Best Campgrounds near Thompson Falls, MT

The Cabinet Mountain foothills surrounding Thompson Falls, Montana provide a mix of established campgrounds and primitive sites along riverbanks and lakeshores. Thompson Falls State Park Campground offers boat-in and drive-in access with both tent and RV camping options, while Camp Squatch features cabins and RV sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Copper King Campground provides free sites with riverside positioning. The region's developed campgrounds range from full-hookup RV parks like Rimrock Lodge and Birdland Bay to more rustic Forest Service sites with minimal amenities.

Many campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with Thompson Falls State Park typically open from April through October. Access roads vary significantly in quality, with some forest campgrounds requiring careful navigation on narrow, unpaved routes. Summer brings warm temperatures ideal for water recreation, while spring runoff can affect river conditions. Most free dispersed sites enforce a 14-day stay limit. Cell service becomes increasingly limited when camping in the more remote locations away from Highway 200. Several campgrounds feature river or lake access, though water levels fluctuate seasonally. One camper noted, "This campground doesn't really accommodate large RVs, but it's great for tent camping. Although it sits along the river, it doesn't really have great river access."

Waterfront camping represents a significant draw throughout the region, with sites near the Clark Fork River and Thompson Chain of Lakes receiving consistently positive reviews. Campers frequently mention the generous spacing between sites at free campgrounds like Copper King, which features five sites with picnic tables and fire rings. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with deer, eagles, and moose sightings reported by visitors. Train noise affects some campgrounds, particularly those along the Clark Fork River corridor where the Montana Rail Line runs. A visitor commented about Copper King: "This is a free campground. There are five sites with generous spacing. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. There is a privy and one bear box in the middle of the circle." The region's mixed-use campgrounds accommodate various camping styles from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV spaces.

Best Camping Sites Near Thompson Falls, Montana (157)

    1. Thompson Falls State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Thompson Falls, MT
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 827-3110

    "Thompson SP, Montana

    Very quiet, remote and sandy. Did an overnight here after a KOA so you can imagine the differences! There is a “garage” set up as the park office."

    "Montana is special in every way."

    2. Cabin City Campground (Mt) — Lolo National Forest

    13 Reviews
    De Borgia, MT
    16 miles
    +1 (406) 822-4233

    $15 / night

    "I was surprised how nice this was since it's just about 5 minutes from the highway. You feel miles away - absolutely no noise. It's super clean and pretty."

    "We chose it because of its proximity to the highway on our road trip through the area, but it was quiet and peaceful."

    3. 50,000 Silver Dollar Campground

    10 Reviews
    De Borgia, MT
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 678-4242

    "Several spaces available behind the restaurant/ bar and casino- Tucked into the woods but road close- you can walk over for a meal, snack, coffee etc or some delightfully cheesey souvenirs."

    "We stopped here on our way out of Montana (our home state). A winter storm rolled in and made the pass impassable."

    4. Camp Squatch

    2 Reviews
    Thompson Falls, MT
    4 miles
    +1 (406) 303-9955

    $15 - $100 / night

    5. Finley Flats

    3 Reviews
    Thompson Falls, MT
    9 miles

    6. Rimrock Lodge RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Thompson Falls, MT
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (406) 218-8705

    "But, a small herd of deer welcomed us at the entrance. That was cool.. The RV park is up the hill to the left of everything else. Once in the RV section, you don't see the other part."

    7. Clark Memorial

    3 Reviews
    Thompson Falls, MT
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 826-3821

    "People have bushwacked their own trails through. We are here in mid September so not much in the way of bugs. The toilet is clean and well stocked for a pit toilet."

    8. Copper King

    1 Review
    Thompson Falls, MT
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 826-3821

    "The campground is no more than 10 minutes from Thompson falls, so it's easy to get to town if you need to."

    9. Gold Rush

    1 Review
    Thompson Falls, MT
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 826-3821

    "great trail for hiking and exploring. this camp is not heavily used so you could possibly get the place to yourself. lots of shade great place to go get away"

    10. Thompson River Dispersed Camping and Shooting

    2 Reviews
    Thompson Falls, MT
    8 miles

    "It provided nothing, but was close to the river. We pooped in a bag, and provided our everything. We made a made a campfire. We didn’t shoot anything, but there were a lot of shells around."

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Recent Reviews near Thompson Falls, MT

371 Reviews of 157 Thompson Falls Campgrounds


  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Two Rivers RV Park & Campground

    Two Rivers RV Park & Campground

    Traveling through the area and chose to stay a couple days here based on the fact there's cell service and because the place looked decent based on their website. I have to say... it's a bit more rundown in-person, but the price is reasonable, so I can overlook that. There's a lot of road and train noise here, much like the rest of the campgrounds on this road. At the moment, the laundry is not available (which they should make note of that on their website). The showers have good pressure and are hot (just takes a couple minutes to heat up). The RV sites are the typical sardine row. The tent sites are in a grassy area near the trees. The tent area is a bit of a walk to the restrooms for late at night or early morning... especially since the owners warn about a mountain lion in the area and a bear that's been visiting the campground the last 4 years. The google reviews of the place are quite interesting--I wouldn't say the owners were friendly, but they also weren't mean to us.

