Best Tent Camping near Lloyd, MT

Tent campgrounds near Lloyd, Montana offer primitive experiences in Hill County Beaver Creek Park and along the Fresno Reservoir shoreline. Several tent camping areas provide access to fishing and hiking without significant development. The Montana Gulch Campground, located in the Little Rocky Mountains, also offers basic tent sites for campers seeking a quieter experience away from more populated areas.

Most tent campsites in this region feature minimal amenities, with many lacking potable water sources. Kiehns Bay at Fresno Reservoir allows tent camping with fire rings but has no showers or toilets. Sites are typically situated on uneven ground with natural surfaces, and campers should bring all necessary supplies including drinking water. Montana Gulch Campground provides vault toilets and trash collection, though access roads can become impassable during wet conditions. Beaver Creek Park requires a $55 annual park pass for camping, which can be purchased in the nearby town of Havre.

Tent sites in the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument are primarily accessible by boat, offering secluded backcountry camping experiences. Eagle Creek Developed Boat Camp and Lone Tree Campground provide tent sites beneath mature cottonwood trees, each with fire rings and vault toilets. These sites serve as excellent bases for hiking, including slot canyon exploration and viewing pictographs. Bearpaw Lake is accessible for tent camping but receives mixed reviews due to its exposed position. A reviewer noted that Montana Gulch Campground is "nestled in the Little Rocky Mountains, with lots of shade and a creek running by it." During summer months, tent campers should be prepared for possible crowding at Fresno Reservoir, as one camper observed that "locals have no respect for campers, they just drive right up and spend the afternoon drinking and carrying on."

Best Tent Sites Near Lloyd, Montana (12)

    1. Hill County Beaver Creek Park

    2 Reviews
    Lloyd, MT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 395-4565

    "It technically requires a $55 annual park pass for camping or usage of the park. The pass can be purchased at Stromberg Sinclair in Havre or other locations in Havre."

    "It technically requires a $55 annual park pass for camping or usage of the park. There are two lakes with decent fishing in the park and a lovely stream."

    2. Bearpaw Lake

    1 Review
    Lloyd, MT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (405) 444-2535

    3. Kiehns Bay

    5 Reviews
    Havre, MT
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 759-5077

    "Beautiful spot on the water, there were several dispersed camping spots to choose from around the lake. Some of them are very difficult to access with a larger rig."

    "Lots of bottles and garbage on the beach from party's and around 2am some locals rolled through in louder trucks right past our spot."

    4. Montana Gulch

    10 Reviews
    Zortman, MT
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 654-5100

    "Montana Gulch is such a great place to visit and stay if you are ever in the area."

    "Nestled in the Little Rocky Mountains, campground offers lots of shade with creek running by it. Bathroom was clean and nice tables by fire rings."

    5. Fresno Tailwater

    2 Reviews
    Havre, MT
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 444-2535

    6. Gist Bottom Primitive Boat Camp

    1 Review
    Winifred, MT
    37 miles

    "This is the nicest primitive camp we stopped at during our canoe trip through the Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument."

    7. Eagle Creek Developed Boat Camp

    2 Reviews
    Big Sandy, MT
    41 miles

    "Located in the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument at river mile 56.0. Eagle Creek is a very popular camping location on the river."

    "Pretty nice shaded campsite. There are two hiking opportunities here."

    8. Lone Tree Campground

    1 Review
    Big Sandy, MT
    40 miles

    "This is 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. One fire ring and one outhouse at the site."

    10. Hole-in-the-Wall Boat Camp

    2 Reviews
    Big Sandy, MT
    46 miles
    Website

    "Site has two vault toilets and four metal fire ring, no tables but several benches. Shelters provide the only shade for the camp. Just down river is Hole-in-the-Wall."

    "I never slept here, but your only shade will be the provided “shelters”. The fire-pits are not shaded as well. The hiking up to the Hole-in-The-Wall is AWESOME!"

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Tent Camping Reviews near Lloyd, MT

47 Reviews of 12 Lloyd Campgrounds


  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2018

    Judith Landing

    Great campsite along the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument

    Nice campground with lots of room. Very clean Vault Toilet. Fire rings and picnic tables available. One downside is that their is not a good location to land a canoe at the campground, need to use the boat launch 2-3 tenths of a mile further down river. No water available. dumpsters are available.

