Livingston Paradise Valley Montana KOA – My Review

I am SO not a camper. I want an actual roof over my head. I want a shower. I want to sleep in a bed. I want a toilet. Yet, I can appreciate wanting to be out in nature, having a campfire, cooking s’mores, stargazing. That kind of thing. In other words, I’m a hotel girl through and through. However, I discovered several years ago that KOA campgrounds offer cabins – some of which have all the comforts of a hotel. So, when I’m on a road trip, I’ll seek out prices/locations of KOA campgrounds when I’m looking for lodging. And sometimes, this research leads me to staying at a KOA. Let’s explore and review the Livingston / Paradise Valley Montana KOA!

Livingston Paradise Valley Montana KOA – Location and Details

Operating season: May 1 – October 15


Location:
163 Pine Creek Rd
Livingston, MT 59047

The Livingston / Paradise Valley KOA is located roughly 12 miles south of the town of Livingston, Montana. It’s situated right on the Yellowstone River – so much so that some sites have direct river access! There isn’t much else around here, as far as shopping and restaurants, though there is a small bar/grill just up Pine Creek Road, but I haven’t been there personally.

Is the Livingston Paradise Valley KOA a good base for Yellowstone National Park?

The answer is…maybe. That said, every time I’ve stayed here, I’ve stayed to visit Yellowstone National Park. Now, the Livingston/Paradise Valley KOA is located 45 minutes from the north entrance of the park. That’s pretty far away, considering how big Yellowstone is. The north entrance is just that – an ENTRANCE. You have a few more hours of driving just to visit other areas of the park, like West Thumb, Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, etc.

Using this KOA as a base isn’t the best idea, IMO, but I have done it three times. I’ve been to Yellowstone National Park more times than I can count, so I’m very familiar with the park/what I want to see & what I want to skip/etc, that I feel comfortable staying so far away, should I need to do so. If it’s your first time to Yellowstone National Park, I wouldn’t recommend staying here – stay inside the park, in Gardiner, or in West Yellowstone (West Yellowstone is always my first choice!). But if you’re like me and have visited the park many times, staying here isn’t that bad – it’s also one of the cheapest places to stay to visit Yellowstone National Park! Most people who are staying at this campground are also doing day trips to Yellowstone.

Lodging:

I’ve stayed at the Livingston/Paradise Valley KOA in Montana several times over the years, always getting a cabin. I typically will opt for a camping cabin, rather than the fancy cabins with bathrooms. Camping cabins are cheap and offer beds, electricity, WiFi, and heat.

The Livingston Paradise Valley KOA has two types of these rustic cabins – they have the regular camping cabins and “couples” cabins. I’ve stayed in each.

The regular camping cabins are exactly like every other cabin in the history of KOA campgrounds – they have a double bed, set of bunk beds. Linens are not included so you’ll need to bring your own. I always bring a sleeping bag, two pillows, a few extra blankets and towels.

The couples cabin looks exactly the same as the regular camping cabins, from the outside, but it offers only one double bed. I’ve stayed here when I’ve traveled solo with my dog and it worked out perfectly. It had a chair, and a nice fireplace heater. In fact, the cabin was so dang cute that I extended my stay by an extra day – I didn’t want to leave!

In addition to the camping cabins, they also have more ‘luxurious’ cabins with more amenities (they come with linens and usually have a kitchen) and a private bathroom. While these cabins are very nice, they’re also quite pricey.

Because I’ve stayed here a few times, I’ve stayed in different cabin sites. Some of the cabins are quite close to each other, but the “couples” cabin I stayed in was much more secluded. However, despite how close you may be to your neighbors, I’ve always found that everyone is very respectful of campground quiet hours (after 10pm) and never have had to make a noise complaint.

Of course, RV sites and tent sites are available too.

Campground Amenities

The Livingston/Paradise Valley has the following amenities:

Showers and bathrooms (very clean!) – they are accessible via a door pass-code that you receive once you check in. Those staying in RV sites or the ‘fancy’ cabins with bathrooms are not given access – it’s only for tent and camping cabin guests.
Camp K9: A dog playground
Camping store: Well stocked with everything you could need, though the groceries are expensive. I bought some firewood, fire starters and calamine lotion. You’re paying for the convenience of shopping here, of course. Livingston is about a 15 minute drive away and will have a few supermarkets.
Swimming Pool
Disc Golf
Breakfast (additional cost – I love eating breakfasts prepared by the KOA staff – they’re always so good, but every time I stay here, I need to get up early, so I haven’t had the chance to try it at this particular KOA)

Livingston/Paradise Valley KOA – Final Thoughts

Overall, this is an excellent KOA. I absolutely love staying here, and I’ll definitely be back in the future. Is it the best place to stay to visit Yellowstone National Park? No. You will have a better Yellowstone National Park experience if you stay closer to the park, in Gardiner, West Yellowstone or inside the park. However, if you’re familiar with Yellowstone National Park, this is a great, cheap place to stay if you don’t mind driving a little further.