Gateway FamCamp

Arrived 6 June 2019 and had no issues getting a spot that accommodated our 44' motorhome. The camp host (Bill) was friendly and helpful and the check in process was painless. They don't take reservations, but I never saw the park completely full during our week-long stay. Easy in and out pull through sites that are relatively level (we didn't need to use leveling blocks) concrete pads. There are limited trees for shade and the area tends to be windy so I wouldn’t recommend leaving out an awning. We didn't use the laundry or shower facilities. The park was clean and quiet with plenty of open grassy areas for the dog. We didn't use the wifi, but AT&T and Verizon hotspots worked fine. The park is close to a few things to do: Malmstrom Museum and Air Park; Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center; River's Edge Trail; and C.M. Russell Museum to name a few. Oh...and check out the mermaids at the Sip & Dip Lounge if you get the chance...it's kind of a novelty thing. 

The only down side of this FamCamp is that their laundry facility has been completely non-op our entire stay. Otherwise the stay has been very enjoyable. Concrete pads, well kept grounds. Easy access to the base. Full hook ups. Warm durning the day and cool (cold for us Florida people) during the nights.

It's weird that I am reviewing myself as the camp host. WE ARE OPEN. and waiting for you. Prices are the same as last year. $25.00 per night and $130.00 for a week. Despite what is written, we do allow tenters at the Gateway famcamp. $10.00 a night. Planting in our whisky barrel planters will begin soon! Outdoor rec has lost our programmer, Drew to Nellis AFB. Good Luck Drew! New adventures await you! We are starting the season with three less employees. Hopefully, the leaders will get these positions filled soon. It shouldn't affect the operations of the Gateway Famcamp. This is my third year as camp host. IF you have questions, feel free to give me a call at 406-731-3263. I can NOT return calls. Sorry, I only have a class B phone line. If you are headed to Glacier National Park, the visibility is the best it has been in years. Cross your fingers for no fires!

Stayed a week at the Gateway FamCamp. It is the Off base camp. Very quiet camp. Easy in/out. 2 things on the driving directions to here; 1, the right turn is onto 63rd St, not 62nd. And 2, if coming from the north, it is easier to continue to 3rd Ave and turn left (east) than it is to turn onto 2nd Ave and then turn onto 63rd St. Bill, the host, is very helpful. The restaurant book in the laundry room is not kept updated, so use it's info at your own risk. There are 2 washers and 4 dryers, $1 per cycle for each. Lots of tourism info in the laundry room as well. No fenced dog run, but there is a designated, on-leash, dog area. The bag dispenser is not always full, so take you own waste bag just in case. There is a nice, half mile walking path at the far south end of the FamCamp. Concrete pad is about 40' with room in front and behind for extras, probably around 75' overall. Utilities worked fine. Getting a satellite signal was easy. Sites are "buddy sites", meaning your entry door faces your neighbor's entry door and you share the grassy space between. The sites seem to be somewhat staggered, so you are not directly across from each other, making it not too bad. Small BX/Shopette combo. Walmart is less than 5 min away and visible from the FamCamp. No diesel on base, but Walmart has it and you pass 2 other gas stations on the way there. One weekday the FamCamp was full and at least one RV was dry camping in the overflow parking area. No idea if the Annex was also full. The next day several sites were empty and the dry camper moved to one of them. I would definitely stay here again if in the area and I would have a better plan for what to see and do. There are many, varied museums to visit, not to mention dams and restaurants.

Great campground. Clean facilities and very nice sites. Grass areas neat and well maintained. Camp host friendly & helpful. 

