Itch-Kep-Pe Park

We spent 9 days here (8/25-9/2) to work in nearby Billings (40 miles east) before heading to Washington State. The park was quiet and clean and we had no issues with neighbors at all. This is a city park that runs on donations. A nice guy from the local government stopped by once to give us a sheet with the rules and city ordinances.

Completely dry camping, although we were able to fill our tank at the spigot on the side of the restroom building. Grass or gravel sites with fire rings and picnic tables, with a mix of back in and pull-through spaces. A lot of space for big rigs and tenters alike. Firewood was available near the dumpsters in the middle of the park.

The nearest grocery store is a few miles away in town and the laundromat was small but clean. A farmer’s market was set up in the park by the railroad tracks on Thursdays (4:00-6:30) that had everything from fresh veggies and homemade goodies, as well as blankets and jewelry and a couple food trucks.

There is no dump station in the park, but there is one at the nearby Cenex station for a $5 charge during business hours. Otherwise the folks at Mountain View RV Park on the other side of the interstate will let you dump and fill water for $5.

Full Verizon signal allowed me to work from our rig for a couple days when I didn’t need to be in Billings.

This was a great spot to stop in for an overnight while traveling through Montana. It's just a few miles from I94. It's located right by the train tracks (so yes, train noise) and also right along the Yellowstone River.

Pretty and lots of trees provide a bit of privacy. Sites are pretty well spaced out. Looks like there were outhouses but I didn't check them out because it was snowing!

Picnic tables and fire rings. Looks like there was a community firewood pile too. Sites were level enough for a night. Grass/mud sites were a little messy after all the rain and snow.

Stayed here from 8/28/19 to 8/30/19. Honestly I don't have anything bad to say about this place, except maybe the amount of noise from all the kids and families. I stayed here right before Labor Day weekend though, so that's to be expected. I've been in Western Montana for most of the month so I think I've been spoiled by all the amazing views and everything at other campgrounds, which this one does not have. However, this park is right on the Yellowstone River, which my dog and I had a lot of fun swimming in.

I needed a place to stay a couple nights on my way through Montana and this park was perfect for that. I think it's awesome the city offers this place for free. They have dumpsters, a water spigot, and restrooms (which i never went in, so I can't comment on the quality of those). They also have a large pile of scrap wood that you can take for firewood for free. When you get there a volunteer comes and gives you a paper with the rules and then an envelope if you'd like to give a donation.

I chose site #21 mostly because I wanted something in the sun so my solar would work. There are a lot of sites that have tons of trees and shade though if that's what you're looking for. My site was a back-in but it looked like there were places you could also pull-through. The site was pretty level and I had a nice picnic table and fire ring. The sites seemed to fill up pretty quick (again this was right before labor day weekend) however, there was a sign saying there were additional campsites further down the road. I never went down there, but I heard there were a ton more.

Overall this is a basic park, but it was exactly what I needed for a two night layover.

Good free place to stop over while passing through. Two water fill areas, dumpster on site, most sites have both picnic tables and fire pits. Running water bathroom in first loop but did not use. Most sites are pretty level and a few are right on the yellowstone river. Solid LTE for both AT&T and Verizon. Can be busy especially on weekends as several local raft companies run using the boat launch. No dump station, can get very dusty during peak times. Good place to stay when passing through but not a destination.

Itch-Kep-Pe Park is a city park on the Yellowstone River in Columbus, Montana. The park is a short distance from I-90 and is able to accommodate rigs of any size.

This park is free with a 10-day camping limit. Donations are accepted.

Columbus Police Department does patrol the park periodically which helps to avoid problems. A caretaker or volunteer also makes rounds and drops off a sheet of paper with park rules.

The park is generally quiet at night, but may be busy during the day as it is also popular with local residents. A boat ramp at the further camping area results in a fair bit of traffic each evening around dark as people are leaving with boat trailers. Occasional night traffic also occurs. A train runs through Columbus and it can be heard, but it is not very loud at the park.

This is a riverfront campground so there are many large trees. Sun exposure for solar is a problem at many sites, but there are also sites that are in an open, grassy area where sunlight is better.

Amenities include picnic tables, fire pits, a dumpster, and restrooms with flush toilets in the main park area. Firewood is sometimes available near the dumpster. A vault toilet is available in the other camping area near the boat launch.

Cell coverage for Verizon and AT&T is decent at the campground. On my last visit I had four bars of Verizon and two of AT&T. Both networks were usable for work.

Access is easy and convenient. Take Highway 78 south out of Columbus and turn left into the park just before the bridge over the Yellowstone River.

I have stayed at Itch-Kep-Pe Park a number of times over the past 15-20 years and still rely on it for a convenient stop-over when passing through this area.

Dry camping. All around, this is a solid place to stay, especially for free. Two water spigots to fill fresh water, dumpster, picnic tables and fire pits. No dump station. Flushing toilets but bathrooms are pretty run down. Right on the Yellowstone River. Sites are pretty level and easy access. Somewhat busy and noisy but large grassy fields with shade for kids and pets. It’s a pretty park and not run down but could use some TLC. Park runs in donations so considering that, it’s a win. We’d certainly stay again if ever passing through, but wouldn’t go out of our way. Within 30 minutes of Billings! Within 5 minutes of laundromat, hardware, grocery, gas, restaurants and major interstate.

this campsite is large and can handle any size rig we found the campground easy and found a spot quickly completely free but they do ask for donations, there is free water at the bathhouse you can fill your rv asked a city worker and he said no problem also they have a dumpster for your garbage, right on a river, campground is split into front half and rear half, the town is very rv friendly and a great place for food and fun, check out the video to see this gem of a campground

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0SW1ldycU0&t=5s