146 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Darby, Montana range from established sites with full amenities to primitive dispersed camping areas throughout the Bitterroot National Forest. Lake Como Campground, located approximately 10 miles northwest of Darby, offers both tent and RV camping with electric hookups and drinking water during its operating season from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Lost Horse Dispersed Campground provides free primitive camping options for those seeking a more rustic experience. The region includes several RV parks with cabin rentals, such as Travellers Rest Cabins & RV Park in Darby, which features full hookups, showers, and accommodations for various camping styles including glamping.
Road conditions vary significantly depending on the specific camping area, with some forest service roads requiring high-clearance vehicles. The Lost Horse Creek area features rough, washboard forest roads that become increasingly difficult to navigate the further you travel from the highway. Most campgrounds in the Bitterroot Valley operate seasonally, with many closing after Labor Day due to mountain weather conditions. Elevation plays a significant role in temperature variations, with higher elevation sites experiencing cooler temperatures even during summer months. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most forest campgrounds and dispersed sites. A visitor noted, "From the highway 93 turn it is 4.6 miles to where we camped. The last 2.3 miles of the drive was on a fairly rough, but very manageable, forest road."
Waterfront camping locations receive particularly high ratings from visitors, with sites along the Bitterroot River and at Lake Como being especially popular. Three Frogs Campground and Sam Billings Memorial Campground provide access to hiking trails and fishing opportunities. Campers frequently mention wildlife sightings, including deer and elk, as highlights of their stays. Several campgrounds feature vault toilets and fire rings but lack shower facilities or hookups, making them better suited for tent camping or self-contained RVs. A camper wrote about Sam Billings Memorial Campground: "12 sites with good tables and fire rings. This is a well maintained NFS campground. 3 vault toilets that are kept clean." Visitors should note that many forest campgrounds have limited parking for large RVs or trailers, with some sites specifically designed for tent camping or small vehicles only.
"This was one of the best places to stay in Montana, electricity and water was a plus, great sites, lake was pristine!"
"I love it everytime I get leave from the navy I go back home and hike and camp everywhere and I haven't hiked any mountain range like the ones in Montana"
from $13 - $25 / night
Check Availability"Water point is by the paved hiking trail at the campground entrance. Two hosts on site that clean and stock the 4 toilets daily. The beach is a short walk away."
"Walk to Lake Como, campfires, canoes, excellent beach and boating."
from $8 - $15 / night
Check Availability"The staff and owner went Above and Beyond for us when my boyfriend left behind a beloved baseball cap in our room. Totally our fault, and we figured we’d never see the sentimental item again."
"Its very close to the city. So you can walk and leave your camper on the ground."
"this is definitely the place to roost for anyone who enjoys fishing. all fifty spots are either on the bitterroot river or a short walk away."
"Nice Camp store with everything you would need and it’s close to town."
"Wonderful location near the river. Not too many people"
from $75 / night
Check Availability"Being only a very short distance from the main road, the dirt access road is smooth though it has scattered potholes and is through a country residential area."
"Beautiful site, nice turn around space, we have a 21 ft trailer. Has a couple fire rings and close to creek. Clear sky view in center and surrounded by tall pines"
"Right next to river with hiking trail. Good fishing for small trout. About 6 miles from main road."
"Easy Bitteroot hike and spectacular views all around and in the valley of where your hiking! Very common and popular hike so be prepared to see lots of people!"
"Nice forest in campsites near Como lake, but not on the lake. We are here mid april , and we're told that the horse camp area is open year round."
"Vault toilets are located throughout. Fees are $12 with $6 discount if you have Federal/Natl Park Golden Pass."
TravelerMore than likely we will be off grid at a non-developed pull off but with the lake so close we wanted to check it out. Neighbors are close and being here during the week and gone by weekend appears to be the only way to do it.
ScoutGreat spot that is far enough away from the highway. Almost a 30 minute drive from the highway. Close to some houses though. There was no one there! Had it to ourselves
RangerDon't know if it's the long gravel road in, but I was amazed how few people were enjoying this gem on a weekend. Beach access is tough without decent ground clearance, but doable if you pick your line.
GuideThis dispersed site was a large turn out on the road, enough room for two camps, on a large bend in the West Fork of the Bitterroot River, caught several cutthroat and rainbows 10-12”, site was great, free, shady and right next to woods and river. A couple nice stone fire pits had been formed, lots of room.
GuideSite “10”, tents only but enough room for our truck camper rig. Beautiful access to East Fork of the Bitter Root. Oneish hour south of Missoula. Most sites require reservations. Fished here, caught a bunch of little bitty Bull Trout. Host let us help ourselves to firewood.
GuideThis little gem comes up quick and is tucked off of Highway 12. Handful of spots with a vault toilet and most the campsites are right on the river. There’s plenty of dead wood for fires and easy to drive my truck through.
GuideLove this place right on the Lochsa River. Small and peaceful. Pit toilet.
GuideEasy to get to, very popular. Paid campground $8 per night with senior and access passes, decent vault toilets, potable water, trash disposal, tall pines/shade, paved Loop A 1-24 first come first serve, Loop B has some first come first serve as well, Loop C no first come first serve. Cell service, plenty for zoom meetings. With shade, solar is challenging. No hook ups. Campfire rings and firewood for sale by the host. Need a water craft to get on lake for fishing.
ScoutWe recently camped at Rombo campground, with friends, and had a wonderful time. The campground is quite small, perhaps 15 individual spots, which worked well for us, as I particularly like the more private and quieter locations. There was potable water spigots and bear proof garbage containers. The fire rings looked fairly new, with higher, larger rings and sturdy grates.
The camp host is very friendly and helpful. He cleans the pit toilets on a regular basis and does a great job. He travels through the campground regularly, with his little dog Jellybean, making sure that everyone is taking care of their campsites (no unattended fires, trash issues, parking issues, etc.)
Most sites had an easy access to the river and there were a few trails nearby to hike on. We heard heron calls in the evening, as well as seeing many smaller critters. The camp host warned us that bears had been visiting the campgrounds near the Painted Rock Reservoir, about 10 miles away, and could show up at our campground as well, so we were sure to pack all food items away.
The spaces for campers were not very large so I would say this is best suited for smaller campers or travel vans. We had a tear drop trailer, which was perfect for the site that we found. There are only a few sites that can be reserved online, the rest are on a first come basis. Our only complaint about our three days there, is that there was a crew across the river that was clearing deadfall and working with chainsaws. They started at about 5:45 each morning but had to quit at 2:00 pm. That put a damper on trying to sleep in and the noise was a bit irritating as it sounded like a dirt bike racetrack around the forest.
Camping spots near Darby, Montana sit within the Bitterroot Valley, surrounded by the Sapphire Mountains to the east and the Bitterroot Range to the west, creating distinctive temperature variations between locations. Elevations range from 3,888 feet in town to over 8,000 feet in nearby mountain campsites. Winter access to most primitive sites ends after October due to snow accumulation and freezing temperatures.
Fly fishing opportunities: The Bitterroot River offers excellent trout fishing access from riverside camping areas. At Angler's Roost On the Bitterroot River, campers appreciate the easy access. One visitor noted, "This site has the cleanest and most amazing campground bathroom I've ever seen... Site 15 is right on the river."
Hiking trail access: Multiple campgrounds connect directly to trail systems. In the Blodgett Canyon area, campers can access the stunning canyon overlook trail. A camper at Blodgett Campground shared, "Great spot! This is a pretty standard campsite- there are only 5 sites though, so it can fill easily. Hiking is a must! The canyon overlook is stunning."
Swimming and water recreation: Lake Como provides summer swimming options with water that warms significantly by mid-summer. A visitor at Three Frogs Campground commented, "This is a nice campground with a beautiful lake. No hookups. Potable water. No dump. Vault toilets. Sites are spaced out. Lake access is not the greatest for carrying kayaks. Good lake access from day use just before entering campground."
Quiet, wooded sites: Many campers value the secluded feeling at certain campgrounds. At Three Frogs Campground, a visitor described, "Three Frogs campground was wonderful. Completely wooded and spacious sites made this place really enjoyable! There were fire pits that lead to some really yummy s'mores!"
Riverfront camping: Direct river access ranks highly among camper preferences. According to one review at Angler's Roost Campground: "This is not a fancy campground but we loved it. It's on the Bitterroot River with the Bitterroot Mtns behind you and the Sapphire in front. The spaces are on the grass with full hook ups."
Small, less crowded options: Several campgrounds offer fewer sites but more privacy. One camper at Blodgett Campground shared, "Only five sites so come early to this free Campground. You're allowed to stay 14 days. Clean sites, vault toilet, BEAUTIFUL granite mountains on both sides that made for a perfect evening."
