Rat Flats
Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), and camping is free. Rat Flats is a National Forest campground near Gallatin, Montana.
First-come, first-served
- National Forest
- Managed by
Rat Flats sits inside Custer Gallatin National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.
Getting a site
- Managed by
- National Forest
- Reservations
- None, first-come
- Fee
- Free
Source: apps.fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-30
Access and cell service
- Elevation
- 5,874 ft
45.4319, -111.1569 in Gallatin. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Common questions
Do you need a reservation at Rat Flats?
No. Rat Flats is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.
How much does it cost to camp at Rat Flats?
Camping at Rat Flats is free.
Who manages Rat Flats?
Rat Flats is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Around Rat Flats
Hot springs and waterfalls nearby
Nearest to Rat Flats, in straight-line miles: Palisade Falls (waterfall, 11 miles), Bozeman Hot Springs (hot spring, 16 miles), Chico Hot Springs (hot spring, 24 miles), and Norris Hot Springs (hot spring, 27 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.
- Sites
- 20
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $26 per night
- Sites
- 14
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $26 per night
- Sites
- 13
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $26 per night
- Sites
- 13
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $20 per night (includes 2 driving vehicles)
More campgrounds: camping near Gallatin and campgrounds in Gallatin.
Sources
- apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-30
- epqs.nationalmap.gov (elevationFt), accessed 2026-10-01