![[Image description: Five tents nestled amongst boulders, overlooking a mountainous landscape.]](https://cdn.firespring.com/images/dea41b33-ad0f-4cb0-9fb6-98c58d654a18.jpeg)
Housing in Montana can be challenging. The cost of living throughout the country is increasing rapidly, and our state is not immune to these national trends. This is making it especially hard for service members to find affordable housing in our communities. While MCC cannot provide housing for all participants, we are working to provide safe and affordable options for members.
As a result of our 2023 Housing Survey, we found that:
- About 50% of participants find housing on their own, meaning they already lived in Montana, or found a suitable rental in town
- About 32% of participants were provided housing/camping by either MCC or a partner agency (USFS, BLM, NPS, Non-Profit, etc.)
- About 20% of participants elected not to find housing and chose to car camp on public lands
Questions to Consider:
What is your housing need? Some positions will spend extended periods of time in the field, while others are focused more in town, and both scenarios can be true for the same position at different times of the season. Please talk to your program manager to determine how often you will need to acquire your own housing.
What are your housing preferences? You could rent an apartment or house with fellow MCCers, rent a room from a community member, camp, or a combination of these options. Camping during warmer months is an option but we do not recommend camping from February – March.
What is your budget? Generally splitting a rental with fellow members is less expensive than renting a room from someone in the community, however, you normally have to pay a deposit and utilities.
What is your transportation? Boots, bike, or 4 wheels? Your sphere of possibilities expands if you have a bike, and even more so if you have a car. There isn’t any camping within walking distance.
Below are a variety of options for housing at MCC. Not all options are available for all positions, and MCC cannot guarantee that these options can be available for all participants.
Housing Options for all Positions & Programs:
Renting a room in an apartment or house:
- MCC can connect you with other folks serving in your area to find housing together.
- In 2023 housing survey results, we found that rent amounts between $600-899 were reported most frequently. The average monthly rental costs were $564. Rent is more expensive in our larger and more popular communities like Bozeman and Missoula.
- We have resources to help you find a suitable rental and transportation options in Bozeman, Helena, Kalispell, and Missoula.
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General Housing Guidance from AmeriCorps Montana
Base Camp Options for Adult Conservation Crews:
MCC has several different options for remote camping and/or bunkhouses where members can stay on their days off. The level of amenities varies, and oftentimes these camps are remote and outside of town. This means members electing to live in these Base Camps must be comfortable with remote settings. Some of these offerings have a fee per person to maintain the facilities. Some of the options below are campgrounds booked/maintained by MCC for members; some are public campground options in the area.
Central Divide (Helena) Regional Options
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Porcupine Campground (MCC)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: 16 camping spots
Distance from Town/Regional Office: 13 miles from Helena
Bathrooms: Porta Pottys (serviced by MCC regularly)
Shower Facilities: None
Laundry Facilities: None
Kitchen Facilities: MCC can provide a wall tent and camp chef, as well as any other cooking amenities needed
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): MCC provides an enclosed/locking trailer
Food Storage: MCC provides an enclosed/locking trailer
Parking Spots: 16
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): Yes
Cell Service: Yes
WIFI: No
Notes: USFS Campground
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Canyon Ferry Reservoir (Public)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: Many; there are 8 campgrounds with multiple sites; available on recreation.gov
Distance from Town/Regional Office: About 1 hour from Helena
Bathrooms: Pit Toilets
Shower Facilities: None
Laundry Facilities: None
Kitchen Facilities: No, but some sites have pavilions
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): No
Food Storage: No
Parking Spots: 16
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): No
Cell Service: No
WIFI: No
Notes: BLM Campgrounds
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Park Lake (Public)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: Only a few
Distance from Town/Regional Office: 20 miles SW of Helena
Bathrooms: Pit Toilets
Shower Facilities: None
Laundry Facilities: None
Kitchen Facilities: No
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): No
Food Storage: No
Parking Spots: A few
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): No
Cell Service: No
WIFI: No
Notes: USFS Campground (open May - September)
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Helena In Town Resources
Showers: Available at the Helena reginal office
Laundry Services: Many options in town: Little Dipper, The Depot, Capitol Laundry, and more.
