Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs offers a variety of camping and glamping accommodations 30 minutes south of Malta, Montana. The facility includes both RV sites and cabins centered around natural thermal mineral pools. The property maintains three distinct temperature pools: a 95°F main pool, 106°F hot spring, and 45°F plunge pool, all housed indoors for year-round use regardless of Montana's variable weather conditions.
What to do
Visit local museums: The Phillips County Pioneer Museum in Malta showcases impressive local history with authentic dinosaur fossils. As one visitor noted, it's "well worth a visit. Awesome local history and super collection of actual dinosaur fossils, but not just casts."
Explore nearby trails: Camp Creek Campground provides access to extensive trail systems. "There's tons of trails to ride side by sides. The campground is clean and the sites have plenty of space for our 28ft toy hauler," according to one reviewer who enjoyed OHV riding in the area.
Visit Nelson Reservoir: Located a short drive from Malta, this reservoir offers fishing and boating opportunities. While camping at Sleeping Buffalo, visitors can make day trips to enhance their Montana outdoor experience.
What campers like
Relaxing mineral pools: Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs receives consistently positive feedback for its thermal waters. "The pool area is first rate! Bathhouse is clean and well kept," reports one camper. Another adds, "Hot springs were fantastic! Hot, medium and cold pool, indoor and outdoor pools, huge sauna, chairs, tables, lots of room...just perfect!"
Convenient Glacier National Park stopover: Many visitors use this area as a strategic overnight when traveling to or from Glacier. "No reservation, we took a chance on having a spot available. If you are leaving/coming to Glacier NP and driving on US2...this should be your overnight. It is about 340 miles from West Glacier," shares one reviewer.
Restaurant quality: The on-site dining receives notable praise from those seeking glamping near Malta. One camper mentioned, "If you stay, be sure to check out store before you leave, lots of cuts of local beef."
What you should know
Remote location with limited activities: The area around Malta offers minimal entertainment options. According to one visitor, "There's not much to do in the area, but the campground itself was peaceful and clean."
Seasonal insect considerations: Summer visitors should prepare for mosquitoes, particularly in the evenings. "The only real downside? The mosquitoes were fierce, especially at dusk—definitely bring spray," warns one camper.
Mineral water effects: The mineral-rich waters can stain light-colored swimwear. "One important thing to note about visiting the hot springs. The water is high in mineral content. Don't wear light colored swimwear," advises a helpful reviewer.
Tips for camping with families
Basketball court access: Camp Creek Campground offers recreation options for children. "There's a basketball court for the kids, and while it's not packed with amenities for families, our kids still had fun," shares one family who enjoyed their stay.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Some younger visitors enjoy watching the free-range chickens at Sleeping Buffalo Resort. This provides an unexpected entertainment option for children at this glamping destination near Malta.
Plan evening activities: With restaurant service ending early and limited nightlife options, families should bring games or activities for evening entertainment at their campsite.
Tips from RVers
Spacious pull-through sites: RV campers appreciate the well-designed sites at Sleeping Buffalo. "Our RV site was wide and easy to pull into, with perfectly placed hookups. It felt like the campground was actually designed with RVers in mind," notes one satisfied camper.
Level sites: Most RV spaces require minimal leveling. One reviewer mentioned, "Our spot was pretty level. Prices are about on par with other places. Mid $40 a night. As RV parks go I would consider it average, no frills, good place to sleep. Our spot was about 3" low on the passenger side."
Reliable utilities: Several RVers comment on the dependable WiFi at Sleeping Buffalo. "Shoutout to their fast and dependable Wi-Fi - our Starlink cable broke, so we got to test it out, and it didn't miss a beat," reports one tech-dependent camper.