Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, MT has a lot to offer. Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
Divide Bridge Campground - 21 camping units with tables and fire-rings, boat ramp, restrooms, potable water, night lights, volunteer host and information kiosk.
A series of small recreation sites are located along a 73-mile stretch of the Big Hole River between Wisdom and Melrose. The river offers blue ribbon trout fishing and excellent float boating. Nine of the sites are managed by BLM. Beginning at Melrose and going west, the sites are: Maiden Rock I, Maiden Rock East, Divide Bridge, Divide Campground, Jerry Creek Bridge, Dickie Bridge, East Bank, Sawlog Creek, and Pintlar Creek.
$10 / night
Welcome to the Sportsman Lodge
My family and I just purchased the Sportsman Motel in 2021. This was a 2-year process for us by way of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Our journey with the Sportsman Motel in Melrose MT started over 7 years ago. It all began with our oldest son Cody, who was deployed with the Army at the time, wrote me a letter. In his letter, he reflects on the passion he and his brother Marcus (also serving in the Army National Guard) and I have for the outdoors. Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, I have developed a love of the outdoors for as long as I can ever remember. We have always wanted to go west to Montana. In Cody’s letter, he spoke of a small town in Montana called Melrose and about one of the best Rivers to fish in the country, The Big Hole, running through Melrose. He spoke about staying at the Sportsman Motel. Almost immediately upon his return to the states after his deployment, we booked our trip to the Sportsman Motel.
We have been coming back every year, multiple times a year, and staying at the Sportsman ever since. We fell in love with the town, the great people of Melrose and of course the World Class Fishing and Hunting.
In 2018 I approached the previous owners of the Sportsman about buying it. I brought my wife Bonnie out so she can experience what the boys and I have come to love. Bonnie grew up in the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania area and although she had been a city girl at heart, she has gained the love and appreciation of the great outdoors through my own lifetime passion. We have relocated here from Pennsylvania to Montana living our greatest dream and want to help bring the same joy to others.
No matter what you are in search of — hunting, fishing, camping, or just being one with nature – The Sportsman Lodge in Melrose, Montana is your ideal outdoor paradise and home away from home.
For fishing, Sportsman Lodge is in close proximity to some of the best and most famous streams in the country. Our rivers are legendary. If you’re looking for fly fishing or trout, there’s nothing better than a stay in one of our cabins on the water.
The hunting here is as good as it gets anywhere. If you’re after the big game, trophy-class elk, mule deer and whitetail are out there. You’ll also find black bears, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and antelope. If bird hunting and waterfowl are more your style, there are strong sage, sharp-tailed, and mountain grouse, as well as migratory ducks and geese. Melrose is home to a beautiful diversity of habitats and wildlife!
Sportsman Lodge has accommodations for everyone. Our cozy cabins can serve as your mountainside oasis coming completely furnished with various bedroom options and each with a kitchen, living room and bath. Our cabins by the river offer outstanding access for fishing.
Our RV park boasts seventeen, full-service hookup spots allowing you to enjoy our Montana views with all of your creature comforts. Or if you’re looking to get a little closer to nature, it doesn’t get any better than camping out under the vast and wild Montana sky.
Roaming around this part of the country can’t help but impress. In Melrose, while the surroundings are peaceful, the ability to explore the outdoors awakens a strong sense of adventure.
Melrose is a small town on the Big Hole River. Between our 8 rooms, 6 cabins, 17 RV sites and grass tent spaces, we can suit any traveler looking to experience the best of the outdoors.
$29 - $48 / night
Delmoe Lake Campground and Picnic area is located 15 miles from Whitehall and Butte in the Whitetail-Pipestone area - a popular destination for OHV riding. The lake is a man-made reservoir controlled by the Pipestone Water Users for irrigation near Whitehall. The campground has 25 sites for trailer and tent camping. Maximum trailer length is 32 feet. Wood is generally able to be found within the campground area. Water and restrooms are available. The picnic area has tables and a boat launch primarily for fishing activities. The lake level will fluctuate during the summer season as the water is used for irrigation.
