Wade Lake Campground
Wade Lake
Wade Lake CG

About Wade Lake (MT)

Wade Lake Campground is located in southwestern Montana on the shore of it’s scenic namesake lake. It is approximately 43 mi south of Ennis and 35 mi west of Yellowstone National Park. The 25 site campground, including two group sites, is situated in a dense Douglas Fir forest on the hillside above the lake. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water taps are provided in each of the two camping loops. The campground is situated on a steep hillside. For many of the sites, particularly in the upper loop, the only flat space for a tent may be in the parking driveway. There is an undeveloped natural-surface boat launch and the lake has a no-wake speed limit. Visitors enjoy fishing, small craft boating, and nearby hiking and ATV trails in the Gravelly Range. Trailers longer than 24 ft are not recommended due to small campsites, narrow roads and tight curves within the campground. Check the driveway length and width before booking to make sure the entirety of your equipment will fit the site. Snow may hinder access in early or late seasons. Cellular service may be available at the top of the hill near the Forest boundary, about 1.5 mi away.  All sites are only available through reservations. To provide reservation opportunities for those who are unable to plan six months in advance, site numbers 6, 13, 17, 20 and 25 may only be reserved two weeks prior to arrival date. Sites 2, 9, 14 and 22 may only be reserved four days prior to arrival. All other sites can be booked 6 months in advance. Each new day becomes available at 8 A.M. Mountain time.

Available sites

25 total sites

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Sep 16 to Nov 30

Campground Amenities

Water Access

Water Access

  • Lake Access
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

25 Sites Available

Site
Price
⛺ 1, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 10, Loop: Main Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 11, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 12, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 13, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 14, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 15, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 16, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 17, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 18, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 19, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 2, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 20, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 21, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 22, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 23, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 24, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 25, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 3, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 4, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 5, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 6, Loop: Main Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 7, Loop: Main Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 8, Loop: Main Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 9, Loop: Main Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire

Reviews

113 reviews

Summary

AI generated

Wade Lake is a beautiful and well-maintained campground with stunning scenery, clear water, and a family-friendly atmosphere. While the sites can be crowded and small, many visitors appreciate the cleanliness of the facilities and the recreational opportunities available, such as paddleboarding. Some campers noted issues with noise from construction and nearby sites, yet overall, it remains a popular destination for nature lovers seeking a pleasant getaway.

Based on guest feedback

4.2

Overall rating

Based on 113 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 53.1% (60)
4 stars 26.5% (30)
3 stars 8.0% (9)
2 stars 7.1% (8)
1 star 5.3% (6)

Showing 108 reviews

Loralee W

Verified

September 3, 2026 Stayed at: 18, Loop: Upper Loop

Beautiful place. Stunning Water. For us, camp site #20 was perfect.

Helpful

Jena T

Verified

September 4, 2026 Stayed at: 21, Loop: Upper Loop

The bathrooms were almost unbearable because they smelt like ammonia.

Helpful

Traci P

Verified

September 5, 2026 Stayed at: 5, Loop: Lower Loop

The campground was clean and well kept. Campers were all respectful and quiet. The bathrooms were very clean. The host was friendly.

Helpful

Gary

Verified

September 18, 2026 Stayed at: 17, Loop: Upper Loop

Great host, clean bathrooms. Beautiful location.

Helpful

Wendy V

Verified

September 19, 2026 Stayed at: 13, Loop: Upper Loop

Really a beautiful place, and visiting in the fall midweek was nice as the crowds were small. The campsites are quite variable though so read details carefully to make there is a tent spot, or the right space for your RV. Kind of weird that there is no trash receptacles in the campground but yet you aren’t supposed to use the bear boxes for trash. Didn’t really talk to the camp hosts as they had multiple signs that made you think they didn’t want to help with anything or answer questions. I guess they must have done something, but never saw them coming through the campground. (I think it adds a lot to the experience to have friendly camp hosts that can answer questions etc.) To be fair, the bathrooms always had toilet paper, so so that was good. Just don’t come without a reservation or you will have to drive back to the top of the hill to make one, no matter how many emoty campsites there are. But overall, a beautiful and unique place

Helpful

Kathleen D

Verified

September 19, 2026 Stayed at: 21, Loop: Upper Loop

We had a lovely two day stay at Wade Lake. September is an ideal time of year. The water was still warm enough but the crowds were gone. The hiking trail to Hilltop Campground offered views of the fault lines in this unique area.

Helpful

Shelly C

Verified

September 21, 2026 Stayed at: 13, Loop: Upper Loop

The area is beautiful and peaceful.

Helpful

Cindi F

Verified

September 22, 2026 Stayed at: 4, Loop: Lower Loop

Down the lower road to camp spots #2 the road needs to be fixed its washed out bad...

Helpful

Location & Directions for Wade Lake (MT)

Madison Ranger District, 5 Forest Service Road, Ennis, MT 59729 United States

Elevation: 2,043 ft

Nearest town

Ennis, MT - 50 mi

About over 1 hr (87 min) to downtown

Highway access

Wade Lake is accessible via Montana State Highway 287, which is approximately 15 miles to the east.

Near Yellowstone National Park

The closest entrance is: West Entrance

Approximate drive: 31.5 mi · 54 min

Policies & Rules

Arrival & departure

Check out time

2PM

General

  • Cellular service is not available at the campground but may be available at the top of the hill, about one and one half miles away.
  • There is a food storage order in place. All food and attractants must be stored in a bear-proof manner when unattended.
  • There is a 16 consecutive day camping limit at a single site and 32 day cumulative limit, at multiple sites, within a calendar year.  
  • Garbage service is available from May 15 - September 15. Otherwise, it is Pack It In, Pack It Out.
  • For “First Come First Served” campsites - Pay by cash or check. Change is not available.
  • Unless designated as a group site, campsites are for a single camping unit only. No double camping is permitted. 
  • Please cancel your reservation if you do not plan to use the campsite. Reservations may be forfeited, without refund, for failure to occupy campsite on first night and for absences exceeding 24 hours thereafter. Campsite will be made available to other campers for the remainder of the reservation.
  • Campsites must be occupied the first night and may not be unattended for more than 24 hours

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 23, 2026

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Explore Ennis, MT

Population: 777

Nearby city: Bozeman, MT

Approx. 66 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 4,941 ft

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service