Buttermilk Campground
Buttermilk Campground is nestled along the shore of Island Park Reservoir, about 30 miles southwest of West Yellowstone, Montana, in stunning Island Park, Idaho. Situated within the Caribou-Targhee National Forest’s Ashton/Island Park Ranger District, this campground rests at an elevation of 6,200 feet, accessible via U.S. Highway 20, then west on Yale-Kilgore Road for two miles, and left onto Buttermilk Loop Road for three miles.
Natural Features: A forest of lodgepole pine stretches across the campground, offering partial shade to some sites, while others bask in open sunlight near the reservoir’s edge. Summer wildflowers bloom in abundance, painting the meadows around this volcanic caldera landscape cradling the shimmering waters of Island Park Reservoir.
The reservoir invites boating, waterskiing, kayaking, and world-class fishing for kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout, with a concrete boat ramp and docks on-site. The Mesa Falls Scenic Byway, 13 miles south, unveils breathtaking overlooks at Upper and Lower Mesa Falls, while Harriman State Park’s trails and wildlife lie just 15 miles away.
Facilities: The campground offers 47 single-family sites, six double-family sites, and one group site for up to 150 people, each equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings. Vault toilets, drinking water, and trash collection are available, with one site offering 15-amp electric hookups and a host on-site. Access roads are paved, while interior loops and parking spurs are gravel, accommodating RVs up to 50 feet.
Season: Late May-Early September
After season: Open (weather dependent) first-come/first-served; no fee, no toilets, no water.
Buttermilk Campgrounds
Reservations
Make Reservations HereSeason: Late May-Early September
After season: Open (weather dependent) first-come/first-served; no fee, no toilets, no water.
General Information
Season: Late May-Early September
After season: Open (weather dependent) first-come/first-served; no fee, no toilets, no water.
Open 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
No All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) or Off-HighwayVehicles (OHVs) allowed in the park.
- Single Site $ 25.00
- Double Site $ 50.00
- Group Area (Sun.-Thurs.) $ 100.00
- Group Area (Fri.-Sat.) $ 200.00
- Extra Vehicle (ea.) $ 7.00
Address: 46 Highway 20 Ashton Ashton, ID 83420
Phone: (208) 652-7442
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Closed on federal holidays)
Getting There
Latitude / Longitude
Latitude: 44.4351
Longitude: -111.4244
Directions
From West Yellowstone, Montana travel south on Hwy. 20 for approximately 25 miles or 79 miles north of Idaho Falls, ID. Turn right on to the Yale - Kilgore Road (across from the Elk Creek Gas Station). You can either go ~1/2 mile and turn left or go 2 miles and turn left onto the Buttermilk Loop Road. Buttermilk Campground is at the bottom of the Loop.
Facility and Amenity Information
Restrooms
Restrooms are available at this site.
Water
Potable water is available at this site.
Picnic Tables
Picnic tables are available at this site.