$8 / night
$15 - $37 / night
Divide Bridge Campground - 21 camping units with tables and fire-rings, boat ramp, restrooms, potable water, night lights, volunteer host and information kiosk.
A series of small recreation sites are located along a 73-mile stretch of the Big Hole River between Wisdom and Melrose. The river offers blue ribbon trout fishing and excellent float boating. Nine of the sites are managed by BLM. Beginning at Melrose and going west, the sites are: Maiden Rock I, Maiden Rock East, Divide Bridge, Divide Campground, Jerry Creek Bridge, Dickie Bridge, East Bank, Sawlog Creek, and Pintlar Creek.
$10 / night
Welcome to the Sportsman Lodge
My family and I just purchased the Sportsman Motel in 2021. This was a 2-year process for us by way of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Our journey with the Sportsman Motel in Melrose MT started over 7 years ago. It all began with our oldest son Cody, who was deployed with the Army at the time, wrote me a letter. In his letter, he reflects on the passion he and his brother Marcus (also serving in the Army National Guard) and I have for the outdoors. Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, I have developed a love of the outdoors for as long as I can ever remember. We have always wanted to go west to Montana. In Cody’s letter, he spoke of a small town in Montana called Melrose and about one of the best Rivers to fish in the country, The Big Hole, running through Melrose. He spoke about staying at the Sportsman Motel. Almost immediately upon his return to the states after his deployment, we booked our trip to the Sportsman Motel.
We have been coming back every year, multiple times a year, and staying at the Sportsman ever since. We fell in love with the town, the great people of Melrose and of course the World Class Fishing and Hunting.
In 2018 I approached the previous owners of the Sportsman about buying it. I brought my wife Bonnie out so she can experience what the boys and I have come to love. Bonnie grew up in the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania area and although she had been a city girl at heart, she has gained the love and appreciation of the great outdoors through my own lifetime passion. We have relocated here from Pennsylvania to Montana living our greatest dream and want to help bring the same joy to others.
No matter what you are in search of — hunting, fishing, camping, or just being one with nature – The Sportsman Lodge in Melrose, Montana is your ideal outdoor paradise and home away from home.
For fishing, Sportsman Lodge is in close proximity to some of the best and most famous streams in the country. Our rivers are legendary. If you’re looking for fly fishing or trout, there’s nothing better than a stay in one of our cabins on the water.
The hunting here is as good as it gets anywhere. If you’re after the big game, trophy-class elk, mule deer and whitetail are out there. You’ll also find black bears, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and antelope. If bird hunting and waterfowl are more your style, there are strong sage, sharp-tailed, and mountain grouse, as well as migratory ducks and geese. Melrose is home to a beautiful diversity of habitats and wildlife!
Sportsman Lodge has accommodations for everyone. Our cozy cabins can serve as your mountainside oasis coming completely furnished with various bedroom options and each with a kitchen, living room and bath. Our cabins by the river offer outstanding access for fishing.
Our RV park boasts seventeen, full-service hookup spots allowing you to enjoy our Montana views with all of your creature comforts. Or if you’re looking to get a little closer to nature, it doesn’t get any better than camping out under the vast and wild Montana sky.
Roaming around this part of the country can’t help but impress. In Melrose, while the surroundings are peaceful, the ability to explore the outdoors awakens a strong sense of adventure.
Melrose is a small town on the Big Hole River. Between our 8 rooms, 6 cabins, 17 RV sites and grass tent spaces, we can suit any traveler looking to experience the best of the outdoors.
$29 - $48 / night
Delmoe Lake Campground and Picnic area is located 15 miles from Whitehall and Butte in the Whitetail-Pipestone area - a popular destination for OHV riding. The lake is a man-made reservoir controlled by the Pipestone Water Users for irrigation near Whitehall. The campground has 25 sites for trailer and tent camping. Maximum trailer length is 32 feet. Wood is generally able to be found within the campground area. Water and restrooms are available. The picnic area has tables and a boat launch primarily for fishing activities. The lake level will fluctuate during the summer season as the water is used for irrigation.
