Pettengill Campground
This campground is named after an early homesteader, the "Wild Man of the Mountains" George Pettingill. His grave is nearby. He is widely admired in the area although he was somewhat of a hermit. The campground is located where the Wise River meets Pettengill Creek. The campground has 3 units. The maximum recommended trailer length for the area is 24 feet. There are ADA accessible toilets at this site. There is no water and no garbage service at this campground, so please pack out what you pack in.
More like this: first-come in Montana · tent only in Montana · accessible sites in Montana
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | There is a $15 per night fee with an additional $5 fee per extra vehicle. |
| Accessibility | Accessible Facilities: Toilet |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Mid-May through September |
| Forest | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest |
| Fees | There is a $15 per night fee with an additional $5 fee per extra vehicle. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 45.6834° N, 113.0551° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireSand Creek
16 mi from the campground · 35,520 acres · 90% contained
- PrescribedRx D3 Johnson Wildfire Landing
36 mi from the campground · 30 acres
- PrescribedRx D3 Tepee
38 mi from the campground · 50 acres
- PrescribedRx D3 Cameron Gaps
43 mi from the campground · 1,100 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | Bretz RV & Marine - Butte, MT ↗ | 31.8 mi |
| Dump station | RV Dump ↗ | 33 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miWise River-Elkhorn Hot Spring ↗22.5 mi trail
- 0.8 miGrouse Lakes2.9 mi trail
- 0.9 miPattengail Creek ↗14 mi trail
- 1.2 miSheep Creek ↗6 mi trail
- 1.3 miClifford Creek1.5 mi trail
- 1.3 miGold - Sheep ↗9.3 mi trail
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
- inBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,614,456 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Hecla HouseBuilding · Melrose · 8.2 mi
- Wise River Ranger StationHistoric district · Wise River · 9.3 mi
- Big Hole PumpstationBuilding · Divide · 14.1 mi
Guidebooks for Montana
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to camp at Pettengill Campground?
There is a $15 per night fee with an additional $5 fee per extra vehicle.
Source: Forest Service
Is Pettengill Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Mid-May through September.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Pettengill Campground?
Pettengill Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
Are there accessible sites at Pettengill Campground?
Accessible Facilities: Toilet.
Source: Forest Service
What if Pettengill Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Fourth of July Campground (1.5 mi, first-come), Boulder Creek Campground (2.4 mi, first-come), and Lodgepole Campground (3 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby