Best Tent Camping near Thompson Falls, MT

Thompson Falls, Montana offers several tent camping options within the surrounding national forest lands. Copper King Campground provides free tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings, located approximately 10 minutes from town along the river. Gold Rush Campground offers year-round tent camping with drinking water and toilet facilities, situated south of Thompson Falls in a more secluded setting.

Most primitive tent sites in the Thompson Falls area feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Copper King has five generously spaced tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings, plus a central bear box for food storage. Many campgrounds lack drinking water, requiring campers to bring their own supply or filter from nearby streams. Vault toilets are available at several locations including Gold Rush and Lake Creek campgrounds, though some primitive areas have no facilities. Road access varies significantly, with some sites requiring high-clearance vehicles or short walks from parking areas. Lake Creek Campground, located about 6.5 miles off the highway, offers both developed and dispersed tent camping options.

The tent camping experience near Thompson Falls provides excellent opportunities for solitude and nature immersion. Many sites offer creek or river proximity, providing pleasant background sounds for sleeping and opportunities for fishing. The surrounding forest lands feature hiking trails accessible directly from several campgrounds. Tent campers should be prepared for wildlife encounters, including bears in some areas. A camper noted that Lake Creek Campground has "a couple roads that can be hiked/walked, but just be aware of private roads and properties." The area's distance from major population centers means less crowded conditions, especially during weekdays and shoulder seasons, allowing tent campers to enjoy a more authentic wilderness experience.

Best Tent Sites Near Thompson Falls, Montana (30)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Thompson Falls, MT

6 Photos of 30 Thompson Falls Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Thompson Falls, MT

323 Reviews of 30 Thompson Falls Campgrounds


  • Matthew S.
    Aug. 8, 2022

    Copper King

    Great little spot to relax

    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. Although it sits along the river, it doesn't really have great river access. The campground is no more than 10 minutes from Thompson falls, so it's easy to get to town if you need to.

  • s
    May. 25, 2025

    Quartz Flats Campground

    convenient & quaint

    Pulled off i-90 for a stop, plenty of campsites available. Able to reserve online thru recreation.gov as well as first come first serve. saw maybe 4 other cars. Only downside is proximity to freeway and loud train. Would go off multiple times throughout the night waking us up every time. Well maintained, plenty of restrooms they were closed though but a bear box and dumpster were available for trash/food storage.

  • Kandi R.
    May. 23, 2023

    Little Joe Campground - Lolo National Forest

    Lots of trees

    Sites Right along the river. A few sites are in a cul de sac style and would be great for group camping. The other two are fairly secluded. No water. No garbage. There is a Vaulted toilet. Each site has fire ring and a picnic table.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Bumblebee Campground

    Not much to praise

    Coeur d’Alene River Road has SO many places to boondocks and camp, I wouldn’t waste our money on this campground again. The pit toilets were clean and the fire rings and picnic tables were in good shape, hence the two stars. Lots of wasps. No water. Nothing to do within walking distance. Find a boondock spot and save the $28.00

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 30, 2018

    Big Arm State Unit — Flathead Lake State Park

    Lakeside Camping on Flathead

    The campground offers many lakeside campsites complete with picnic table and fire rings. There were 3 yurts for those interested. all vehicles, including camping vehicles, park alongside road; there are few, if any, pull-in sites. There is room for a tent or two in the sIte. Most of the lakeside sites also have a small amount of slope.

    The camp hosts were absolutely fantastic! There is firewood and ice for sale at the park. Polson is about 20-30 mInutes away and has grocery stores, etc. If you go to Polson, check out The Cove Deli for some really great ice-cream.

    The showers were really awkward, but did the job. They take $ coins (available from host if needed) and quarters.

    If you aren’t bringing your own boat, Boat Rentals and Rides is only 2 miles down the road. We rented 2 glass bottom kayaks. Warning: lake conditions change suddenly and we saw the waves blow in 2 dIfferent directions durIng the 2 days we were there. There were no bear boxes at the sites, only one by the bathroom.

  • Jordan R.
    Jun. 2, 2022

    Big Arm State Unit — Flathead Lake State Park

    Hidden 💎

    This place is amazing! We're staying on loop A and we are right on the water. No electricity but there's clean bathrooms, clean shower house that costs tokens, picnic tables, fire rings, fresh water spickets and access to buy ice and firewood from the camp hosts! So peaceful here. Will be coming back here for sure!!

  • Dave S.
    Aug. 6, 2020

    Bull River Campground

    Average USFS pay campground

    2020 cost is $16 + $8 extra car, half off with Federal parks pass, & it's average for a Forest Service pay campground. There's water, & you can fill a holding tank, but no power or dump. The lower loops are very close together & less shade. The upper loop has more shade, bigger sites, but sound rises from below. You can hear the conversations and generators of your lower neighbors. Our site was next to a vault toilet - we could smell it. There was lots of noise, e.g., road, train, barking dogs, etc. The 2020 camp hosts were very intrusive. They stopped us in the middle of the road while they inspected our front license plate (we aren't required to have one), then interrogated us, without masks, about where we were from, what we were doing & how many dogs we had. We have a nice RV and look like average middle class folks. Maybe it was because we were in a Class B Van, but our van cost more than most class As. This is a self-pay campground so unless I need firewood I don't need to be forced to stop & be questioned by a volunteer. While we drove through looking at sites one host tailed us on foot through the CG. Five minutes after we began to set up they showed up, not wearing masks, wanting money. I didn't think volunteers were supposed to handle any money. We'd already paid at the iron ranger pay station & they seemed disappointed to not get the money directly from us. Then, within a minute, they returned, not wearing masks, & fussed because we hadn't gotten the tag on our campsite post yet - we were still setting up & hadn't had time yet. They weren't social distancing & we thought they were very peculiar and intimidating.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 9, 2025

    Devils Elbow

    Well maintained, nice location

    I stayed here 3 nights., early June.  All the spaces have wide back in or pull through driveways, beautiful one, fir forest. Sites are mostly shaded, but not always. i.e. check spot for solar power.  Very well kept, clean vault toilets.  No hookups. Nearest dump station at Shoshone camp, downstream a ways. It's a NF station, $8 fee, credit cards accepted, also neat and clean. Only one pump it yourself drinking water spigot at the campground.  Great fishing steps away, but catch the catch and release west slope cutthroat aren't so easy to catch as a recent article in American Fly Fishing magazine suggests-unless you are a professional fly fishing expert and writer, maybe.  Go on a weekday.

  • Nicki A.
    Jun. 28, 2025

    Big Arm State Unit — Flathead Lake State Park

    Idyllic lakeside spot

    If you’re looking to sleep at the lake, this spot can’t be beat. The sites are close together but everyone has enough space. Lots of large trailers in the b loop — big, flat spots. A couple of walk-in sites still available at 3 pm on a Saturday in late June!


Guide to Thompson Falls

Tent camping near Thompson Falls, Montana provides access to forest service land with varied terrain at elevations ranging from 2,400 to 4,000 feet. The Cabinet Mountains and Lolo National Forest surround the area, creating a diverse camping environment with both developed sites and dispersed options. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-85°F with cooler evenings, while spring and fall camping requires preparation for potential frost.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Lake Elsie Campground offers excellent trout fishing in a mountain setting. "We always catch lots of brooke and rainbow trout and wild life is everywhere!" notes Jessica C., who camps there frequently.

Trail exploration: Lake Creek Campground serves as a hub for local hiking trails. "This is a great central location if you are interested in checking out some of the hiking trails in the area. The Fisher River is also close by and there is no camping fee," explains Darrin L., who stayed in the dispersed area for four nights.

Water activities: Paddlesports enthusiasts can enjoy Lake Elsie's calm waters. Nathan M. reports, "Awesome lake for kayaking and paddle boarding," making it ideal for campers bringing small watercraft.

What campers like

Quiet environment: Gold Rush Campground provides a secluded experience. Christopher R. notes it's "not heavily used so you could possibly get the place to yourself. Lots of shade great place to go get away."

Water features: Many campers appreciate the creeks and streams near campsites. At Telichpah Campground, Gretchen B. mentions "there was even a small creek for pleasant background sleeping sounds," creating a peaceful camping atmosphere.

Free camping options: Budget-conscious campers appreciate no-fee sites. "This is a free campground. There are five sites with generous spacing. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring," explains Matthew S. about Copper King Campground.

What you should know

Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds requires careful driving. For Lake Elsie, Samuel H. warns, "The road up is rough, potholes, it does get better about halfway up. Expect at least 30 minutes to get up after you hit the gravel, and that's pushing it pretty hard."

Wildlife awareness: Bears are active in the region. Alex P. notes that at Lake Creek Campground, "3 of the 4 sites had bear boxes, it was only site 2 that appeared to not have one," indicating the importance of proper food storage.

Seasonal timing: Most campgrounds in the area have limited operational seasons. Lake Creek Campground operates from Memorial Day to Labor Day, while Telichpah Campground is open May through October, making shoulder season visits potentially challenging.

Tips for camping with families

Site selection: Choose campgrounds with adequate space between sites. Matthew S. notes that Copper King has "five sites with generous spacing," providing room for families to spread out comfortably.

Water access considerations: When camping with children, stream and lake proximity offers recreation but requires supervision. At Packsaddle Campground, Megan K. mentions one campsite was "next to the river," which families should consider for both convenience and safety.

Private campsites: For families wanting more seclusion, Megan K. recommends, "If you come with a group and snag both sites it's a private area just off of the road and easy to get to," making Packsaddle a good option for family gatherings.

Tips from RVers

Size limitations: Most campgrounds near Thompson Falls accommodate smaller RVs only. At Off The Beaten Path Glampground, Trina M. mentions "nice large tent sites" but doesn't indicate large RV capacity, suggesting smaller units are more appropriate.

Narrow access roads: RVers should be cautious about road conditions. For Lake Elsie, lili G. cautions, "ROAD IS NARROW, WINDY, AND STEEP. Not at all trailer or big rig friendly," information critical for RV travelers planning routes.

Limited hookups: None of the campgrounds offer electrical, water, or sewer hookups. Campers must be self-contained with adequate water supplies, as drinking water is only available at select locations like Gold Rush Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Thompson Falls, MT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Thompson Falls, MT is Copper King with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Thompson Falls, MT?

TheDyrt.com has all 30 tent camping locations near Thompson Falls, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.