Looking for YOUR firsthand suggestions for free camping in northern North Dakota and northern Montana (HWY 2 area)

[GetAwayFromMe]

Hi all - I have been scouring various sources - campendium and freecampsites.net - for free (or <$20/night) places to stay along HWY 2 in North Dakota and Montana during summer. I am solo female so while I prefer private, I also want to avoid dodgy areas. Do you have any suggestions for places where you've actually stayed and would recommend? This is my first go at a request like this, so hope I am doing it right. Thanks!

 

[rvwandering]

Here are some - going west to east in Montana:
Yaak River Campground is located 7 miles northwest of Troy Montana https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/kootenai/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=62822&actid=43
Lots of privacy due to the vegetation. River access. $16 a night

Fresno Beach Day Use Area - designated camping https://www.usbr.gov/gp/multimedia/publications/fresno_brochure.pdf
west of Havre, Montana. All of the spots marked in yellow on the map are open for camping. The day use area camping has a large gravel lot where people camp but we camped on the top of a little hill with a nice view of the water. Free, 14 day limit.

Milk River Park Hinsdale, Montana https://freecampsites.net/#!42300&query=sitedetails
This one is a bit different because we couldn't find any signs designating it as a campground but we stayed there (and other people obviously did too) without any problems. Right on the river. Lots of trees. Free. 14 days?

North Dakota:
Fort Buford Campground Buford, Montana https://www.campendium.com/fort-buford-state-historic-site
This one is a little off Route 2 but worth the detour. Very nice with shade trees and you can visit the fort for $5. Free, 4 day limit.

Have fun!

​

 

[mudbunny]

A lot of small towns in NoDak have rv sites in city parks or small rv parks. These are needed for harvest crews so might quite full during the harvest but are available for anyone.

 

[WanderingRose]

That’s very interesting, mudbunny, and thanks for sharing.

I have stayed in some of those little city rv parks, but had no idea of their original purpose.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

These are from at least 5 years ago so things may have changed.

Fort Peck, Montana:

There is a RV park right next to the dam. Last time I was there they were charging $14/night for tent site, more for services.​

Just to the west of Fort Peck: COE campground off of SR24; not well marked. A few sites on a windy hill. No charge the last time I was there.​

Lots of boondocking possibilities both sides of Fort Peck Lake, campgrounds too. West side is nicer than the east side IMO.​

Highway 2 south of Glacier National Park:

Old US2 parallels current highway on the south side. There are short access roads leading to it and boondocking sites (you are outside the park).​

There are also parking lots for horse trailers along the highway.​

Flathead Lake:

I've overnighted in boat launch parking lots a couple of times but that was 10 years ago. A number of paid campground around the lake. It was starting to get built up a lot around the lake so things have probably changed.​

​

As mudbunny said, most towns in ND have a few RV sites in their city park. Most of them request a donation; some are starting to charge, mostly on the honor system but some have you register at city hall/police station (might not be open after hours). You have to check the town web sites as most aren't on free camping apps.

You will not be far from the North Unit of T Roosevelt NP. Boondocking opportunities in Little Missouri National Grassland next door (MVUM to see where).

 

[GetAwayFromMe]

Here are some - going west to east in Montana:
Yaak River Campground is located 7 miles northwest of Troy Montana https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/kootenai/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=62822&actid=43
Lots of privacy due to the vegetation. River access. $16 a night

Fresno Beach Day Use Area - designated camping https://www.usbr.gov/gp/multimedia/publications/fresno_brochure.pdf
west of Havre, Montana. All of the spots marked in yellow on the map are open for camping. The day use area camping has a large gravel lot where people camp but we camped on the top of a little hill with a nice view of the water. Free, 14 day limit.

Milk River Park Hinsdale, Montana https://freecampsites.net/#!42300&query=sitedetails
This one is a bit different because we couldn't find any signs designating it as a campground but we stayed there (and other people obviously did too) without any problems. Right on the river. Lots of trees. Free. 14 days?

North Dakota:
Fort Buford Campground Buford, Montana https://www.campendium.com/fort-buford-state-historic-site
This one is a little off Route 2 but worth the detour. Very nice with shade trees and you can visit the fort for $5. Free, 4 day limi

Here are some - going west to east in Montana:
Yaak River Campground is located 7 miles northwest of Troy Montana https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/kootenai/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=62822&actid=43
Lots of privacy due to the vegetation. River access. $16 a night

Fresno Beach Day Use Area - designated camping https://www.usbr.gov/gp/multimedia/publications/fresno_brochure.pdf
west of Havre, Montana. All of the spots marked in yellow on the map are open for camping. The day use area camping has a large gravel lot where people camp but we camped on the top of a little hill with a nice view of the water. Free, 14 day limit.

Milk River Park Hinsdale, Montana https://freecampsites.net/#!42300&query=sitedetails
This one is a bit different because we couldn't find any signs designating it as a campground but we stayed there (and other people obviously did too) without any problems. Right on the river. Lots of trees. Free. 14 days?

