Carbella Recreation Site
BLM
Write a Review Tom Miner Creek Rd. Emigrant, MT 59027 406-533-7600 Official WebsiteGPS: 45.2124, -110.9005
Overview of Carbella Recreation Site
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: Boondocking 101.
Last Price Paid: $0
Reported by Choosehappy on 1/6/2024
Longest RV Reported: 44 feet (Fifth Wheel)
Reported by Jackiehollander on 6/15/2023
Number of Sites 16
Pad Type gravel
Elevation 4,986 ft / 1,519 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
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Q&A - Ask the Community about Carbella Recreation Site
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 406-533-7600
Howie asked on 2/4/2021
Can anyone tell me what the odds are of getting a camping site in Early August of 2021 based on others experience. Th...
Mward asked on 9/6/2021
Does anyone know if Carbella Recreation Site is open in November? Thanks!
Boondachshunds asked on 8/19/2021
Has anyone worked off their Verizon data plan here? Just checking on speeds/experience attending Zoom video calls etc...
Reviews of Carbella Recreation Site 73 people have reviewed this location.
“Convenient, clean and quiet”
Reviewed 8/27/2021
Days stayed: | 1 |
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Site Number: | 10 |
A beautiful campground and well maintained. A short drive from the highway leads you to nicely leveled campsites, complete with bathrooms, tables, fire pits and even bear boxes! Each site has it’s own bit of privacy from neighbors and can fit almost any size RV. If this isn’t enough, there is also boating access! There’s a large parkin... more
A beautiful campground and well maintained. A short drive from the highway leads you to nicely leveled campsites, complete with bathrooms, tables, fire pits and even bear boxes! Each site has it’s own bit of privacy from neighbors and can fit almost any size RV. If this isn’t enough, there is also boating access! There’s a large parking area where boat trailers can fit, no problem. We were lucky to find a spot near the end of the loop. I didn’t count, but I’d say there are about a dozen sites. With it being so close to Yellowstone, recommendation to claim your spot early.
Note: google maps ended the directions to this site on the highway itself. When you’re getting close per the smartphone app, look for the one and only road you can turn on from the highway. After the turn from the highway, make a quick right and you’ll see a large sign just before the campground.
Hypsy-Gypsy would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“perfect spot for a big rig visiting Yellowstone”
Reviewed 8/23/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 12 |
Site Number: | ? |
Incredibly beautiful location surrounded by the mountains rushing Yellowstone river right next to your camper. We are in a 42’ fifth wheel with dusky with our 4 kids -minivan too and had plenty room on a very level site. We had tons of sites to choose from and wanted to be close to the bathrooms- pit toilet may need to bring TP. About... more
Incredibly beautiful location surrounded by the mountains rushing Yellowstone river right next to your camper. We are in a 42’ fifth wheel with dusky with our 4 kids -minivan too and had plenty room on a very level site. We had tons of sites to choose from and wanted to be close to the bathrooms- pit toilet may need to bring TP. About 15 minutes from a dump station (fee) and gas stations/grocery store. We enioyed fishing on the river and the kids lovex catching minnows. 20 min from North Yellowstone entrance can’t beat the location and beauty. Little Verizon service but was enough to work with our WiFi brick. Biggest con was the “no seem ums” bugs that start right around dusk. Also howling dogs (wolves?) were quite bad some nights… heard there’s some wolf rescue place nearby. Anyhow, Make sure to shut all windows or turn every light off around dusk otherwise there will be hundreds little bugs inside of your camper they get though the screens. Made that mistake one night. It sucked but for free and literally views that will make you emotional- worth it all. It made us get to bed early and that wasn’t too bad of a con. Oh and if you’re trying to see old faithful and go through the most southern part of Yellowstone, you will be around 2 hours or more from that. We did that part as a day trip otherwise stayed more north and north east visiting the park all week.
Rachel would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Good”
Reviewed 8/22/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | Very first parking spot |
When we pulled in we were carrying a small camper. A lot of the campers were positioned to where no one else could join them and I was sick of driving so I unhooked the trailer and one parking spot and parked my suv in another in the tent spots. Definitely take a hike down to the water it is absolutely gorgeous! Porter potty‘s on site.
Tarilyn would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Another awesome stay. ”
Reviewed 8/14/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
Site Number: | 7&8 |
I’ve stayed here the past 3 years while visiting Yellowstone. This year I went with a group of 12 and got two spots side by side. So much work has been done and it is such a nice campground. It was amazing.
Traveller_RN would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Amazing place close to Yellowstone entrance”
Reviewed 8/7/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 5 |
Site Number: | N/A |
RV Length: | 17' (Travel Trailer) |
We stayed RIGHT on the river. Quiet spots with lots of room are on the left where there are more rocks. We managed to get in and out easily but you have to pay attention. Easy drive to Yellowstone for the day and amazing camping at night. Sinclair station is only a few minutes away for free potable water, gas and paid ($10?) dump. Ther... more
We stayed RIGHT on the river. Quiet spots with lots of room are on the left where there are more rocks. We managed to get in and out easily but you have to pay attention. Easy drive to Yellowstone for the day and amazing camping at night. Sinclair station is only a few minutes away for free potable water, gas and paid ($10?) dump. There is a small non flushing outhouse towards the right end.
