Red Shale Campground

We did an overnight stop here between Billings & Devil's Tower and would have stayed a few extra nights if we had the time. Super peaceful, beautiful and out of the way. Perfect for relaxing.

Verizon 4G was zippy and we had a great evening!

I’ve been waiting for an amazing free campground that feels great, not like camping on the side of the road. Wow! This is it!!

Super quiet, tons of space between sites, tons of trees. I can’t believe we got to stay here, and for free.

Would definitely stay here again and would recommend it to anyone looking for dry camping with no hookups.

Didn’t use the toilets so cannot be speak to them.

free, great campsite, has verizon and in some places you can get satellite, fairly easy to get in and out and has vault toilets
check out the video to see this campground
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zHFT-iVHrc&t=1s

What a find! If you love boondocking, this place is for you!! This is a free National Forest campground w/ a 16 day max stay. Dry camping. No hookups, water spigots, dump station or dumpsters, so come prepared. About 5 miles to town to find gas/groceries/hardware store. The views are spectacular and it’s not busy. Roads and campsites maintained well, especially considering it’s free. Right off a major highway which is good for easy access. Minimal hwy noise.

We’ve been on the road for a month now, and this is probably the best place we’ve stayed. Free, quiet, large spots and beautiful surroundings.

This campground is just east of the Crow Reservation. The sites are nicely spaced to give everyone privacy.

Custer National Forest, Red Shale Campground. 6 miles from town, some highway noise, barely populated. Best fire pit, and picnic table, setup I have encountered, leave it to the Feds to have great equipment. Extremely nice $0 fee site, again designed for RVs but completely usable for tent campers, such as me. 16 day max stay, I will be using most of them here while I am exploring the National Forest, and the Cheyenne Nation Northern Reservation. There is a Catholic Indian Mission here in town founded in the 1800s, that borders the Cheyenne Reservation, it is worth a tour, and a donation, if you are so inclined. The Cheyenne Mission, in town has a pool and showers, that are accessible for $1 a day to non-residents. The local town of Ashland, MT has a couple of restaurants, a couple of bars. It also has a couple of gas stations - which have diesel, but not DEF at the pump, DEF is avail in 2.5 gal at the station store. In addition, a hardware store, and a grocery. I would recommend this campground, if you are looking for an free RV boondocking site. No running water, clean vault toilets with paper. The only item missing at Red Shale is a lake or reservoir to cool off in, but that may be because it's 98 degrees during the day right now.

Pros:
-Forest Views!!!
-it’s FREE!
-campfires allowed
-kids can ride bikes
-very peaceful (although there is some road noise)
-pet friendly
-boondocking (could be a con if you’re not into that)
-sites accommodate up to 35’

Cons:
-only 14 sites (we got there in the late evening on a Tuesday in August and still had a few to choose from)
-pit toilets
-dry camping
-no access to water or RV dump
-no staff

Overall, we loved camping here and stayed an extra night because it was so beautiful!

Activities:
-Little Big Horn Battlefield is an hour away *Kiddo Tip - don't forget sticks and the fixings for s'mores

Very secluded lots. Some close to highway but minimal traffic noise (especially at night). Fire rings and picnic tables. Most sites are somewhat level (but did I mention it’s free??😃). Several pit toilets and they are actually pretty clean. Will definitely return. There were a few other guests but the lots are so spaced out, you don’t see or hear anyone. Road in is dirt but manageable for most rigs. Probably not for Class A rigs.

Good road in and pretty level lots throughout. Excellent spot for a night or two on the road. Pit toilets were clean and roads were well maintained gravel.