White Sandy Campground
White Sandy is located on the west side of Hauser Lake at the confluence of Prickly Pear creek. White Sandy faces Eldorado Bar and the beautiful Big Belt mountains. It is in an ideal location for outdoor recreation, wildlife watching, water sports, camping and swimming.
More like this: electric hookups in Montana · reservable in Montana · big rigs in Montana · pets allowed in Montana · group sites in Montana
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| RV, no hookups | 25 |
| group shelter nonelectric | 4 |
| group shelter electric | 1 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
26 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | A | RV | Back-in | Gravel | No | Lakefront | 10 / 3 | Yes | ||||
| 02 | A | RV | Back-in | Gravel | No | Lakefront | 10 / 3 | Yes | ||||
| 03 | A | RV | Back-in | Gravel | No | Lakefront | 10 / 3 | Yes | ||||
| 05 | A | RV | Back-in | Paved | No | Lakefront | 10 / 3 | Yes | Yes | |||
| 07 | A | RV | Back-in | Gravel | No | Lakefront | 10 / 3 | Yes | ||||
| 09 | A | RV | Back-in | Gravel | No | Lakefront | 10 / 3 | Yes | ||||
| 11 | A | RV | Back-in | Gravel | No | Lakefront | 10 / 3 | Yes | ||||
| 14 | A | RV | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | No | Lakefront | 10 / 3 | Yes | |||
| 15 | A | RV | Back-in | Gravel | No | Lakefront | 10 / 3 | Yes | Prime | |||
| 17 | A | RV | Back-in | Gravel | No | Lakefront | 10 / 3 | Yes | Prime |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 50 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | $25 per night per camping unit per site, with a maximum of 2 units per site. Group Loop-C Loop with Ramada/Pavilion is $140 per night with a maximum of 2 units per site (x6 sites = 12 units) with no additional fees. You must occupy your campsite every night that you have reserved. |
| Accessibility | Sites 05, 23, Group Site & Pavilion are listed accessible |
White Sandy offers several amenities that will make your stay enjoyable and comfortable. White Sandy is a 32-site campground that has spacious and level gravel parking pads that accommodate RVs, travel trailers and tents. Reservations are required at this site. White Sandy features a large concrete boat launch with a courtesy dock, as well as areas to beach your vessel. A fish cleaning station is available near the day-use parking at White Sandy. There are vault toilets located in each loop of the campground as well as near the boat launch and beach area. There is potable water provided throughout the campground and day use areas as well as garbage dumpsters. Every campsite contains a fire ring with a grill grate in addition to a picnic table. There are also picnic tables and small pavilions throughout the area. There is a small general store across from the entrance to White Sandy, additionally, Black Sandy state park is located just 1/4 mile up the road, which offers an RV dump station which is $5 to use if you are staying at White Sandy.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Helena drive north, from Great Falls drive south on I-15 to the Lincoln Road exit, turn east on Lincoln Rd and continue to the T-intersection with Hauser Dam Rd, turn left (North) and continue about 4 miles until you reach White Sandy Recreation Area directly in front of you on the right hand side of the road.
| Nearest town | Helena, Montana |
| Coordinates | 46.7409° N, 111.8888° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation (see below). • Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee. Late Cancellations or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window • Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedBear Gulch Rx
15 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedWakina Sky Rx
16 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedSure Thing Swamp Rx
29 mi from the campground · 180 acres
- PrescribedHogum Creek Road Piles Rx
33 mi from the campground · 5 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 0.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sierra ↗ | 10.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | D & D RV Center ↗ | 11.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
White Sandy Campground Helena Montana | Best Campsites
Worth a stop
White Sandy is located in a prime location to get out and recreate outdoors, or within the capital of Montana. There are hundreds of miles of trails, Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands, state parks, the Lewis and Clark Trail and so much more. Helena (only a short drive away) has all the amenities of a large city with small town charm. There are great restaurants, museums, the capitol building, old mining settlements, Last Chance Gulch, Reeder's Alley and a vibrant downtown with a walking mall area.
- 3.2 miMissouri River Fishing Access Site ↗Fishing site
- 4.8 miClark's Bay Day Use Site ↗Day use
- 8.9 miMeriwether Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 13.2 miNever Sweat Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 1.7 miMissouri Beaver Creek1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.9 miBig Log Gulch ↗11.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Gates of the Mountains Wilderness begins about 6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 6 miGates of the Mountains Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 28,460 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Silver Creek SchoolBuilding · Helena · 7.9 mi
- Lewis and Clark County Hospital Historic DistrictHistoric district · Helena · 10.8 mi
- Montana Aeronautics Commission Operations Historic DistrictBuilding · Helena · 10.8 mi
Natural features
The campground and day use areas are situated in a shrub-steppe landscape, mostly comprised of sage brush and bunch grasses. Every campsite has a view of the lake and mountains. While there are some ponderosa pine and deciduous trees throughout the area, they are scarce and do not provide a large amount of shade, but the lake does help keep the temperatures down a bit on those hot summer days.
Recreation
White Sandy offers excellent recreational access. There is a beach area, picnic areas, as well as a ramada/pavilion with power and lights, available by advanced reservation. There are vault toilets located in convenient locations throughout the site. There are trails throughout White Sandy as well as in the surrounding area. Additionally, there are multiple trails within the larger Hauser Lake Recreation area, as well as multiple fishing access sites, hunting access, wildlife viewing and of course, boating. World class mountain biking trails abound in the area as well. The recreation opportunities are truly boundless.
Guidebooks for Montana
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at White Sandy Campground?
Sites at White Sandy Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at White Sandy Campground?
$25 per night per camping unit per site, with a maximum of 2 units per site. Group Loop-C Loop with Ramada/Pavilion is $140 per night with a maximum of 2 units per site (x6 sites = 12 units) with no additional fees. You must occupy your campsite every night that you have reserved.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at White Sandy Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at White Sandy Campground?
A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation.
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does White Sandy Campground have?
31 sites, including 25 RV sites without hookups, 4 group shelter nonelectric, and 1 group shelter electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at White Sandy Campground?
The longest site here provides 50 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does White Sandy Campground have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at White Sandy Campground?
There is a small general store across from the entrance to White Sandy, additionally, Black Sandy state park is located just 1/4 mile up the road, which offers an RV dump station which is $5 to use if you are staying at White Sandy.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at White Sandy Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at White Sandy Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at White Sandy Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at White Sandy Campground?
Sites 05, 23, and Group Site & Pavilion are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at White Sandy Campground?
White Sandy offers excellent recreational access. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation