Best Tent Camping near Darby, MT

Tent camping options around Darby, Montana include several established Forest Service campgrounds nestled throughout the Bitterroot National Forest. Crazy Creek Campground offers a quiet setting near a creek with only eight sites and clean vault toilets. Gold Creek Campground provides a more remote experience with primitive tent sites and toilet facilities, while Little West Fork Campground serves as a base for outdoor exploration in the surrounding mountains.

Most tent sites in the region are primitive with basic amenities. Vault toilets are available at several locations including Crazy Creek and Gold Creek, but not all campgrounds offer this facility. Campers should bring their own drinking water as most sites lack potable water sources. The camping season typically runs from late spring through fall, with some sites like Gold Creek and Indian Creek marked as accessible year-round, though winter conditions may make access difficult. Sites generally include fire rings, and many allow alcohol, though campers should check current fire restrictions which can change seasonally.

Areas farther from Highway 93 offer deeper seclusion and less vehicle noise. According to one visitor at Crazy Creek, "Only 3 miles off the main drag, I'm not sure why more people weren't camping here. While there are only about 8 sites only 2 were taken." Tent campers particularly appreciate sites near water features, with several campgrounds positioned along creeks that provide both scenery and ambient sound. The surrounding forest offers hiking opportunities and wildlife viewing, with one camper mentioning deer sightings near their campsite. Most tent sites have some tree cover providing shade, though the amount varies by location. For those seeking more solitude, primitive backcountry tent camping options exist farther into the national forest lands away from established campgrounds.

Best Tent Sites Near Darby, Montana (35)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Darby, MT

258 Reviews of 35 Darby Campgrounds


  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 16, 2022

    Philipsburg Bay Campground

    Camp and Fish on Georgetown lake.

    Philipsburg Bay Campground is a beautiful large campground right on the shore of Georgetown lake.  This 69 site campground sits among large pine trees with campsites nicely spread apart.  The large trees give you plenty of shade throughout the day.  This paved campground is split up into three loops, two of which are first come first served, the other can be reserved.  The area also has a day use area and boat launch.  Cost is $15 per night.  Campground has trash service, and water is available during the summer season.  I visited in November so no water for me.  Each site has a picnic table and metal fire ring.  Several vault toilets are located in each loop.  Bear lockers are spread out through out the campground for food storage.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2020

    Dalles

    Camp and fish at the Dalles Campground

    The Dalles Campground is a nice pleasant campground with 10 sites along Rock Creek.  Situated in a mature lodge pole pine forest all the site have plenty of shade.  All sites have picnic tables and metal fire rings.  Site has a water hand pump and ADA vault toilet.  Site 1 was interesting as you have to walk up an embankment to reach the site, which makes it not visible from the campground road.  A bear proof locker is available for food storage.  Being along Rock Creek gives those who wish to fish access to the blue ribbon stream with brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout.  Cost is $6 per night.  All the sites are nicely spread apart.  The road to Dalles campground is not recommended for RVs of trailers as it get pretty bumpy after the pavement ends,  this only get worse the further you travel down the road, but is doable if you drive very slow.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2020

    Harrys Flat

    Nice campground on Rock Creek

    Harry's Flat campground is a great campground along Rock Creek, set in a huge old growth ponderosa pine forest.  The sites are large, especially the ones bordering right up to Rock Creek. The campground has 15 campsites each with Picnic tables and metal fire rings.  The campground has vault toilets and a few bear lockers for food storage, water is available.  Not all the campsites were available during my visit as about 1/2 the campground was closed due to damage during the heavy spring and early summer rains.  This is a great spot for people interested in doing some fishing, as Rock Creek is a blue ribbon stream, with brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout.  Cost is $6 per night, first come first served.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2021

    Copper Creek Campground

    Peaceful with a friendly host

    This has to be one of the most peaceful campgrounds I’ve even been to. It’s 10 miles off the main road so there is no street noise to speak of. But watch out for the cows as you drive in, they aren’t too fond of sharing the road. Only 8 sites with a host at one of them, you don’t have many neighbors. I was not able to camp here as it was totally full and according to the host, was going to stay that way for the week. He said it stays quiet except when a family with kids show up. He also said the fishing was pretty good in Copper Creek. The vault toilet was clean (his least favorite job), he will split a log or two if you ask real nice like, and there are two bear boxes for the 8 sites to share (he said most don’t bother to use them). The water pump delivers good clean spring water from the well. Every site has a picnic table and a fire ring. If you want solitude and quiet, this is the place to camp!

