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Lake Elmo

Billings, Montana — Yellowstone County.

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68Surface acres
2Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 142618509).

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Elmo is in Montana

The red circle marks Lake Elmo.

Fast facts

About Lake Elmo

  • County: Yellowstone
  • City or town on the shore: Billings
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 4 mi from Billings and 124 mi from Bozeman, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Montana: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Montana

Official FWP pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 2 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Swimming. 1 public beach or swim spot on the map (details)
  • Camping. 2 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Lake Elmo shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap) (Beach)3¼ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeach
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Billings
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Billings
  3. 3Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap)
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 142618509), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lake Elmo

We found 2 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Elmo. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

All campgrounds & RV parks in Montana

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Lake Elmo, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Compare car rentals near this lake

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (45.8410, -108.4794). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Elmo. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lake Elmo

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in MT (America/Denver), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    2 public access sites listed, 2 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat rampBillings—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp—No feeBoating45.8437, -108.4821
    Boat rampBillings—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating45.8401, -108.4769

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 1 beach or swimming spot on the shore of Lake Elmo not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap)BeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions

    Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lake Elmo

    How big is Lake Elmo?

    Lake Elmo covers about 68 acres in Billings, Montana (Yellowstone County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Lake Elmo?

    Yes. 2 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in Lake Elmo?

    OpenStreetMap shows 1 public beach or swimming spot on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lake Elmo?

    Yes. We list 2 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

    What towns are on Lake Elmo?

    Lake Elmo touches Billings in Yellowstone County, Montana.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake Elmo? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Montana lakes & ponds · All waters in Billings