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Best Tent Camping near Fort Peck Project

60 Reviews

Fort Peck Project in Montana features several tent campgrounds around the shores of Fort Peck Lake, which has more coastline than the state of California. The Pines Campground, located 20 miles down gravel roads near Jordan, offers sandy beaches with fire rings and fishing access. Duck Creek provides tent campsites along the water with picnic tables and fire rings, while BLM Paulo Reservoir offers a secluded tent camping alternative for those seeking to avoid crowds.

Most tent camping areas around Fort Peck have minimal facilities, typically limited to vault toilets and occasional picnic tables. Sites at The Pines and Duck Creek include fire rings, but campers should bring their own drinking water and supplies. Roads accessing these campgrounds are primarily gravel and can be heavily trafficked despite their remote location. Campers should be prepared for potentially dry conditions, as water levels in the area fluctuate. No reservations are available at these primitive tent sites; all camping operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tent campers at Fort Peck enjoy direct water access for swimming, fishing, and boating, though the lake can become quite windy, making it challenging for non-motorized watercraft. The remote location provides opportunities for wildlife viewing and fossil hunting in the surrounding Hell Creek Geologic Formation. Areas like Duck Creek can become busy during peak season with limited privacy between campsites. A review mentioned that "Duck Creek has nice camping spots, with no hook ups, but does have picnic tables and fire pits. Close access to nice boat ramp as well as easy access areas to the water for swimming, and fishing."

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Best Tent Sites Near Fort Peck Project (9)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Fort Peck Project

2 Photos of 9 Fort Peck Project Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Fort Peck Project

60 Reviews of 9 Fort Peck Project Campgrounds

  • J
    Jul. 21, 2021

    Flat Lake

    Primitive with good lake access

    VAult toilets, boat ramp, beautiful lake.  No potable water, no electricity, etc.  Some fire rings and picnic tables, limited spaces.  Area is DRY and water level is low, but still a great area.  We'll kept grounds.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2019

    Buffalo Camp

    Have the prairie to yourself!

    This is a primitive campground in the American Prairie Reserve.  It seems to be a relatively unknown place and we were the only people in the campground for the night (there are 6 tent sites and 7 RV).  It was about 40 miles of high-quality gravel road to get here.  Near the campground, there is a research HQ for the reserve which is not open to the public and otherwise we didn't see anyone else the entire time.  

    Tent sites are walk-in and and on platforms, which you are required to use.  This means if you have two tents like us, you'll need two sites.  You tie the tents down to lashing points on on the side of the platform.  Each site has a fire pit, picnic table and there is a community covered picnic area and fire pit as well.  Free firewood is available next to the toilets.  There are vault toilets and non-potable water sources in the loop.  The walk-in is only about 15-50 yards, depending on the site.  From the campground, there is a small auditorium and nature trail available.  Bugs were pretty bad the night we were there, so we didn't try much of the nature trail.  

    Everything felt new and almost unused, like the campground had just opened.  The toilets were only okay in cleanliness, the main reason I took off a star.  It was a fantastic experience for the kids.  A buffalo herd roamed the area and even through the campground at night and in the morning.  Prairie dog towns were all over.  It was one of our most memorable camping experiences but definitely come prepared since nothing is available on site or nearby.  Many of the roads in the preserve are in pretty primitive shape so 4WD is recommended to get around the preserve, but you won’t need it to access the camp site.  We had a big windstorm come through during the night, so lash down carefully!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 1, 2023

    Downstream (MT)

    Education and Recreation

    General: 86-site US Army Corps of Engineers Campground located on the Missouri River in four loops, each with a different name: Lismas, New Deal, Wheeler, and Faranuf. Wheeler is for tent sites, the camper pads are gravel, and there are no electric hookups; the other three loops have mostly 30-amp but several 50-amp sites and the camper pads are paved. Faranuf has pull-thru sites that can accommodate larger RVs. 

    Site Quality: All sites are level and are spaced a decent distance apart from each other. There are some trees for shade but still many are in full sun. 

    Bath/Shower House: The New Deal and Wheeler loops have vault toilets and Lismas, and Faranuf have flush toilets and showers. The restroom in Faranuf is air-conditioned! The one in Lismas appears new (the old one is still standing but roped off) but points off for no soap! Also no hand sanitizer in the vault toilet in New Deal. 

    Activities: There is a paved recreation path that circles the campground and is about 2.5 miles. Other recreation activities include basketball, volleyball, horseshoes, cornhole, disk golf, and two playgrounds (one in Faranuf and the other in the day-use area). Recreation equipment is available to borrow. There is also a wonderful interpretive center where you can learn about the history of the dam, as well as past and present wildlife. In the summer, it is open Friday– Monday, 9 am– 4 pm and the hours are less in other seasons. A must if you have kids! Many in the campground had boats. Kelly, the volunteer at the gatehouse, was effusive about all the area had to offer. 

    We were only there for one night passing through, but we did visit the interpretive center, and run on the nature trail. The only bummer about this campground was the persistent wasps that made eating and sitting outside challenging.

  • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2019

    West End Campground — Fort Peck Project

    Another Beautiful Spot On the Shores of the Fort Peck Reservoir!

    This is a similar spot to other areas located around the reservoir in that it is wide open giving you that fantastic Montana Big Sky feeling.  During the week there's hardly anyone up here so there's a good chance you won't have any neighbors.  Each site has a fire ring and picnic table.  There are also vault toilets nearby and a fish cleaning station!

  • Jessica S.
    Jul. 25, 2019

    Fort Peck Duck Creek

    Great all around access for boating and swimming

    Duck Creek has nice camping spots, with no hook ups, but does have picnic tables and fire pits.  Close access to nice boat ramp as well as easy access areas to the water for swimming, and fishing.  Adequate vault toilets in area as well.

    Paid camping in area as well, which offer hook ups and showers.

  • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 22, 2019

    Duck Creek

    Big Sky Country at its Best!

    This is one of the best places to take in that Big Sky that Montana is famous for!  The combination of the rolling hills that seem to go on forever and the reservoir make this a great spot to camp!  There are tons of opportunities to recreate in so many different ways!  At most of the grassy camping peninsulas you can launch your boat or SUP right into the water!  There are places where you can get some solitude and other places that are fit for a reunion or weekend party/getaway!

    Now getting to the actual campsites.  Most of them are relatively primitive with only a few fire rings and picnic tables scattered about.  The grassy peninsulas are also not really split into individual campsites and it feels more like a camping field.  This means that if its busy your neighbors will likely be right on top of you if you can't get one of the isolated spots.  There are vault toilets near most of the spots along with running water at the day-use areas.  Another great thing about these spots is the presence of a great fish cleaning station!  To get cheap gas and food head into the nearby town of Glasgow which will be at least $1 cheaper per gallon than the marina pumps

  • Joni Z.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Flat Lake Recreation Area

    Boondocking on a lake

    This is a free 14-day boondocking area on a beautiful lake. It's not a free for all, but rather there are a few areas you can camp. They have concrete picnic tables and fire rings.

    It was pretty quiet on a Sunday night but it looked like there were a lot of folks on the weekend based on the deep tracks in the mud.

    There are garbage cans and vault toilets.

  • mThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2023

    West End Campground — Fort Peck Project

    Many large sites

    We stayed in OF 8, which has no hookups. The site, as is many around it, is huge. This site is nearest road so keep that in mind. Traffic was relatively quiet when we were there during weekday. Many sites have view of water although some are just peekaboo. Shade in many sites but not the big OF sites. Sites with hookups have nice paved pad. A few of these are really deluxe being off on their own with great views. Campground is not walking distance from lake. Lake is impressively HUGE. Nice fire ring at each site. Most sites appear to not be super level. We did fine in 8.

  • Hattie R.
    Jun. 29, 2025

    Fort Peck Duck Creek

    Short Stop in Montana

    This was the first place we tried in this area for a free spot to camp on the way from Banff/Jasper to Wisconsin. It was decently busy with a few spots left when we arrived at 2:30pm on a Saturday. By the end of the night all the spots were filled with people squeezing their rigs in between “sites”. There are numbered picnic tables and fire rings, but also campers dispersed throughout. You can walk right down to the water and there were plenty of people boating and swimming. Vault toilets were clean, no other amenities. Sunset was beautiful! There were some large groups with multiple RVs together and 5+ cars- it looked like they had been there for a while. I didn’t have any trouble sleeping but my boyfriend said there were generators running all night and some fireworks around 11:30p. Overall felt safe, worked for what we needed, and was free!

Guide to Fort Peck Project

Tent camping near Fort Peck Project in Montana offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape into the wilderness.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy fishing and swimming at Fort Peck Duck Creek, where multiple sites are available right on the water.
  • Explore the vast coastline of Lake Fort Peck at The Pines, which is ideal for families and pets, featuring sandy beaches and fire rings.
  • Discover the Hell Creek Geologic Formation while camping at McGuire Creek, known for its fossil-rich surroundings and great fishing opportunities.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $20

  • Camping at BLM Paulo Reservoir is free, making it a budget-friendly option for those looking to enjoy the outdoors year-round.
  • At Flat Lake, you can find primitive camping with no hookups for around $10, perfect for those who appreciate a more rustic experience.
  • Rock Creek Marina offers tent camping with amenities for approximately $20, providing access to swimming and boating activities.

Specific local attractions

  • Visit the expansive Lake Fort Peck at The Pines, where you can enjoy scenic views and a variety of outdoor activities.
  • Experience the tranquility of Duck Creek, which is perfect for those seeking a quiet spot with beautiful water views and easy access to swimming.
  • Take advantage of the boat ramp and fishing opportunities at McGuire Creek, making it a great choice for anglers and water enthusiasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Fort Peck Project?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Fort Peck Project is The Pines with a 4-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Fort Peck Project?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Fort Peck Project, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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