Bannack State Park Campground

We stayed here one night in early July while visiting the Bannack Ghost Town. Our rate for one night was $18.00 with our Non-Resident Montana State Parks Pass. Our campsite had a fire ring and table, there was a vault toilet and trash receptacles at both loops. The Ghost Town was within walking distance of the campground, definitely worth the visit to explore the history of the early Montana Territory.

I wish I'd stayed extra nights! I pulled in late in the afternoon, and there was only 2 other trailers in the campground. I was able to back into a site right on the river, the trees were changing and the colors were spectacular. It's pretty remote - you're not going to just stumble into this place. Bannack used to be the governmental center of the area, and the ghost town is really cool - I think in the warmer months there's living history people in the buildings, etc. I do have to say that the history pointedly ignores Native American history and the exploitation of the gold rush in this area. The campground seemed pricey for non-Montana residents, with no out-of-state veterans rate. No services were available, though there was power poles, sewer traps and water - they were all locked up. No cell service, no campground host (that I saw)

As a lifelong MT resident, I love any attempt to preserve our history and Bannack is one of the best places for that. The ghost town is one of the best in the whole state with several buildings open to explore at your leisure. And there are ghosts - I've had a couple of encounters here myself!
I prefer to visit in the shoulder season when the crowds are non-existent. April, May, September, and October are the best in my opinion. I was just there last night and had the place to myself - park staff still on hand if needed for emergencies. The park staff does an excellent job of keeping the camp clean and they make daily patrols to check on everyone. Water, trash, and clean restrooms available at the Vigilante CG. Road Agent is also a nice option but no water available there. Most of the sites are decently level gravel in both camps. All have a table and fire ring. Firewood is available for purchase but if the camp host isn't around you have to catch the park staff on their daily rounds (or stop at the visitor center or office in town to ask).
Fees vary depending on if you are an MT state resident ($14 off-season and $18 peak season) or nonresident (24/28) and if you get a senior discount. The sign at the camp entrance explains it all.
Vigilante Camp has reservable sites for the peak summer months. Most of the sites are on the small-ish side so pay attention to the length recommendations when reserving your site. Sites 9 and 16 are the largest. A mix of sun and shade but 1, 2, 3, and 9 are the sunniest for my fellow solar panel dependant campers.
Road Agent is a nice camp as well and is first-come, first-served. The sites are on the smaller side and there isn't a lot of room to turn around once you've entered camp so you may want to stop on the main road and scout things out first - or continue to the picnic area across the bridge to turn around. Lots of shade here too.
No cell service in camp but you can get service either in the town of Jackson (25 miles) to the NW or on Highway 278 about 6 miles NE from Bannack Bench Road.

We visited this state park at the recommendation of a Montana friend. What a gem! We visited this place September 23 and wished we would've allowed enough time in our travel schedule to stay an additional night or more.

In driving in, you can see the two campgrounds below the road to the right. One is easily seen, Vigilante, the other, Road Agent, is further back and not as easily seen. We drove to the visitor center with our FW in tow, but there is plenty of room in the parking lot to park a big RV and get out of there. At the recommendation of the park ranger, we drove to the Vigilante CG which she said is better for our bigger rig. The Road Agent CG is smaller, but had we driven in there by accident, and empty as it was this time of year, we could've parked in site 8 easily and gotten out of there too.

Vigilante CG has one pull through among the back in sites. We stayed in the host site, since it was past season, and this site backed up to Grasshopper Creek. The night we stayed, only one other RV was there. Even with the quiet hours rule, they ran their generator off and on all night, but that happens in other CGs as well. It got down to 32, but we have a catalytic heater that keeps us warm.

This CG offered a teepee too with a wooden floor. With cots, camp table, and heater, you'd be nice and warm.

As isolated as this place is, the state provided a nice pit toilet and garbage cans. We would definitely stay here again, especially this time of year.