Best Tent Camping near Wilsall, MT

Tent campsites scatter across the foothills and mountain valleys surrounding Wilsall, Montana, offering primitive camping experiences with impressive mountain backdrops. South Fork Brackett Creek Dispersed Site provides free tent camping with fire rings and walk-in accessibility, while Fairy Lake Campground in the Custer Gallatin National Forest accommodates tent campers during its summer season from July through mid-September.

Primitive tent areas typically feature basic amenities with sites situated on varied terrain from forest floors to rocky clearings. Most dispersed camping areas include established fire rings but no designated tent pads. Campers must pack in their own water, as drinking water is unavailable at most sites. Fairy Lake Campground offers vault toilets, while dispersed sites like South Fork Brackett Creek have no restroom facilities. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing many of these remote tent camping locations, particularly the rugged 6-mile road leading to Fairy Lake. A 16-day stay limit applies to National Forest dispersed camping areas.

The backcountry tent camping experience near Wilsall rewards visitors with solitude and unfiltered natural beauty. Early summer brings wildflowers to mountain meadows, making tent sites particularly scenic. Many locations offer views of surrounding mountain ranges and access to hiking trails. Wildlife sightings, including black bears and mountain goats, are common around tent sites, requiring proper food storage. A camper noted, "Gorgeous campsite only 20ish min from the outskirts of Bozeman. Very quiet road. Level ground for car camping." Tent camping at higher elevations provides escape from summer heat but requires preparation for rapidly changing mountain weather conditions. Sites along creeks offer peaceful ambient sounds but may increase mosquito activity during certain seasons.

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Best Tent Sites Near Wilsall, Montana (19)

    1. Fairy Lake Campground

    8 Reviews
    Gallatin National Forest, MT
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 522-2520

    "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."

    2. South Fork Brackett Creek Dispersed Site

    5 Reviews
    Bozeman, MT
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 587-6701

    "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."

    3. Fairy Lake Dispersed Camping

    2 Reviews
    Belgrade, MT
    15 miles

    "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."

    "This is an amazing camp spot that is almost almost to the top of the trail to fairy Lake campground. There’s an established firing, and there’s room for multiple vehicles."

    4. Serenity Sheep Farm Stay

    7 Reviews
    Belgrade, MT
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 580-7176

    $30 / night

    "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."

    5. Shields River Campground

    1 Review
    Wilsall, MT
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 222-1892

    6. East Boulder Campground

    9 Reviews
    Mcleod, MT
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 222-1892

    "Site: 2

    RESERVATIONS NO 

    FCFS 

    FEES: NONE 

    Open all year 

    No water Picnic table, fire ring, pit toilet 

    This campground is located right off East Boulder Road."

    "There's no water, except from the stream, but there are good picnic tables and a well-maintained vault toilet."

    8. Blackmore Campground

    4 Reviews
    Gallatin Gateway, MT
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 969-7159

    $26 / night

    "Great First Come First Serve campground with clean bathroom, recycling facilities and bear boxes. Nice sites with fire pits and picnic tables."

    "Near the road so some road noise but other than that it was quiet. A vault toilet and a trash here."

    10. Copper City BLM

    4 Reviews
    Three Forks, MT
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 533-7600

    "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."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Wilsall, MT

502 Reviews of 19 Wilsall Campgrounds


  • Mai K.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Langohr Campground

    Cute Little Campground with Just the Right Amenities

    About 20 minutes south of Bozeman, MT on scenic Hyalite Canyon Road sits Langohr Campground. There are 19 spacious single sites and the 20th site is a group picnic site for day use. Langohr Campground runs along Hyalite Creek and is tucked inside Custer Gallatin National Forest in a small open meadow with Douglas fir, Lodgepole pine, and Englemann Spruce. 

    I was fortunate to find a campsite as a walk-in even after arriving mid-afternoon at the beginning of June 2019 because it was too late to reserve online. Each site does have a picnic table and fire ring, and electrical sites are available. Some are drive-in or back into sites, and a few are literally next to Hyalite Creek which is an added bonus. A heavy snowfall occurred a week before and remnants of it were scattered along the campground. Good thing I brought a snow scraper to clear the picnic table of snow. The fee is $20.00 per campsite for two vehicles and $8.00 for any additional vehicles. The group picnic site is $45.00 for day use. I paid cash for the site, but I believe you may also pay by credit card.

