Fort Peck Lake dominates the tent camping landscape near Jordan, Montana, creating a recreational hub with over 1,600 miles of shoreline. Campsites range from primitive lakeside spots to more developed areas with basic amenities. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-90°F, while spring and fall camping seasons offer milder conditions with fewer visitors at tent campsites near Jordan.
What to do
Fossil hunting: Access to Hell Creek Formation from Fort Peck Duck Creek provides unique prehistoric exploration opportunities. "Due to it being surrounded by the Hell Creek Geologic Formation which has some of the highest concentration of vertebrate fossils in the world! While it is illegal to take any vertebrate fossils you can get cool imprints of leaves and other invertebrate animals that lived right alongside the dinosaurs," notes camper Alan B.
Swimming access: Multiple entry points available at lakeside tent camping areas. A visitor to Rock Creek Marina notes it offers "a marina and services" with "swimming and boating access," though the area "is small and very congested. Fills up fast."
Boating: Launch facilities at several campgrounds accommodate both motorized and non-motorized craft. One camper at Fort Peck Duck Creek mentions "close access to nice boat ramp as well as easy access areas to the water for swimming, and fishing."
What campers like
Solitude and remoteness: Many tent camping sites provide isolation from crowds. "Seclusion due to it being on the south side of Lake Ft. Peck and away from any city. Be warned though you are pretty much on your own out here so be sure you have a full tank of gas before exploring," advises a camper at Fort Peck Duck Creek.
Waterfront access: Most tent sites allow direct access to Fort Peck Lake. Emily T. describes McGuire Creek as having "great fishing and swimming" with "some picnic table, fire pit spots," though she notes it functions more as a "camp area rather than true campground."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The remote setting attracts diverse animal species. At The Pines Campground, one visitor describes the area as "rustic, quiet, peaceful, lots of game" with amenities including "vault toilets, picnic tables, fire pit, boat ramp, one garbage, group shelter house with playground."
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Many tent camping areas require travel on unpaved roads. Lauren T. notes The Pines Campground is "20 miles down gravel, but highly trafficked still" with "sandy beaches lining the camping areas."
Limited amenities: Most tent sites offer only basic facilities. A visitor to McGuire Creek reports "not the best road going in, vault toilets in area," while Emily T. reports that Duck Creek has "picnic tables, fire rings, and a pit toilet. Little privacy but nice views of the water."
Weather considerations: Fort Peck Lake can experience extreme conditions. Lindsay B. cautions that "Lake Fort Peck can get super windy. Not great for non-motorized boats."
Tips for camping with families
Beach access for children: Several campgrounds feature sandy shores. Lauren T. describes The Pines as having "sandy beaches lining the camping areas. Great for animals and kids!"
Insect preparation: Depending on season, biting insects can be prevalent. Emily T. warns about Duck Creek: "depending on the time of year, there were a lot of crickets and small little chiggers biting skin."
Safety considerations: Remote locations require additional planning. Hattie R. at Duck Creek advises, "You can walk right down to the water and there were plenty of people boating and swimming" but also mentions "some fireworks around 11:30p. Overall felt safe, worked for what we needed."
Tips from RVers
Site availability: First-come, first-served camping requires timing. According to Hattie R. at Duck Creek, "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'."
Limited hookups: Most tent camping areas lack RV amenities. Jessica S. notes Duck Creek has "nice camping spots, with no hook ups" but mentions "paid camping in area as well, which offer hook ups and showers."
Generator noise considerations: Expect varied quiet hours enforcement. Hattie R. reports, "I didn't have any trouble sleeping but my boyfriend said there were generators running all night."
