Best Tent Camping near Malmstrom AFB, MT
Tent campgrounds surrounding Malmstrom AFB in central Montana offer a range of primitive options for overnight stays. Sluice Boxes State Park provides walk-in tent camping with no designated sites but plenty of backcountry space for those willing to hike in their gear. Lowry Bridge Access Site, located about 4 miles off Route 200, offers 5-6 mostly level tent sites with minimal amenities but peaceful surroundings.
Most tent sites in this region lack basic amenities. Campers should bring adequate water supplies as drinking water is rarely available at primitive sites. Lowry Bridge provides picnic tables, fire rings, and pit toilets but no drinking water or trash service. Mountain Palace Fishing Access Site features three campsites with metal fire pits and picnic tables overlooking the Missouri River, plus a vault toilet. A review mentioned, "Lowry Bridge is quiet, clean with about 5 level sites. Monday night in July and there were 2 tenters and 2 rv/campers." Sites are typically set on gravel pads or natural surfaces.
The tent camping experience near Malmstrom AFB varies by location. Sluice Boxes State Park offers complete solitude for those willing to venture away from established trails. A visitor commented, "It's so quiet and peaceful and the views are amazing. There is a ton of spots to camp at as long as you walk off the trail a ways you won't even notice hikers during the day." For water-based activities, the Missouri River corridor provides primitive boat-in camping at spots like Black Bluff Rapids and Senieur's Reach, which feature cottonwood shade and river access. These sites require boat transportation and offer no facilities beyond occasional fire rings. Summer temperatures can be extreme, so tent campers should consider shade availability when selecting sites, particularly at exposed locations.
