Sprague Creek Campground, near West Glacier, Montana, is a cozy spot that offers a unique camping experience right next to the stunning Lake McDonald. This place is perfect for those who enjoy a more intimate setting, with smaller sites that provide a sense of privacy among the trees.

The campground features basic amenities like drinking water and flush toilets, but don’t expect any electric hookups or showers. Campers appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, especially since it’s a non-generator area, allowing for a more natural experience. As one visitor put it, “The lake access, tree canopy, and small non-generator campground was just our style.”

You’ll find plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun right at your doorstep. The campground is a great jumping-off point for exploring Glacier National Park, with easy access to hiking trails and breathtaking views. Many campers enjoy launching their canoes or kayaks on Lake McDonald, especially at sunset when the scenery is simply magical.

While some campers mentioned that the proximity to Going-to-the-Sun Road can bring a bit of noise, the trade-off is being close to one of the park's most iconic routes. If you’re looking for a charming spot to set up camp and soak in the beauty of Glacier, Sprague Creek is definitely worth considering.

## Overview

 Sprague Creek is a small campground located on the northeast shore of Lake McDonald, just off Going-to-the-Sun Road. The maximum size limit allowed for all vehicles as well as combinations of vehicles and towed units in Sprague Creek Campground is 21 feet in length (including bumpers) and/or 8 feet in width (including mirrors). The campground is located within trees, providing shade during warm summers. Some sites near the shore have unobstructed views of Lake McDonald. 
## Recreation

 Amenities such as a camp store, resturant, gift shop, tour buses, boat tours, and horse rides can be found at the historic Lake McDonald Lodge, about a mile away from the campground. Evening programs with a ranger are also located at Lake McDonald Lodge. Use Glacier's free shuttle service at this campground to access other shuttle stops on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. 
## Natural Features

 Sprague Creek is heavily forested with partial shade. Some sites have views of Lake McDonald. The park is named for its prominent glacier-carved terrain and remnant glaciers descended from the ice ages almost 10,000 years ago. Its diverse habitats are home to nearly 70 species of mammals including the grizzly bear, wolverine, gray wolf and lynx. Over 270 species of birds visit or reside in the park, including such varied species as harlequin ducks, dippers and golden eagles. 
## Nearby Attractions

 One must-see attraction is Waterton Lakes National Park, Glacier's sister park across the Canadian-U.S. border. As the other half of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Canada's [Waterton Lakes National Park][1] offers great hiking, scenic boat cruises and several scenic drives all centered around the townsite of Waterton. 

[1]: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/waterton/index

Sprague Creek Campground — Glacier National Park

Looking for the best campgrounds near West Glacier, MT? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Montana camping has to offer. Discover great camping spots near West Glacier, reviewed by campers like you.

West Glacier

The Best Camping Near West Glacier, Montana

The campground is wedged between the road and Lake McDonald. Obviously the Lake McDonald side is the more desirable one. In general it's very small and you are close to your neighbor, but there are no RV's allowed so that helps keep noise down.

It's a solid choice

As tent campers, Sprague Creek is a good choice at Glacier National Park because there are no RVs or towed campers allowed. Even though this is a wooded campground, traffic noise was an issue.  The toilets have flushies and sinks and were well stocked. There is potable water available.  The sites have picnic tables as well.  This campground sits on Lake McDonald (fishing anyone?) and is off the Going to the Sun Road.  Very scenic area of Glacier.  

Noisy but still a good choice.

This is a very small, tent only campground, right between the Road To The Sun and Lake McDonald. This makes for pretty constant traffic noise while in the campsite, though if you are lucky enough to get a lakeside site, it is better, and you have a stunning lake view and private trail to the water. The trees in this campground are beautiful. As with all the campgrounds in glacier, it is very competitive to score a site, and you must be in line by 7 AM -- earlier than that  if you want a chance for the lake side -- and wait for the camp hosts to assign your site.  We got there at 6:30AM and were 9th in line. Despite the noise, this was a great place to camp with kids and spend days playing in and by the water. Having a canoe or kayak would be ideal. The mountain views are not the greatest from this location, and mostly you look upon a ridge line that burned some years ago. 

Sprague Creek

We were lucky to get a site along the lake but the whole campground is beautiful. You can definitely hear the noise from the road but we didn’t mind so much. Some of the bigger National Parks out west have free shuttle bus services and Glacier’s runs right to this campground so you can access day hiking without having to drive and park. Pros: lakeside, water, flush toilets, ranger talks, amazing views, clean, central location, near Apgar Visitor Center. Cons: small-ish sites, busy, no reservations, fills up, possible road noise. 


No reservations 

Sprague Creek is a little campground on the west side of glacier national park. I really loved staying here because it is little. There are not many sites so show up early to get a spot. It's right next to Lake McDonald and it is easy to gain access to the water. Each site is a good size and is payed out in a nice manner. This is one of my favorite spots to camp in the park. 

