Tent camping near Radersburg, Montana ranges from free dispersed campsites on Bureau of Land Management land to reservable tent sites with basic amenities, spread across both BLM areas and National Forest lands. Copper City BLM offers free dispersed tent camping with access to mountain biking trails and open terrain. Toston Dam Campground, located along the Missouri River approximately 15 miles north of Radersburg, provides reservable tent sites with picnic tables and vault toilets. Scott Reservoir Dispersed camping area offers additional primitive tent camping opportunities within reasonable driving distance.
Most tent sites in the Radersburg area are primitive with minimal amenities. Dispersed camping areas like Copper City BLM feature user-created fire rings but no toilets, drinking water, or trash collection. Campers must bring all water supplies and pack out all waste. A recent review noted, "Plenty of pull out sites with some scattered man made fire rings. Secluded quiet and great views." Drive-in access varies by location, with some sites requiring high-clearance vehicles. Toston Dam offers more structured camping with picnic tables and vault toilets, though it still lacks drinking water. Seasonal closures affect some areas, with mountain roads becoming impassable during winter months and after heavy rain.
Walk-in tent sites are available at Spokane Bay Campground, requiring a one-mile hike from the trailhead. A visitor commented, "This is a fairly unknown campground along Hauser Lake. If you come to this campground you will most likely will have the place to yourself." The area provides nine established fire rings with picnic tables and vault toilets. Tent camping in the region generally offers significant privacy due to the rural setting and dispersed nature of sites. Many locations provide mountain views and access to outdoor activities including fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. Summer camping brings warmer temperatures but also potential for afternoon thunderstorms. Most tent campsites remain open year-round, though winter access becomes challenging without four-wheel drive and proper snow equipment.
"Plenty of pull out sites with some scattered man made fire rings. Secluded quiet and great views"
"Lots of open space and locations to pull out--beautiful views as well! To access this place we went towards Copper City Trail Head, and drove by the entrance onto BLM lands."
"Small campground tucked away from highway. Right on shore of river/resevoir. Heavily used train tracks on opposite shore, so you get some train noise but not horrible."
"We had plenty of space to set up our tent and we felt comfortable leaving it set up to eat at one of the local spots in the nearby town (~15 min away)."
"We're so happy to have this experienced host on our platform. This is a working farm and there are only 2 sites available. You will have plenty of peace and privacy."
from $30 / night
"Campsite 1 was probably not the best choice but we loved the view… so did our wild life friends For sure there is 1 grizzly that’s pretty big. He checked out our truck tent."
"Sites were readily available the night we stayed, about 12 in the main campground and several more sites with fire rings outside by the trail entrance."
"This is a fairly unknown campground along Hauser Lake. If you come to this campground you will most likely will have the place to yourself. Campground can only be reached by boat or hiking into it."
"1 mile hike in. Like the other reviewer said, good place to be alone. Vaulted toilet. I used the first site. There was trash in the fire pit that I took out with me."
"We were trying to break up our Montana Drive and found this campground for the first time. It’s well laid out and sites are spaced appropriately. Every site has its own fire ring and landscaping."
"It was easy to set up, only saw two other sets of people."
from $40 - $80 / night
"About 4-5 rock fire rings fairly close together. I had the entire place to myself on a Thursday night. Some bugs but not too bad."
"There were just a few cars driving back down the mountain in the evening. But no one bothered."
"There is sun, shade, a fire ring and 3 other neighboring sites. 2 of those sites aren’t very accessible by car but this site is big enough for multiple vehicles."
"There is a Meadow about 4 miles in front of the highway that has at least 3 dispersed sites. I went to the one furthest from the dirt road and had nice shade and privacy here."
"Gorgeous campsite only 20ish min from the outskirts of Bozeman. Stopped in for 1 night passing through on a bigger road trip and couldn’t be luckier with this location. Fire rings at all campsites."
"I went for a little walk in the woods and saw a black bear (keep your food and trash stored safe!) No amenities of course but most sites have a fire ring already there."