Food Banks: Helena Food Share
Affordable Gym Memberships: Planet Fitness
Libraries: Helena Public Library (access WIFI)
Coffee Shops w/ Free WIFI: Montago (very close to regional office)
Check out our Local Happenings page for a list of awesome things going on in town!
More on housing and transportation in Helena!
Greater Yellowstone (Bozeman) Regional Options
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Lower Hyalite Campground (Public)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: 30 Camping Spots (Group Site)
Distance from Town/Regional Office: 20 minutes from Bozeman regional office
Bathrooms: Pit Toilet
Shower Facilities: None
Laundry Facilities: None
Kitchen Facilities: Overhead Shelter for cooking
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): None
Food Storage: None
Parking Spots: 20
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): No
Cell Service: Yes
WIFI: No
Notes: USFS Campground; Not available until mid May
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Trapper Springs Campground (Public)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: 8 people per site (3 cars max)
Distance from Town/Regional Office: 45 minutes from Bozeman regional office
Bathrooms: Pit Toilet
Shower Facilities: None
Laundry Facilities: None
Kitchen Facilities: None
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): None
Food Storage: None
Parking Spots: 3 cars max per site
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): No
Cell Service: No
WIFI: No
Notes: BLM Campground
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Red Mountain Campground (Public)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: 8 people per site (3 cars max)
Distance from Town/Regional Office: 45 minutes from Bozeman regional office
Bathrooms: Pit Toilet
Shower Facilities: None
Laundry Facilities: None
Kitchen Facilities: None
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): None
Food Storage: None
Parking Spots: 3 cars max per site
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): No
Cell Service: No
WIFI: No
Notes: BLM Campground
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Meyers Creek area USFS Administrative Cabin (MCC)
**This option is for one specific Greater Yellowstone crew working in the Red Lodge area
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: 1 Crew (6 people)
Distance from Town/Regional Office: 1 hour from Columbus MT, 1 hour 15 min from Red lodge
Bathrooms: Pit Toilet
Shower Facilities: None
Laundry Facilities: None
Kitchen Facilities: yes
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): yes
Food Storage: yes
Parking Spots: yes
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): yes
Cell Service: No
WIFI: No
Notes: USFS Administrative Cabin; a personal vehicle is required to stay at this location!
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Moose Creek Campground (MCC)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: 50 Camping Spots (Group Site)
Distance from Town/Regional Office: 45 minutes from Bozeman regional office
Bathrooms: Pit Toilet
Shower Facilities: None
Laundry Facilities: None
Kitchen Facilities: None
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): None
Food Storage: None
Parking Spots: Many!
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): No
Cell Service: No
WIFI: No
Notes: USFS Campground; Not available until mid May
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Bozeman In Town Resources
Showers: Unavailable at office, but there are affordable gym memberships in town
Laundry Services: Clothesline, Duds & Suds
Food Banks: Gallatin Valley Food Bank
Affordable Gym Memberships: Fuel Fitness, Planet Fitness, Access Fitness
Libraries: Bozeman Public Library (WIFI)
Coffee Shops w/ Free WIFI: Regional Office, Wild Joes, Ghost Town, Zocalo, Treeline, Roly-Poly
Check out our Local Happenings page for a list of awesome things going on in town!
More on housing and transportation in Bozeman!
Northern Rockies (Kalispell) Regional Options
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The Raven Work Center (MCC)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: 20 bunks total + 10 camping spots
Ranger House: 4 rooms w/ 8 bunks (2 bunks per room)
Classroom: 1 room w/ 4 bunks
Bunkhouse: 1 room w/ 8 bunks
Distance from Town/Regional Office: Libby, MT is 30 miles west; Kalispell, MT is 60 miles east
Bathrooms: Ranger House and Classroom have indoor restrooms; Cookhouse has two indoor restrooms; Bunkhouse does not have indoor restrooms; Porta-pottys onsite (regularly serviced by MCC).
