Roughly 20 miles down a winding gravel and dirt road along Hungry Horse Reservoir, Lakeview is a small dispersed campground in Flathead National Forest with around four to five sites and no fee to stay. The road alone is worth noting before you go: reviewers consistently describe it as long and unpaved, and the campground itself sits close enough to the main forest road that dust is a factor. RVs are limited to 22 feet, and the gravel parking pads are on the smaller side, so trailers are not a practical fit despite the drive-in access.
Sites are arranged on both sides of the entrance, with a pit toilet in the middle. Each site includes a picnic table and a fire ring, and most have a short trail leading down to the reservoir. Paddlers and swimmers have used these access points regularly, with sites 2 and 5 noted as having the most direct routes to the water. Site 5 tends to offer the flattest ground for tents. Those who have camped here report views of the reservoir and surrounding mountains from the water's edge.
Annie C. notes the lake access "made for a great place to watch the sun rise," which captures why water proximity is the defining draw here. Pets are allowed. Bugs can be heavy, particularly in early summer. The season runs May through October. Campers wanting more options in the corridor can look at dispersed camping near Flathead National Forest, or check out Murray Bay Campground (MT) a few miles north for a different setup along the same reservoir.
Description
3600-foot elevation. 5 sites near the west shore of Hungry Horse Reservoir. Fishing for trout and whitefish in the reservoir; access at Lost Johnny Point boat ramp. Pack it in, pack it out. Lakeview campsite Campsite picnic area Campsite fire-ring
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsLakeview is located in Montana near Essex
Directions
From the town of Hungry Horse, go about 24 miles southeast on Forest Road 895
Coordinates
48.21900099 N
113.80600055 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 7/22/26- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 7/22/26
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Features
For Campers
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Big Rig Friendly
DISPERSED CAMPING
Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.
PERMIT might be REQUIRED
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Lakeview needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 3 hrs 33 min from Missoula, MT
- 4 hrs 21 min from Great Falls, MT
- 4 hrs 39 min from Helena, MT
- 5 hrs 3 min from Coeur d'Alene, ID
