Best Tent Camping near Alberton, MT

Lolo National Forest surrounds Alberton, Montana with several tent-only camping options and primitive tent sites. Kreis Pond Campground, located near Huson, offers seven well-spaced tent campsites around a small lake with basic amenities. The Forks Montana FWP site in Alberton provides drive-in tent camping with picnic tables and vault toilets. Blue Mountain Forest Road 365 offers dispersed tent camping opportunities approximately 20 miles southeast of Alberton, where campers can find turnoffs suitable for setting up tents away from the main road.

Most tent campgrounds in the Alberton area feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal site preparation. Vault toilets are available at established sites like Kreis Pond and Forest Grove Fishing Access Site, but drinking water is generally unavailable. Campers should bring water treatment methods or pack in their own supply. Bear activity is common throughout the region, requiring proper food storage. Several miles of dusty, washboard gravel roads lead to many of the tent camping areas, particularly at Kreis Pond. The camping season typically runs from May through early December at most sites, though weather conditions may limit access during shoulder seasons.

In fall, tent campsites around Alberton experience lower visitation levels and cooler temperatures. One camper noted that Kreis Pond was "not busy" during autumn visits, with "wooded sites along the lake" providing natural screening between tent sites. Blue Mountain dispersed camping areas offer more seclusion for primitive tent camping, though visitors report occasional vehicle traffic creating dust. According to reviews, Blue Mountain "can get busy during the day but is quiet at night," making it suitable for backcountry tent camping. The Earl Tennant Campground in Lolo National Forest provides a "super minimal campground for tents only" with a small bridge crossing the river, though signage is limited and the turn can be easy to miss.

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Best Tent Sites Near Alberton, Montana (37)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 37 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Tent Camping Reviews near Alberton, MT

516 Reviews of 37 Alberton Campgrounds


  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2020

    Dalles

    Camp and fish at the Dalles Campground

    The Dalles Campground is a nice pleasant campground with 10 sites along Rock Creek.  Situated in a mature lodge pole pine forest all the site have plenty of shade.  All sites have picnic tables and metal fire rings.  Site has a water hand pump and ADA vault toilet.  Site 1 was interesting as you have to walk up an embankment to reach the site, which makes it not visible from the campground road.  A bear proof locker is available for food storage.  Being along Rock Creek gives those who wish to fish access to the blue ribbon stream with brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout.  Cost is $6 per night.  All the sites are nicely spread apart.  The road to Dalles campground is not recommended for RVs of trailers as it get pretty bumpy after the pavement ends,  this only get worse the further you travel down the road, but is doable if you drive very slow.

  • s
    May. 25, 2025

    Quartz Flats Campground

    convenient & quaint

    Pulled off i-90 for a stop, plenty of campsites available. Able to reserve online thru recreation.gov as well as first come first serve. saw maybe 4 other cars. Only downside is proximity to freeway and loud train. Would go off multiple times throughout the night waking us up every time. Well maintained, plenty of restrooms they were closed though but a bear box and dumpster were available for trash/food storage.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2020

    Harrys Flat

    Nice campground on Rock Creek

    Harry's Flat campground is a great campground along Rock Creek, set in a huge old growth ponderosa pine forest.  The sites are large, especially the ones bordering right up to Rock Creek. The campground has 15 campsites each with Picnic tables and metal fire rings.  The campground has vault toilets and a few bear lockers for food storage, water is available.  Not all the campsites were available during my visit as about 1/2 the campground was closed due to damage during the heavy spring and early summer rains.  This is a great spot for people interested in doing some fishing, as Rock Creek is a blue ribbon stream, with brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout.  Cost is $6 per night, first come first served.

  • J
    Apr. 15, 2021

    Thibodeau

    Thibodeau Rapids

    Great place to stay. First come first stay 8 day max stay. Vault toilets, picnic table, sites are spread out. $18 dollars per day

  • Kandi R.
    May. 23, 2023

    Little Joe Campground - Lolo National Forest

    Lots of trees

    Sites Right along the river. A few sites are in a cul de sac style and would be great for group camping. The other two are fairly secluded. No water. No garbage. There is a Vaulted toilet. Each site has fire ring and a picnic table.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2019

    Quartz Flat Campground

    Ranger Review: Acai Berry Liquid IV At Quartz Flat Campground

    CLICK HERE for FULL Ranger Review Video

    When traveling through Montana there is a portion of the state which suddenly opens up in such an inviting way as the National Forest and Mountains start to give you the first glimpse of the upcoming PNW environment.   Tall trees welcome you and on a cool fall day the crisp air produces  a beautiful fog over the mountains.

    Campground Review:

    As I entered into this section of the 2 million acre LOLO National Forest I initially pulled into a rest area to make lunch only to realize that the exit point for the rest area was actually also the shared entry point for the Quartz Flat Campground.

    The immediate sense of comfort abounded as large campsites became visible as I drove down the entry and the opening of the 2 loops welcomed me in with open arms.   Sites were well shaded and had ample ground to spread out and get comfortable for a stay from a day to 14 days at only $10 a night or $5 for those with the Senior Access pass.

