Matthews Recreation Area

Parked at a site and a car pulled directly next to me. So I moved sites. Later at night that same car moved and parked right next to my door of my van. I felt wildly uncomfortable that there was just 2 guys sitting so close to my van where there was so many other spots. So I left and just slept at Walmart instead. I should note I am a single female traveler

A large field I played fetch with our dog many times over our three day trip. The campground has a 16 day limit. The bathrooms were clean and stocked with TP. We stayed in the lower site below the toilet next to the babbling brook. Concrete walkways all over the place. It had been raining so considering we were in a low spot the mud wasn't bad at all. Depending on the weather there may be bugs and mosquitos. But if you are camping in Eastern Montana this isn't surprising. Made a trip into town to have our truck's oil changed on Saturday. DON'T drive past the camp host's spot. The road dead ends and you will have to back out on a hilly road with a curve. I was warned by the camp host and other reviews. Overall I will be back and would, and already have, recommended.

Had an unusual experience as a ‘pan handler’ approached our site asking for money. Campground hosts said it has been a problem and they would report to law enforcement.

Be aware that train tracks are nearby and you will hear the train whistles at night

A clean site and well maintained. Easily enough room for our 36’ tow trailer. A sidewalk trail around the campgrounds.
Great hosts !

I camped off to the right of the boat launch ramp. It was relatively level and I only needed minimal side to side leveling. I can hear the rushing river water. Unfortunately this is not far from train tracks which are used several times a night with the sound of whistles and horns. The most negative issue is the incredibly large number of small white bugs. Open the door to your trailer and hundreds come in within seconds. they seem to bite along with the biting flies. I killed hundreds of the white bugs and five flies that got in my trailer just going in and out briefly. Perhaps if I was further from the river it wouldn’t be so intense.

This site has a very well manicured tent camping area with picnic tables and fire pits.

The RV area is a bit less defined. We are in a 24 ft travel trailer and managed to find at least 4 sites (which were really just mowed areas for parking.

A couple of tips:
1. the nicer areas for RVs are straight passed the entrance. Traditionally you would turn left into the campground, but if you continue straight there is a turn around right on the water access area with some good RV parking there.
2 if that is full or if you miss it and make the left hand turn into the campground there are some grassy and gravel areas to park there as well. But you won’t have the sound of a he rush of the river.
3. If you have a trailer or big RV don’t pass the campground host (who is in the last parking spot in the campground). There is a dirt road beyond the host which I mistakenly though led to the camp sites. It is tough to turn around if you continue on.

There is a trail a few hundred feet away but the noise isn’t bad. There are pit toilets in the main campground area and a boat launch if you have kayaks or something.

All in all very nice