When it comes to exploring Mother Nature, many visitors to Montana head straight to Glacier National Park, and the northern tip of Yellowstone National Park.
But did you know Montana is also blessed with 46 State Parks that showcase some truly amazing landscapes of their own?
Incorporating everything from imperious mountain peaks, gorgeous iceberg lakes and deep underground caverns, to abandoned ghost towns, wild meadows of pretty wildflowers and powerful, rampaging rivers, its not difficult to see why Montana is known as the ‘Last Best Place’ on earth.
Montana’s state parks are terrific places to visit as they tend to be less crowded than the big two, but no less appealing or enriching.
They also represent fantastic places to partake in outdoor recreational activities like hiking, swimming, fishing, boating and camping, all year round.
If you live in, or are currently based around Bozeman, there are plenty of places you can visit to get your fix of nature in the Big Sky state.
Outlined below is a list of 5 of the best state parks near Bozeman we recommend you check out.
Map of State Parks Near Bozeman MT
Here is a map of the Montana state parks covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Bozeman
All five of these state parks near Bozeman can be reached in a maximum of just over three hours. So they make excellent day trip destinations.
In addition, they all possess a range of camping and other overnight accommodation options too, for those who want to spend a bit more time venturing around the area.
1. Madison Buffalo Jump State Park
Distance from Bozeman: about 22 miles west of Bozeman (straight-line).
Location: North Ridge Trail, Montana
Madison Buffalo Jump State Park is a Montana state park located seven miles south of the Interstate 90 interchange at Logan in Gallatin County, Montana in the United States.
Highlights associated with Madison Buffalo Jump State Park include river access, mountain scenery, and wooded landscapes.
See our full Madison Buffalo Jump State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Missouri Headwaters State Park
Distance from Bozeman: about 27 miles northwest of Bozeman (straight-line).
Location: 1585 Trident Rd, Three Forks, MT 59752
Nestled at the confluence of the Madison, Jefferson, and Gallatin Rivers, the Missouri Headwaters State Park gives you the opportunity to camp where Lewis and Clark did all the way back in 1805!
At just a short 30 minute drive northwest of Bozeman, it shouldn’t take you as long to get there as it did them. But on arrival, you will witness a landscape that has changed little since their time.
Encompassing 535 acres that resides at an elevation of 4,045, the park provides plenty of opportunities for hiking, bicycling, fishing, hunting and an abundance of fun, water-related activities.
It also has numerous interpretive displays and points of interest that convey the region’s natural and cultural history.
All up, there are 17 campsites available here for RV and tent camping. In addition, there are also flush toilets, grills and fire rings and picnic shelters too.
Missouri Headwaters State Park is a public recreation area occupying 535 acres (217 ha) at the site of the official start of the Missouri River.
Highlights associated with Missouri Headwaters State Park include river access, mountain scenery, and historic sites.
See our full Missouri Headwaters State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park
Distance from Bozeman: about 40 miles west of Bozeman (straight-line).
Location: 25 Lewis and Clark Caverns Road, Whitehall, MT 59759
Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park is a 3,000-acre (1,200 ha) public recreation and nature preservation area located twelve miles (19 km) east of Whitehall in Jefferson County, Montana.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, rental cabins, and a nature center.
See our full Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Elkhorn Ghost Town State Park
Distance from Bozeman: about 60 miles northwest of Bozeman (straight-line).
Elkhorn Ghost Town State Park covers 1 acres in Jefferson County, Montana.
Highlights associated with Elkhorn Ghost Town State Park include mountain scenery and seasonal wildflowers.
See our full Elkhorn Ghost Town State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park
Distance from Bozeman: about 61 miles east of Bozeman (straight-line).
Location: Greycliff, MT
Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park is a Montana state park located on the eastern edge of the community of Greycliff.
Highlights associated with Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park include lake recreation, river access, and glacial landscapes.
See our full Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