Road conditions: Access to many dispersed sites involves navigating rough forest roads. A review for Lost Horse Dispersed Campground warned, "From the highway 93 turn it is 4.6 miles to where we camped. The last 2.3 miles of the drive was on a fairly rough, but very manageable, forest road. (Mostly washboard and a few holes)."
Crowds and traffic: Popular areas can experience unexpected traffic. A camper at Lost Horse Dispersed Campground noted, "The road in is BUSY. We have camped at a number of dispersed locations over the years and this was BY FAR the busiest forest road we have seen. On Friday night we counted 50 cars passing by before we stopped counting."
Reservation policies: Camping locations vary in their booking requirements. One visitor to Travellers Rest Cabins & RV Park advised, "We were in the area to fly fish and just needed a basic place to park our RV with power. We left the first location we were at due to extremely unprofessional and dangerous employees. We drove down the road to Traveler's Rest, a little frazzled from our recent experience and were very relieved that they were friendly, had availability."
Site selection for children: Choose campgrounds with child-friendly features. At Sam Billings Memorial Campground, a camper detailed the layout: "Sites #1 & #2 get the most sun, are the largest, and can accommodate any size RV. #2 can easily hold 5 full size trucks side by side... It also has 3 large tables, plenty of open ground for tents, and is ideal for large groups and families."
Bear safety precautions: Teach children proper food storage in bear country. A visitor at Three Frogs Campground mentioned that "Each tent site has a fire pit, tent pad, table, and is completed with a bear proof storage bin for food."
Water play opportunities: Select sites near shallow water areas for children. Lake Como provides swimming beaches with gradual entry points. A camper described, "The beach is a short walk away. Every site is partially shaded throughout the day. The campsites are in various sizes which is why there are designated 'extra vehicle' parking locations."
Site size considerations: Check campground limitations before arriving with larger rigs. At Travellers Rest Cabins & RV Park, a camper noted, "I have only tent camped here. Really nice flat grass for tents. $12 gets you campsite showers and toilets, WiFi and coin laundry. Also really great access to the bitterroot valley if you're into hikin and river activities."
Hookup availability: Electric and water connections vary widely between campgrounds. A visitor to Lake Como Campground reported, "The campground has water and electricity. It's a great deal, especially for seniors with the America the Beautiful pass. We paid $12.50 a night. The sites are pretty spacious."
Road access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult approach roads for larger vehicles. A Three Frogs Campground visitor cautioned, "The campground has an upper and lower level. I did see a 30+ foot trailer but i wouldn't do it. The drive out is a bit to tight for my comfort. Although a dirt road drive in, the campground has an older paved road within."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping near Darby, Montana?
The Bitterroot National Forest surrounding Darby offers excellent camping options. Lost Horse Dispersed Campground is located about 12 miles from Darby, offering spacious sites accessible via a somewhat rough but manageable forest road. For a more established experience, Gird Point provides gorgeous camping in the Bitterroot National Forest with stunning mountain views. Other nearby options include Chief Looking Glass Campground along the river, Blodgett Campground with water and toilet facilities, and Rombo Campground. The area offers a mix of developed sites with amenities and more remote dispersed camping opportunities for those seeking solitude.
What campgrounds can I find near Darby, Montana?
Several excellent campgrounds surround Darby, Montana. Chief Looking Glass Campground offers riverside sites with pit toilets and water pumps on a first-come, first-served basis. Anglers Roost Campground is perfect for fishing enthusiasts with 50 spots either on or near the Bitterroot River. Other options include Three Frogs Campground with basic amenities like water and toilets, Rombo Campground with trash service and water (though sites are small and close together), and Blodgett Campground which can accommodate larger rigs. For group camping, Three Sisters Group Site in Bitterroot National Forest offers a reservable option.
What RV parks are available in Darby, Montana?
Travellers Rest Cabins & RV Park is a highly-rated option in the Darby area, known for its charming accommodations and exceptional customer service. The park offers spacious sites and amenities that cater to RV travelers. Another option is Sula Country Store and Resort, which provides shower and laundry facilities, plus wifi access. The resort also features a combination store, restaurant, and gas station. For RVers seeking riverside locations, Angler's Roost On the Bitterroot River accommodates larger rigs and offers reservable sites with water and toilet facilities. Warm Springs Campground is another big-rig-friendly option in the vicinity.
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