Tent camping near Stanford, Montana ranges from remote backcountry sites to boat-in campgrounds along the Missouri River. The region sits within the Little Belt Mountains at elevations between 4,000-8,000 feet with a continental climate featuring warm summer days and cool nights. Most dispersed camping areas remain accessible from May through November, though higher elevations like Kings Hill can experience significant snowfall into late spring.
What to do
Hiking to geological features: The Sluice Boxes State Park Campground offers excellent walk-in tent camping with access to dramatic limestone canyons. "There is a ton of spots to camp at as long as you walk off the trail a ways you won't even notice hikers during the day nor will they notice you," notes camper Chloe B., who adds that it's "perfect for hauling in your stuff and back out and don't mind not having access to a bathroom or a fire pit."
Wildlife viewing: Camping areas along the Judith River corridor provide excellent opportunities for observing local wildlife. At Judith River State WMA, one camper noted taking "the Judith River Backcountry Scenic Drive in a Jeep" before finding "nice and shady, simple primitive sites" with "lots of boat activity at this site."
Winter recreation: Winter camping options exist for properly equipped campers. Several areas maintain winter accessibility, with some sites catering specifically to cold-weather activities. A visitor at Camp Rotary mentioned, "In the winter it can be fun but to climb some hills. Each campground has cabins which hold about 11 people and tent spaces outside. The cabin do have semi-decent heating, but not AC."
What campers like
Free camping options: Dispersed camping areas throughout the Little Belt Mountains offer no-cost alternatives to established campgrounds. At Hay Canyon, campers appreciate the value and spaciousness. According to Dexter I., "Hay Canyon Campground is a free six site campsite in a narrow canyon among large mature trees. The site nearest to the vault toilet is an amazingly large site, three picnic tables a large metal fire ring and the biggest BBQ grill I have ever seen in a campground."
Solitude in remote locations: Tent campers particularly value the secluded options available away from developed areas. Camping area 6393A offers complete privacy according to one visitor who "bumped into this camping area while hunting recently" and found "one forest service concrete and wood picnic table and a rock fire ring" at this location where "Whitetail Creek dumps into Spring Creek."
Developed amenities at select sites: While many tent sites are primitive, some provide unexpected comforts. A camper at Camp Rotary noted "the bathrooms are really big and well developed (and super warm for the winter). There is also a big 'roof building' with picknick tables to eat food."
What you should know
Vehicle requirements: Many camping areas require appropriate vehicles for access. One camper at Camping area 6393A observed "the road is a little rough in a few places on the way to this site, would recommend a high clearance vehicle to access this camping location."
Bear safety protocols: The Little Belt Mountains contain active bear habitat requiring proper food storage. At Whitetail Camp Campground, a visitor cautions "this is a bear area so you will need to keep all your food items in your vehicle, bear lockers are not available."
Limited facilities: Most tent sites have minimal or no amenities. According to one camper at Kings Hill Campground, the area "has water and vault toilets but no trash service so be prepared to pack out everything you bring in. Each site has a picnic table and metal fire rings as well as BBQ grills."
Tips for camping with families
Look for educational opportunities: Several camping areas provide learning experiences for children. The Hole-in-the-Wall Boat Camp offers unique geological features accessible by boat. One camper reports "the hiking up to the Hole-in-The-Wall is AWESOME! Though you will have to do some easy rock climbing so be prepared."
Check shade availability: Many sites lack natural shade, an important consideration with children. At Hole-in-the-Wall, a visitor noted "your only shade will be the provided 'shelters'. The fire-pits are not shaded as well."
Consider camp layout: Families should evaluate site configurations for safety and convenience. At Hay Canyon, Dexter I. found "this site is broken into two sections with three sites each. The first section is easy to find, the second is just around the bend on the main road on a road to the right which has three more sites."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most tent camping areas around Stanford cannot accommodate larger RVs. At Whitetail Camp, visitors will find "the campground is part established campground and part disperse camping area" with limited designated sites for vehicles.
Elevation considerations: Higher elevation campgrounds may present challenges for RVs. Kings Hill Campground sits at approximately 8,000 feet, with one visitor noting "some of the sites have stairs that lead up to or down to the campsite" - a feature that makes tent access easier than RV positioning.
Seasonal access: Road conditions vary dramatically by season. A camper at Whitetail Camp noted the camping area is only accessible from "May to November" with significant limitations during shoulder seasons due to snow and mud conditions.
