Best Tent Camping near Butte, MT
Several primitive tent campgrounds surround Butte, Montana, providing options for both secluded and accessible camping experiences. Homestake Lake Camp offers dispersed tent camping just 8 miles from Butte, with several sites located down two-track roads that provide shade and privacy. Pigeon Creek campground operates from Memorial Day to Labor Day, offering established tent sites with access to drinking water and vault toilets.
Most tent sites in the area feature fire rings, though some locations like Ladysmith Campground have been reduced to dispersed camping with limited facilities. Campers should note that many locations lack drinking water, requiring visitors to bring their own supplies. Vault toilets are available at some established sites, while dispersed areas require campers to follow proper waste disposal practices. Several campgrounds maintain picnic tables, particularly at Salmon Fly and Brownes Bridge Fishing Access Site, where tent sites sit under large cottonwood trees. According to one visitor, "This campsite is right off the exit, but not very noisy. Down the various 2 tracks, there are hidden sites that afford some shade and privacy."
Tent campers seeking solitude will find more remote options at Little Blackfoot River Dispersed Campsite, where multiple tent sites feature fire rings along the river. Areas around Homestake Lake provide good cell coverage, with one reviewer noting "3-4 bars LTE of Verizon here." Scott Reservoir Dispersed camping offers tent sites overlooking water with mountain views. The terrain varies from grassy riverside locations to more exposed sites where beetle kill has removed shade trees. At Pigeon Creek, tent sites remain accessible despite being off the beaten path, as one camper noted: "This is an adorable camp site, way off the beaten trail but the road to it is maintained."