$8 / night
Guide
We have always loved coming out here to camp. The mosquitoes can get pretty thick at times so be prepared.
Guide
For a dispersed BLM camping area, this is lovely. Plenty of sites that each have a picnic table and long gravel spot to park an RV. There’s a cute little river and some interesting rock features. Close to the freeway so an excellent stop for a night spot.
Traveler
It's basically a park with 2 RV spots tucked in at the end that were taken. The rest of "camping" is free in the gravel lot. Water and pit toilets, picnic tables available. It was close to the freeway, so there was lots of road noise all night.
GuideThis place looks like a paid campground, only free! All the spots have a picnic table, fire pit and bear box. The mountain views all all around you are gorgeous. Some other folks camping here went trout fishing - so that's an option. Only downside is that my dogs had some trouble walking on the gravel.
GPS: 45.702416, -112.736869
TravelerStopped here on my way back home to Grand Teton. Super clean and large campsite with a few fire rings and an outhouse. A little noisy just because it’s right next to the interstate, but at night it’s fairly quiet.
Traveler
You need a reliable car/truck to get the campground, but it's a great view, and if you climb up to the Fishbowl, it is worth it! it's a great spot for hammocks as well. Overall great spot.👌
Guide
We stayed here twice this year, once going North and then headed South for home. First time they put us in a full hook-up that was to small so I asked for a bigger spot and because about 1/3rd of the spots were empty, they moved me. Owner was very friendly and willing to find us a better spot. Second time was on Sunday and the note on door put us in an even smaller full hook-up, despite me asking for a bigger site so I wouldn't have to unhook. This is one reason for only three stars. Office was closed and no one answered the phone or returned our call. The site was totally unacceptable. Even if I un-hooked there was not enough room to park the pick-up truck. Left several messages, no response. We moved to an empty water/electric only site and set up. An hour later another camper came in and said we were in their spot. We moved again to another spot hoping no one would claim it. Still no response from owner. I guess camp is unsupervised on Sunday. Maybe owner was out of town.
Second reason for only three stars: Camp is older and full hook-up sites are close to each other. I did not see any 50 amp, only 30 amp. The openings for dumping are a couple of inches below ground level and the kind you just point the hose down and put a few rocks over to hold it down. Gravel sites that are mostly level.
The Good: The water and electric only sites in the back (spots 28 to 36) of the park are long and spread out. I recommend if you can go without having sewer connection, the ones in back (spots 28 to 36) are the best to stay in. Don't get the ones in front. Big trees and lots of grass (but watch out for the gofer holes). Quiet and peaceful night.
Did not use their restrooms or showers or pool (may not have been open) so no comment. There is a dump site. Wifi was 17 mbs but slowed down in the evening. We use AT&T and got two bars of 5G.
Scout
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
TravelerEasy pull off, good amount of spots and not too busy! We stayed on the right were there are 2 spots away from the rest. Bugs are INTENSE though!
Guide
South of dillon montana. Where Sacagawea met her brother Cameawhait, with Lewis and Clark. Many many spots. Some are covered tables boating and fishing. Free 14 days
GuideBlm camping on the big hole river, montana, free up to 16 days. About 15 spots. Boat ramp, fishing hiking fire pits, no wood available.
Legend
Was able to snag a primitive spot for one night. This campground isnt too far off I90 near 3 Forks, MT. No cell service (ATT) at the campground but 5g at the caverns. Hosts were super friendly and nice. I was in A7 which had a nice shade tree. Did not use the facilities so can’t speak to that. They had a guest speaker that night share about the bat population in MT. Very interesting!! Be sure to unhook and get to the caverns early in the morning to get a reservation to tour. We did the Paradise tour as my son is in a wheelchair. The classic tour looked super cool though!