TravelerBy the interstate, $10 to camp. Takes cash, check or there is a kiosk for cards. Definitely interstate noise and gun shots in the distance, but great for one night stay. You can back in right by the river. Our travel trailer was 27ft and we chose site #3, it was easy to back into to.
TravelerWe camped one night in a tent in site #12. Luckily it was a cool evening because the scent of the vault toilet wafted over our site off and on. Can't imagine being here on a hot humid day in the summer. I'm sure this campground is fine for overnight if you are self contained in an RV. Good if you don't want to be too far off the Interstate but also don't want the traffic noise.
RangerReviewed by: The Crew at Hitched4fun.com
If you are looking for an overnight stop while rolling through southwestern Montana on Interstate 15 or Interstate 90, the Butte KOA Journey serves its purpose as a functional travel hub. It is far from a luxury resort destination, but if you need a safe, inexpensive, and easily accessible place to park your rig for the night, it gets the job done.
Campground Grounds & Amenities
It is best to set expectations before pulling in—this is a very basic, older KOA:
Location & Highway Access
Must-See Local Stop: The Berkeley Pit Tour
If you stay here, do not leave town without visiting the Berkeley Pit.
The Hitched4fun Verdict
The Butte KOA Journey won't win awards for landscaping, but its budget-friendly rate, safe atmosphere, and prime interstate convenience make it a viable 3-star overnight rest stop. Pair it with a half-hour visit to the Berkeley Pit to get an authentic taste of Montana's copper history before hitting the highway again.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3 out of 5 Stars)
GuideWe are here in October and we are getting snow I love it. Only 3 other campers here. .the dogs just run. Getting about 6 inches of snow. Going to hike some trails tomorrow. We have AT&T and there is cell service but we also have Starlink. No water this time of year and there is only 1 pit toilet...across the campground. It would not be a place I would stay in summer....no trees I'm not a fan of seeing all the campers. Looks like pretty decent gravel sites. We do have electric. The rangers are very nice.
ScoutWe got here after dark and were very confused by the no trespassing signs and small pull offs. We didn’t go very high up on the road but camped right where the pin was set up. Gorgeous in the morning and very quiet peaceful place to stay for the night. Not necessarily “camping” with room to move around or set up but easy for one night.
ScoutNice for overnight stop cose to I90 sites are tight trails and Butte visitor center next to campground
ScoutGated road at this location, maybe still good from other starting point but no viable sites coming from Rimini that I saw. Road gets a bit rough, did find a rough roadside spot for the night but for the 8-9 mile drive in on dirt roads definitely not worthwhile.
TravelerStopped in overnight. Nice quiet spot on the lake. Toilets were very clean. Enjoyed the hike to the overlook. Hard to find what the off season prices were.
TravelerNice spot! Convenient to Bozeman - 10 minutes away. Hookups, shower, pool, playground in a compact but reasonable layout. More sports for tents or self contained rigs (vans or pickup campers) then many places.
Closed in fall and winter - in2026 open until the end of September.
Tent camping near Radersburg, Montana offers access to mountainous terrain at elevations ranging from 4,400 to 8,500 feet across various public lands. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during daytime with overnight lows dropping to 40-50°F. The region's camping areas span Bureau of Land Management parcels, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest lands, and fishing access sites along the Missouri River watershed.
Mountain biking at Copper City trails: The network includes over 25 miles of dedicated singletrack ranging from beginner to advanced difficulty levels. "Great spot right on parts of the trial! It's open and you can see miles in each direction. No shade, no bathrooms, but most have man made fire pits," notes Ashley M. about Copper City BLM.
Hiking to Sacajawea Peak: Located near Fairy Lake, this 4.2-mile round-trip hike climbs 1,800 feet to spectacular views at 9,665 feet elevation. "The campground is a little higher up than the lake, but the Mountain View's are worth not having a campsite directly on the water. There is a stream that runs through a few sites," reports Amber R. about Fairy Lake Campground.
