The campground was the perfect stop on our way back to Minnesota. It is nestled on the Yellowstone River with 500 feet of frontage and beautiful mountain views. It is also a great base camp while exploring Yellowstone National Park.
Livingston, Montana KOA Campground
The campground was really busy during our stay but we felt tucked away in the deluxe cabin by the river. We really liked that there was an Albertsons grocery store down the road (about 11 miles) and other conveniences (a coffee shop 😁). The store at the KOA also offered groceries and pretty much all the essentials that you would need.
The KOA offers deluxe cabins, camper cabins, RV sites, and tent sites.
We loved listening to the river flow, it was awesome for sleeping especially after filling our bellies with s’mores.
The cabins and campground are dog-friendly including a dog park. Allen loved going for walks by the river, watching people fishing, and just chilling. Other amenities include a pool, wifi, pavilion, fishing, basketball, playground, laundry, and bike rentals.
As the sun set, the views of the river and mountains were breathtaking. Nothing better than the golden hour.
We were only here for one night on our way through but next time we plan on exploring historic Livingston. There are museums, fine-dining, live music, and a pro rodeo. This time, it was nice just to enjoy the campground and a quiet night by the fire.
Life is short, never stop searching for what stirs your soul. ❤️
Our goal is to visit all of the United States national parks in our lifetime and we recently checked Glacier National Park off our travel list! Included in that list was capturing this photo. The fishing boat was a bonus. When I saw the boat leaving the dock, I was so excited because I knew it would add perspective to the rugged glacier mountains. I wasn’t sure if I would have the opportunity to see this iconic view of Lake McDonald due to the new ticketed entry system. But, we found a way, and I share our entry hack below. I also share our favorite things about Glacier National Park and this trip, like the ever-changing colorful rocks, the refreshing scent of pine, and West Glacier KOA.
Glacier National Park, also referred to as the Crown of the Continent, was established in 1910, making it the 10th National Park in the United States. It is also part of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park along with Waterton National Park in Canada. This designation makes it the first international peace park in the world. The park offers grand rocky mountains, over 700 lakes (only 131 are named), tall pine-filled forests, and beautiful meadows. There are endless things to do and see with so many lakes, trails (700 miles), and the scenic Going-To-The-Sun-Road. This road is specifically what you will need an extra ticket for when entering the park.
West Glacier KOA
During our visit, we lodged at the West Glacier KOA. I have to say, our stay was an unexpected, delightful surprise. I’ve always enjoyed our KOA experiences, but the West Glacier KOA goes above and beyond. The staff at the front desk was so helpful at check-in and when asked any questions during our visit. After the first night, we decided to extend our stay. We had to move cabins to extend, and the KOA team made it so easy. The layout of the campground gives ample space, so it doesn’t feel overcrowded.
There are so many amenities beyond the regular KOA standards, including ice cream served every night at Scoops (of course, I list the priorities first), espresso bar, hot breakfast and dinner, a children’s pool and separate adult pool, dog-friendly cabins and two dog parks, a walking trail, basketball court, and live entertainment plus other planned activities. I suggest the huckleberry ice cream! In fact, check out the Huckleberry Patch store filled with everything huckleberry when you enter Glacier National Park at the west entrance. I couldn’t get enough. 🙂 Speaking of the west entrance, it is only a short 3.9-mile drive from the KOA.
The deluxe cabins include linens, have a fire ring and propane grill, full bath and shower, partial kitchen, lofts, and are pet-friendly.
The grounds are impeccable with beautiful views in every direction.
Glacier National Park’s New Ticketed Entry SystemAnd More
From what I’ve read online, it seems many people are frustrated with the Glacier National Park new ticketed entry ticket reservation system. Your best bet for getting a ticket to Going-To-The-Sun-Road is planning ahead. Tickets go on sale 60 days before your date of arrival. They also sell a small number of tickets 2 days ahead, but it’s hard to snag one of those. The other option, which is our hack, is arriving before 6 am or after 5 pm. We loved going during these times because the park is less crowded and the sunrise/sunset is fantastic!
The rocky beaches are amazing! The rocks change based on the time of day. The sun, shadows, and water dance together creating so many different colors. We also enjoyed the fresh cool mountain air during the morning and evening especially after leaving the Minnesota heat.
Going-To-The-Sun-Road was actually closed while we were there in June due to snow, so it’s good to stay flexible and have a backup plan. There are so many other things to see and do in the area, including at West Glacier KOA. We could have stayed at the campground all day and been just as happy. Whitefish, Montana is an easy 20-minute drive, and Bigfork, Montana is 45 minutes. This whole area of northwestern Montana offers tons of adventuring, wildlife, delicious restaurants, unique shopping, live theater, breweries, and so much history. We were there for two weeks and barely scratched the surface.
Cheers KOA! We appreciate the awesome service and can’t wait to visit again.
Learn more about one of our other favorite parks, Grand Teton National Park by clicking HERE.
Life is short, never stop searching for what stirs your soul. ❤️
We turned off Highway 20 in West Yellowstone onto a dirt road and drove under the log archway for Bar N Ranch. We could see the canvas tents in the distance of this beautiful, secluded, wide-open space. There were pops of colorful wildflowers, horses running in the pasture and the mountains layering the horizon. From that moment, we knew we were in for a unique camping experience.
