Top Free Dispersed Camping near Lima, MT
Looking for dispersed camping near Lima? Dispersed camping is the perfect way to get off the grid. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your Montana excursion.
Best Dispersed Sites Near Lima, MT (12)
1. Barretts Station Park Campground
4 Reviews•6 Photos•31 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
3. 6100N Dispersed Camping Area
2 Reviews•8 Photos•12 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
- Picnic Table
4. Ruby Reservoir Recreation Area
5 Reviews•15 Photos•33 SavesAccessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: https://www.campendium.com/camping/boondocking-101/
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- RVs
- Tents
5. 6100X Dispersed Camping Area
1 Review•4 Photos•5 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
6. Coal Creek Dispersed Camping Area
1 Review•4 Photos•8 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
7. BLM Skull Canyon Road Dispersed
1 Review•8 Photos- Pets
- Fires
- RVs
- Tents
- Dispersed
8. 6100J Dispersed Camping Area
1 Review•10 Photos•18 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Toilets
- Alcohol
9. 6100M Dispersed Camping Area
1 Review•10 Photos•4 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
Showing results 1-10 of 12 campgrounds
Recent Dispersed Reviews In Lima
13 Reviews of 12 Lima Campgrounds
Fred S.
Legend
BLM Skull Canyon Road Dispersed
Dispersed Camping in a Canyon
Coordinartes: 44.16547,-112.90392. Beautiful views. Large dirt and gravel site, right along side to Skull Canyon Road, about a mile from ID Hwy 28. Canyon walls on each side. Rough narrow rocky track to the site from the highway; recommend high clearance. High humps on this track. Small rock fire ring. Grass and sagebrush all around site. Some leveling may be required. Tent camping possible. Very peaceful; can hardly hear road noise from highway. The only vehicle that drove by was a national forest truck. No cell service. There are several boondocking sites, some with vault toilets nearby, along Hwy 28 in the Birch Creek Recreation Area.
- Kelsie M.
Scout
Ruby Reservoir Recreation Area
Snakes and rocks
Hardly any water campsites. Rattlesnakes by the bathrooms. Almost impossible to level a camper. There are absolutely no trees so come with a bucket of sunscreen or a canopy.
- AAbigail U.
GuideRuby Reservoir Recreation Area
No Complaints for Free
It’s a wonderful spot for a weekend away. We had the place to ourselves except for Saturday afternoon in March. There’s over 10 spots, with places easy for groups. However, there isn’t a level place in sight. Be prepared for steep inclines in some situations. While it was quiet people wise, I’m pretty sure you can hear the dam because we had rumbling noise that woke both of us up. The vault toilets are in a good location for many of the spots, and some are in other driveways if you are self-contained.
- Laura C.Guide
6100N Dispersed Camping Area
Very Nice and Free!
The road was mildly bumpy getting here, but the campsite is very nice. There are toilets and clearly marked campsites with a fire ring and a picnic table. Definitely can’t complain considering the camping was free!
- Dexter I.Legend
Cow Creek Dispersed Camping Area
Dispersed camping with great views
Cow Creek Disperse camping area is a large fairly flat grassy area just off the road. Area is in the wide open on a high spot above the Ruby River meaning less bugs as you are unprotected from any breeze that may be blowing. The site has great views of the surrounding mountains and of the Ruby River below. Site has on large rock fire ring. Plenty of room to fit a large group at this location, with no problem finding flat spots for your tents. Disperse camping along FS route 100 is only allowed in designated locations in this part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. All forest service disperse camping rules are in affect. Stay is limited to 16 days. No facilities at this site(so come prepared. Site is at an elevation of 6428 feet.
- Dexter I.Legend
6100J Dispersed Camping Area
Disperse camp with a Outhouse!!!
