Indian Road Campground

If you're passing through the area or looking for some free camping around Helena/Missouri River area, this place is convenient. There's some heavy train traffic, so you'll hear their horns a few times a day. There's clean vault toilets and trash service, and there's a few nature trails to explore. There's also a section of the Missouri that was shallow enough for my 18 mo to play in. Verizon is decent unboosted.

Great stop along the Missouri just south of Townsend. You have to pull off to the side and stay on the gravel loop. Some sites lean away from the road and may be tight for longer trailers and motor homes. Vault toilets are clean. Shade is extremely limited. Mosquitoes are horrible after sunset. Trains blow horns all night long. There is a logging road up next to camp and trucks use it at all hours. None of our remotes worked at this site! Must be logging truck radios. Our truck remote and our camper stabilizers remotes both did not work here. But worked at our next spot.

We were heading east on US 12 after visiting Glacier Natl Park. We had planned to stay at Cromwell Dixon CG west of Helena but it was closed. We drove about 20 miles further past Helena and found this spot right off US 12. The little half-circle turn outs are not very level and it is basically a gravel loop just off the highway on Centerville Road, but you have an amazing 360 degree view of the mountains in the distance with beautiful green meadows across the broad valleys. Yes, the train is nearby but we don’t have a problem with the sound of trains. There is a little road noise from US 12 but otherwise it’s very quiet except for the birds - lots of red-wing blackbirds. Very peaceful! Just turn onto Centerville Road and it is right there on the left. We also had great reception on our Dish Tailgater (which hubby really liked after NO connectivity at Glacier!)

One loop for camping with several pull offs. Fire rings and picnic tables. Well maintained and pit toilets. Dry camping. A little noisy from road but it’s not a terribly busy road, so not too bad. Beautiful surroundings of farms and mountains. Close to Townsend which has everything you need.

This Bureau of Reclamation site was so easy to get to. There is no charge for staying here and the grounds and roadway are well groomed. We were pleasantly surprised at how nice a free campsite area like this one can be.

The sites are well maintained here, the grass is cut. The fire pits are emptied. The bathroom was pressure washed while we were here.

Really the only complaints are the random people that drive through the campsites before going to the day use area and the train.

The sites are small turnouts on the road which means these cars looking for the day use area kickup dust constantly and you can't get away from it.
There are signs indicating that this is the overnight camper area but there are easily 30+ cars per day that drive through before going to the daysite and some speed through it.
3 stars for quality since you're right on the roadway frequently used for no reason.
2 for noise because of the frequent trains and cars.

We loved this out of the way campground.
I caution bigger rigs than our 24 foot c class as this is an old well kept campground layout. One ring road but pull outs are not modern. More like - pull over to wooden stumps to allow other units to drive by you
I recommend taking the chance knowing you might have to continue on.

Stayed for a night and it was pleasant. 3/4 of the spots were taken yet it was still quiet. There’s 3 vault toilets. There’s a day area then an overnight area. All spots are in a loop so you just park next to the spot you want. No trash, water or electric. It’s free and has a picnic table and fire ring at each site. Very close to the lake and has a little water area along the day use area. Definitely would stay again! If you have a big rig, you may fit so worth trying. If it doesn’t work out, there’s another free campground 2 miles north (Cortonwood) that can accommodate bigger rigs but not as many sites available.

Super easy to pull in even with a trailer on the back. Plenty of spaces, got here at 7pm and there’s only two other groups here. Includes Picnic tables and fire pits for overnight spots, and multiple covered picnic tables for day use. You can definitely hear the road from here but it’s not really that noticeable

We stayed one night on a drive through. It a town park maintained by Townsend. Old style loop with wide pull outs. Fine for a van or small trailer but not suitable for a big rig. Pit toilets, table and fire ring. NO water. No shade. Next to highway and train tracks.