Luxury Camping Experience at Under Canvas Yellowstone
We checked in at the lobby tent which is open 24 hours a day and offers coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and a happy hour in the evening. This is a high-end camping experience so our service expectations were high and were exceeded from check-in to check-out. The lobby tent is also filled with cozy couches and blankets, fun oversized swings, board games, albums and a record player, plus a little store. There is an awesome patio with beautiful lights to enjoy the views.
Parking from the individual tents is a good distance so the staff meets you at your parking location with a golf cart to bring all your belongings to your tent. We stayed in the Safari tent which comes with a king-size bed and wood-burning stove. The community bathrooms (with private stalls, hot showers, flushing toilets, and sinks) are very nice and clean. There are plenty of stalls so there was no waiting.
The Deluxe, Stargazer, and Suite tents have their own ensuite bathrooms plus private decks. They also offer tents for larger families that include an adjacent hive for extra beds and space.
We arrived just as a storm was moving through and we were fortunate to see a rainbow. The sunsets in West Yellowstone, Montana are incredible and when the sky turns dark, the milky way lights up the big sky.
Where to Eat and Things to Do while Glamping Yellowstone National Park
Dinner is served at the Bar N Ranch restaurant with a nice variety of options. We had the Fries with Trio of Dips, Pan-Roasted Trout, and Bruschetta Grilled Chicken.
After dinner, you can enjoy s’mores around the campfire or relax in a hammock. There’s also volleyball, horseshoes, and badminton. You can rest, play, or plan your adventures at Yellowstone National Park.
The resident fox greeted us early in the morning as we walked over to the lobby tent for coffee!
The breakfast buffet is included in the rate and also served at the Bar N Ranch. It was a lovely chilly morning and all the smoke from the wood-burning stoves created a fantastic view.
Ranch reflections…
After breakfast, we walked down to the other hammock hangout by the river.
Thank you, Under Canvas, for such an easy and unique camping experience! And for all of the small touches and customer service. We look forward to seeing you again!
The best part is that Whitetail Woods Regional Park is only 40 minutes from the Twin Cities and yet, you feel like you are 1000 miles away.
There are only three cabins so they book up quickly on the weekends. There is more availability during the week and if you plan ahead.
The cabins sleep six, are very clean, and well kept. They have heat and would be a gorgeous winter getaway. The trails for hiking, walking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing are literally right outside your door. They are very spacious with a beautiful deck that looks out over the towering pines.
We only stayed for one night and I was worried that it would feel like a lot of work for such a short amount of time. I was completely wrong! We loved the whole experience and felt so relaxed. It was a good reminder that even one night away is so good for the soul. We had plenty of time to hike, take photos, grill an amazing dinner and watch the Minnesota Vikings (oh yes we did! There is great wifi for streaming). Then we were blessed with a beautiful sunset. There is nothing better than spending all day and night outdoors!
The next morning we had coffee and breakfast over the open fire, a couple hours of hammock time, and a lovely walk. This sunrise!
We will definitely stay here again. If you’ve been there, let me know your thoughts. If you haven’t and are looking for a cool place to camp close to the Twin Cities, I would check it out.
My reminders and takeaways from this trip…..
Keep it simple.
One night away in Mother Nature’s arms is the best medicine.
Treat yourself…
xo
Another great spot to enjoy peace and quiet in the Twin Cities is Two Pony Pizza Farm.
It’s a rainy day so I’m dreaming of camping, looking at photos from past trips and planning new ones. I love going through old pictures and reminiscing. One of the best things about living in the Twin Cities is the convenience of not having to travel too far to “get-away”.
We really enjoyed camping at Baker Campground which is part of the Three Rivers Park District (offering 27,000 acres of parks and trails) and is only 22 miles from Minneapolis.
The campsites are spacious, tons of wooded trails, and we loved being so close to Lake Independence. There’s so much to do that it’s hard to find time to relax! We rented their tandem bike which was so much fun. Another nice amenity is that they have rental equipment for almost any activity that you want to try. I recently turned 50 and it’s motivated me to try new things! It’s nice to be able to rent and try something a few times before making a big purchase.
This was the first time that we brought our girl, Utah, camping with us and the first time that Terry and I put up a tent together. (which you know can end a marriage. ;-)) But we were very pleased with our REI Co-op Camp Dome 4 Tent. It was very easy to set up…whew! There was plenty of room for us and we even brought Utah’s kennel in for the night.
I love all the different hiking trails and taking pictures of the wildflowers. The trail system is extensive offering something for everyone based on your skill level.
There is nothing better than relaxing in our hammock after a hike! If you are considering getting one, DO IT. I love the ENO hammocks because they are so easy to pack and don’t take up much room. They are so lightweight that you can just throw them in your backpack. I waited to purchase one thinking it would be hard to deal with and wish I would have got one sooner. It’s the little things!
Utah loves the hammock too! 🙂
What is your favorite thing about camping or favorite spot?