Beautiful little campground

I spent 3 nights here in one of the spots along the lake on the south west end of the campground. As the it got closer to evening times you could hear plenty of cars exiting the park and if you decided to sleep in you would hear them going in the opposite direction. Besides the cars it is a wonderful little campground with water, toilets, and plenty of space to wonder around along Lake McDonald. You have to get a bit lucky to find a spot during summer time as there are not many campsites.

One of my favorites

This is a smaller campground for Glacier, but still busy. It has everything you need in a National Park campground, including ranger-led kids programming and a free shuttle. Unfortunately it will fill up so you have to plan your day around getting a spot! But if you can, the views from the campsite are spectacular, whereas other sites in Glacier are just forested. The road noise was annoying but who sleeps in while camping anyway.

Lakeside campsites 

This is a great campsite area especially with Lake McDonald being right there. Drive up the Sun Road a few miles and you hit Sprague Creek. If you don’t Iike crowds as much this is a good spot for you. It has about 15-20 spots rather than Apgar which has about 100 or so. Great views and easy access to lots of hikes! 

Sprague Sites

this camp ground is first come first serve so you better get in early to claim your site. Set up shop, then enjoy the rest of your day. A handful of sites are water adjacent and they are worth it. Some sites will put you very close to your neighbors. There is a bathroom facility and bear boxes. We sleep in hammocks and there was an abundance of trees to use.

Scenic and clean

We totally lucked out nabbing a campsite here over the Fourth of July last summer! Site no. 24 was surprisingly secluded, though the backside faced the somewhat heavily-trafficked “Going-To-The-Sun-Road.” Campground provides flush toilets, bear-proof storage lockers, a fire ring, picnic table and beautiful views. 10/10 would recommend a swim in the crystal-clear waters of Lake McDonald.

View of Lake McDonald is A++

Fantastic little campground first come/serve. Get there early! Sites fill up quick, usually by 8-9am. Right on the lake with awesome swimming. Not crowded like others in the park. 

Great! 

highly recommend it here. Glacier is my favorite national park and it’s beautiful! make sure you keep an eye on your fires though, our neighbors got a hefty ticket for leaving theirs unattended!

great campground

Smaller campground in Glacier, tents only as opposed to some of the others with motor home access. toilets, water and fire pits. Next to the lake with shallow water as you walk out in to the lake (SO WARMER WATER!) However, so close to going to the sun road that you can get a lot of traffic noise well in to the night and very early in the morning. A few miles drive to other services. Views are okay, after the big fires on the other side of the lake last year, things will look different for the views for the next few years.

Compact, nice but....

Very pretty and popular campsite in Glacier National Park, just off the "Going-to-the-Sun" Road. It's on the shore of lake McDonald with gorgeous views of the lake and mountains.

The campground has basic tent campsites. There is also a boat load-in. Toilets and water available.

Five minutes away from historic lake McDonald lodge.While there's not an amphitheater on site, there are activities at the incredible lodge including evening ranger programs.

Pretty Campsites Next to Lake McDonald

Sprague Creek is one of my favorite campgrounds in the world. Small, but pretty private. Bring you canoe or kayak and launch on to Lake McDonald when the stars come out. The Milky Way is within gasp. 

One of my favorite campgrounds 

This campground is small, wooded and amazing! It doesn't get much better than being able to camp along the Going to the Sun Road with views and access to Lake McDonald! Unfortunately the campground was closed when I visited, so I was only able to walk around and dream about future camping trips here. It is located very close to the Lake McDonald Lodge. Absolutely NO cell phone service!

Camping along Going to the Sun Road!

Centrally located and beautiful, it’s a great jumping off point for Glacier. 

But it’s right on the Going to the Sun Road, so if you like to chill at your camp there will be no peace all day. (The construction thankfully ends this at 10 PM, though it picks back up at 6). 

There is also little privacy between the spots, so you’ll get little privacy/peace. 

But given how quickly spots go in Glacier, if this is available you are going to take it. 

Great location, no peace  

All the sites at Glacier NP are having a slightly different year than normal, I think. Construction close to Sprague shuts down the road at night, affording more privacy, but this is one of the quieter campgrounds anyway with few sites and no clear reason to stop (as opposed to Apgar or even Avalanche). The closure up until recently maybe meant that day users were hurting for places to explore, but I didn’t find it intrusive at all. If anything it’s nice to be over here as opposed to on the other side with the craziness at Apgar and Fish Creek or even down the road at the Lake McDonald lodge area.

Yes, a little different this year

We had a beautiful spot that backed right up to the lake. Snagged this site last minute when I realized Glacier didn't have first come, first serve campsites. It was a tight squeeze for my 20 foot van and I had to use my levelers, but to be right on a Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park--so worth it!

  

No hook ups of any kind. Mostly tent campers. Could walk right down to the lake from our campsite, but it was too cold to swim or kayak.

Good Thing I Brought Levelers

We stayed here in September and it was very enjoyable. Smaller spots like any NPS campground, but the lake access, tree canopy, and small non-generator campground was just our style. The bathrooms have cold running water and flush toilets and the location is very convenient if you’re trying to visit different parts of the park. 

Photos of Sprague Creek Campground — Glacier National Park

Real photos from real campers