Camping spots near Nashua, Montana center on Fort Peck Reservoir, with elevations averaging 2,250 feet in this northern Montana region. Winter temperatures can drop below -20°F, while summer brings frequent thunderstorms that develop rapidly over the open landscape. Many campsites lack significant natural wind barriers due to the sparse tree cover typical of this Great Plains environment.
What to do
Biking trails access: The extensive trail system at Downstream Campground offers roughly five miles of mostly paved paths for cycling enthusiasts. "Surrounding the camp are roughly five miles of mostly paved trails, perfect for early morning or late night walks," notes camper Clayton B., who appreciates the wheelchair accessibility of these routes.
Swimming options: Multiple locations around the reservoir provide water access, with Duck Creek Campground offering easy entry points. A visitor explains, "Duck Creek has nice camping spots, with no hook ups, but does have picnic tables and fire pits. Close access to nice boat ramp as well as easy access areas to the water for swimming, and fishing."
Wildlife spotting: The area surrounding Fort Peck Reservoir hosts numerous bird species and small mammals. "Night time and clear skies bring out great star gazing. There are tons of cottonwoods and tons of birds," explains a camper who visited during early autumn.
Fossil exploration: The Hell Creek Geologic Formation near Duck Creek campground contains numerous fossil deposits. One visitor shares, "The 2nd and arguable more important reason I loved this spot so much was due to it being surrounded by the Hell Creek Geologic Formation which has some of the highest concentration of vertebrate fossils in the world!"
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Flat Lake Recreation Area provides ample room between sites, even during busy periods. A recent visitor noted, "Right on the lake, gorgeous and spacious. Pit toilet. Full Verizon service."
Clean facilities: Maintenance standards remain high at most developed campgrounds in the area. At Roundhouse Point Campground, "Vault toilets were clean, no other amenities. Stayed on a Saturday and I was the only one here," reports a camper who appreciated the well-maintained basics.
Affordable options: Several free or low-cost camping spots exist around Fort Peck Reservoir. "This is a free 14-day boondocking area on a beautiful lake. It's not a free for all, but rather there are a few areas you can camp. They have concrete picnic tables and fire rings," notes a Flat Lake visitor.
Lake proximity: Many sites offer direct water access for boating and fishing. "You can walk right down to the water and there were plenty of people boating and swimming," says a camper who stayed at Duck Creek during summer months.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Advanced planning through recreation.gov is mandatory for Fort Peck Marina Campground and other managed sites. "We had tried to get reservations at a nearby COE with no luck and found this Campground via a Google Maps search," reports a visitor who struggled with last-minute arrangements.
Water quality concerns: Drinking water at some campgrounds may require filtration. At Fort Peck Marina, "Water was okay at about 40 PSI, but had a bad taste, even with our three filter system," notes a recent visitor.
Seasonal crowds: Weekend visitation increases dramatically during summer months. "It was decently busy with a few spots left when we arrived at 2:30pm on a Saturday. By the end of the night all the spots were filled with people squeezing their rigs in between 'sites'," explains a Duck Creek camper.
Insect activity: Depending on season, biting insects can be prevalent at lakeside camping areas. As one camper at Duck Creek noted, "There were a lot of crickets and small little chiggers biting skin," particularly during warmer months.
Tips for camping with families
Recreational facilities: West End Tent and Trailer Campground offers family-friendly amenities including shower facilities. A visitor confirms, "Wanted a campground with showers and cell service on our way west and this place had it! Safe, clean, and quiet on our one-night stay mid-week."
Educational opportunities: Fort Peck Interpretive Center provides learning activities for children. "It's a short walk to a really wonderful interpretive center - definitely worthwhile to visit!" shares a Downstream Campground visitor.
Group camping options: Downstream Campground features designated group sites for family gatherings. "There is also a 'group' space that could handle, I'm guessing, around 200 people," notes a camper who appreciated the spacious layout.
Playground access: Several campgrounds maintain playground equipment for children. Downstream Campground offers "great park like seeing with playground, volleyball net, basketball court and horseshoe pits. They even lend out the equipment you need!" according to a recent visitor.
Tips from RVers
Route selection: Navigate carefully when approaching from Highway 2. "Our RV GPS and Waze wanted us to turn on 6th St in Glasgow, which has a 12' 2" bridge under the railroad tracks. We went two blocks further to 4th St. which is the truck route," advises an RV owner who avoided the low clearance obstacle.
Electrical needs: For summer camping, select sites with appropriate electrical capacity. At Downstream Campground, "Most electrical hookups are 30A; roughly 1/3 are 50A," reports a visitor who traveled with power-hungry equipment.
Leveling considerations: Be prepared with leveling blocks at some campsites. At Fort Peck Marina, "The site sloped to the driver's side and we needed to place leveling blocks under that side's tires," notes a recent RVer.
Dump station locations: Plan waste disposal carefully as facilities are limited. "The sign as you enter the marina states the nearest dump station is 3.5 miles, which is at Downstream COE CG. The man at the bait shop stated there's a nice dump station in Glasgow at Scottie's Express Car Wash," shares an RV camper.
