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Camping near Elliston, MT

141 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Dispersed camping options dot the landscape around Elliston, Montana, with several designated areas along Forest Road 314 and the Little Blackfoot River. The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest manages multiple camping zones in this mountainous region, including established sites like Cromwell Dixon Campground and Kading Campground. Tent camping, RV sites, and forest cabins are available throughout the area, with the most developed facilities found at Bernie & Sharon's Riverfront RV Park in nearby Garrison. The remote, forested settings provide varied terrain with proximity to rivers and hiking trails, making this area popular for visitors seeking both developed campgrounds and primitive camping experiences.

    Road conditions can present challenges for accessing some of the more remote camping areas, particularly after rain or during shoulder seasons. "Up a forest service road, so four-wheel-drive came in handy. A bit muddy," noted one camper about dispersed sites near Elliston. Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with many closing after Labor Day and reopening around Memorial Day. Elevation at sites like Cromwell Dixon provides cooler temperatures even during summer heat waves, with one visitor reporting temperatures approximately 10 degrees cooler than in the valleys below. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with stronger signals at higher elevations near communication towers but limited to no coverage in river valleys and forested areas. Water availability is inconsistent at dispersed sites, requiring visitors to bring their own or filter from nearby streams.

    The Little Blackfoot River provides a scenic backdrop for several camping areas, with three designated dispersed sites marked by the Forest Service along its banks. A visitor commented that "this was a pretty spot on the river with quite a few sites and a day use area," though noted that "access to the river was a bit tight." Sites with river access typically receive higher ratings, with campers particularly valuing the combination of fishing opportunities and secluded camping. Forest thinning has occurred at several campgrounds due to pine beetle damage, creating more open settings at locations like Cromwell Dixon Campground. This provides unobstructed views for stargazing but reduces shade coverage during hot summer days. Most campgrounds in the region maintain a rustic character with vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables but minimal additional amenities.

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    Best Campgrounds near Elliston (141)

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      1. Cromwell Dixon Campground

      4.0(10)7mi from EllistonRVs, Tents

      "Close to the Continental Divide trail, which we briefly hiked. Beautiful trail. Campsites had tables and plenty of shade."

      "p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 115%; } Cromwell Dixon Campground is a nice Forest Service Campground located on the Continental Divide's McDonald Pass."

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      2. Elliston Dispersed Camping on Forest Road 314

      3.4(5)0mi from EllistonRVs, Tents

      "The access when you turn off at Elliston is not clearly marked but there is only one road that turns off there so its not too difficult to get on the right road."

      "Up a forest service road, so four-wheel-drive came in handy. A bit muddy. There are a variety of sites available, some are easier to access than others."

      3. Moose Creek Campground — Helena Lewis And Clark National Forest

      4.3(6)10mi from Elliston1 siteRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Moose Creek campground is located along the newly paved Remini Road.  This 9 site campground is scheduled to increase to $15 per night. "

      "Hiking trail right by the cabin, even found some huckleberry nearby."

      4. Bernie & Sharons Riverfront RV Park

      4.5(13)16mi from EllistonRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "The layout is pretty condensed so I was quite close to my neighbor. Campground was quiet, some road noise outside. An excellent option to break up a drive on I-90."

      "The playgrounds are fun for the kiddos and the river walk is super close. There is lots of shade available from the trees, but our site was full sun."

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      5. Kading Campground

      5.0(3)9mi from EllistonRVs, Tents

      "It’s well worth the drive and potholes. Large sites lots of space in between sites too. We had #5 with a short path to the water. Stating one night but I think we’ll stay two. Happy camping!"

      "Kaden Campground is a Helena National Forest Campground just about at the end of the road, the trail head for Blackfeet Meadows Trail is just a short distance past the campground. "

      from $10 / night

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      6. Little Blackfoot River Dispersed Campsite

      3.7(3)7mi from EllistonTents

      "This is a nice large flat right next to the creek with plenty of room for multiple tents or RVs.  The site has a large rock fire ring and the big bonus of having a picnic table. "

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      7. Little Blackfoot River Dispersed Campsite #3

      3.7(3)8mi from EllistonRVs, Tents

      "Easy access to the creek for fishing. great little fire pit."

      "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."

