Free camping near Polson, MT
Within 25 straight-line miles of Polson, MT there are 101 camps: 100 free, 1 fee. The closest is 10381-3 Fatty Creek Area, 12 miles east of town. The closest one our audit calls free is 10381-3 Fatty Creek Area, 12 miles out.
Who manages them: 101 on the Forest Service.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10381-3 Fatty Creek Area | 12 | Free | Cedar Creek (stream) | 6.0 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 9568-1 Jim Lakes Area | 15 | Free | Jim Lake (water) | 5.2 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 888-9 Peck Lake Area | 15 | Free | Lion Creek (stream) | 2.9 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 9882-13 Van Lake Rd | 15 | Free | Shay Lake (water) | 4.3 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 9758-1 Goat Creek Area | 15 | Free | Shay Lake (water) | 4.6 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 9568-4 Jim Lakes Area | 16 | Free | Jim Lake (water) | 5.1 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — MT #94 | 16 | Free | Van Lake (water) | 4.8 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 888-6 Peck Lake Area | 16 | Free | Jim Creek (stream) | 1.3 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| Rd 9599-1 Cold Lakes Th Campsite | 16 | Free | Cold Creek (stream) | 5.8 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — MT #279 | 16 | Free | Swan River (river) | 8.4 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 9882-11 Van Lake Rd | 16 | Free | Van Lake (water) | 4.0 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 9882-10 Van Lake Rd | 16 | Free | Van Lake (water) | 3.7 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — MT #204 | 16 | Free | Lion Creek (stream) | 1.9 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 10229-2 Porcupine Creek End | 16 | Free | — | 5.3 mi to Swan Lake | — |
| 9758-554-1 Goat Creek Area | 17 | Free | Swan River (river) | 8.5 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| Crane Mtn Rd End | 17 | Free | — | 2.7 mi to Bear Dance | — |
| 9882-4 Van Lake Rd | 17 | Free | Van Lake (water) | 3.6 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — MT #203 | 17 | Free | Van Lake (water) | 3.7 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 9568-1 Cold Lakes Road | 17 | Free | Cold Creek (stream) | 4.9 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — MT #653 | 17 | Free | Lion Creek (stream) | 2.3 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 558-5 Van Lake Rd | 17 | Free | — | — | — |
| Van Lake 4 | 17 | Free | Van Lake (water) | 4.8 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| Rd 9882 Site 2 | 17 | Free | Van Lake (water) | 4.7 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 888-4 Peck Lake Area | 17 | Free | — | 3.4 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| Van Lake 1 | 17 | Free | Van Lake (water) | 4.8 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| Lion Creek Outfitter | 17 | Free | — | 8.9 mi to Condon | — |
| 558-3 Van Lake Rd | 17 | Free | Van Lake (water) | 4.5 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 9568--4 Jim Lakes Road | 18 | Free | Cold Creek (stream) | 4.7 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — MT #21 | 18 | Free | — | 9.5 mi to Condon | — |
| 888-3 Peck Lake Area | 18 | Free | — | 3.5 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 9568-5 Cold Lakes Road | 18 | Free | Cold Creek (stream) | 4.8 mi to Condon | — |
| 10651-2 Pony Creek Dispersed Camping Area | 18 | Free | Swan River (river) | 1.2 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 903-15 Cold-Elk Ridge Area | 18 | Free | Cold Creek (stream) | 4.5 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| Blair Flats | 18 | Free | Lost Creek (stream) | 4.6 mi to Swan Lake | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — MT #797 | 18 | Free | Cold Creek (stream) | 4.1 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 903-26 Elk Area | 18 | Free | Cold Creek (stream) | 4.3 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 903-24 Elk Area | 18 | Free | Cold Creek (stream) | 4.4 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| Cilly Creek | 19 | Free | Lost Creek (stream) | 5.4 mi to Swan Lake | — |
| 903-12 Cold- Elk Ridge Area | 19 | Free | Cold Creek (stream) | 4.3 mi to Condon | — |
| 903-11 Cold-Elk Ridge Area | 19 | Free | Cold Creek (stream) | 4.4 mi to Condon | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — MT #486 | 19 | Free | Cold Creek (stream) | 4.3 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 903-23 Elk Area | 19 | Free | Cold Creek (stream) | 4.3 mi to Condon | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — MT #141 | 19 | Free | Lion Creek (stream) | 2.7 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| Landing | 19 | Free | — | 4.1 mi to Swan Lake | — |
| 903-10 Cold-Elk Ridge Area | 19 | Free | — | 5.0 mi to Condon | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — MT #630 | 19 | Free | Lion Creek (stream) | 2.5 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — MT #438 | 19 | Free | Condon Creek (stream) | 3.4 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — MT #747 | 19 | Free | Condon Creek (stream) | 3.4 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
| 9708-Rd Stub | 20 | Free | — | 3.7 mi to Bear Dance | — |
| USFS dispersed camp — MT #168 | 20 | Free | Condon Creek (stream) | 3.1 mi to Salmon Prairie | — |
The other 51 inside the circle are on the live map — open it centred on Polson, MT.
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Polson, MT, not a driving distance — a camp four miles out across a canyon can be an hour of road. Cost is the audited three-state verdict on each camp's own record: free, fee, or unpriced where we could not confirm a price. A blank column is a gap in the record, not a statement that the thing is absent. Camps come from state and federal agency records, not from a visit, except the ones marked. Seasons, permits and fire rules change: confirm with the managing office before you go. Found a fee where we show free? Tell us on the contact page.