    Many of the campers were settling in and had parked RVs and pop-ups. Pets are allowed but must be on a leash as wildlife such as bears, deers, moose, and elk frequent the area. Bear lockers should be used for food storage or properly stored in vehicles. There are huge bear safe trash and recycling containers near the entrance for campers to use. The bathroom is clean, free of odor and bugs, and it is a vault toilet. There are no showers, dump station, or camp store, but you are close to Bozeman.  The camp host was settled on site 11 and sells firewood for $6.00. You can take a walk along the Hyalite Creek or drive 3.5 miles south down to Hyalite Reservoir for other activities such as fishing, kayaking, canoeing, climbing, hiking, and boating. The night sky was pretty spectacular especially with the trees around on a clear day.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 5, 2019

    Camping area 6393A

    Camp in solitude

    Bumped in to this camping area while hunting recently. This Lewis and Clark National Forest designated camping location has one site, one site in that the location has one forest service concrete and wood picnic table and a rock fire ring. Stay limit is 16 days. The camping area is located where Whitetail Creek dumps into Spring Creek. The camping are is completely flat. Two additional rock fire rings are in the area. The area has plenty of room for your vehicle and tent at the picnic table site and the two additional fire rings, just no picnic tables for these two fire rings. If you camp here come prepared, this is a Trash-in Trash-out site, no water, no vault toilet. 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.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 5, 2019

    Whitetail Camp

    Camp in the heart of the Little Belt Mountains

    Whitetail Camp Campground located 12 miles north of U.S. Hwy 12 on Spring Creek road in the Little Belt Mountains. The campground is part established campground and part disperse camping area. The campground is located on both sides of Spring Creek road. On the left side of the road is two sites with picnic tables and metal fire rings. On the right side the campground is an open meadow with a few designated sites and a lot of room for disperse camping. Noticed one campsite with picnic table and metal fire ring on the right side. The campground has a vault toilet but no water or trash service. Vault toilet was well stocked. This is a very popular campground during the hunting season. Their is no fee to stay at Whitetail Camp Campground, but you are limited to 16 day. This is a bear area so you will need to keep all your food items in your vehicle, bear lockers are not available

  • Rachel S.
    Sep. 6, 2020

    Halfmoon Campground

    The Crazies got Crazy on us!

    Absolutely breathtaking views with a long, beautiful dirt road in to the campsite. The campground is rural but perfectly well equipped with vault toilets (which needed tending to when we were there TBH), rock fire rings and picnic tables. We were looking forward to exploring this gorgeous area, but Mother Nature had other plans for us. We were able to easily find a private site and set up camp and have a peaceful evening under the stars, looking forward to our hike in the morning. We went to sleep all happy and cozy. We woke up to the craziest wind storm around 1am!!! Our tent took quite a beating, we are estimating that winds were above 50mph!!! Needless to say, we were exhausted in the morning and packed up promptly and promised ourselves we would return!

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 30, 2019

    Yorks Islands Fishing Access Site

    Ranger Review of York Island FAS & Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy Meal

    York Island FAS Campground Review

    York Island Fishing Access Site Campground sits along the upper Missouri River sitting in mature cottonwood trees and features 10 camping sites and a boat launch. This is a popular and busy campground in the summer. The site has 10 well spread out campsites each with a least one picnic table and a metal fire ring. The campground has one ADA accessible vault toilet. No water is available at this campground and you will need to pack out your trash as trash service is not available. The campground has one ADA Campsite, site #4, unless you really need the sites concrete pad I would avoid this site as it is going to be very busy around the site as it is right next to the boat launch and vault toilet, plus add in the historic sign that is placed in the site. The most secluded site is site 10. If you have a large group then try for sites 6 or 7. Both sites 6 and 7 sit in a large grassy area in the middle of the campground. Site 6 has an extra picnic table. Site 7 is basically two sites in one as a second fire ring and additional picnic tables while not having a parking spot or numbered post for the additional fire ring and tables. Cost for the campground vary depending if you have a valid Montana fishing license or not. Discounted camping for those 62 or older. Cost with out a license is $18 with a license $12. Over 62 with a license $6 with out a license $9.

    Ranger review of Mountain House Freeze Dried Biscuits and Gravy meal

    Tried out the Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy meal and really enjoyed it. It was a chilly below freezing morning when I tried the meal and was a little worried if it would stay hot, but that was not a problem. You could really smell that it was Biscuits and Gravy once I started pouring in the water. Just follow the directions and you're all set, just make sure to stir well so you don't end up with any dry bits. May not look like a traditional biscuits and gravy, but sure taste like it. I managed to eat all of the two servings but it was a little to much for me so this could easily feed two as stated.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 6, 2019