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      8. Park Lake Campground

      4.4(7)16mi from EllistonRVs, Tents

      "Helena National Forest's Park Lake Campground sits next to the beautiful Park Lake. A day use areas sits along the east side of the lake."

      "Our favorite nearby campground that's for enough away to get everyone to unplug. Peaceful mountain lake with no motors allowed on the water. Fish, kayak, paddle board, and swim."

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      9. Moose Creek Cabin

      5.0(2)10mi from Elliston1 siteCabins

      "An outhouse is outside.  A nice metal fire ring is available with two picnic tables.  Fire wood is supplied during the winter months.  Wood stove is in the living room area to heat the cabin. "

      "It’s a great cabin it’s super close to the road it has two bedrooms they both have 2 beds a double and a single bed."

      from $50 - $65 / night

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      10. Indian Creek RV Campground

      3.8(8)16mi from EllistonRVs, Tents

      "On our way to Yellowstone and it was getting late in the day, seen signs for the Old Montana Prison and decided that would be a fun stop."

      "wheelchair it will be very difficult to access the bath house or laundry facilities as there is no ramp to get you over the concrete platform the building is on, and there is a 2-4 inch lip from the gravel drive"

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    Recent Camping Photos near Elliston, MT

    124 Photos of 141 Elliston Campgrounds

    Recent Reviews near Elliston, MT

    591 Reviews of 141 Elliston Campgrounds

    • GThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 19, 2026

      Philipsburg Bay Campground

      In the pines

      Easy 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.

    • C M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 18, 2026

      Chinamens Gulch - Canyon Ferry Reservoir USBR

      If you like dry dirty rocky places, this is for you!

      Garbage left around fire ring. Seems more of a local spot. I camped (should say parked my SUV in #1. You cannot accommodate a tent unless you park very close to the adjacent gravel road. The reservoir is fabulous however.

    • Jacquie B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 16, 2026

      Bernie & Sharons Riverfront RV Park

      Nice quiet place

      This was a great place to stop on my way to Seattle. The people were very friendly. My campsite was pull through so very easy in and out.

    • Kaimy M.
      Jul. 16, 2026

      Jo Bonner Campground

      Close to home spot

      Great access to a large beach where many were fishing, playing in the water, or just relaxing. Friendly host! The spots are close and so many loud generators running made it less than peaceful.

    • Vahste (.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 14, 2026

      Flint Creek Campground

      Not great but not terrible

      It's a well put together location, with ample spots and toilets, but the road noise is unbearable from most sites and the bugs are horrendous during the summer. I stayed two days but likely wouldn't come back unless during colder weather.

    • MThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 12, 2026

      Indian Creek RV Campground

      Fine for overnight stay

      Right off I90 at Deer Lodge. Sites are close together, all are FHU. Each site has a small grassy area and a nice newer picnic table. Bath house is nice and there are ADA toilets and shower with fold down bench- it is nice and clean. HOWEVER! If you are in a wheelchair it will be very difficult to access the bath house or laundry facilities as there is no ramp to get you over the concrete platform the building is on, and there is a 2-4 inch lip from the gravel drive to the walkway around the bath house There is some noise from the highway. It is fine for an overnight stay.

    • T
      Jul. 10, 2026

      Browns Lake

      beautiful, calm lake with lots of fish and wildlife!

      We camped here for 1 night in a tent, and it was amazing! The views at sunrise and sunset were beautiful. The spot seems like its in a good spot for weather, too, because we were watching storms in the distance and they kept clearing up before they got to us! The site is completely surrounded by water- there are two areas, one on the water where all the RV's were, and one up top, seperated by trees. The site is pay when you get there , it was $18 for one night (cash only), though it costs less if you have a Montana fishing license. There were lots of yellow headed black birds jumping around the campsite and waterfowl on the water (which was very clear). We saw lots of fish jumping out of the water as well! The lake was a nice warm temperature, and there are cows right by the entrance! It is a 3 mile off-road drive to get there, which our Civic took it just fine. It was absolutelt gorgeous and everything we'd hoped for. I had cell service with Xfinity. There are multiple restrooms well stocked with tp, although no water pump. Each site had a table and fire pit.

