Tent camping opportunities near Fort Benton, Montana primarily consist of wilderness sites along the 149-mile Upper Missouri River National Wild and Scenic River corridor. The region sits at approximately 2,600 feet elevation with an arid climate characterized by hot summers where temperatures frequently exceed 90°F and cold winters. Most campsites require boat access and advance planning as there are no supplies available once paddlers launch from Fort Benton or Coal Banks Landing.
What to do
Slot canyon exploration: At Eagle Creek Developed Boat Camp, visitors can hike through Neat Coulee Canyon with varying difficulty levels. One camper noted, "There are two hiking opportunities here. The first is the awesome Neat Coulee Canyon where it's a short hike with small climbing (and bigger climbing opportunities; pretty risky)."
Historical connections: Many sites allow access to areas where Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery expedition traveled. The Eagle Creek area has particular significance as one camper mentioned, "Lewis and Clark camped near here on the other side of Eagle Creek on May 31, 1805."
Rock art viewing: Indigenous pictographs can be seen near several campsites with proper guidance. At Eagle Creek, a camper advised, "There are also pictographs in the opposite direction of the campsite to the canyon. It is kinda hard to find, but look for reddish rock near a juniper."
What campers like
Natural hammock setups: The mature trees at many river camps provide ideal hammock hanging spots. At Eagle Creek Developed Boat Camp, "Large cottonwoods provide shade and good locations to set up a hammock."
Secluded camping spaces: Sluice Boxes State Park Campground offers walk-in camping with exceptional privacy. A visitor reported, "There is a ton of spots to camp at as long as you walk off the tail a ways you won't even notice hikers during the day nor will they notice you."
Riverside positioning: Most campsites along the Upper Missouri River Breaks provide direct water access. At Lone Tree Campground, one visitor described it as "a very nice camp location at around mile 48.8 of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. Site is in a grove of large cottonwoods."
What you should know
Site conditions vary greatly: Some designated primitive sites may be unsuitable due to seasonal overgrowth. At Evans Bend Primitive Boat Camp, a visitor warned, "Would not spend the night here. The site is listed as having 2 fire rings, but we could not find them due to the 3 foot plus high vegetation. If you did find them you would start a wild fire with all the high vegetation."
Water considerations: No potable water exists at any river campsites. Plan to carry all drinking water or bring filtration systems for river water.
Wildlife encounters: Cattle grazing occurs in some areas, and wildlife including snakes and insects are common. One camper at Hole-in-the-Wall mentioned, "Since you will take boats there, cows can walk to the landing sites, but remember to keep all your gates shut."
Tips for camping with families
Safety precautions: When hiking from campsites with children, be aware of steep drop-offs. At Hole-in-the-Wall Boat Camp, a camper cautioned, "The hiking up to the Hole-in-The-Wall is AWESOME! Though you will have to do some easy rock climbing so be prepared. It's also really easy to fall hundreds of feet as well."
Plan for shade: Trees provide critical protection from summer heat at most riverside camps, but some sites have limited natural shade. At Hole-in-the-Wall, "your only shade will be the provided 'shelters'. The fire-pits are not shaded as well."
Backcountry camping preparation: For families wanting tent camping without boat access, prepare for true wilderness experience. At Sluice Boxes, one visitor explained their experience: "If you're up for hauling in your stuff and back out and don't mind not having access to a bathroom or a fire pit and as we did sleeping under the stars it's a perfect place to try."
Tips from RVers
Launch point parking: Since the best tent camping near Fort Benton involves boat-in access, RV owners typically leave their vehicles at designated launch points such as Coal Banks Landing or Fort Benton while taking canoes or kayaks downstream.
Staging accommodations: Consider using RV facilities in Fort Benton or Great Falls before and after river excursions since most Upper Missouri River campsites are tent-only and accessible exclusively by watercraft.
Dispersed options: For RV owners seeking camping near Fort Benton without boat access, Bureau of Land Management areas offer limited dispersed camping opportunities with proper permits, though these lack amenities and require high-clearance vehicles.
