Swan Creek Campground

Custer Gallatin National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Gallatin Gateway, MT, MT

Price: From $26 per night

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (98 reviews)

Season: May through October

Swan Creek Campground is located in the scenic Gallatin Canyon, on the Bozeman Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest, in southwestern Montana. It is 31 miles south of Bozeman. The surrounding area offers many outdoor recreational opportunities, including fishing, rafting, hiking and viewing local wildlife.The campground offers single-family campsites.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing, Firewood for Sale

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/swan-creek-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Swan Creek Campground is a quiet, scenic gem in Gallatin Canyon with excellent access to fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Google reviews consistently praise its peaceful setting nestled in the trees, half a mile off Highway 191.

Wildlife alert: Bighorn Sheep, Snowshoe Hare, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, American Pika, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hairy Woodpecker, Western Tanager, and Mallard have been documented in the area.

Insider tips for Swan Creek Campground: Book early — this is a popular federal campground with only 13 sites and seasonal operations (May-October). Creek water is cold and clean; bring water shoes if planning to wade. Trails are close by; combine with scenic driving and hiking in Gallatin Canyon.

Skip Swan Creek Campground if: You need electrical or water hookups — no hookups available.. You visit in late June or early July — campers report serious mosquito problems during hatch season.. You prefer to avoid ATV traffic — ATVs access upper areas via dirt road, typically mid-day..

Best time to visit Swan Creek Campground: Late July - September — Avoids heavy mosquito season (reported as severe in late June) while campground is still open through October..

Nearby campgrounds: Greek Creek Campground (Gallatin Gateway, MT), Moose Creek Flat Campground (Gallatin Gateway, MT), Moose Creek Group Site (WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT), Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout (BOZEMAN, MT).

Cell Phone Coverage at Swan Creek Campground

Cell signal at Swan Creek Campground (Gallatin Gateway, MT): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

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.

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Custer Gallatin National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Swan Creek Campground

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Gallatin Gateway, MT, MT★ 4.8 (98 reviews)From $26/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Swan Creek Campground is located in the scenic Gallatin Canyon, on the Bozeman Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest, in southwestern Montana. It is 31 miles south of Bozeman. The surrounding area offers many outdoor recreational opportunities, including fishing, rafting, hiking and viewing local wildlife.The campground offers single-family campsites.

Best for:AnglersHikersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking Water
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Vault ToiletsFirewood for Sale

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need electrical or water hookups — no hookups available.✕ You visit in late June or early July — campers report serious mosquito problems during hatch season.✕ You prefer to avoid ATV traffic — ATVs access upper areas via dirt road, typically mid-day.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a popular federal campground with only 13 sites and seasonal operations (May-October).

Creek water is cold and clean; bring water shoes if planning to wade.

Trails are close by; combine with scenic driving and hiking in Gallatin Canyon.

Best: Late July - September

Avoids heavy mosquito season (reported as severe in late June) while campground is still open through October.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Bighorn Sheep, Snowshoe Hare, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, American Pika, Barrow's Goldeneye, Hairy Woodpecker, Western Tanager, and Mallard have been documented in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
406-646-1012· Custer Gallatin National Forest
Getting there →

From Bozeman, travel south on Highway 191 for 30 miles to the Swan Creek turnoff. Turn left and go a half-mile to the campground. From West Yellowstone, travel 58 miles north on Highway 191. Turn right at Swan Creek turnoff and go a half-mile to the campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Custer Gallatin National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Custer Gallatin 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, speakable
How much does Swan Creek Campground cost per night?+
Swan Creek Campground costs $26 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Swan Creek Campground open?+
Swan Creek Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Swan Creek Campground have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Swan Creek Campground?+
Swan Creek Campground is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Swan Creek Campground?+
Swan Creek Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Swan Creek Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Swan Creek Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Swan Creek Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Swan Creek Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Forest Service Concessionaire
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$26 /night★ 4.8 (98)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Swan Creek Campground cost per night?+
What season is Swan Creek Campground open?+
Does Swan Creek Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Greek Creek Campground

Gallatin Gateway, MT

From $26/night

Moose Creek Flat Campground

Gallatin Gateway, MT

From $26/night

Moose Creek Group Site

WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT

From $115/night

Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout

BOZEMAN, MT

From $65/night

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