    I was very surprised when I noticed that Loop C was designed for smaller RVs, Vans and Tent campers and Loop A was designed for larger units which required pull through entry.    There was attention to detail for any possible traveler, something which commonly is not considered in design of National Forest campsites.

    But far beyond the size this started to reveal to me that it was not your typical campsite on National Forest land for many other reasons.    There were both vault toilets and flush toilets at the location scattered throughout camp and drinking water spigots available at central points.

    For tent campers the forest bed offered a lush and soft pad for set up and with sites being quite large there was a tranquility which came from camping here.  All sites were equipped with fire rings and tables but a select few were the location of bear boxes.    After leaving Yellowstone where each site had a bear box this was bit confusing to me as to why there were limited bear boxes but this did not deter me.

    Additionally there is a dump station and trash collection at the Loop C entry point, very uncommon for these type of sites.   There also was a trail which began on the C Loop and traversed 1/2 a mile with information available at the main road with free brochures.

    Departing this loop, I thought I had seen it all, but boy was I wrong!!  There was an entire other campground on the opposite side of the highway, accessible by a tunnel which passed under the highway itself.  This campground near mirrored that of the A & C Loops however appeared a bit closer to the highway.

    TIPS:

    • If you are visiting this campground make sure you bring everything with you, there is no store nearby for a quick stop.

    • Check dates of closure for this campground.   When I arrived there were signs posted at the pay kiosk of closure beginning September 16th.    

    For More Information About LOLO National Forest CLICK HERE

    Product Review:

    Upon occasion I am given the opportunity as a Dyrt Ranger to try out some amazing new products along my adventures.   For this trip I was able to try out the Acai Berry Liquid IV, a unique product which offers hydration multiplication for those who are needing a little pick me up.

    How Does It Work?

    Hydration multipliers work in a very interesting way.   Through adding a concentrated amount of electrolytes to your regular water they are able to make a single water hydrate your body as much as 3 waters of the same size.     The CTT technology used by Liquid IV is unique to the brand  and allows glucose and sodium to move differently in the body.  

    In simple terms, if you don't drink enough water regularly, if you add Liquid IV to your intake, it allows your body to feel like it actually is getting enough water.

    How Do I Use It?

    Use is simple!! Servings are prepackaged and can be added to water of any temperature.    Simply tear the top, scissors not needed, and pour then shake!  I personally like adding it to hot tea in addition to plain water for a little punch of flavor.

    How Does It Taste?

    The Acai Berry flavor is a light flavor additive which allows you a subtle punch of flavor,   Unlike many drink additives it does not have a chalky taste and when it is fully dissolved you have no textural discrepancy from a standard water.   It just tastes like something other than water...lol

    Does It Really Work?

    I have been trying Liquid IV for a few weeks and have noticed a definite difference when using it versos not using it.    The product allows your body to not feel the signs of fatigue on a strenuous hike and allows you to stay hydrated, preventing muscle cramps, profuse sweating and heat related fatigue.

    When using on a standard day of light activity your body just feels more energized, despite not being an energy supplement.    

    I would recommend using this product for your day to day, especially if you struggle with consuming the recommended amount of water regularly.   For those who participate in strenuous athletic activity this is a game changer much better than Gatorade or Powerade.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2020

    Norton

    Walk in tenting campground

    Norton campground is not for the RV crowd.  This 13 site campground has only designated parking areas, no pulling into a campsite.  Those camping will need to walk their gear a short distance to their camping location.  The campground is a single loop with all the campsites in the center of the loop.  Numbers painted on the picnic tables tell you which site you are in.  Each site has a picnic table and fire ring.  Some site are close to each other, most are nicely spread out.   This is not a location for RVs, they just won't fit, if you have anything bigger than a pickup truck with a camping in the bed then continue down the road, anything larger than a pickup or with a trail will not fit with out stealing parking availability for others.  Site has water and vault toilets.  The vault toilets are old and are not to ADA standards.  Cost is $6 per night, first come first served.  Beautiful Rock Creek, a blue ribbon stream, is near this campground. Fish Species include brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout.  The only downside to this campground is the private home right next to it.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2020

    Grizzly

    Great camping in tall ponderosa pines

    Grizzly campground is a nice campground in a tall Ponderosa pine forest.  Campground is named for Grizzly creek which joins Ranch Creek at the campground, Ranch Creek flows along the edge of the campground.  Campsites are nicely spread apart.  Each of the nine campsites has a picnic table and metal fire ring.  The campground has water, trash service a Accessible vault toilets, several older vault toilets which are not ADA accessible are also available in the campground.  No Grizzlies where seen during our visit.  Since the campground is on a side road a mile from Rock Creek the campground was very quiet due to the lack of car traffic.

