EXPLORE · FREE CAMPING

Free Camping in Montana

55 No-Fee Sites 2 with Restroom 1 with Water

Montana's national forests cover the western third of the state and the Rocky Mountain front, offering dispersed camping from low-elevation river valleys to high alpine passes. The Flathead, Helena-Lewis and Clark, Bitterroot, and Lolo national forests have the highest density of dispersed sites near Missoula and Whitefish. The Beartooth Highway corridor (US-212) has dispersed camping on both the Montana and Wyoming sides at elevations over 10,000 feet. The Missouri River Breaks on BLM land in central Montana are remote — a multi-day float or long dirt road drive — but have some of the best primitive camping in the state for solitude. No fee, no permit required for most Montana dispersed camping. Fire restrictions are common July-September.

No reservations needed for dispersed camping. Check fire restrictions at fs.usda.gov before your trip — restrictions change frequently in summer. Stay limit is typically 14 days at any one location. Find free camping on the Trek4Free map →

Before You Go

Gear up for dispersed camping — no hookups, no camp store, no running water

💧
Water Filter
Sawyer Squeeze or Katadyn — essential when no water provided
🏕️
Leave No Trace Kit
WAG bags + trowel for sites without restrooms
🗺️
Offline GPS
Cell service is rare at dispersed sites
🐻
Bear Canister
Required in many dispersed zones in bear country

Free Camping Sites in Montana

DOUBLE FALLS (CAMPGROUND & TRAILHEAD)
Restroom Water 20 sites

Double Falls Campground

📍 47.4071, 112.7219°W
CABLE CAR
Restroom

CABLE CAR (Camping Area)

📍 47.9791, 113.5616°W
BEAVER CR DISPERSED
10 sites

BEAVER CR DISPERSED (Camping Area)

📍 47.6047, 112.7536°W
BIRCH LAKE
5 sites

BIRCH LAKE (Camping Area)

📍 48.1388, 113.9154°W
BLACKMORE CAMP
70 sites

HYALITE BELOW DAM CAMPING (Campground)

📍 45.4886, 110.9817°W
CRATER LAKE
5 sites

CRATER LAKE (Camping Area)

📍 48.1203, 113.8998°W
DRY FORK DISPERSED
10 sites

DRY FORK DISPERSED (Camping Area)

📍 47.0667, 110.7260°W
F K & L
150 sites

F K & L (Camping Area)

📍 48.3317, 113.9541°W
FALLS CREEK CG
5 sites

FALLS CREEK 998 (TRAILHEAD AND CAMPGROUND) (Campground)

📍 47.2764, 112.4890°W
HANNAN DISPERSED
10 sites
📍 47.6192, 112.7346°W
MACNAB POND
25 sites

Family Picnic and day use fishing pond on the Ekalaka Hills Unit, Sioux Ranger District.

📍 45.8361, 104.4333°W
MONTURE CREEK CAMPGROUND
5 sites

MONTURE CREEK CAMPGROUND (Campground)

📍 47.1255, 113.1430°W
OUR LAKE
15 sites

OUR LAKE (Camping Area)

📍 47.8389, 112.8032°W
PICNIC LAKE
5 sites

PICNIC LAKE (Camping Area)

📍 48.1568, 113.9296°W
QUINTONKON
10 sites

QUINTONKON (Camping Area)

📍 48.0097, 113.8032°W
RUMBAUGH RIDGE
20 sites

RUMBAUGH RIDGE (Campground)

📍 44.7678, 111.2682°W
SCHAFER AIR
15 sites

SCHAFER AIR (Camping Area)

📍 48.0796, 113.2419°W
WILLOW CREEK
5 sites

WILLOW CREEK (Camping Area)

📍 47.8128, 113.4654°W
BENCHMARK ROAD
📍 47.4460, 112.8209°W
BUNKER PARK

BUNKER PARK (Camping Area)

