrooms: Yes
Shower: No
Laundry: No
Potable Water: Yes
Water to fill your RV storage tank: Yes
Cell service: Verizon – Weak Signal / AT&T – Almost No Service
Observations
Campsite Review: Beavertail Hill Campground insider info:
Unlike other Montana State Parks, the campground is all gravel surface, but unlike other gravel campgrounds, the gravel produces very little dust.
The very best site in this campground is probably # 9 it has the combination of being right next to the Clark Fork River with the sound of running water and opens to the meadow.
The nearest town with groceries is Clinton, about ten minutes west.
We camped in site # 3 which was on a very wide spot in the road and was shared with site # 2. Site # 3 layout was odd in that to position your entry door toward the picnic area, you had to drive the loop opposite the normal layout. Then while parking, you had to get the RV close enough to reach the power box and run your electric cord under the RV. Sites # 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 14, and 16 all share this odd design.
The best water to fill your RV is near site # 16. The water near site # 3 is too far to reach your RV to fill your tanks. If camping in site # 6 you may be able to reach the water and fill your tanks from your site. (bring two hoses)
The campground is very close to Interstate 90, but the road noise was not distracting.
The train whistle can easily be heard from all the campsites. Even though there is a crossing guard on the tracks, each train blows the whistle four times. The further north in the campground you go, the more obvious the train noise will become. Campers in tents should take note of this fact.
We camped here after the first cold spell of the year, thus most of the bugs (except for bees) did not make an appearance. Others have noted an abundance of mosquitos earlier in the year.
While we were here the campground served as an overnight stop for most visitors, most left promptly the next morning. The pull-through nature of most sites best served towed RVs.
Bonus
The campground is primarily a great access point to the Clark Fork River and offers easy fishing access. There is no official launch ramp, but putting kayaks or inflatables in the river is easy enough at the very north end of the campground. Most day-use parking will be at the very north end of the campground.
The campground has a very nice nature trail that loops around the campground to the south. It is a nice walk through the forest and meadow for a little less than a mile.
There is a small lake named Beavertail Pond just north of the Interstate… it is not part of the park but attractive still the same.
Campsite Pictures
Sites # 18 and # 19 share easy access to this pit toilet in the north loop. Other campers have said in the past that this toilet was the source of, let us just say objectionable odor typical of a pit toilet. You might want to avoid camping at these sites for that reason.
Layout & Satellite Views
Beavertail Hill State Park Layout Corrected North at the top
Just wanted to say great site. Continue with the good work!