    • Topher The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 10, 2026

      Four Corners Eastern Camp

      BLM Dispersed 16 Day Limit

      It was easy in and easy out with a little bit of wash boarding to get there, but nothing too serious. This is labeled as The Trailer Park on Google maps. This place is great for dirt bikes and off highway vehicles. It’s rideable with a mountain bike and there are some good trails but it’s ideal for e-bikes and dirt bikes. It is noisy in that regard but no big deal. Lots of places to camp here. It’s OK when it rains as the ground is rocky and Sandy. This is close proximity to the Ringing Rocks and to Homestake Lake, which is a great place to take a swim or paddleboard. It’s about 25 minutes to Butte Montana. There are no toilets close by and there is no trash collection so you’ll have to pack in and pack out. You can stay here for 16 days. It’s got great views of the mountains. There are quite a bit of flies and the locusts buzz all day, which may bother some people.

    • Heatherann W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 8, 2026

      Spring Hill Campground

      Nice wooded, scenic location

      This campground was easy to find. Looks clean. Picnic table is of the cement fashion. Nice fire pit. It's a very nice wooded campground.

    Guide to Elliston

    The Elliston, Montana area features a mix of both established campgrounds and dispersed camping options primarily within Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Cromwell Dixon Campground, situated on the Continental Divide at McDonald Pass, offers 15 developed sites with picnic tables, drinking water, and vault toilets. For those seeking more primitive experiences, several dispersed camping areas exist along Forest Road 314 and the Little Blackfoot River. Accommodations range from tent and RV sites to rentable forest service cabins like Moose Creek Cabin and Kading Cabin. Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically from Memorial Day through early fall.

    Road conditions in the dispersed camping areas require careful consideration, with several sites accessible only via forest service roads that may be muddy or closed seasonally. "Up a forest service road, so four-wheel-drive came in handy. A bit muddy," one camper noted about the Forest Road 314 dispersed sites. Weather at higher elevations can be significantly cooler than in the valleys, making campgrounds like Cromwell Dixon a popular summer destination when valley temperatures climb into the 90s. Most dispersed sites lack amenities like toilets or water, requiring visitors to pack in supplies and pack out waste. Cell service varies throughout the area, with better coverage near established campgrounds and diminished connectivity in more remote locations.

    Campers frequently mention the Little Blackfoot River as a highlight of the region, with three designated dispersed sites offering varying degrees of river access. These sites include established fire rings and some have picnic tables. A visitor commented that there was "easy access to the creek for fishing" at one of the Little Blackfoot River dispersed sites. Several reviews note the presence of train noise for sites closer to the main roads, while deeper forest sites offer more solitude. Kading Campground, located at the end of Little Blackfoot Road, receives consistently high ratings for its peaceful atmosphere and proximity to hiking trails. Most campgrounds in this area have been cleared of beetle-killed trees in recent years, resulting in more open, less shaded sites but offering excellent views of the surrounding landscape.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What amenities are available at Elliston campground?

    Campgrounds near Elliston offer varying amenities depending on location. Deerlodge National Forest Lowland Campground provides 11 sites, vault toilets, and a day use area, though there's no cell service for those seeking to disconnect. Black Sandy State Park Campground offers electrical hookups, toilets, and lakeside camping with boat docking facilities. Most area campgrounds feature basic amenities like vault toilets and fire rings, with some providing additional facilities such as picnic areas, fishing access, and water sources depending on the specific location.

    Where is the Elliston campground located and how do I access it?

    The Elliston area in Montana offers multiple camping options in the surrounding region. Indian Road Campground is located just outside of Townsend, Montana near the Missouri River, with easy access from the nearby highway. For those seeking camping options closer to Elliston, Little Blackfoot River Dispersed Campsite provides drive-in access with free camping opportunities. Many campgrounds in this scenic region of Montana are accessible via major highways and forest service roads, though conditions may vary seasonally.

    How much does it cost to stay at Elliston campground?

    Camping costs in the Elliston area vary by location and amenities. Goose Bay Marina and Campground offers a primitive camping area that is free to use with vault toilets and fire rings at dispersed sites. For those seeking RV accommodations, 2 Bar Lazy H RV Campground west of Butte provides developed sites with restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities at standard RV park rates. Many national forest and BLM sites in the region typically charge $5-15 per night, while state parks may range from $15-28 depending on amenities and hookups available.

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