    Moose Creek Flat Campground

    Busy Hwy means little ZZZ's at night

    Moose Creek Flat campground is a small campground sandwiched between the Gallatin River and U.S. highway 191. If you are planning on visiting this campground be prepared as you approach as there is little notice that you are approaching the campground while driving down the highway. Moose Creek Flat is a wide open campground, basically a flat open area with campsites along the river and highway. Campsites have no tree cover. The campground has 13 campsites and site 14 is a large day use only site. Moose Creek Flat is a popular starting point for rafting companies and those wanting to kayak the river. All the sites are along the river with the exception of three pull through sites which are along the highway. Sites 6-8 are near a nice beach. All sites have picnic tables and fire rings. ADA sites are available. Two vault toilets serve the campground and water is available at a hand pump next to the first vault toilet. If you want a quiet nights sleep then you are out of luck, Highway 191 is busy all night so bring earplugs if you are planning on staying the night. If you like to fish then be sure to bring your license and pole as the Gallatin River is very popular fly fishing destination. All sites can be reserved for$20 per night.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2021

    Martinsdale Reservoir Montana FWP

    Large exposed campground on Reservoir

    Martinsdale Reservoir Fishing Access Site campground is a very large campground with out a ton of campsite which means they are well spread apart from each other.  Not all the sites are numbered, some have picnic table (a few of the numbered site did not have tables or fire rings). Some of the sites have metal fire rings, others rock fire rings and others had nothing.  All of the site are along the north shore of the lake (or are when the reservoir has more water in it) .  Numerous vault toilets are to be found.  No water and no trash collection so come prepared.  The problem with this campground is it has no trees so you are at the mercy of the sun and wind.  The wind, it really blow through the area, every time I have visited this site I have found it to windy to attempt to fish.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 29, 2019

    Upper Toston Dam Campground and Boat Launch

    Ranger review of Upper Toston Dam Campground and Liquid I.V. Review

    Upper Toston Dam Campground and Boat launch is one of two campground in the BLM Toston Dam Recreation Area. The Lower Toston Damp Campground is located a half mile below Toston Dam. The Upper Toston Dam Campground features four cover camp picnic table sites with metal fire rings. All four of the sites sit at the edge of a large parking area. Between the covered sites and the Missouri river is a grassy area that tents can be set up in. The grassy area slopes down towards the river, this could make finding a level spot for your tent difficult depending on the size of your tent. One could also pitch their tent on the edge of the parking area. The site has a single vault toilet. A small boat launch with a dock is available as well. Their is not water or trash service at this campground. This campground will be a quiet location as it is 5 miles from the highway, the only noise will be from water running over the dam and any trains that come down the tracks located on the other side of the river. This site also benefits from not having any cell phone service.

    Ranger Review of Liquid I.V.™ Hydration Multiplier Passion Fruit Flavor

    I have been trying out Liquid I.V. for several days now and I am quite pleased with the result. Just drinking one of these a day is keeping me well hydrated, far more so than drinking the same amount of water or other sports drinks during the day. Today I tried out the Passion Fruit flavor which taste great. I would give the flavor 5 starts, all though I do prefer the Lemon-Lime flavor.

  • Judy T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 27, 2020

    Otter Creek Fishing Access Site

    Montana FAS by Yellowstone River

    This is a free Montana Fishing Access Site next to the Yellowstone River north of Big Timber. There was one clean single vault toilet for about 5 sites. No water or garbage available but each site has a picnic table and fire ring. There is a boat launch for fishing. It snowed when we were there in very late September 2019. We were the only ones there the two days we waited out the snow. This is a campground where there are few public campgrounds.

    I added another star as this is a quiet campground in an area with few public ones available. And, it was free.


Guide to Wilsall

Tent camping near Wilsall, Montana offers a blend of stunning scenery and outdoor adventure, perfect for nature enthusiasts looking to escape into the wilderness.

Tent campers should check out Fairy Lake Campground

  • This campground features beautiful views and allows campfires, making it a great spot for evening gatherings around the fire at Fairy Lake Campground.
  • With access to drinking water and a variety of tent sites, Fairy Lake Campground is well-suited for families and groups.
  • Wildlife encounters are common here, so be prepared to share the space with mountain goats and possibly even a bear while camping at Fairy Lake Campground.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities at South Fork Brackett Creek Dispersed Site

Local activities for tent campers at Loch Leven

  • Situated near the Yellowstone River, this site is ideal for fishing enthusiasts looking to cast a line while enjoying the serene surroundings at Loch Leven.
  • The area offers a variety of hiking trails, allowing campers to explore the beautiful Montana landscape right from their campsite at Loch Leven.
  • With easy access to both drive-in and hike-in options, Loch Leven provides flexibility for campers looking to enjoy the great outdoors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wilsall, MT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wilsall, MT is Fairy Lake Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 8 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 19 tent camping locations near Wilsall, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.