Fishing at local reservoirs: Multiple water bodies within 30 minutes of Radersburg provide trout fishing opportunities. "Great place to camp for overlooking the reservoir. Ran into one local taking pictures but left soon after. About 4-5 rock fire rings fairly close together. I had the entire place to myself on a Thursday night," writes Don S. about Scott Reservoir Dispersed.
Roadside pull-offs for spontaneous camping: The area offers numerous undesignated sites with basic fire rings. "Plenty of open space and locations to pull out--beautiful views as well! To access this place we went towards Copper City Trail Head, and drove by the entrance onto BLM lands," shares Renee G. about camping at Copper City.
Small farmstays with animal encounters: "We loved staying here. The kids enjoyed the animals. There is a nice fire pit that made for a gathering spot for the other few campers," reports Chula R. about Serenity Sheep Farm Stay, which offers a unique camping option with farm animals nearby.
Secluded camping with minimal crowds: Many campsites offer significant privacy despite proximity to Bozeman. "Gorgeous campsite only 20ish min from the outskirts of Bozeman. Stopped in for 1 night passing through on a bigger road trip and couldn't be luckier with this location. Fire rings at all campsites. Very quite road," notes Jenna B. about South Fork Brackett Creek Dispersed Site.
Road conditions vary dramatically: Many camping areas require high-clearance vehicles and sometimes 4WD. "This is by far the roughest road I've encountered so far. Not for the faint of heart! I saw a couple sprinter vans coming up but no other RV's," warns Ariana N. about Fairy Lake Dispersed Camping.
Wildlife encounters are common: Bears, mountain goats, and other wildlife frequent these camping areas. "For sure there is 1 grizzly that's pretty big. He checked out our truck tent. Mountain Goats will come in your camp and they will do what goats do and want to check you out. They are not scared," cautions Jonathan A. about Fairy Lake Campground.
Weather changes rapidly: Summer thunderstorms develop quickly in mountain areas, and temperature swings of 30-40 degrees between day and night are normal. "It was 28° or less overnight and there is a pretty dusting of snow on the ground when I woke," reports VanRumschpringa V. about camping at South Fork Brackett Creek in fall.
Look for tent sites with natural entertainment: Water features provide hours of activity for children. "There was a perfect little creek that my 5yo fully enjoyed for a few days. If it wasn't so far, would definitely go back," shares Heather F. about Fairy Lake Campground.
Farm camping experiences: Children particularly enjoy animal interactions at area farmstays. "We loved this place nestled in the valley about 30 minutes outside of Bozeman. Not only did we have spectacular views of the mountains but we loved seeing the farm animals (cows, sheep, llama, chickens)," says Tanya A., whose 5-year-old enjoyed Revenue Flats.
Pack for significant temperature variations: Montana nights get cold even in summer, with temperatures often dropping below 50°F. "This place is DRY--so be sure to bring your own water (but on the plus side, no bugs!!)," advises Renee G. about Copper City BLM camping.
Small trailers only on mountain roads: Forest roads severely limit RV size and type. "We drove a F450 with triple slide truck camper and made it ok. Also saw a 2 wheel drive 30 foot class C motorhome that made it but would not recommend anything larger," advises Lisa A. about Revenue Flats.
Bring leveling blocks: Most dispersed sites around Radersburg aren't naturally level. "I towed my small camper up the mountain fairly easily, although this is by far the roughest road I've encountered so far," notes Ariana N. about camping near Fairy Lake.
Pack extra water: No public lands camping areas near Radersburg provide water hookups or potable water. "Small campground tucked away from highway. Right on shore of river/resevoir. Heavily used train tracks on opposite shore, so you get some train noise but not horrible," mentions K B. about Toston Dam Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Radersburg, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Radersburg, MT is Copper City BLM with a 4.2-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Radersburg, MT?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 tent camping locations near Radersburg, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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