A Outhouse!!!. Dispersed Camping Area 6100J is a large camping area a short distance off forest road 100 with four to six established sites depending on how you look at it. But the best thing of all is just across FS road 100 is a vault toilet. The camping area sits between FS 100 and the Ruby River, unfortunately none of the sites are along the river. I said 4-6 sites as a few of the rock fire rings are very close to another fire ring, could fit to groups of campers at these sites, but why would you want to be so close to someone else while disperse camping. Good size fire rings at nice flat locations with plenty of room to set up camp. The vault toilet did not have any paper in it when I visited, but it was after the usual camping season and the middle of hunting season. The site also has 3 tie up rails for horses at the entrance to the camping area. Disperse camping along FS route 100 is only allowed in designated locations in this part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. All forest service disperse camping rules are in affect. Stay is limited to 16 days. No facilities at this site(except for the vault toilet) so come prepared. Site is at an elevation of 6472 feet
- Dexter I.Legend
6100M Dispersed Camping Area
Disperse camping on the shore of the Ruby River
Dispersed Camping Area 6100M is a large camping area a short distance off forest road 100 with five established sites. Three of the sites are in the open and two are tucked in the trees along the edge of the Ruby River. The tree sites are very nice, sitting among large fir trees. Rock fire rings can be found at all sites, one of the treed sites along the river has a metal fire barrel. Disperse camping along FS route 100 is only allowed in designated locations in this part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. All forest service disperse camping rules are in affect. Stay is limited to 16 days. No facilities at this site so come prepared. Site is at an elevation of 6567 feet
- Dexter I.Legend
6100N Dispersed Camping Area
Large flat camping area
Disperse campsite 6100N is located a short distance off of forest road 100. This camping area is a nice large flat grassy area to camp in, perfect for tents. Camping area sits along the Upper Ruby River. One large rock fire ring is available. Fir and Juniper trees surround this camping area. Disperse camping along FS route 100 is only allowed in designated locations in this part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. All forest service disperse camping rules are in affect. Stay is limited to 16 days. No facilities at this site so come prepared. Site is at an elevation of 6621 feet
- Dexter I.Legend
Coal Creek Dispersed Camping Area
Flat camping area next to Coal Creek
Coal Creek Disperse Camping Area is a large flat grassy parking area just barely off the main road. Site has a large rock fire ring with plenty of flat areas to set up a tent or park a camper. Site is right next to Coal Creek. Being so close to the road you will have no privacy, but the remoteness of the area should mean little to no traffic at night. Disperse camping along FS route 100 is only allowed in designated locations in this part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. All forest service disperse camping rules are in affect. Stay is limited to 16 days. No facilities at this site so come prepared. Site is at an elevation of 7000 feet
- Dexter I.Legend
6100X Dispersed Camping Area
Just a grass camping area next to a creek
Dispersed Camping Area 6100X is not much to talk about. The location is just barely off the road in a bumpy grassy area along Forest Service route 100. This camping area is wide open, not much of a site, but does have a small rock fire ring. I would suggest not using the fire ring as small sage brush is growing along the edge of the ring, would build a new ring if you wanted a fire. While the ground is a little bumpy you should have no problem find a level enough spot for a tent and a camper should be no problem at all. Disperse camping along FS route 100 is only allowed in designated locations in this part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. All forest service disperse camping rules are in affect. Stay is limited to 16 days. No facilities at this site so come prepared. Site is at an elevation of 7024 feet.
- Dexter I.Legend
Ruby Reservoir Recreation Area
Primitive campground on the Ruby Reservoir
The BLM's Ruby Reservoir is a disperse camping area. The only facilities at this campground is a double vault toilet. There is no signage on the highway to indicated the campground. After passing the dam look for the first paved turn with a stop sign on the right side of the road, this is your turn, the pavement will stop after a couple hundred feet. Lots of campsite can be found by following the web of roads once the pavement ends. Off road travel is not allowed. Their are no metal fire rings, all the fire rings in the area are made of rocks. Being a primitive camping area this is a trash-in-trash-out site, and you will need to bring your own water. This is a nice area, and I have camped here several times during hunting season. The fishing is decent as well. If you want to find garnets just head to the lake shore and start digging. Small ones can be found on the surface, bring a shovel and dig deeper if you want something decent. If you use a gold pan shake the gravel around for several minutes then flip the pan is the easiest way to find them as the garnets are heavy and will settle to the bottom of the pan. Site is free with a 16 day stay limit.