    Lewis and Clark's May 28, 1805 marker is a few hundred feet from the Visitor Assistant station.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2018

    Eagle Creek Developed Boat Camp

    Nice campground with great hiking oppertunity

    Located in the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument at river mile 56.0. Eagle Creek is a very popular camping location on the river. The site has two vault toilets and five metal fire rings, several more rock fire rings are also available. Large cottonwoods provide shade and good locations to set up a hammock. Plenty of room to set up tents. Good hiking through a slot canyon is possible. Lewis and Clark camped near here on the other side of Eagle Creek on May 31, 1805.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2018

    Lower Woodhawk Campground

    Hard to locate

    Without the river map or GPS this site would be easy to miss. Can't see the campground from the river due to all the willow and the sign is missing. Only a small flag tied to a willow marked the landing location. This site is classified as a developed public access site and campground due to the unimproved road providing entry. Caution: entry and exit by road will not be possible during wet conditions. Site has two metal fire rings, 1 concrete picnic table (a second one has fallen apart) and one vault toilet. Plenty of cottonwoods provide shade and good spots to use a hammock.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2018

    Coal Banks Landing

    Great camp along the Upper Missouri River Breaks

    This is an enjoyable campground along the Upper Missouri River Breaks on river mile 41.5. Site has two vault toilets, 13 picnic table, and 9 firer rings. Visit Center provides WiFi. This is a major launch area for floating the Upper Missouri Rive Breaks National Monument. Very friendly camp staff with vast knowledge of the river.

  • Melani T.
    Aug. 29, 2018

    Montana Gulch

    Such a beautiful place!

    Montana Gulch is such a great place to visit and stay if you are ever in the area. Being from Montana, I have had the pleasure of staying at quite a few places and this one is probably one of my favorites. I love that the campground is surrounded be the beautiful mountains, and there are so many great hikes you can go on. Whenever we decide where we are going to stay, we make sure that there are amazing hikes nearby. I would definitely look up hikes nearby before you go, that way you get a feel for what is around you, the length of the hike, and elevation gain. I would also caution that there is a lot of wild life in Montana. We saw a bear and her cubs in the distance on one of the hikes we went on. It was incredible to see, but we were definitely pretty cautious. The campground is great, clean, and well kept. There are quite a few spaces available, but definitely fill up fast in the summertime. We went in the peak of summer and all of the spaces were taken. Luckily we made our reservation online ahead of time. This campground was only for tents, and there was only 1 bathroom which was the only downside. No water onsite, so make sure to bring plenty of your own. There wasn't any picnic tables in the campsites, but there were tables throughout the campground. Pets are allowed, so we brought our dog.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2018

    Gist Bottom Primitive Boat Camp

    Nicest Primitive camp in Monument

    This is the nicest primitive camp we stopped at during our canoe trip through the Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument. Located at river mile 122.6 this site has great camp spots underneath large mature cottonwoods. The site has two fire rings with plenty of bare ground around them. Goods tent sites are easy to find. The large cottonwoods give plenty of shade from the sun. Normally don't rate primitive sites above a 3 but every one in our group gave it a 4.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2018

    Hole-in-the-Wall Boat Camp

    Nice camp with shelters

    Nice developed camp site at river mile 63.0 on the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. Site has two vault toilets and four metal fire ring, no tables but several benches. Shelters provide the only shade for the camp. Just down river is Hole-in-the-Wall. Nice trail leads to the hole-in-the-wall. To get to trail canoe down river another 0.8 mile, stopping at the first large cottonwood, you will find a trail here.

  • J
    Jul. 11, 2021

    Evergreen Campground

    Clean, quiet, small, tight sites

    Nice area, shade and trees.  Friendly, helpful host.  Camp sites very, very close together.  Walk out camper door into next sites plug ins and sewer hose.  Very limited space between campers.  No picnic tables or firepits.

  • James D.
    Sep. 29, 2016

    Montana Gulch

    My first time camping at a BLM site!

    There are no reservations available and only 10 spots, so I felt like I got lucky there was something available for me that night. By the time the sun went down there were only 3 other sites filled, so plenty of space. There is no potable water so come prepared. The cost was minimal, $8 or $9 each night if I remember correctly. The sites have campfire rings, tables but not grills. There is a restroom for the camp. There are some trails to explore which were well maintained but I believe backpacking through Glacier spoiled me. Pets were allowed but must be on a leash. It was a peaceful and quiet place to stay.


