Are you in need of a campground near Helena, MT? Helena is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Find the best campgrounds near Helena, MT. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
$6 - $20 / night
"Pull up next to the lake. Electric, wood, toilets, noisy boat docking, gnats available. Office super friendly and helpful. Fishing near dam close by."
"This campground is pretty small but is located right on the edge of the lake making for some nice views and a relaxing environment."
$15 - $30 / night
"Half an hour outside of Helena is a beautiful reservoir lake. Court Sheriff Campground spreads out along its shore. Many sites are waterside and you can see families playing in it."
"We got a tent site (parked in lot, walked to site maybe 50 feet). It was perfect with shade and right next to the water. Many sites had little or no shade, though."
"Great spot near Glacier National Park, quick to get to! Dog friendly, cabins and fun little round (yurt-like) metal buildings to stay in too! Plus over sized lawn chess!"
"An area to play games and we didn’t have our dogs this time but the dog zone looked good and clean."
$25 - $140 / night
"The entrance is right before Black Sandy. The dump station is just past the entrance and does have potable water (if not closed in winter) In mid Sept, only one loop was open."
"Near the water. Good hiking"
$25 - $140 / night
"Right on the Missouri River, this campground is at a wide spot called Hauser Lake. No electricity or dump station but I knew that beforehand."
"There are a small network of paved and unpaved trails with amazing views of the “lake”. There are places to swim and put a boat in."
"Stayed one night while visiting a friend in Helena. Close to the Continental Divide trail, which we briefly hiked. Beautiful trail. Campsites had tables and plenty of shade."
"This is a small, no frills site just outside of Helena, MT. No hookups for RVs; Vault toilets, which were very clean. Pack in/Pack out as there are no trash receptacles."
$10 - $170 / night
"Canyon Ferry Lake is an expansive lake reaching 33 miles from Townsend to Helena, MT. "
"If you don’t have a boat and don’t want to BBQ, there’s not much to do, but the views are pretty all around. Went here with a local."
"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."
$15 - $106 / night
"This campground seems to get less traffic than those on the lake. Paved roads through the campground, walking paths with benches. Nice boat ramp with plenty of parking."
"Located below a dam, this quiet park is much more than meets the eye. My husband and I spent a night here in April. It was the off season - so camping was free. There was a warm, CLEAN bathroom."
ScoutNice spot along a stream. Seems to be a weekend spot for locals from Helena. I was told by locals that it has been free until 2025 and is now $10. It's primitive with a picnic table, and sit was fairly level.
LegendI was here about a year ago and enjoyed my stay so much, I came back for another week. Arrived on Sunday afternoon with plenty of spots to pick from. My favorite is the very last loop before the Marina. I was able to snag a waterfront spot & had easy access to paddle board. Vault toilets were cleaned and restocked 3 times during my stay. Friday by mid-day, most of the spots are taken. The weekends aren’t as enjoyable because there’s always a group that is disruptive and respectful of quiet hours or the people camping next to them. Overall, definitely would recommend this place if you’re in the area. Only 50 min from helena to restock on all supplies. Little store next door at the marina you can access too!
ScoutCame up here in a whim one night and got lucky! No one else camped up there so it was peacful. You're right by the water with. Great mountain view, couldn't ask for more.
There were just a few cars driving back down the mountain in the evening. But no one bothered.
There's a nice hand full of spots you could pull up in a car, maybe two spots your could fit a small trailer in. About four or five fire rings in the immediate area. I wouldn't be surprised in there were more spots in the area or the other side of the reservoir.
Pretty easy to get to from Helena. Just take Rimini road all the way up, past the town, past private property. At some point I took a right onto Goulds.
Not the best roads but I got up there fine with my 2015 Outback just fine.
RangerLovely little site north of Helena along the highway. Fish & wildlife state siteso simple primitive camp sites. Not too memorable but the nearby area is stunning Montana wilderness with loads of hiking.
LegendHalf an hour outside of Helena is a beautiful reservoir lake. Court Sheriff Campground spreads out along its shore. Many sites are waterside and you can see families playing in it. Bring your boat or inflatables and relax.
Our site is not on the water. As soon as we pulled in the camp host hurried over. He was super helpful and directed us to a shady spot. As time goes on, I’m finding the afternoon sun to directly hit our teardrop. There is still plenty of shade for us to relax in. Clean vault toilets are spread throughout camp. Water spigots give good water from the aquifer below. They provide waste bags for dogs! Garbage and recycling are by the entrance.
There aren’t hiking trails nearby but you can drive back to Helena to find some good trails out of city park.
GuideA lot of water stations. The boat dock parking area allowed camping along the perimeter. A few paved walking paths near the beach area. The narrow paved roads made life interesting. The fish cleaning station is closed due to vandalism. Our first day was 105F which made the lake more inviting. Evening low of 76F. No pets on the fairly small swim beach. All other water access has large rocks for erosion mitigation.
Our Saturday departure was delayed by FWP boat inspection at the entrance and a long line was inbound to Holter Lake.
TravelerClean. Had outhouses. Pet and family friendly drive to accessible. Tent and camper parking. Right on the water.
TravelerThe campground itself is nice. It’s on a cove and sheltered from the wind. It is right in the middle of a village so you are surrounded by houses. The current caretaker is quite rude and not accommodating unfortunately. Pets must be leashes.
TravelerVery friendly. Campground store, campground hosts.
Lake access, boat access.
Pet friendly.
Picnic tables and gazebos throughout the park.
Clean bathrooms, outhouse and showers available.
Full electric, sewer hook up spots available.
If you're looking for pet-friendly camping options near Helena, Montana, there are several great spots where you and your furry friends can enjoy the great outdoors together.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Helena, MT is Black Sandy State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 15 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 93 dog-friendly camping locations near Helena, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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