Top Free Dispersed Camping near Cardwell, MT

If you're looking for a place to dispersed camp near Cardwell, look no further. Here you'll find a diverse selection of places to camp, including remote dispersed camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the trees or wide open spaces, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect dispersed campsite.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Cardwell, MT (18)

Showing results 1-10 of 18 campgrounds

Recent Dispersed Reviews In Cardwell

41 Reviews of 18 Cardwell Campgrounds


  • Tara The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Maiden Rock Dispersed
    Oct. 18, 2024

    Maiden Rock Dispersed

    Best Dispersed Camping

    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.

  • Kelda C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Maiden Rock Dispersed
    Oct. 7, 2024

    Maiden Rock Dispersed

    Great find!

    This 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

  • H
    Camper-submitted photo from Copper City BLM
    Sep. 22, 2024

    Copper City BLM

    Bridge closed, no access!

    The road to this location is closed, the bridge is out. There is no access.

  • owen T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Maiden Rock Dispersed
    Aug. 16, 2024

    Maiden Rock Dispersed

    MAIDEN ROCK MINE

    Blm camping on the big hole river, montana, free up to 16 days. About 15 spots. Boat ramp, fishing hiking fire pits, no wood available.

  • Rachel S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Confederate Disperse Camping Area
    Aug. 15, 2024

    Confederate Disperse Camping Area

    Great spot for the night

    Stayed here twice in early August about a week apart. Any car should be able to get down the road to the campsites. A bit buggy but free. Pit toilet available.

  • John H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Fairy Lake Dispersed Camping
    Jul. 29, 2024

    Fairy Lake Dispersed Camping

    Amazing camp site with tree cover and fire ring

    This is an amazing camp spot that is almost almost to the top of the trail to fairy Lake campground. There’s an established firing, and there’s room for multiple vehicles.

  • Renee G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Copper City BLM
    Jul. 24, 2024

    Copper City BLM

    Classic blm camping

    Lots of open space and locations to pull out--beautiful views as well! To access this place we went towards Copper City Trail Head, and drove by the entrance onto BLM lands. Also, note that this place seems common for mountain bikers and trail bikers, so you'll likely run into a few of those. Also also, this place is DRY--so be sure to bring your own water (but on the plus side, no bugs!!)

  • Alex C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Copper City BLM
    Jul. 14, 2024

    Copper City BLM

    Open range

    Plenty of pull out sites with some scattered man made fire rings. Secluded quiet and great views

  • Azaali J.
    Camper-submitted photo from Little Blackfoot River Dispersed Campsite #3
    Jul. 9, 2024

    Little Blackfoot River Dispersed Campsite #3

    Great little spot

    We didn’t stay at this exact site as it was taken but there one more dispersed site about a mile or so down the road.

    Was nice being close to the creek and there was lots of fallen trees we used for firewood.

    Quiet spot with a small amount of traffic on the road.

    Didn’t see any wildlife but the horseflies were a bit out of control this time of the year.

  • Ashley M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Copper City BLM
    Jul. 8, 2024

    Copper City BLM

    Summer Biking

    Great spot right on parts of the trial! It’s open and you can see miles in each direction. No shade, no bathrooms, but most have man made fire pits.

  • N
    Camper-submitted photo from Homestake Pass Dispersed
    Jun. 12, 2024

    Homestake Pass Dispersed

    Pretty but creepy

    It is easy to get to and very nice views. We did have a creepy experience. Three trucks drove by our spot and parked just staring at us and would leave. They did this 3 times before we decided to pack up and go elsewhere. Also saw a bunch of bear poop. I wouldn’t feel comfortable going back.

  • Andrew H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Homestake Pass Dispersed
    May. 14, 2024

    Homestake Pass Dispersed

    Great to do an overnight - off the highway stop

    The spot was close to the highway - lots of potential spots - some “locals” who seem to live out there and run generators 24/7 - we had no problem and got a good night sleep to carry on our journey.

    There are MTB OHV and walking trails nearby.

  • Tee C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Homestake Lake Camp
    Jul. 29, 2023

    Homestake Lake Camp

    Convenient camping in nature

    This campsite is right off the exit, but not very noisy. There were several other campers and RVs and trucks there. Even just parts of cars. Kinda a weird vibe, but down the various 2 tracks, there are hidden sites that afford some shade and privacy. I got 3-4 bars LTE of Verizon here! Plenty of fire pits and access to a couple lakes. And it’s only about 8 miles from Butte!

  • Tee C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Humbug Spires Trailhead Basecamp
    Jul. 29, 2023

    Humbug Spires Trailhead Basecamp

    Total hidden gem!

    Only 3 miles from the highway, this campsite is at the end of a well maintained, slightly rutted gravel road. It’s wide enough for trailers.

    Along the road, there are a handful of pull offs that are big enough for an RV to pull into.

    The coordinates bring you to an open gravel lot with nice clean pit toilets. There’s a creek nearby. Big beautiful rocks, some shade, pretty epic views on the way in. Beautiful!

    No cell service, unfortunately. Another con is that there’s another road that goes in further, but it’s narrow and eroded. I attempted it in my campervan, but ultimately decided it wasn’t worth the hassle and parked in the open lot instead.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Scott Reservoir Dispersed
    Jul. 22, 2023

    Scott Reservoir Dispersed

    Great Secluded Reservoir

    Great place to camp for overlooking the reservoir. Ran into one local taking pictures but left soon after. About 4-5 rock fire rings fairly close together. I had the entire place to myself on a Thursday night. Some bugs but not too bad. Road going around to the other side of the reservoir is gated and closed now.