Shower Facilities: Yes
Laundry Facilities: Yes
Kitchen Facilities: Yes
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): Yes
Food Storage: Yes
Parking Spots: Yes
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): Yes
Cell Service: WIFI Calling only
WIFI: Yes
Notes: See "The Raven Work Center: Resources and FAQ" for more information
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Tally Lake Campground (Public)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: 40 camping spots
Distance from Town/Regional Office: 18 miles from Whitefish, MT
Bathrooms: Pit Toilets
Shower Facilities: No
Laundry Facilities: No
Kitchen Facilities: Covered Pavilion w/ Tables available in group sites
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): No
Food Storage: Yes
Parking Spots: Yes
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): No
Cell Service: No
WIFI: No
Notes: USFS Campground; Open mid-May through mid-September. Max stay 16 days.
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Big Creek Campground (Public)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: 22 camping spots
Distance from Town/Regional Office: 19 miles from Columbia Falls, MT
Bathrooms: Pit Toilets
Shower Facilities: No
Laundry Facilities: No
Kitchen Facilities: No
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): No
Food Storage: Yes
Parking Spots: Yes
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): No
Cell Service: No
WIFI: No
Notes: USFS Campground; Open mid-May through mid-September. Max stay 16 days.
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Glacier Outfitters Rental Units (Public)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: 4 rental units
Distance from Town/Regional Office: 5 miles from Kalispell, MT
Bathrooms: Yes
Shower Facilities: Yes
Laundry Facilities: Yes
Kitchen Facilities: Yes
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): Yes
Food Storage: Yes
Parking Spots: Yes
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): Yes
Cell Service: Yes
WIFI: Yes
Notes: Available in shoulder season only – unavailable mid-April through September; associated rental fee
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Pleasant Valley Campground (Public)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: Many
Distance from Town/Regional Office: Across from Raven Work Center, 1 hour from Kalispell
Bathrooms: Pit Toilets
Shower Facilities: No
Laundry Facilities: No
Kitchen Facilities: No
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): No
Food Storage: No
Parking Spots: Yes
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): No
Cell Service: No
WIFI: No
Notes: USFS Campground; Open mid-May through mid-September. Max stay 16 days.
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Ashley Lake (North & South; Public)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: 11 (2 campgrounds: North & South)
Distance from Town/Regional Office: South Campground (30 mins from Kalispell); North Campground (45 mins from Kalispell)
Bathrooms: Pit Toilets
Shower Facilities: No
Laundry Facilities: No
Kitchen Facilities: No
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): No
Food Storage: No
Parking Spots: Yes
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): No
Cell Service: No
WIFI: No
Notes: USFS Campground; Open mid-May through mid-September. Max stay 5 days.
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Hungry Horse Reservoir (Public)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: Many
Distance from Town/Regional Office: Two roads encompass the reservoir: the East Side Reservoir Road # 38 and the West Side Reservoir Road #895 provide access to campgrounds. 1-2 hours from Kalispell depending on site.
Bathrooms: Pit Toilets
Shower Facilities: No
Laundry Facilities: No
Kitchen Facilities: No
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): No
Food Storage: No
Parking Spots: Yes
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): No
Cell Service: No
WIFI: No
Notes: USFS Campground; Open mid-May through mid-September. Max stay 16 days.
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Kalispell In Town Resources
Affordable Storage Units: AAA Storage, Sunset Storage, Grizzly Mini Storage
Showers: MCC Office, Fuel Fitness
Laundry Services: Dirty Boy, Tumble, Suds, Falls Coin Wash and Laundromat, The Warming Center
Food Banks: Flathead Food Bank, North Valley Food Bank, Columbia Falls Food Bank
Affordable Gym Memberships: Fuel Fitness, Access Fitness, Rockfish Climbing Gym, Logan Health Medical Fitness Center
Libraries: Imagine IF Library (WIFI)
Coffee Shops w/ Free WIFI: Colter Coffee, Ceres Bakery, Montana Coffee Traders, Starbucks
Thrift Stores: Salvation Army, Flathead Industries, Calvary Closet, Hope Thrift, Kalispell Community Thrift, Goodwill, Veterans Clothing and More Store
Free/Low Cost things to do: Kalispell Farmer's Market, Columbia Falls Farmer's Market, Picnic in the Park
Check out our Local Happenings page for a list of awesome things going on in town!