North Dakota:
Fort Buford Campground Buford, Montana https://www.campendium.com/fort-buford-state-historic-site
This one is a little off Route 2 but worth the detour. Very nice with shade trees and you can visit the fort for $5. Free, 4 day limit.

Have fun!

​

@rvwandering, thanks for the many suggestions and the personal observations. I have added them to my potential itinerary.

 

[GetAwayFromMe]

A lot of small towns in NoDak have rv sites in city parks or small rv parks. These are needed for harvest crews so might quite full during the harvest but are available for anyone.

@mudbunny - Interesting! Good option. I usually stop driving well before sundown, so I could scope out availability, and move along if they are full. Thank you!

 

[GetAwayFromMe]

These are from at least 5 years ago so things may have changed.

Fort Peck, Montana:

There is a RV park right next to the dam. Last time I was there they were charging $14/night for tent site, more for services.​

Just to the west of Fort Peck: COE campground off of SR24; not well marked. A few sites on a windy hill. No charge the last time I was there.​

Lots of boondocking possibilities both sides of Fort Peck Lake, campgrounds too. West side is nicer than the east side IMO.​

Highway 2 south of Glacier National Park:

Old US2 parallels current highway on the south side. There are short access roads leading to it and boondocking sites (you are outside the park).​

There are also parking lots for horse trailers along the highway.​

Flathead Lake:

I've overnighted in boat launch parking lots a couple of times but that was 10 years ago. A number of paid campground around the lake. It was starting to get built up a lot around the lake so things have probably changed.​

​

As mudbunny said, most towns in ND have a few RV sites in their city park. Most of them request a donation; some are starting to charge, mostly on the honor system but some have you register at city hall/police station (might not be open after hours). You have to check the town web sites as most aren't on free camping apps.

You will not be far from the North Unit of T Roosevelt NP. Boondocking opportunities in Little Missouri National Grassland next door (MVUM to see where).

Spiff - I do like staying near water when possible, so it nice that some the options you posted are water oriented. I appreciate your suggestions!

 

[Oldwolf]

I'll be traveling from MN across ND late Sept, early Oct of this year. I'm glad you posted this about ND Hwy 2. I wasn't sure what route I was going to take but this one seems dandy with ample camping opportunities. Allstays.com is also a pretty good source.

 

[GetAwayFromMe]

I'll be traveling from MN across ND late Sept, early Oct of this year. I'm glad you posted this about ND Hwy 2. I wasn't sure what route I was going to take but this one seems dandy with ample camping opportunities. Allstays.com is also a pretty good source.

I'll try to provide some updates on where I decide to stay. Travel on!

 

[NctryBen]

I traveled it a lot going west when hauling boats… I live off hwy2 in MN and I have kids living out west. One of my neighbors travels a lot to Oregon and feels Hwy 2 is much easier on vehicles vs our freeway options. Number 1, people are driving so fast… but it also eliminates some serious grades. Homestake Pass near Butte is one of them… I stayed a lot in truck stops because of what I was carrying… but I recall some small town parks where you could stay as mentioned. This route is by far the better route to see things along the way and such too. One trip my daughter and I looked for ghost towns… we never saw much of anything for ghost towns… but we got off the beaten path some and we had a good time. The Glacier area has always been my favorite… kind of towards west Glacier there is a trailhead rd… I’ll turn and go up past the trailhead up the rd and there is a nice level pull off I enjoy. Your picking a good route in my opinion… and I second Spiffs options around Ft Peck area. Being a small town guy I always enjoyed the smaller town feel of Hwy 2 vs 94/90 interstate. And I have to agree it’s not quite as bad as far as steep grades as far as mountains and such…

 

[jacqueg]

I traveled it a lot going west when hauling boats… I live off hwy2 in MN and I have kids living out west. One of my neighbors travels a lot to Oregon and feels Hwy 2 is much easier on vehicles vs our freeway options. Number 1, people are driving so fast… but it also eliminates some serious grades. Homestake Pass near Butte is one of them… I stayed a lot in truck stops because of what I was carrying… but I recall some small town parks where you could stay as mentioned. This route is by far the better route to see things along the way and such too. One trip my daughter and I looked for ghost towns… we never saw much of anything for ghost towns… but we got off the beaten path some and we had a good time. The Glacier area has always been my favorite… kind of towards west Glacier there is a trailhead rd… I’ll turn and go up past the trailhead up the rd and there is a nice level pull off I enjoy. Your picking a good route in my opinion… and I second Spiffs options around Ft Peck area. Being a small town guy I always enjoyed the smaller town feel of Hwy 2 vs 94/90 interstate. And I have to agree it’s not quite as bad as far as steep grades as far as mountains and such…

Thanks for the hint! My daughter is planning to move to Illinois (Carbondale area) this year, and of course she wants me to come visit. Heading through the northern tier on a non-interstate sounds like a treat.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

There are a number of interesting and beautiful routes through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, N&S Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin that avoid the Interstate and big cities. Get a good atlas and pick a different one each time you visit.