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Big Eddy Campground

    Big Eddy Campground

    BEWARE! Had I known the trains were going to be so loud and constant, I wouldn't have stayed here. The campground is near an intersection, so every train that went by (which was several in the afternoon, and especially after 10PM through about 5AM, at least once or twice per hour) their horn would blast. But I had the tent already set up, no cell service to see what else was around, and so I just had to deal with it. Definitely would not stay again.

  • Kyle M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Bull River Pavilion

    Popular for a reason

    The camp area is pretty full even in the off season, because it is absolutely beautiful. Located not far from Thompson Falls, and lot of water ways. Fish are not as abundant as other areas, and there are no walking trails within walking distance.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Dispersed Site - Lolo National Forest Recreation Area

    Very nice

    Main dirt road is well maintained but narrow and curves up the mountain. Lots of spots if you keep on going, but some offshoots are steep and rocky. We took the second right offshoot and got an awesome view with plenty space to spread out. We car camp in a Wagoneer

  • Kyle M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    North Shore Campground

    Pretty great!

    Nice big shady spots. Pretty okay restrooms. Beautiful dock area!

  • F
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Bull River Campground

    Beautiful but the State of Montana has mismanaged to the point of absurdity

    This used to be a great place to camp, especially at the Pavilion. However, two recent camping trips were not so great. There is no water, even though there are cisterns everywhere. There is no trash pickup. Restrooms are visited and "cleaned", but there is no evidence that anything was done. There are still tons of bugs and webs. I think they just replace the TP. Last visit was at the Pavilion with a men's campout with around 20 individuals. No trash containers, no bear boxes, and no water. We brought 250 gallons of water with us and pulled up to where the fire pit was, so it would be close to the fire for safety and convenience. The day after we left the site, a ranger called and accused us of "off-roading" and not placing our food in the non-existent bear boxes. We weren't "cited," but the temperament of the management is that they want you to pay the same price for camping without a host, water, trash, bear boxes, or clean restrooms. If you wish to dry camp, there are plenty of spaces, but it is definitely dry camping. Beautiful campground with severe management issues, all blamed on"lack of funding".

  • BoGwen J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    By the Way Campground

    Okay in a pinch

    Your right next to freeway very noisy. The AC couldn’t drown out the traffic noise. Wore earplugs. Very nice people and a clean spot! Bonus the moose come to visit.

  • Kyle M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Thompson River Dispersed Camping and Shooting

    Low budget fun

    It was free. It provided nothing, but was close to the river. We pooped in a bag, and provided our everything. We made a made a campfire. We didn’t shoot anything, but there were a lot of shells around.

  • Kyle M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Thompson River Dispersed Camping and Shooting

    Free redneck camping

    Off the side of the road, with no amenities near some pretty cool stuff. The sight is ugly, but free. Close to some good trout fishing via river. There is a pretty lame fire pit already established, and people fire their guns out here. There is no toilets, but if you’re looking for free, and absolutely zero neighbors this is your spot. Yes, I said zero neighbors!


Guide to Thompson Falls

Camping sites near Thompson Falls, Montana sit within the Cabinet Mountain foothills at elevations between 2,400-2,500 feet. The area experiences warm summer days with temperatures often reaching the 80s and cool nights dropping into the 50s. Most dispersed camping locations near Thompson Falls enforce pack-in, pack-out policies with limited facilities compared to established campgrounds.

What to do

Hiking on interpretive trails: Cabin City Campground features a self-guided nature trail under a mile long that teaches visitors about the area's logging and mining history. "We were pleasantly surprised at how nice this campground was. Our kids loved the nature walk/hike at the entrance to the campground," reports Joshua D.

Fishing in Clark Fork River: The waterways surrounding Thompson Falls provide excellent fishing opportunities. At Finley Flats, campers can access the river directly. "This campsite is perfect for a simple and free camping spot. Doesn't have any hook ups but is right on the water and you can park your boat. We caught many fish and enjoyed swimming right on the river," notes Riley G.

Golf at nearby courses: The area boasts quality golfing options within short driving distance of camping areas. "If you play golf, there is hidden gem not far away. River Bend Gold Course. We played. It is really a pretty, well maintained course," shares Nancy C. about her stay at Rimrock Lodge RV Park.

What campers like

Free electric hookups: 50,000 Silver Dollar Campground offers unusual amenities for a free site. "A price that can't be beat! Several spaces available behind the restaurant/bar and casino- Tucked into the woods but road close- you can walk over for a meal, snack, coffee etc or some delightfully cheesey souvenirs. Plug in your rig and unwind for the night," explains Renee Z.

Secluded sites with privacy: Many campers appreciate the spacing between sites at forest campgrounds. "Great spacing on the campsites. Loved it here. Every other spot is reservable. We had fun watching the chipmunks. The bear boxes were a bit of a walk though," mentions Zac C. about Cabin City Campground.