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 16, 2022

    Lodgepole Campground

    Quiet campground next to Georgetown Lake

    Lodgepole campground is a nice sized campground sitting in a forest of mature lodgepole pines.  Campground has 31 sites, 20 of which can be reserved.  Campground has nicely spaced campsites given you plenty of room to spread out.  The campground is paved and has several clean outhouses.  All sites have a picnic table and metal fire ring.  Water is available.  Bear lockers are located through out the campground for food storage.  Campground is not on the lake, but plenty of lake access is nearby.  While the campground is just off the highway, it is lightly traveled so noise was not a problem.  Campground is nicely priced at $15 a night.

  • m
    Jul. 11, 2018

    Twin Lakes

    Beautiful, Serene, Off the beaten path

    It is a very off the beaten path, tucked away in the woods, true getaway from the busy city life. Travel south on 278 from Wisdom, MT and take the chance on an 18 mile gravel road to find a place only you see in pictures and read about in magazines. Drive through open cattle ranges and find a beautiful campground nestled up to 2 small lakes connected by a shallow channel. Clear water to see the bottom where it's shallow enough. No motorized boats allowed, so bring your own kayak or canoe and a fishing pole or two to enjoy the refreshing waters at the bottom of the mountains. Even in July, you can see snow atop the mountains on the Montana-Idaho border.

    • Large, open water front spaces to set up "shop"
    • Site 10 had room for 3 tents, 3 SUVs, 1 picnic table + extra side table, fire ring/grill, canoe, chairs around fire and shoreline, laundry lines
    • Not crowded (maybe 5 sites taken when we were there)
    • Bathrooms are clean (but no locks or hand sanitzer...at least the one I used)
    • Water available
    • One bear storage container at front entrance
    • Must pack up and take out your own trash (no bear proof trash cans)
    • Fire rings with grills available
  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 27, 2021

    Stuart Mill Bay

    A fisher or boaters dream campground

    If you like to fish, and/or boat the Stuart Mill Bay is just for you.  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 has two boat launches, one for non motorized and one for motorized boats.  The first seven campsites sit in an area with trees and is near the non motorized boat launch.  The remainder of the campsites sit closer to the lake but are out in the open.  Several sites have you right on the shore.  Each site has a picnic table and fire ring.  Numerous vault toilets are spread through out the campground.  No water or trash service is available.  Their are a few pull through sites.  Prices for the campground vary depending if you have a fishing license and if you are a state resident or not.  Lake was frozen on my visit so I was out of luck for any fishing.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 11, 2021

    Crazy Creek Campground

    Quiet but smokey

    Only 3 miles off the main drag, I’m not sure why more people weren’t camping here. While there are only about 8 sites only 2(including mine) were taken. Maybe it was the smoke from distant first fires. Anyway, great little campground! Right next to the creek, with another small branch cutting through the middle of the campground, the only thing I could hear was the water and later a fire spotter plane overhead. The vault toilet was super clean and serviced recently. Sites were of different sizes(the parking pad curbs had lengths listed on them), and of differing amounts of levelness. I had site 2 and had to go to a fairly low spot to find a level place to pitch my tent, not a problem during a drought, but it would have been wet if it had rained. Saw a doe and fawn on the way out in the morning.

  • Christopher C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 15, 2023

    Spillway

    Hidden gem in the mountains!

    Camp sites are clean and well maintained with fire rings and picnic tables. Vault toilets are very clean, and water was available by pump. Lots of wildlife in the area and populated with very friendly Chipmunks!