I am Don Kostyal, retired USAF CMSgt, and I was the camp host for the Annex this past summer. The Annex is the Famcamp located ON the base. It has 25 full hook-up sites and 5 water and electric only. The sites are various sizes and the patio may be opposite your camper door. This is because this was once the base mobile home park. Yes there are sewer connections that are at various heights from your camper outlet--again, due to the previous mobile home connections. The sites are all back in. The 5 sites that are electric and water only can only handle a camper less than 20 feet in length. There is a dump site located at the Annex and if you are camping in the Famcamp there is no charge currently. The $2 charge is for folks not staying in the Famcamp. There are no showers at the Annex but the base fitness center is across the street and it is open to campers from 0500 - 2130. There is a public restroom, ladies and a men's, with a toilet and sink in each. The base has a BX, Class VI, Commissary, gas station (no diesel), fitness center, pool (summer) and a great Outdoor Recreation Shop with lots to rent and great personnel. The cost to camp at the Annex is $20 a night or $100 a week and yes there is a 21 day max stay. I believe the off base camp grounds were around $80 a night. Great Falls is 2 hours from Glacier National Park and a stop over for folks going to and coming from Alaska. There is a project to upgrade the Annex to bigger sites and 50 amps, but is has struggled to move up the priority list of things to do. 30 amps is only a problem when the temps go above 85 degrees as there isn't much shade but it I see a dry heat. Since the power lines are from the old mobile home site days, there are times when power goes out. During the winter the winds and severe weather cause problems with the wiring. We had a few sites down with no powere this summer for several days until CE could retire some receptacles and overhead wires--sites were NOT reserved for campers, but those were the only signs we had available to block off the sites. We also had a few days where a few sites were closed off due to a sewer line backing up from some improper items being flushed down the lines. While sites are first come first serve, I did direct some campers to various sites but this was because they had long campers that I knew would most like back into a power pole or to put them on a site with a patio door side. There is one site "0" that I would try and keep for a big rig tag axle (42' or bigger) as it was the only site at the Annex that could handle that size rig. Usually those folks want to go to the main Famcamp off base as it has pull through sites, but when the main camp was full I would hold spot "0" for a big rig. Worse case scenario, Walmart was only 1/2 mile from the base and they allow overnight parking. There is no laundry on base and Annex campers cannot use the main Famcamp laundry (there is only 2 machines) but there are several laundries around Great Falls. I really enjoyed my time as host this past summer and enjoyed meeting the many folks who came to stay. It was a quiet campground and with only one exception, all the campers were great guests. 

Was going to stay two nights....left after one. Meets minimum standards but that's about all I can say for this FamCamp. Not pleasant appearance and zero amenities. Host told us where to park but wasn't at all friendly nor helpful. Not suppose to take reservations but I saw at least three spots with reserved signs....one I guess was for someone's pickup because that's all I saw park there. Doubt I'd even stop there again for an overnight if I was in the area. We camped at Gateway FamCamp (Military FamCamp) in a Motorhome.

This review is on the original FamCamp, now called the "Annex". Although Gateway doesn't take reservations as they are "never full", they close to it today (unless you want to tent camp, don't mind not having power, etc.). The higher rated off-base part is completely full and the old "Annex" has only one working empty space this morning. There are some tent spaces available and several RV ones with cones in them as they've power or other problems. This part has no showers and no laundry. The spaces are gravel with some vegetation and not very level. Gopher/prairie dog holes are all around, so you've got to watch your step when walking dogs. Only 30 amp power. Our sewer hookup was in the rear of our spot but actually level with our dump port! The CG is clean, but really needs some maintenance. Staff is great! The hosts at both camps are friendly and helpful. I had difficulty finding the on-base part and someone from Outdoor Rec. directed me over the phone. (There's next to no signage for either of them on or off base.)

Great place to stay The whole facility was clean and neat,especially the restrooms and laundry.We would stop there again.

Nice well kept no hassel Famcamp outside the gate. Camp host is friendly and helpful. Laundry room and bathrooms are clean and washer dryer price are lower than normal.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Bill Whitehurst and I am the camp host for the 2017 season. This is my first time hosting, so please be gentle with me. I am here to make your Campground experience at Gateway Family Campground the best ever. The direct phone number to me to check out to see if there is any space for you is 406-731-5140. If no answer, please call back. It just means that I'm away from the phone helping out other guests. I cannot hold a site for you, but I can let you know how many sites are still available. The dump station in at the Annex campground on base. The fee is only $2.00.  We are now allowing limited tent camping at Gateway, Only $10.00 a night, includes showers, rest rooms and use of laundry facilities,

Came in on way to GNP. First visit to MAFB since stationed here in 1965. How Great Falls has changed. Had rv trouble so did not dare try to make it to Canada and instead took toad to GNP. Loved the location outside the gate and how quiet it was there and the cleanliness. Plan on returning within a few years.

Great stop here. Great camp hosts. The ladies restroom had that special touch with lotion, plant, boxed tissues etc... the location is great. Don't forget to visit the Lewis and Clark center. 

Nothing much noteworthy about this Famcamp; paved interior roads with sloping concrete pads, reasonable large sites, no trees for shade.  There aren't many choices in Great Falls, so after driving six miles through heavy city traffic we felt fortunate to get a site, but not accepting reservations in this out of the way location is insane.  Drive all the way, find out there are no spaces, then figure out how to get past the gate barriers in a 40' to get to the annex.  Or drive all the way back to the interstate.  We stopped here to make a commissary trip since there's little to see in town, but it wasn't worth the effort.  WiFi didn't work, no cable, and just a few OTA channels.  Nice hosts, but I wouldn't want to be in their shoes having to turn people away.  Next time we'll shop at Walmart and skip this place.