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Tent camping near Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, Montana provides access to pristine wilderness areas with several established campgrounds nestled along rivers and lakes. Stuart Mill Bay Campground in Anaconda offers tent campsites with walk-in access, while Deerlodge National Forest Orofino Campground provides tent-only sites with shade from large trees. The Beaverhead National Forest's Pettengill Campground features three well-spaced tent sites along the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, and Seymour Creek Campground accommodates tent campers during its seasonal operation from Memorial Day to September 15.
Most tent campgrounds in the area feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Gravel or dirt parking pads are common at established sites, with metal fire rings and picnic tables available at locations like East Bank Rec Site and Fishtrap Creek. Vault toilets are standard, though drinking water is limited to a few locations such as Orofino and Warm Springs campgrounds. According to reviews, "finding a level spot for a tent is difficult" at some sites, particularly at Orofino. Seasonal considerations are important, as one camper at a nearby site noted, "We got snow on Labor Day weekend (still Summer!), so check the forecast." Bear-proof food storage is available at some locations, including East Bank Rec Site.
The backcountry tent camping experience in this region offers solitude and natural beauty. Pintler Campground provides a remote tent camping experience approximately 10 miles from Highway 43 on a rough gravel road, with only three designated spots available. Primitive tent camping opportunities exist at former developed sites like Ladysmith Campground, which has been converted to dispersed camping with minimal facilities. One visitor described Stuart Mill Bay as offering privacy options: "This site is one of the best sites if you want a bit of privacy. As with the rest of the Georgetown Lake sites, there are a number of people, but you have many options to limit contact." For those seeking walk-in tent sites, several fishing access areas along the Big Hole River provide tent camping with river access.
"Very beautiful area with not too many people around. River runs right next to it. Has a vault toilet and bear proof food storage. Was $15 a night."
"This state fishing access site campground has you right on the lake shore or very close to lake for easy fishing and boating access. "
"The campground and boat launches sit on a spit reaching out into Georgetown Lake. There are two boat launches, one for non motorized and one for motorized boats."
"While this campground sit along state highway 43, it is quiet at night as this is a lightly used highway with little to no truck traffic."
"No shade. No water. No WiFi. No problem — if you knew what you were signing up for."
"The campground road and parking pads are all paved. A large paved parking area is also available and is used for snowmobile parking in the winter. "
"There are only 3 paved spots at Pettengill, but they offer a large fire ring and picnic table."
"The sprinter all wheel drive negotiated the trail easily from the trailhead up. We found an open meadow of sagebrush. Beautiful sunrise. One bar AT&T signal."
TravelerBy the interstate, $10 to camp. Takes cash, check or there is a kiosk for cards. Definitely interstate noise and gun shots in the distance, but great for one night stay. You can back in right by the river. Our travel trailer was 27ft and we chose site #3, it was easy to back into to.
RangerReviewed by: The Crew at Hitched4fun.com
If you are looking for an overnight stop while rolling through southwestern Montana on Interstate 15 or Interstate 90, the Butte KOA Journey serves its purpose as a functional travel hub. It is far from a luxury resort destination, but if you need a safe, inexpensive, and easily accessible place to park your rig for the night, it gets the job done.
Campground Grounds & Amenities
It is best to set expectations before pulling in—this is a very basic, older KOA:
Location & Highway Access
Must-See Local Stop: The Berkeley Pit Tour
If you stay here, do not leave town without visiting the Berkeley Pit.
The Hitched4fun Verdict
The Butte KOA Journey won't win awards for landscaping, but its budget-friendly rate, safe atmosphere, and prime interstate convenience make it a viable 3-star overnight rest stop. Pair it with a half-hour visit to the Berkeley Pit to get an authentic taste of Montana's copper history before hitting the highway again.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3 out of 5 Stars)
TravelerPlenty of sites to pick, it seems that at least half of them are right on the water. Pit toilets available. Campground host is attentive but not invasive.
ScoutNice for overnight stop cose to I90 sites are tight trails and Butte visitor center next to campground
ScoutGated road at this location, maybe still good from other starting point but no viable sites coming from Rimini that I saw. Road gets a bit rough, did find a rough roadside spot for the night but for the 8-9 mile drive in on dirt roads definitely not worthwhile.
GuideQuiet, few campers, closes Oct. 1st with some campgrounds remaining open. Narrow asphalt roads in campground. Narrow asphalt pad fairly level. Lots of shade in this campground
RangerWe had it mostly to ourselves and It’s so lovely and remote. Can’t hear highway noise, lots of beautiful views and an accessible creek to the front and side of all camp sites. Easy to get into Butte (30 mins) and even like the nearby restaurant (15 mins) called The Hitchin Post!
