Billings, Montana

[Finhawk]

Any recommendations for a overniter in Billings?

[RVThere]

You can see if you can stay at the WalMart in Laurel, MT. According to this website, the two near I90 in Billings do NOT allow overnight parking.

Montana MT Wal-Mart Store Locations

[lonestarace]

Last summer we stayed at a nice KOA just outside of Billings on the Yellowstone river.
Billings KOA Montana - Welcome to the World's First KOA

[paz]

Last year we stayed at Billings Trailer Village. They have full hookups for $36 a night. The sites were a little small, but it wasn't bad for 1 or 2 nights.

[Cruzer]

Remember the big flap about Billings banning any overnight RV parking other than in licensed campgrounds a few years back? Eventually the city backpedaled on that due to tons of letters from RVers stating they would no longer visit or stay in Billings. That city ruling was originally pushed through by the owner of the Billings KOA. Personally, I don't think I could give that KOA our business so we time our trip to stay elsewhere.

[missourijan]

There's a small campground across I 90 from the Wal Mart in Laurel (same exit), it's a city campground that's $15, think it's called Riverside. It's nothing to write home about but great for just overnight.

[jobriant]

Originally Posted by Cruzer

Remember the big flap about Billings banning any overnight RV parking other than in licensed campgrounds a few years back? Eventually the city backpedaled on that due to tons of letters from RVers stating they would no longer visit or stay in Billings. That city ruling was originally pushed through by the owner of the Billings KOA. Personally, I don't think I could give that KOA our business so we time our trip to stay elsewhere.

The Billings, MT Anti-RV "No Overnight RV Parking" ordinance had been on the books for many years (since the 1950's or 60's, if I recall correctly), but had not been enforced until the owner of the Billings KOA made an issue of it in 2005. In speeches before the Billings city council, she accused RVers of everything from littering to dumping sewer tanks beside the highway.

It's also interesting to note that KOA national HQ is located in Billings, but KOA claims no relation between their national office and the Billings KOA owner's actions. They conveniently forget to mention that the Billings KOA owner's husband is on the board of directors of KOA.

In any event, the Billings city council decided to amend the law in question to allow Overnight RV Parking in business parking lots, with a maximum stay of 10 hours, and ONLY with the permission of the business. The amended ordinance went into effect on April 29, 2006. The www.OvernightRVParking.com database has shown this information correctly since April 30, 2006.

[RJay]

For the above reason I don't stay at ANY KOA parks.