Guide to Lloyd

Tent camping near Lloyd, Montana offers primitive experiences surrounded by the Little Rocky Mountains and Missouri River Breaks region. The area sits at approximately 2,700 feet elevation with dramatic topography changes from river bottoms to mountain peaks. Summer temperatures often exceed 90°F while nights cool significantly, requiring campers to prepare for temperature swings even during peak season.

What to do

Slot canyon hiking: Eagle Creek Developed Boat Camp provides access to impressive slot canyons with minor climbing opportunities. "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)," notes Sterling C.

Historical exploration: View Native American pictographs near Eagle Creek camp. "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," advises a reviewer who provided location guidance.

Fishing access: Fresno Tailwater offers good fishing opportunities below the dam. "This is a great place to catch Pike, Walleye and Crappie," notes Lindsay B., though they recommend fishing rather than camping at this specific location.

Nature trails: Mount Otis in Beaver Creek Park features well-maintained hiking trails. The park also includes a 3-mile nature trail suitable for casual hikers of all abilities, providing access to native prairie and woodland habitats.

What campers like

Shade from mature trees: Montana Gulch Campground receives praise for its natural shade. "Campground offers lots of shade with creek running by it. Bathroom was clean and nice tables by fire rings," reports Thomas F.

Water features: Creeks and streams enhance many camping areas. "Fun place to explore with the kids. Nothing beats flowing water," states Kelli D. about Montana Gulch, highlighting the recreational value of flowing water for families.

Reservoir views: Kiehns Bay at Fresno Reservoir offers scenic vantage points. "Spectacular views from a few campsites on top of the walls, well spread out areas and definitely big rig friendly spots," notes Brad J., though he mentions local traffic as a drawback.

Basic amenities: Many sites maintain clean facilities despite remote locations. "The bathroom was clean and nice tables by fire rings," observed one camper at Montana Gulch, appreciating the basic but well-maintained facilities.

What you should know

Water availability: Most tent sites require bringing your own water. "Be aware that there isn't any portable water (at least from what I saw). Because of how primitive this campsite is, this is what gives it, its charm," states Nick P. about Montana Gulch.

Access challenges: McGarry Bar Primitive Boat Camp can be difficult to locate from the water. "The location can be a challenge to find as the sign can't be seen from the river, small take out location," warns Dexter I., advising boaters to watch carefully for the landing.

Road conditions: Some access roads become rough during certain seasons. "The dirt road is a little washboard but no big potholes," notes Thomas B. about the 2.5-mile access road to Fresno Tailwater from Highway 2.

Local traffic: Kiehns Bay experiences local visitors during peak times. "The locals have no respect for campers, they just drive right up and spend the afternoon drinking and carrying on," one camper noted, suggesting weekdays might provide more solitude.

Tips for camping with families

Creek exploration: Hole-in-the-Wall Boat Camp offers unique geological features for older children. "The hiking up to the Hole-in-The-Wall is AWESOME! Though you will have to do some easy rock climbing so be prepared," advises Sterling C., noting safety considerations for families with young children.

Fishing opportunities: Multiple locations offer shore fishing for families. "It's a good place to put in for fishing," notes a reviewer about Bearpaw Lake, making it suitable for families who enjoy fishing together.

Sheltered areas: Some sites provide constructed shade shelters. "Site has two vault toilets and four metal fire ring, no tables but several benches. Shelters provide the only shade for the camp," notes Dexter I. about the Hole-in-the-Wall camp, useful information for families needing relief from summer heat.

Wildlife watching: Montana Gulch provides wildlife viewing opportunities. "We saw a bear and her cubs in the distance on one of the hikes we went on. It was incredible to see, but we were definitely pretty cautious," shares a camper, reminding families to maintain safe wildlife practices.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: Lone Tree Campground offers larger spaces for camping units. "Site is in a grove of large cottonwoods. One fire ring and one outhouse at the site," notes Dexter I., indicating the natural spacing provided by mature trees.

Leveling challenges: Many sites feature natural, uneven surfaces. "There are several choices, including some with shade under the cottonwood trees you so often find near rivers. There's also a flat concrete pad that would work well for a big RV," advises Thomas B. about Fresno Tailwater.

Access road assessment: Check road conditions before attempting access with larger rigs. "The road in and out is hilly and has a bit of washboarding, we made it in and out without any problems," shares Nancy B. about their experience at Kiehns Bay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lloyd, MT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lloyd, MT is Hill County Beaver Creek Park with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Lloyd, MT?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Lloyd, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.