Buttermilk
Caribou-Targhee National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: ISLAND PARK, ID, ID
Price: From $25 per night
Price range: $25–$100 per night
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (89 reviews)
Season: May through October
Buttermilk Campground is located approximately 30 miles southwest of West Yellowstone, Montana and 32 miles north of Ashton, Idaho in beautiful Island Park, Idaho. Buttermilk sits next to Island Park Reservoir at an elevation of 6,200 feet. Visitors love Island Park for its world-class fishing and outstanding scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities.The campground contains two loops for single family camping and one loop for group camping, with a total of 55 sites.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/buttermilk to be notified when sites open up.
Buttermilk Campground sits next to Island Park Reservoir in beautiful scenery ideal for world-class fly-fishing on the Henry's Fork and outstanding wildlife viewing. The campground offers 21 sites with amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, vault toilets, drinking water, electric hookups on select sites, and boat launch access.
Wildlife alert: Moose, Ruffed Grouse, White-faced Ibis, Red Crossbill, Violet-green Swallow, American Mink, and Wasatch Chipmunk documented in the area.
Insider tips for Buttermilk: Book early as this is a popular federal campground. Only select sites have electric hookups; confirm hookup availability when reserving. Henry's Fork fly-fishing is world-class in this area; plan accordingly if fishing is your priority.
Skip Buttermilk if: You need water or sewer hookups; only electric hookups available on select sites.. You require year-round camping; seasonal operations May through October only.. You prefer sites with full hookups at most locations..
Best time to visit Buttermilk: May-October — Official operating season for the campground..
Nearby campgrounds: Mccrea Bridge (ISLAND PARK, ID), Buffalo (Idaho) (ISLAND PARK, ID), Upper Coffee Pot (ISLAND PARK, ID), Flat Rock (Idaho) (ISLAND PARK, ID).
Cell Phone Coverage at Buttermilk
Cell signal at Buttermilk (ISLAND PARK, ID): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Buttermilk Campground is located approximately 30 miles southwest of West Yellowstone, Montana and 32 miles north of Ashton, Idaho in beautiful Island Park, Idaho. Buttermilk sits next to Island Park Reservoir at an elevation of 6,200 feet. Visitors love Island Park for its world-class fishing and outstanding scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities.The campground contains two loops for single family camping and one loop for group camping, with a total of 55 sites.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a popular federal campground.
Only select sites have electric hookups; confirm hookup availability when reserving.
Henry's Fork fly-fishing is world-class in this area; plan accordingly if fishing is your priority.
Official operating season for the campground.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From West Yellowstone, Montana, take Highway 20 south, southwest for approximately 25 miles and from Ashton, Idaho, take Highway 20 north for approximately 27 miles. Turn west onto the Kilgore-Yale Road #030 (across from Elk Creek Gas Station) and go about 2 miles to the Buttermilk Loop Road #126. Turn onto #126 and go approximately 3 miles to an intersection where you will see the campground sign just off the right side of the road. The road will split ahead, with boat ramp and group area on th
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Caribou-Targhee National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Caribou-Targhee National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Buttermilk cost per night?+
What season is Buttermilk open?+
Does Buttermilk have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Buttermilk?+
How do I make reservations at Buttermilk?+
What is the cell service like at Buttermilk?+
What season is Buttermilk open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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