  • Milagros A.
    Aug. 29, 2018

    Lolo Creek Campground

    Lolo Creek Campground Montana

    Despite how this site has it listed, the sign says Lolo Creek Campground . This is in Montana . https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/lolo/recarea/?recid=10268

    This this is a well-maintained forest service Campground right on Highway 12 about 15 minutes. (20 miles) north of Lolo the town. There is an adjacent day-use picnic area with about 3 or 4 picnic tables pretty well separated and in the woods. I believe they each have a grill with them. If the campsite is full and you are self-contained, the parking lot maybe a good pull off spot.

    There are 17 camping sites about half are pull throughs. It is heavily forested and Lolo Creek is adjacent but not in the campground. However, two of the sites are very near the creek. Because it is beside Highway 12, you can hear the road noise but this quiets down substantially after dark. This also makes it super easy if you are traveling and need to pull off for the night.

    There are 3 Wells with potable water( lift the handle ) and 2 well-maintained and stocked pit toilets. Each site has a metal fire ring and a picnic table. Some sites have really nice areas for tents , others the tent might be a little bumpy! There is a campground host and a dumpster for trash. Bear proofing regulations are in effect.

    There Is No Reservations, no electricity. no services for RVs, no cell, and no firewood for sale.

    I stayed the maximum amount of time which is 16 days. Most of that time I could have had a fire if I wanted but the last few days there was a fire ban due to very dry conditions. I was there in August.

    The cost is $10 a night payable in cash or US Bank drawn checks. There is a $4 per night charge for a second vehicle at a site. This is for every night that you are there.

    There are a few nice but not necessarily Stellar hikes in the area. None originate near the campground, you must drive to them. The campground host was very helpful in directing us to these. Lolo Creek Campground was spared in the Lolo forest fire of 2017. However some areas slightly South between the campground and the town are burnt out. But the new growth of bright green framing the black trees imakes for some visually beautiful hiking.

    Lolo Creek itself is cold and I saw several guys fishing. If you can take the temperature it's a great wading Creek too!

    There isn't any cell service at the campground and I have Verizon. In fact, you lose cell service shortly north of Lolo.

    Up the road going north about three-quarters of a mile is Jack's Saloon. You have to drive about three-quarters of a mile back a very well-maintained dirt road. This is a bar , a restaurant with what looked like a very decent food even though I didn't have any , and music there one or two nights a week. The theme is lumberjacking and the bar is made out of a single giant log , many of the bar stools are carved out of single logs as well and there is a swinging log bar stool. There was a quite good blues band there the Saturday night I went. This bar was in the movie The Best Bar in America. This is your closest civilization if you want to get something to eat. Otherwise, you have to drive 15 or so minutes south to Lolo where there are several restaurants, a couple fast food places Quick Stop's, gasoline and a casino. Do try Florence coffee it's a drive-thru and yummy.

    There may be a restaurant at Lolo Hot Springs about 5 miles north on Highway 12, past Jack's. Lolo Hot Springs is a large complex with hot springs pool, many buildings, camping, and cabins and a sign that proclaims a cafe. I assume it's open to the public and not just guests, but I personally did not verify that. Their rates for anything are not listed on their website , neither is availability if you want to camp. You must call. I called two different times and left messages. they didn't return my call either time . I called a third time and got a person who answered my questions. It's more than triple the cost at staying Lolo Creek but then there's all the amenities too. There's another dance Campground on the other side Lolo Creek Campground that has about the same prices as the hot springs.

    Also, be careful, there is much wildlife along Highway 12, and I saw deer multiple times crossing the road at night. And though I didn't see any, between the campground and Jack's is a painted on the road moose Crossing.

    This is a clean Campground and I was happy to stay there. I I can highly recommend this Campground if you can live without electricity and cell phone for the duration of your stay. And you're main activity is either leaving the campsite to go find something else to do, simply hanging out, or some trout fishing in the creek.


Guide to Alberton

Alberton, Montana, offers a variety of tent camping options that immerse you in the stunning natural beauty of the area. Whether you're seeking a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there's a spot for you.

Tent campers should check out local activities

  • Enjoy a serene stay at Kreis Pond Campground, where you can float on tubes and explore the nearby Sleeping Woman hike for breathtaking views of the Missoula Valley.
  • At Forks Montana FWP, you can experience the tranquility of dispersed sites, perfect for fishing and enjoying the quiet of nature.
  • The Lolo National Forest Earl Tennant Campground is a great base for hiking and exploring the rich history of the area.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Unique features of the campgrounds

  • Kreis Pond Campground is known for its picturesque pond and well-spaced campsites, providing a perfect backdrop for relaxation.
  • The Forest Grove Fishing Access Site is a hidden gem for fishing enthusiasts, offering a year-round spot to cast your line.
  • Petty Creek FAS provides a unique camping experience with access to fishing and a peaceful atmosphere, though it's important to be prepared for nearby train noise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Alberton, MT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Alberton, MT is Kreis Pond Campground with a 4-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Alberton, MT?

TheDyrt.com has all 37 tent camping locations near Alberton, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.