Well-maintained facilities: Camp Squatch receives praise for its cleanliness and comfort. "Clean, cozy, quiet and literally 5 minutes to town & 1/4 mile to boat launch. Went Morel mushroom hunting and had farm fresh eggs, Cabin had all the amenities the the firepit is crazy cool! This place is a hidden treasure for sure," writes Deborah W.

What you should know

Train noise affects river campgrounds: Several campgrounds near Thompson Falls experience railroad disruptions. "There is a 'garage' set up as the park office. The sites are fairly close together but spread along the sides of the road loops and there are no other campsites around you. The river was a short walk through the trees from our site. Beautiful clear water, sand and rocks," notes Shelly S. at Thompson Falls State Park Campground.

Bear awareness required: Wildlife precautions are necessary at many sites. "Nice and quite considering how close it is to town. There doesn't seem to be an official way to get from the camp sites to the river despite being only a few feet away. Lots of bear warning signs around so be sure to bring your bear boxes and bear spray," advises Raven F. at Clark Memorial.

Seasonal campground openings: Many campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Birdland Bay RV Resort runs from May 1 to September 30, while Thompson Falls State Park typically operates from April 1 to October 10. Sites may close earlier during fire seasons or extend operations depending on weather conditions.

Tips for camping with families

Look for swimming spots: Gold Rush provides opportunities for water recreation. "Great trail for hiking and exploring. This camp is not heavily used so you could possibly get the place to yourself. Lots of shade great place to go get away," Christopher R. mentions about this less-visited option.

Choose sites with amenities: Some locations provide better facilities for family camping. "We spent one Saturday night here and fell in love with this spot! The Clark Fork through this area is beautiful and our camp site was right next to a semi protected bay that was perfect for our young kids to wade in. It was super quiet," Sara D. shares about Thompson Falls State Park.

Check for insect conditions: Mosquitoes can impact camping experiences in certain areas. "The camp is very scenic, is on a small river and near a small grove of huge old cedars. However, mosquitoes had been horrendous to the point it's not possible to enjoy a campsite or eat in it," cautions a reviewer about Clark Memorial.

Tips from RVers

Site spacing considerations: Copper King offers generous spacing for smaller rigs. "This is a free campground. There are five sites with generous spacing. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. There is a privy and one bear box in the middle of the circle. This campground doesn't really accommodate large RVs, but it's great for tent camping," Matthew S. explains.

Hookup availability: Several campgrounds offer full or partial hookups. "A really odd hillbilly-esque campground. Some of the sites were awkwardly laid out which seemed to confuse quite a few people. Full hookups were nice and so was the proximity to town and the trail system," Justin notes about Rimrock Lodge RV Park.

Emergency options: Free camping with electric hookups can be valuable during unexpected weather. "We stopped here on our way out of Montana. A winter storm rolled in and made the pass impassable. This is a FREE RV park with electric hookups…no water, cable, or dumping station, but again, FREE. The snow was hitting hard and having electricity was a lifesaver," shares Andi F. about 50,000 Silver Dollar Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best campgrounds near Thompson Falls, MT?

Thompson Falls offers excellent camping options for all preferences. Birdland Bay RV Resort is a hidden gem just a short drive from town, featuring generously spaced sites nestled among pine trees with quick access to Clark Fork River for fishing and kayaking. For a more rustic experience, Copper King provides five free campsites with picnic tables and fire rings, ideal for tent camping with riverside views. Other notable options include Lake Creek Campground for seclusion (6.5 miles off highway), Cabin City Campground for forest settings, and Kootenai National Forest Bull River Campground for water views. Many sites in the area offer excellent access to outdoor recreation including fishing, hiking, and water activities.

What amenities are available at Thompson Falls campgrounds?

Campgrounds near Thompson Falls offer varying amenities to suit different camping styles. Rimrock Lodge RV Park provides full-service facilities including a motel, casino, lounge, dining options, and bowling alley alongside its RV sites. Trout Creek Motel & RV Park offers convenient access to laundry facilities, a gift shop, and nearby essentials. Other area campgrounds typically include basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, with some offering pit toilets or vault toilets, potable water sources, and designated parking areas. McGregor Lakes RV features showers, restrooms, and laundry facilities cleaned daily. Most campgrounds in the area include access to lakes or rivers for recreation, with some offering additional amenities like bear boxes, walking paths, and firewood for sale.

Is there a state park campground at Thompson Falls?

Yes, Thompson Chain of Lakes State Park Campground offers camping opportunities near Thompson Falls. This state park features multiple camping areas clustered together but each with distinct characteristics. The Horseshoe area is particularly popular for its crystal-clear water and stunning views. The park provides access to a chain of lakes, making it perfect for fishing, boating, and other water activities. For additional state-managed camping options, Island Lake provides a more secluded experience, though it's noted that the lake water quality can vary seasonally. These state park campgrounds offer a more natural setting compared to private RV parks in the area, with basic amenities focused on outdoor recreation.