GuideNo luxuries but if you need a place to pull off the road with restrooms, it works great. Tents can stay under shelter. Run by veterans and members of the American Legion, we appreciated it.
ScoutThis place was beautiful. We enjoyed our 1 evening and night here. No fresh water, but in the town of Butte you can fill up at a casino/ gas station on Harrison Ave
Tent campsites near Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, Montana sit at elevations between 5,000 and 6,500 feet, contributing to dramatic temperature swings even in summer months. The region encompasses portions of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, with camping locations positioned along the Big Hole River watershed and Georgetown Lake. Many sites close after the first significant snowfall, which can occur as early as September.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The area surrounding Pintler Campground provides access to remote wilderness habitat with minimal human disturbance. "Pintler Lake is 10 miles from the main road hwy 43. The mostly gravel road is far from smooth with uncomfortable washboard feeling much of the route," notes camper Lisa K., adding that "the lake is lovely but covered for the most part with lily pads on the backside."
Fishing access: Camping at Fishtrap Creek FAS positions anglers directly on the Big Hole River. According to reviewer Dexter I., "Easy fishing access along the length of the camping area, about ½ the campsites sit along the river." The site charges $12 per night with a valid fishing license or $18 without one.
Hiking and climbing: The Humbug Spires Wilderness Study Area provides primitive tent camping access to rock formations and trails. David M. reports, "We found an open meadow of sagebrush. Beautiful sunrise. One bar AT&T signal." This location functions primarily as a trailhead rather than a developed campground.
Open spaces with river views: Campsites along the Big Hole River corridor feature gravel parking areas with expansive meadow views. At Fishtrap Creek, camper Dexter notes the campground "is in the open as no trees occupy this area, the closest you can get to trees is some willows on the west end of the campground."
Quiet lakeside locations: Stuart Mill Bay campground provides multiple tent sites with Georgetown Lake access. Camper Annie C. observes that "every site has the standard picnic table and fire pit. Sites 1-7 had more trees than sites 8-16, and sites 8-16 seemed larger and more suited to RVs."
Well-spaced sites: Pettengill Campground receives positive feedback for its layout despite its small size. Jordan V. notes, "There are only 3 paved spots at Pettengill, but they offer a large fire ring and picnic table. There is a large day use area and vault toilets as well, but NO trash service so pack it in, pack it out."
Limited amenities: Most camping areas near Anaconda-Deer Lodge County operate with minimal facilities. Reviewer Jordan V. notes at Pettengill Campground, "There is a large day use area and vault toilets as well, but NO trash service so pack it in, pack it out."
Access challenges: Some remote tent camping options require significant travel on rough roads. At Pintler Campground, Lisa K. advises, "The mostly gravel road is far from smooth with uncomfortable washboard feeling much of the route. Three spots are available, although people did make two ad how sites down by the river."
Temperature fluctuations: Mountain elevations cause significant day-to-night temperature changes. As David M. observed at Humbug Spires, camping in the "open meadow of sagebrush" provided a "beautiful sunrise" but minimal wind protection or shade.
Look for protected swimming areas: East Bank Rec Site provides tent camping with river access. Camper Maggie K. reports, "Very beautiful area with not too many people around. River runs right next to it. Has a vault toilet and bear proof food storage. Was $15 a night."
Choose sites with shade: When camping with children, prioritize locations with tree cover for midday breaks. At Stuart Mill Bay, Annie C. notes, "Sites 1-7 had more trees than sites 8-16," providing better shade options for families with tents.
Bring insect protection: Mosquitoes and flies can be prevalent, especially near water. Lisa K. warns that Pintler Lake is "buggy with only a slight breeze to keep flies away. Overall nice but remote with only one bathroom facility. Fairly clean but lots of flies."
Limited level parking: Many tent camping areas near Anaconda-Deer Lodge County offer minimal space for larger vehicles. At Jerry Creek Br Fish Access, camper kaitlyn L. notes, "If you were self contained and just looking to get off the 15 for the night then it would work for ya. Otherwise it's just a big boat parking lot for the river. Plus side it has an outhouse."
Consider tent-only areas: Several camping areas function better for tent setups than RVs. At Humbug Spires, Christine R. advised, "If you were getting ready to hike in from this trailhead the next morning it might be an okay place to sleep in your truck - or warily in your tent because there could be traffic."
Access paved sites early: When available, paved sites fill quickly. Dexter I. notes that at Pettengill Campground, "The campground road and parking pads are all paved. A large paved parking area is also available and is used for snowmobile parking in the winter."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, MT is East Bank Rec Site with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, MT?
TheDyrt.com has all 34 tent camping locations near Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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