Guide
As a single female tent camping I felt very safe here. One morning a bunch of cows came through my site, which was amazing.
Guide
Great easy access spot! This area is free to use and is well maintained. Each site has a fire pit and a picnic bench. Also, each site has lots of space and decent privacy. Toilet, water, and food storage is provided. Lots of spots have creek access which is nice.
Traveler
Pinter 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. Three spots are available, although people did make two ad how sites down by the river. Both were RVs. No water pump here, so must bring your own. The lake is lovely but covered for the most part with lily pads on the backside of the lake. A creek coming from the lake also is adjacent to campground. Because of its remote location, it seems many appreciate the quiet, so I wouldn’t recommend it for those who have noisy activities like ATVs. It’s buggy with only a slight breeze to keep flys away. Overall nice but remote with only one bathroom facility. Fairly clean but lots of flies.
Traveler
We had a lovely site that was close to the Wise River. Even with a full camp, the ambient sound of the river shielded the sounds of people talking or kids playing. The bathroom facilities were clean. Most campsites had some shade for either sitting or having a tent. Most people were in self sufficient RVs since there are not hookups. The campground also had a water pump with clean and very cold water.
Guide
So the road is gravel and pretty far with private property signs on both sides til you get there. Directions take you there with no problem. Two bathroom locations and spots along the creek. No wildlife while we was there. A few other campers but all spaced apart well so it was secluded. It is 15$ and you have a QR code to scan to pay, however there is ZERO signal there to get online to pay so we paid once we left and got back into town for the night we stayed.
Traveler
Very clean, super nice owners, close to a quaint little historical town, and 15 minutes from another great little town. Good foods and shopping nearby. Very clean showers and laundry area. Definitely recommend!
Traveler
We stayed four days here and it was great! From Wednesday through Friday, we basically had the entire place to ourselves. Even in July, the mornings and evenings were cool and pleasant. The camp has three clean toilets stocked with toilet paper, and a pump water fountain with clean and cold water to enjoy. Overall pleasant but ATV campers showed up Saturday, driving around the camp, but they were polite after quiet hours. Short trail in the campground, and about five miles from entrance was the Continental Divide Trail. We didn’t know about that until we were leaving, so we will come back to explore. 20 spaces. Will accommodate RV off grid, but no generators after 10 pm, which is good. So quiet at night!!
RangerGreat hosts, Full hookups, lots of space & Beautiful views. Rode our bikes to Virginia City -lots of fun!
Traveler
Big rigs have a great space at the bottom of the hill... but if you're in a truck, van, etc., head on up the hill. The road is in great shape. There are some pullouts, but look for a road on the right (veer left at the private drive; you'll see a sign) and you'll find a great site with a fire ring and somewhat level ground. Chances are it'll be COVERED in cow poop, but hey. It's quiet, aside from the mooing of cows, and totally private. There's probably more up the road, too, I just didn't go further. Solitude.
ScoutJust a trailhead, no camping
Guide
This is a great place in Montana. Easy access. Right outside Dillon MT. We stayed here one night and then the the Lewis and Clark Limestone Cavern tour. It is about an hour. Camp ground is super clean and all the sites are very easy to access. Very nice hosts.
GuideThe Paradise tour was really easy and it was spectacular!
ScoutGreat sites by a stream,,,just beautiful.
Scout
Loved staying here. Windy in the evening but can’t beat the views and the amenities.
Scout
Literally a five star outhouse.
Camping near Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Montana, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're in an RV, tent, or cabin, there's something for everyone in this beautiful area.
Camping near Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Montana, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're hiking, fishing, or just enjoying the great outdoors, there's something for every camper to enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest offers a wide range of camping options, with 148 campgrounds and RV parks near Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and 14 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is Divide Bridge Campground with a 4.9-star rating from 8 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 free dispersed camping spots near Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
What parks are near Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest that allow camping, notably Canyon Ferry Lake and Gallatin National Forest.