Western Wildlands (Missoula) Regional Options
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Moose Creek (MCC)
**This option is specifically for our Selway-Bitterroot Immersion Crew!
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: 6 bunk rooms
Distance from Town/Regional Office: VERY remote; 25 miles hike into wilderness backcountry
Bathrooms: Pit Toilets
Shower Facilities: Yes
Laundry Facilities: No - Hand Washing
Kitchen Facilities: Yes
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): Yes
Food Storage: Yes
Parking Spots: No (in backcountry, no vehicles allowed)
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): No (in backcountry, no vehicles allowed)
Cell Service: Yes
WIFI: Yes
Notes: This is a Wilderness base-camp, 25 miles from the nearest road. Members remain in the Wilderness for all but one weekend. The crew will come out one time together for 5-7 days once mid-season, late July or early August. Members can go wherever they want on their weekends but generally stay in the Wilderness given the distance to town and the very nice setting and facilities at Moose Creek.
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Krassel Work Center (MCC)
Number of Camping Spots or Bunks: 14 bunks
Distance from Town/Regional Office: 2 hours to McCall, ID
Bathrooms: Yes
Shower Facilities: Yes
Laundry Facilities: Yes
Kitchen Facilities: Yes
Secure Storage (gear/valuables): Yes
Food Storage: Yes
Parking Spots: Yes
Long Term Parking (Vehicles Can be left while on projects): Yes
Cell Service: Yes - very limited
WIFI: No
Notes: This is located at a remote work-station roughly 2 hours by car from McCall, ID. We prefer and recommend that members who live at Krassel have access to their own transportation due to the distance to town. This is not required and members generally carpool when they don't have a rig. Members who are over 21 may be approved to drive the MCC rig if they do not have their own and can use the MCC truck for resupply.
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Missoula In Town Resources
Affordable Storage Units: University Storage, Grant Creek Self-Storage
Showers: MCC Office, Affordable Gyms (see below)
Laundry Services: Green Hanger, Sparkle, Zootown, Lemon Laundry
Food Banks: Missoula Food Bank
Affordable Gym Memberships: YMCA, VRTX, Fuel Fitness
Libraries: Missoula Public Library (WIFI)
Coffee Shops w/ Free WIFI: Hunter Bay, The Break, Liquid Planet, Wardens, Clyde Coffee
Free/Low Cost things to do: Missoula Farmers Market, Free Cycles, Caras Park (music), Downtown Tonight, Out to Lunch
Check out our Local Happenings page for a list of awesome things going on in town!
Housing Options for Individual Placement Positions:
Members in MCC's Individual Placement Program (Conservation Interns, Conservation Fellows, and Big Sky Watershed Corps Members) are placed with various communities throughout Montana. Due to the nature of the program, housing options and prices can vary widely. Some placements are in larger communities like Missoula or Billings, while others are in smaller, more rural communities like Winnett or Broadus. Our host site supervisors and MCC staff are invested in helping members find a suitable housing situation. This could be connecting folks with local community members, host sites subsidizing housing costs, or space in a shared US Forest Service bunkhouse.
Housing Options for Youth Program Leaders:
In addition to renting a room in an apartment or house and host family options, our Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Crew Leaders are provided housing by their US Forest Service Partner, typically space in a shared US Forest Service bunkhouse. These housing options become available in mid June, and are not available for the 4 week training period leading up to the summer field season. Our Expedition Leaders in our Northern Branch (Kalispell) have the option of staying at The Raven.
