U
Ursula
Ranger
RangerJuniper Campground — Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Nice campground, we are here offseason so no water or bathrooms. No electric hook ups year round. Beautiful Bad Lands surrounding us.
Tent Camping near Sidney, MT
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Tent camping options around Sidney, Montana include primitive sites like Fort Buford State Historic Site and Snowden Bridge. Fort Buford offers free camping with picnic tables and fire rings near the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers. Snowden Bridge provides tent sites along the Missouri River with vault toilets and trash service. Both locations support tent camping without requiring reservations.
Campers should prepare for basic facilities at most tent sites. Fort Buford provides picnic tables and fire rings but lacks drinking water and restroom facilities. Snowden Bridge offers vault toilets and trash service, making it slightly more developed for tent campers. Both sites permit fires and allow pets, though water must be carried in. During summer, temperatures can be extreme, and limited shade exists at some locations. The prairie landscape offers minimal natural shelter from wind and sun.
These tent-friendly locations provide access to significant historical sites and river activities. Fort Buford State Historic Site connects campers to the area where Sitting Bull surrendered and offers educational demonstrations on regional history. Snowden Bridge's location directly on the Missouri River provides excellent fishing opportunities and wildlife viewing. The open landscape creates excellent stargazing conditions, particularly at Snowden Bridge. According to one visitor, "This is my go to for overnights and day trips. Right along the Missouri River. Great fishing access, wooded and close to town. Have seen great wildlife, excellent summer stargazing."
Best Tent Campgrounds near Sidney (4)
1. Snowden Bridge
"Great fishing access, wooded and close to town. Have seen great wildlife, excellent summer stargazing. Not a very big spot and only two camp sites close to the vault toilet."
2. Confluence Access
3. Elkhorn Campground
"We were in a spot with some shade for our tent. Close to clean pit toilet."
4. Bennett
"There are some nice long hiking trails, bison and other prairie critters. This is wide open country with no real facilities (no trash either). Yay: simple camping and lovely scenery, wildlife."
"This site has a water pump, fire rings, and tables. In the day time the temperature gets really hot and the restroom has a smell come out. This site was very big and could hols a couple tents."
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 45 min from Minot, ND
- 3 hrs 18 min from Bismarck, ND
- 3 hrs 51 min from Billings, MT
- 4 hrs 44 min from Rapid City, SD
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Sidney, MT
2 Photos of 4 Sidney Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Sidney, MT
121 Reviews of 4 Sidney Campgrounds
- Walter F.
TravelerCcc Campground (Nd) — Dakota Prairie National Grasslands
Wide open
Nearly all sites are 50+' long and flat. No trees to speak of. Electric, and excellent toilets. The water is avaliable but doesn't taste good.
- Charlie Y.
GuideBruegger Centenial Park
Cross country traveler
Late night arrival. First come first served...decent,safe secure site for the night...no hookups that I could easily see...dump station onsite) but decent restroom facilities....a little rough figuring out how to get to the park especially at night but great place for a road weary traveler...BIG THANK YOU...to the kind folks in this town and neighborhood for making this spot available. Free RV site
Erica D.TravelerMagpie Campground
Peaceful
I like that it is off the beaten path. The 2 times I've stayed there may have been 2 other campers. Very quiet and you can just relax.
- jjohn C.
ScoutFort Buford State Historic Site
Boon docking
Camping on level ground, under shade trees, with picnic tables and campfire ring, with a view of the fort. No water or dump sites.
- DDeborah J.Traveler
Confluence Access
Convenient but not attractive
Drove in on a Friday at the start of Labor Day - 2 of the 13 or sites were occupied. Very good site for putting in a boat or parking a larger rig. Some sites have power, but not water.
But not lovely
- DDeborah J.Traveler
Snowden Bridge
Sweet spot
Accurately described in 2021 Out of the way fishing spot with two campsites. Very nice
- DDaniel S.Traveler
Ccc Campground (Nd) — Dakota Prairie National Grasslands
Great setting in the ND Badlands
This campground is a National Forest Campground. There are 18 sites with 5 requiring reservations and the rest are FCFS. There are also 5 or 6 horse sites with small corrals at each site. There are several pit toilets that are very clean and appear to have been repainted this year. The toilets are ADA friendly. The sites are spacious with 15/30/50 amp service. The tent or smaller camper sites have 15/30 amp service. There are a couple of community water faucets set up around the campground. There is no dump station. This campground is about 1 mile from the entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit. Just across the Little Missouri River. The views from this campground into the badlands is spectacular. There are a couple of trails for hiking and horseback riding from the campground. The cost is $10 per night and $5 if you have the senior pass.
