Best Campgrounds near Fort Benton, MT
Fort Benton, Montana provides camping options along the historic Missouri River corridor, with several campgrounds taking advantage of river access and boat launch facilities. The Chouteau County Fairgrounds & Canoe Launch Campground sits on the edge of town with both tent and RV sites, while primitive boat camps like Senieur's Reach and Black Bluff Rapids cater to river travelers. Benton RV Park offers full hookup sites for larger vehicles, and Wood Bottom Recreation Area provides both established camping and dispersed sites along the river approximately 10 miles northwest of Fort Benton.
Road conditions vary significantly when accessing camping areas around Fort Benton, particularly for the primitive boat camps that require water transportation. Many campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis, especially at the county fairgrounds, while private RV parks like Benton RV generally accept reservations. Summer temperatures can be extreme, with several campers noting intense heat and strong winds across the open prairie landscape. Insect activity increases dramatically during summer months, particularly near the water. A visitor commented, "The island right near the fairgrounds is called snake island. They are everywhere. It's super buggy and extremely hot in the summer. We couldn't even sit outside at night because of the mosquitoes."
The Missouri River corridor provides the primary attraction for campers in the Fort Benton area, with several primitive boat-in camps supporting multi-day river expeditions through the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. Tent campers appreciate the separation from RV areas at the fairgrounds campground, where one camper noted, "Nicely separated from the RV sites so that I wasn't breathing in the RV exhaust." Amenities vary widely, from primitive boat camps with fire rings to the fairgrounds campground with electric hookups, showers, and clean restrooms. Those seeking more remote experiences might consider Wood Bottom, where a visitor remarked, "The campground is okay, but the dispersed spots along the river are awesome! Some of the best spots you can find!"
