Best Tent Camping near Missoula, MT

Harper's Lake north of Missoula on Hwy 83 and Hwy 200 right along the Clearwater River.the campground sports two small lakes Blanchard Lake and Harper's Lake which are within walking distance to the campground. The sites are mostly for tent camping, but there are sites large enough for trailers. There is no water, electricity or sewer hook-ups.

This spot was amazing. I would camp here again anytime. There were only maybe 4-5 first come first serve sites, a couple with creek access. But the area was amazing and super peaceful. No hookups and no room for big stuff. Excellent boondocking not far from Missoula.

Aawesome indoor pool and hot springs has tent camping RV spaces and motel room and much more awesome place overall

We planned on tent camping at Lola Creek campground but we were a weekend too early. It wasn’t open yet! Down the road there was an RV Park and they were very nice and allowed us to set up our tents near the river. It was stunning!

Extremely rustic and totally gorgeous small camp along the Rock Creek in Montana.  The drive in was beautiful, with a road that passed south from Missoula/Clinton through a small valley with private properties that would be the envy of any aspiring Montana property owner.  Deer, Moose, and other wildlife are all present as you cross into the forest land there.  The road does become a bit less maintained as you go further South.

The campsite is small, but picnic tables, fire pits, and pit toilets are on site.  We did have our bear spray handy, but no bear were spotted.  We only stayed only one night on our road trip West, but have I have recalled this location often as one of the best sites we have ever stayed at.  The magic of watching fly fishermen work their way up the creek has stayed with me for many years.  Total magic in beautiful Montana.

Wonderful little campground located just south of Whitefish Montana on highway 93. This KOA has a lot to offer from cabins to RV parking and several tent camping locations. Just a few minutes drive north and you will enter the small ski town of Whitefish Montana. Plenty of places to eat, shop or buy your groceries. During the summer months be sure to visit Whitefish Lake. 20 minute drive east and you will arrive in West Glacier Park. This RV park is located in a wooded area and is very family friendly with a local pizzeria on site.

Well managed, clean, and pretty campground with views through the trees of Salmon Lake. Best access to the lake is from the day use and boat ramp area south of the campground. We enjoyed exploring all the trails leading down to and along the lake. The park manager was very friendly and helpful. We lucked out and got a site with water and electricity. The only down side was we could hear the highway during the day, but it quieted at night. The sites closer to the lake probably didn’t have that issue. The walk-in tent sites are really nice above the lake.

we planned a last minute trip (2weeks in advance) to Glacier NP in mid July. These guys still had tent sites available for the four nights we wanted. it’s a bit of a trek to the NP (40 minutes) but it’s not horrible time.

our site was nice and tucked off in the trees on the edge, but near the showers. they also provide free breakfast in the morning. newish washers/dryers were great too since we were starting a two week trip.

would definitely stay again if we couldn’t get something closer to Glacier.

we didn’t use the pool or hot tub but they looked nice and clean. they have a nImber of games outside and vIdeo games If you need entertaInment. the showers were good, lots of hot water.

All the forest service campgrounds in the area were full and we happened across this place. We stayed 3 days & it was very peaceful. Each day a few sites opened up mid-day. There is a beautiful flat water river with two access points and locals tube and paddle here. There are tent sites, back-in sites, and pull through sites. Our site was on the river though separated by a thin strip of woods. At night we could hear coyotes. There are a lot of people who drive through looking around and kicking up dust, but that's the only negative. There are no hookups, only a central hand pump for water and no dump station. Prices are cheaper for residents and those with state fishing license (who have already contributed to the up keep).

We stayed at Salmon Lake on 2 different occasions in June 2021.  We were lucky enough to score last minute reservation on the lower loop. The lower loop is right on the water and has only 2 campsites, #22 and #23. These two sites are farther down the hill so we did not hear the street noise that other campers complain about in the upper loop. We were tent camping when we stayed in site #22 and #23,  Site #22 has a very nice covered picnic table and is large enough to accommodate a large RV or trailer. This  lower loop only has pit toilet but the upper loop has flush toilets and  very clean showers.  We did appreciate that they sold firewood at the campground for $4. This campground also has very nice walk-in campsite for cyclist and hikers.  We enjoyed both of our stays and would highly recommend the lower loop since the sites were right on the water and you had more privacy.

A loop off the road in open evergreen forest with grass ground covering. Tent sites are well spaced, about 150ft, but the open forest means you can see several neighbors. The forest floor is generally shaded with some sun patches so most sites have good shade. Sites on the river side have trails down a 15ft bank to the river. Some trails are good and some steep. Because of the bank, you can’t see the river from camp. From sites on the road side you can access the the river between river side sites. Our site had only a small beach and we did not spend much time at the river. 

There are 3-4 outhouses, mainly placed near the road. 

The one water pump was locked up and marked as non-portable. 

The road is near enough that you can see and hear passing traffic. 

We arrived on a Wednesday in late July, about 4:00 pm, and found the campground about 75% full. Temperatures were upper 70’s to 80’s and we found the shade comfortable. Light bugs. Moderate mosquitoes in the evening. Generally it was pleasant to sit outdoors.

https://www.camppaxson.org/app/

*Must rent entire facility*

"Camp Paxson sits on the shores of Seeley Lake, one of a chain of five lakes nestled between the Swan Mountain Range and the Mission Mountain Range in Western Montana. It is a 15-acre peninsula of land that Salish, Blackfeet, and Crow tribes cared for, hunted, and fished for centuries prior to European colonization and we recognize their time-honored traditions and connections rooted in the earth. While the history of the land reaches centuries back, the buildings on this Forest Service landmark are just 80 years old. Camp Paxson originally consisted of a tent camp with six small frame structures. By the 1930s, a larger facility was needed. The Depression-era Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps began building the current facility in 1939, and the bathhouses and cabins were completed in 1940. Because of its unique architecture and as an example of the contributions of the WPA and CCC during the Depression years, Camp Paxson was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The camp was originally used by a variety of groups including the Boy Scouts and the Forest Service for their Smokejumper training housing. Camp Paxson is a Lolo National Forest Service site administered by the Camp Paxson Preservation Project, a non-profit organization that operates with the mission to preserve and improve historic Camp Paxson and to advance the public’s appreciation of this cultural and natural resource both locally and regionally through expanded appropriate use. The facility is used by schools, churches, weddings, family reunions, and other gatherings of large groups.