- LLeonard N.Traveler
Green Valley Campground
Ghost Campground
Stopped for one night 07/19/26 without a reservation, while traveling west on HWY I94 in our 30' RV pulling a motorcycle trailer. Exit #213 HWY 16 north 1/2 mile to Green Valley Ln. Hard to find as the sign on HWY 16 is illegible. The place looked deserted with the exception of 3 seasonal campers, a couple of abandoned campers, and a delapidated trailer house. The only people we saw during our stay was an elderly lady leaving one of the seasonal campers, and a group of MT WIldlife & Fisheries biologist, who had staged their boats and equipment at the campground for a Paddlenose Sturgeon survey they were conducting on the nearby Yellowstone river. The grounds may have been mowed this season, but was littered with downed branches. It was obvious that this campground has been neglected for many years, and gets very little use by local, and transient campers alike. The previous owners were an elderly couple, and the current owner is an elderly man (or so we were told). It has potential under new (younger) ownership, and an infussion of $$$ and labor. We used the 30A power to run our AC during the evening without any issues, but didn't use the water or sewer (but they were there). Payment is cash on the honor system, paid through a slot on the office building door ($30 for site w/elect). Why did we stay? I was too exhausted to drive any further. Would we stay again? NO.
Guide to Sidney
Tent camping near Sidney, Montana offers primitive sites across eastern Montana and western North Dakota. Most campgrounds in this region maintain basic facilities within a semi-arid prairie landscape characterized by open grasslands and river valleys. Summer temperatures often reach 90°F during daytime hours, dropping significantly at night, with consistent winds across the exposed terrain.
What to do
Historical exploration: Visit Fort Buford State Historic Site where campers can walk through preserved military buildings and artifacts. According to visitor Brian L., "Lots of great history with the old forts (Buford and Union) nearby. And the Confluence Visitor Center was good."
Wildlife viewing: The Dakota grasslands provide habitat for native prairie species. At Bennett Campground, Lynn G. notes, "There are some nice long hiking trails, bison and other prairie critters. This is wide open country with no real facilities."
River activities: Camping locations along the Missouri River support fishing and paddling opportunities during warmer months. Access points require minimal preparation but deliver productive fishing spots from spring through fall.
What campers like
Open landscapes: The unobstructed terrain creates exceptional night sky visibility. At Elkhorn Campground, Jim M. reports, "Campsite was empty, so we had different sites to choose from. We were in a spot with some shade for our tent. Nice view of landscape and Trailhead nearby."
Solitude: Many tent camping locations near Sidney remain uncrowded even during peak season. One camper at Fort Buford noted, "Nobody has pulled in around us. Nothing better than free camping with solitude these days!"
Weather experiences: The dynamic weather patterns create memorable camping moments. As Lynn G. describes Bennett Campground, "Thunderstorms rolling over the prairie is something you'll never forget!"
What you should know
Water limitations: Most primitive camping sites require visitors to carry in water. At Bennett, Lynn G. advises, "No water (byo or filter/boil). Sunny open sites without shade."
Road conditions: Many camping areas require travel on unpaved roads. Jim M. reports about Elkhorn Campground: "Traveled about 35 miles on unpaved road in RAV4 AWD."
Limited facilities: Expect minimal amenities at most locations. Elkhorn provides "Hand pump was hard to pump which produced light brown water which wasn't something we wanted to drink, so bring in your own water."
Payment systems: Several campgrounds utilize self-pay stations with simple procedures. As Brittany describes Elkhorn: "$6 cash or check, put the money in the envelope and drop it in the box, clip the tag to your site #."
Tips for camping with families
Temperature preparation: Pack for significant temperature variations in this region. Kevin T. notes about camping at Bennett: "In the day time the temperature gets really hot."
Wildlife education opportunities: Snowden Bridge provides wildlife viewing suitable for children. Stacey N. reports: "Have seen great wildlife, excellent summer stargazing."
Site selection strategy: Arrive early to secure limited spots at smaller campgrounds. Stacey N. mentions Snowden Bridge has "Not a very big spot and only two camp sites close to the vault toilet."
Activity planning: Prepare alternative activities when weather prevents outdoor exploration. Many sites have minimal shelter options during storms or extreme heat.
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most primitive sites near Sidney accommodate smaller recreational vehicles only. At Elkhorn Campground, Steve D. describes: "Campsites in valley in Badlands. Nice and clean. No power, no dumps, hand pump for water."
Self-containment requirements: Most tent camping locations near Sidney lack hookups or dump stations. Brian L. reports successfully using Fort Buford with larger equipment: "We camped here in a 35 ft 5th wheel."
Water management: Prepare to arrive with full freshwater tanks. Most locations provide no reliable water sources for filling RV systems during your stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Sidney, MT?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Sidney, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Sidney, MT is Snowden Bridge with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
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tent camping near
Sidney, MT?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Sidney, MT?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 tent camping locations near Sidney, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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