Guide to Darby

Tent camping near Darby, Montana places campers in the Bitterroot Valley at approximately 3,900 feet elevation, surrounded by the Bitterroot Mountains to the west and Sapphire Mountains to the east. Campgrounds in this region typically operate from May through September, with some primitive sites accessible year-round when snow conditions permit. Nighttime temperatures can drop substantially even in summer months, often requiring cold-weather sleeping gear.

What to do

Fishing access points: Gold Creek Campground provides direct access to trout fishing opportunities. "Located in the remote forest is a perfect campground. Not a lot of people, gold creek is prime fishing for trout," notes camper Kat S. about this secluded spot.

Hot springs hiking: Jerry Johnson Campground serves as a gateway to natural hot springs in the region. "Jerry Johnson has totally unimproved, rustic hot springs. There is a short hike from the road at the pull-off back to a series of lovely hot springs," explains Lindsay B. The springs require a moderate hike from the campground area.

Wildlife observation: Early morning and dusk offer prime wildlife viewing opportunities at several camping areas. At Deep Creek, one camper reports, "We fished off the dock and was visited by a large otter!" The campground's location near water features attracts various wildlife species throughout the day.

What campers like

Creek sounds: Multiple campsites feature creekside locations that provide natural white noise. At Crazy Creek Campground, camper Annie C. appreciated that "the only thing I could hear was the water and later a fire spotter plane overhead." This natural sound barrier helps mask highway noise at some locations.

Low occupancy rates: Several campgrounds remain relatively uncrowded even during peak season. "Only 3 miles off the main drag, I'm not sure why more people weren't camping here. While there are only about 8 sites only 2 were taken," reports a visitor to Crazy Creek Campground, suggesting opportunities for solitude.

Clean facilities: Campground maintenance receives positive feedback from multiple visitors. Will M. at Gold Creek Campground notes, "Pit toilet was clean and well supplied," while another camper at a different site mentioned, "the outhouses were immaculate! Honestly the nicest outhouse I have ever seen."

What you should know

Access considerations: Many campgrounds require travel on unpaved roads. Deep Creek Campground requires commitment to reach: "It is a long gravel road to get there but worth the trip! It's beautiful!" according to Marian J.

Water sources: Potable water is limited at most sites. For Gold Creek, Will M. advises: "Only water source is the creek which is not easy to access. Note, it isn't really difficult, either." Campers should bring container systems for water purification or sufficient water for their stay.

Seasonal closures: Verify campground status before traveling as some areas close unexpectedly. Jerry Johnson Campground has experienced extended closures in recent years with one visitor reporting, "They cut all the trees down some years ago and then closed it."

Biting insects: Depending on the season, biting flies and mosquitoes can be problematic. "A lot of biting flies when I was there," reports Will M. about Gold Creek Campground. Bug protection is essential during summer months.

Tips for camping with families

Wildlife education opportunities: Darby-area campgrounds offer chances for children to observe animals safely. At Crazy Creek, Annie C. reports, "Saw a doe and fawn on the way out in the morning," providing natural wildlife viewing opportunities that families can enjoy.

Road noise awareness: Select sites further from highways for better sleep quality with children. While Jerry Johnson campground offers excellent amenities, one visitor notes, "The campsite is a little close to the highway, but it was not very loud at night."

Early season considerations: Facilities may not be fully maintained early in the camping season. One June visitor observed, "It may be too early in the season for maintenance but grass is high around campsites," suggesting late June through August offers more reliable conditions for family camping.

Tips from RVers

Length restrictions: Most tent campgrounds near Darby have limited space for larger vehicles. While Big Creek RV sites can accommodate larger rigs, tent-focused areas like Gold Creek and Crazy Creek have smaller parking pads with limited turnaround space.

Level site challenges: RVers should prepare for uneven terrain at most locations. According to one camper at Crazy Creek, sites offer "differing amounts of levelness. I had site 2 and had to go to a fairly low spot to find a level place to pitch my tent."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Darby, MT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Darby, MT is Crazy Creek Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Darby, MT?

TheDyrt.com has all 35 tent camping locations near Darby, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.