AmyV would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Reviewed 8/2/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 4 |
What an amazing free spot. There are around 15-20 spots (sorry didn’t count) some are pull through, most are back in. There is a picnic table and food locker at every spot. The spots stayed full most of the time we were there. Always full before 5 pm, and stayed full all weekend. People would leave out early in the morning, but even th... more
What an amazing free spot. There are around 15-20 spots (sorry didn’t count) some are pull through, most are back in. There is a picnic table and food locker at every spot. The spots stayed full most of the time we were there. Always full before 5 pm, and stayed full all weekend. People would leave out early in the morning, but even those spots would be quickly grabbed by people who had camped in the day use parking lot. There is a sign that says camp in number sites only, but it didn’t seem to bother anyone that people would park and camp for the night in the parking lot. Great cell service, and very close to Yellowstone. Spots are decently spaced for privacy.
olivia would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“No room to share :(”
Reviewed 7/30/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 0 |
We were so excited to try this location. We had heard good things. But upon arrival the signage says for two campers per site. Nope. Almost every location the campers backed into the middle of the site or parked their boats next to themselves taking up both sides. So instead of maybe 30 sites, there are more like 15. We tried to back i... more
We were so excited to try this location. We had heard good things. But upon arrival the signage says for two campers per site. Nope. Almost every location the campers backed into the middle of the site or parked their boats next to themselves taking up both sides. So instead of maybe 30 sites, there are more like 15. We tried to back into one spot that we thought looked open with a few tents off to one side and another person across the way yelled to tell us it was occupied. No indication that it was, but we decided to leave. Ended up at another camping area a bit closer to Yellowstone for $10. Have a back up plan saved in your phone also b/c no cell coverage here.
HS would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Awesome”
Reviewed 7/19/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | ? |
RV Length: | 16' (Pop Up Camper) |
What a great site. Gravel pads, picnic tables, even bear boxes, and beside a beautiful river. Fire pits, bathrooms (outhouse style) and a section for tents. Be sure to bring a tube or canoe. There is also boat access. It's hard to believe it's free, its so beautifully kept and just off the highway. Early bird catches the worm. Sites fi... more
What a great site. Gravel pads, picnic tables, even bear boxes, and beside a beautiful river. Fire pits, bathrooms (outhouse style) and a section for tents. Be sure to bring a tube or canoe. There is also boat access. It's hard to believe it's free, its so beautifully kept and just off the highway. Early bird catches the worm. Sites fill up fast.
Beeka would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Amazing sites close to Yellowstone!”
Reviewed 6/26/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 4 |
RV Length: | 33' (Fifth Wheel) |
We came on a Tuesday when things were pretty empty, but they fill up on the weekends, and for good reason. These sites are beautifully taken care of. We heard they were recently redone. Fairly level, gravel covered, with tables, fire pits, and bear boxes. Our 33 ft Fifth Wheel fit into the pull-through without any issue. The river i... more
We came on a Tuesday when things were pretty empty, but they fill up on the weekends, and for good reason. These sites are beautifully taken care of. We heard they were recently redone. Fairly level, gravel covered, with tables, fire pits, and bear boxes. Our 33 ft Fifth Wheel fit into the pull-through without any issue.
The river is right out of our window and the scenery all around is amazing. Some of the rafting companies pick up just down from the sites, but noise isn’t bad at all.
The only downside during our stay was that we went to check out the vault toilets and someone had made a MESS in there. People are pigs, but that isn’t the fault of the site. We’re self-contained, so not an issue for us.
Cell reception with Verizon is strong and you can even stream, another plus. We wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again!
Traveling Light would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“On 6/21/21 Carbella appears to be open. ”
Reviewed 6/21/2021
Nightly rate: | $10 |
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Days stayed: | 0 |
Site Number: | 0 |
Yesterday my Yellowstone Rafting Company used Carbella as the pickup point. I noticed that the site was completely renovated and 5 campers were in the approximately 30 sites. All sites had food lockers, fire rings and picnic tables. All the equipment looked brand new. Several sites were pull through for large RVs and others were back... more
Yesterday my Yellowstone Rafting Company used Carbella as the pickup point. I noticed that the site was completely renovated and 5 campers were in the approximately 30 sites. All sites had food lockers, fire rings and picnic tables. All the equipment looked brand new. Several sites were pull through for large RVs and others were back in spaces the width of a two car driveway. All sites are on the Yellowstone river. It’s approximately 18 miles north of the Yellowstone’s north entrance. A quick drive at 70mph posted speed. While no signs said closed the requisite paperwork and numbers on the site posts were not in place. I would not hesitate to camp here if I wasn’t already set up a few miles away.
David would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
Recreation
- boat ramp
- fishing
- picnic area
- water access
Site Amenities
- big rig
- fire ring
- picnic table
- pull thru
Facilities
- restrooms: vault
Pets
- pets
Nearby
Sixmile Creek Dispersed Camping
Beautiful views all around. 100% recommend if you have a good vehicle.
- camper-826103
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