  • Austin R.
    Camper-submitted photo from Confederate Disperse Camping Area
    Jun. 16, 2023

    Confederate Disperse Camping Area

    Mostly quiet / Overall a good stay

    Pulled in early on a Friday and it was already filling up. Stayed 1 week and was by myself for most of it besides the weekend. I did come back at one point during a storm to find a bunch of teenagers parked right next to my camper and when it stopped raining they started doing donuts and messing around. Also, the fire pit was full of garbage when I got there. Overall it was a great stay, especially since it was free. The reception was good, the road just leading to the camping spots was a little bumpy

  • Ashley C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Scott Reservoir Dispersed
    Oct. 8, 2022

    Scott Reservoir Dispersed

    A nice view of the reservoir

    Came up here in a whim one night and got lucky! No one else camped up there so it was peacful. You're right by the water with. Great mountain view, couldn't ask for more.

    There were just a few cars driving back down the mountain in the evening. But no one bothered.

    There's a nice hand full of spots you could pull up in a car, maybe two spots your could fit a small trailer in. About four or five fire rings in the immediate area. I wouldn't be surprised in there were more spots in the area or the other side of the reservoir.

    Pretty easy to get to from Helena. Just take Rimini road all the way up, past the town, past private property. At some point I took a right onto Goulds.

    Not the best roads but I got up there fine with my 2015 Outback just fine.

  • Sophia H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Homestake Pass Dispersed
    Sep. 12, 2022

    Homestake Pass Dispersed

    Easy to get to

    It’s easy to get to and there aren’t bad potholes. No problem getting there without 4 wheel drive. I was able to find a pretty private campground by going a little further then the initial parking area.

  • r
    Camper-submitted photo from Homestake Pass Dispersed
    Sep. 1, 2022

    Homestake Pass Dispersed

    Great spot

    We pulled in for the night on a whim. Nice spot, the road was a little wash boarded. Just made a quick stop off the highway. Nice and quiet.

  • Ann A.
    Camper-submitted photo from Homestake Pass Dispersed
    Aug. 14, 2022

    Homestake Pass Dispersed

    Popular, spacious

    There’s a big area that had a dozen RVs & tents, but it was late & we wanted space so we followed a rough dirt road 1/2 a mile to find a spot in the trees. The Homestake Trailhead down the road has a bathroom. We did have a weird experience: a truck camped near us with two people who openly watched us the entire morning & followed us to the trailhead before driving on.

  • Avery S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Homestake Pass Dispersed
    Jul. 27, 2022

    Homestake Pass Dispersed

    Great quick spot!

    The dispersed camping is super easy to find, and it's right off the highway! It was perfect for a quick spot to camp on our way home to Colorado instead of getting a hotel room.



Guide to Cardwell

Camping near Cardwell, Montana, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for everyone.

What to do:

  • Explore the Lewis & Clark Caverns: Just a short drive from Cardwell, the Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park is a must-visit. One camper mentioned, "Be sure to unhook and get to the caverns early in the morning to get a reservation to tour." The caverns offer fascinating tours that are great for families.
  • Fishing and Boating: At Delmoe Lake, you can enjoy fishing and boating. A reviewer noted, "Great campground on the lake with some sites more private than others." Just be aware that the lake can dry up in late summer.
  • Hiking: There are plenty of trails around the area. One visitor at Missouri Headwaters State Park shared, "Some hiking in the area, but... bears!" So keep an eye out while you explore.

What campers like:

  • Friendly Hosts: Campers at Three Forks KOA Journey rave about the staff. One camper said, "Beautiful facilities and friendly helpful staff." This makes for a welcoming atmosphere.
  • Clean Facilities: Many campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A visitor at Butte KOA remarked, "Of all the places we have stayed at, this KOA had the nicest restrooms/showers."
  • Scenic Views: Campgrounds like Ennis RV Village offer stunning views. A reviewer mentioned, "View is very nice. Restrooms and showers are clean."

What you should know:

  • Mosquitoes: Be prepared for bugs, especially at Missouri Headwaters State Park. One camper warned, "The mosquitos were so bad we immediately left and found another place to stay for the night."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Norris Hot Springs, have limited amenities. A visitor noted, "The campground is a bit close together and off a busy road, but the hot springs and clean bathrooms make it worth it!"
  • Reservations Recommended: Many campgrounds, including Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park, recommend making reservations in advance. A camper advised, "They do have drop-in non-reservation sites, but recommend getting reservations."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to check out the caverns and nearby parks. One parent shared, "The Paradise tour was really easy and it was spectacular!" This makes for a fun family outing.
  • Pack Bug Spray: Given the mosquito situation, it's wise to bring bug spray. A camper at Missouri Headwaters State Park mentioned, "I tried 3 different bug repellants, burned multiple mosquito coils... they never cleared out."
  • Bring Your Own Firewood: Some campgrounds, like Delmoe Lake, do not provide firewood. A camper noted, "No firewood available, so bring your own."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Some sites can be small, so check the dimensions before booking. A reviewer at Three Forks KOA Journey said, "The sites are very small and very crowded."
  • Be Mindful of Noise: Campgrounds near highways, like 2 Bar Lazy H RV Campground, can be noisy. One camper mentioned, "The campground is located just off the highway, so there is some noise."
  • Full Hookups Available: Many campgrounds offer full hookups, which is a plus for RVers. A visitor at Ennis RV Village noted, "Staff is very friendly and helpful."

Camping near Cardwell, Montana, has its quirks, but with the right preparation, it can be a fantastic experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Cardwell, MT?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Cardwell, MT is Homestake Pass Dispersed with a 3.9-star rating from 8 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Cardwell, MT?

    TheDyrt.com has all 18 dispersed camping locations near Cardwell, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.