📍 47.8211, 113.4467°W
CROSSOVER CAMP

CROSSOVER CAMP (Camping Area)

📍 48.0187, 113.5857°W
DIAMOND R DISPERSED

DIAMOND R DISPERSED (Camping Area)

📍 47.9288, 113.5203°W
EAST BIG BELTS GFA - ATLANTA/MULE CUA
📍 46.5850, 111.2580°W
EAST BIG BELTS GFA - BENTON GULCH CUA
📍 46.6710, 111.3640°W
EAST BIG BELTS GFA - BIRCH CREEK BASIN CUA
📍 46.5010, 111.2100°W
EAST BIG BELTS GFA - CAMAS LAKE CUA
📍 46.5560, 111.2320°W
EAST BIG BELTS GFA - GIPSY CUA
📍 46.5090, 111.2100°W
EAST BIG BELTS GFA - WAGNER GULCH CUA
📍 46.7490, 111.4540°W
EAST ELKHORNS GFA - CROW CREEK CUA
📍 46.3017, 111.7364°W
EAST ELKHORNS GFA - GLENDALE BUTTE/TH 109 CUA
📍 46.2690, 111.6920°W
EAST ELKHORNS GFA - PARK MINES CUA
📍 46.3640, 111.7140°W
EAST ELKHORNS GFA - SLIM SAM CUA
📍 46.2460, 111.6990°W
Free Camping

Gallatin National Forest, just outside North entrance to Yellowstone National Park (NPS) in Montana (MT), near Gardiner. Not very private, and not sure if lega…

📍 45.0416, 110.7125°W
Free Camping

Itch-Kep-Pe City Park is the bank of the Yellowstone River located in a large grove of Cottonwood trees. Most sites have picnic tables and fire rings and there …

📍 45.6133, 109.2669°W
GRASSY MOUNTAIN GFA - GRASSY CUA
📍 46.2670, 111.1190°W
LOG LANDING

LOG LANDING (Day Use Area)

📍 47.9995, 113.5806°W
MARIAS/PALOOKAVILLE
📍 48.3325, 113.1110°W
MARIAS/PALOOKAVILLE
📍 48.3320, 113.1190°W
MEADOW CREEK PICNIC AND CAMP

MEADOW CREEK PICNIC AND CAMP (Camping Area)

📍 47.8529, 113.4190°W
RENSHAW LAKE
📍 47.5141, 112.8130°W
SCOUTANA - SAWMILL
📍 47.5506, 112.7366°W
SUN CANYON - TETON
📍 47.6189, 112.7287°W
SUN CANYON L&C
📍 47.6108, 112.7373°W
SUNSHINE BASIN GFA - SUNSHINE CUA
📍 46.7650, 111.5310°W
TETON CANYON ROADS
📍 47.9140, 112.7420°W
WEST BIG BELTS GFA - AVALANCHE CUA
📍 46.6360, 111.5590°W
WEST BIG BELTS GFA - BOULDER LAKES CUA
📍 46.5250, 111.2770°W
WEST BIG BELTS GFA - CONFEDERATE GULCH CUA
📍 46.6430, 111.3920°W
WEST BIG BELTS GFA - DUCK CREEK CUA
📍 46.4960, 111.2830°W
WEST BIG BELTS GFA - HELLGATE CUA
📍 46.6470, 111.5970°W
WEST BIG BELTS GFA - MAGPIE CREEK CUA
📍 46.7300, 111.6020°W
WEST BIG BELTS GFA - SULPHUR BAR CUA
📍 46.3080, 111.1890°W
WEST BIG BELTS GFA - WHITES GULCH CUA
📍 46.6130, 111.5090°W
WEST EKLHORNS GFA - SOUTH CROW LAKES TH
📍 46.2642, 111.8250°W
WEST ELKHORNS GFA - JOHNNY'S GULCH CUA
📍 46.2300, 111.7770°W