- HHannah S.Guide
Ruby Reservoir Recreation Area
Reservoir Rockhounds
This campsite has loads to offer ~ there is access to the reservoir, of course, and along with this comes the garnets lining the shores. It is a perfect adventure for beginners, as all you need is a shovel and some screens to begin your search. The garnets are beautiful, and keep the kids (college age or elementary!) entertained for hours. And if you need to cool off, you can hop right in! The campsite itself is a bit primitive, but the activities more than make up for it. Another bonus is that the way in leads you right through Virginia City which is a fun little ghost town. There’s also another little spot off the road about a mile and a half down the road from Virginia City where there’s a possibility of finding corundum!
- KKayla B.Scout
Ruby Reservoir Recreation Area
Peaceful and Beautiful
It’s free! You can bring campers, motorhomes, or tent camp like we did! There is a bathroom available as well! Lots of neat agates in the parking lot! I highly recommend this area! This was our view each morning
Guide to Lima
Camping near Lima, Montana, offers a unique blend of stunning landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for everyone.
What to do
- Fishing: The Upper Lake Campground is a great spot for fishing. One camper mentioned, "Waking up to a Trumpeter Swan swimming and eating right off our campsite was awesome."
- Hiking: Trails around the Meadow Lake Campground provide beautiful views. A visitor shared, "We did some hiking up the trails to look over the campsite and the lake."
- Wildlife Viewing: The Ruby Reservoir Recreation Area is perfect for spotting wildlife. One reviewer noted, "Wildlife viewing opportunities are endless."
What campers like
- Scenic Views: Campers rave about the breathtaking scenery. One person at the Vigilante Campground said, "What a treat to drive through Centennial Valley and get to camp in this great spot."
- Quiet Atmosphere: Many appreciate the peacefulness of the area. A camper at the Clark Canyon Recreation Area mentioned, "It’s right off the highway, on the reservoir, and pretty quiet."
- Clean Facilities: Cleanliness is a big plus for visitors. A reviewer at the Southside RV Park stated, "The bathrooms and showers are super clean."
What you should know
- Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like the Beaverhead Campground, lack certain amenities. A visitor pointed out, "Vault toilet no water, Elec or dump."
- Seasonal Access: Many campgrounds have specific seasons. For example, the Meadow Lake Campground is open from July 1 to September 30.
- Wildlife Caution: Be aware of wildlife, especially bears. A camper at the Upper Lake Campground mentioned, "There are bear though we did not see any sign."
Tips for camping with families
- Space for Kids: Look for campgrounds with room for kids to play. One family at the Vigilante Campground noted, "Each space has plenty of room for the kids to run around and play."
- Fishing Opportunities: Kids love fishing, and the Meadow Lake Campground is stocked with fish. A visitor shared, "There are lots of fish to be caught."
- Hiking Trails: Choose campgrounds with nearby hiking trails. A camper at the Ruby Reservoir Recreation Area said, "The campground is spartan with 12 sites, two outhouses, and a spring for water."
Tips from RVers
- Big Rig Friendly: Many campgrounds, like the Beaverhead Campground, are big rig friendly. One RV traveler mentioned, "Easy in and out right off the hwy big rig friendly."
- Check Hookups: Ensure your campground has the necessary hookups. A visitor at the Lewis & Clark Campground noted, "Only RV location with hookups around the lake."
- Windy Conditions: Be prepared for windy nights. An RV camper at the Countryside RV Park mentioned, "This location is beautiful but can be very windy."
Camping near Lima, Montana, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors. With beautiful campgrounds and plenty of activities, you're sure to have a memorable experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Lima, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Lima, MT is Barretts Station Park Campground with a 3.5-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Lima, MT?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 dispersed camping locations near Lima, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.