Join the fun near Columbia Falls. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Montana camping adventure.
"It’s so close to the National Park entrance and a beautiful place to stay. The road is a bit bumpy getting down here but there’s plenty of room for tent camping and RVs. Be careful though!"
"Perfect spot for camping outside the west entrance, about 25 minutes away. That road is a little rough coming in but it’s short and manageable, even saw a little Mazda make it in."
$45 - $120 / night
"Montana is absolutely gorgeous! I may be biased because I go to college in Montana, but there is so many great outdoor activities. The mountains and scenery are my favorite."
"Great place tucked away from the road. Sites are smaller. Place was clear even the showers. Hot water in the morning not so much at night."
"This is a big RV resort close to West Glacier town and park entrance. We came with our 25’ RV and reserved a tent pad site to ensure we were up against the edge of the resort."
"9/13/19 West Glacier, Montana
West Glacier KOA Resort
Most beautiful location of the KOAs I've stayed at. Nestled against the mountains and less than 3 miles to Glacier National Park. "
$45 - $90 / night
"Apgar is walking distance from the Apgar Visitor Center and park shuttles, as well as Apgar Village, camp store, equipment rentals, etc."
"I could see 6 or 7 other camp fires burning while sitting next to mine.
We stayed three nights and every night heard someone a site or two over as he was talking too loud (and too much)."
$30 / night
"We have stayed in Many Glacier and Avalanche Creek but this is our favorite campsite in the park because of its proximity to Lake Mcdonald as well as Apgar village."
"Now the good: We were really close to Apgar village and other sites along the Road to the Sun road. The rangers were nice and pleasant to interact with."
"In this video we review 2 more of the free boondocking(dispersed camping) sites near Glacier National Park and Columbia Falls, Montana."
"Only about 15 minutes away from Glacier National Park Westgate. I was able to stay here for multiple days. Each time was no trouble in finding a place to park."
"It’s very close to the West entrance to Glacier National Park. We found fun things to do in nearby Hungry Horse, CowY, and Columbia Falls."
"Campground was relatively quiet despite its close proximity to the highway. Everything was very clean and organized. Camp host was friendly."
$30 - $56 / night
"Good Verizon cell signal and close to all the area attractions; Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, & Glacier NP."
"Awesome location. Quiet. Montana views ..."
$100 - $180 / night
"Walking distance to a fun coffee shop. There is often a farmers market in Columbia Falls. Great location to explore Glacier National Park. Nice clean bathrooms."
"You are close to your neighbors. There is a brewery and restaurant close by. The Gunsight restaurant in downtown Columbia Falls is a must, especially on Taco Tues."
"Arrived August 1st...was hoping to find a spot close to Glacier NP with some privacy but I think I was asking for too much lol. However, I am happy to have a place close to the park free of charge!"
"Located close to the west entrance, this dispersed camping location is quiet and easily accessible to most vehicles. It did fill up, so get there early. Mosquitos were pretty bad."
ScoutThe area down the road was full and had limited car camping / roof top tent camping so my buddy and I moved this way and found plenty of opportunity.
TravelerVery nice spot close to Glacier NP. As others have mentioned, the road getting in is very rough, but i made it up/down several times with my Promaster 2500 van with no issues, just got to be strategic about how you take the ruts. Awesome views of river. Road is a little noisy at times, but nothing to complain about. Plenty of other people camping there. Cell service was pretty good.
TravelerVery popular spot but enough space to spread out with amazing views.
ScoutBeautiful sights and very clean. Internet and phone service is very weak.
TravelerWe arrived mid September for 4 nights. Our site #21 is huge and private. Surrounded by large conifers with a large fiberglass topped picnic table that is easy to clean and fire pit. The vault toilets are within a short walking distance. Water spigot just across from the toilets provided lean potable water. Kevin the host is on top of his game, easy to find and very friendly and accommodating. Glacier National Park is about a 20 minute drive from there. Probably about 15 minutes from Corum and all of the essential services.
TravelerWe visited the weekend after Labor Day and I'd say the campground was moderately busy, someone I ran into at Logan Pass said they weren't able to get a site there so it must have been full.
I didn't research this campground as much as I should have. This is the largest campground on the west side, serving about 200 sites, and for some reason only has one shower building located on loop A. That building has exactly 2 showers. They're private, you can lock the door to go in, there's a bench outside of the shower portion, and while they seemed clean it wasn't as bougie as the showers at Canyon Campground in Yellowstone National Park. I never ended up trying the showers because after a long day, waiting to shower wasn't what I felt like and sometimes I was so tired I crawled into the tent after packing the food away and slept.
According to something I read online, there is no where to wash your dishes. Dish washing is to be done at your site, and the grey water transported to the disposal area located in loop C. I had no deep desire to haul a bucket of water around or have it sloshing in the back of our car so thankfully we had backpack meals and the only thing we needed to clean was forks which were wiped off with a paper towel and called good. When we used some stuff on the Going to the Sun Road, I decided to walk over to C when we got back to camp. There was a door labeled "Wash Station" and there was soap and a sponge. There's nowhere to clean anything off, so I guess you still need to figure that out if you have a significant amount of bits and pieces left after your dinner. It seems odd to me though that the largest campground on the west side has so few amenities for such a large number of sites.
The campsites are all kind of different. Like we have a huge Big Agnes Bunkhouse 6 and B 118 was a little inappropriate. I picked it so I only have myself to blame, but I recommend checking out any online views of the campsite you're thinking of just to make sure it vibes with your setup.
The bathrooms seemed plentiful enough, although the one closest to us had no soap on either side (as confirmed by my gf). I highly recommend bringing your own soap, however you want to accomplish that.
You can hear a train from camp, which didn't bother me but I know some people aren't fans. Everyone around us was pretty quiet for the most part, and we were a quick walk from the lake and the amphitheater. There's also a trail to Apgar Village and some nearby hiking trails (easy little walks, not hardcore hikes).
I have Verizon and had one bar that just refused to do much for me unless it was like 2am. My gf has T Mobile and her phone worked great!
Even though for the most part this is a good campground and it's worth going back to, I would explore other campgrounds if we 8 get to go back.
GuideNice level sites. Clean bathrooms. Short little walk over the lake to the visitors center which hosts nightly ranger talks. It was pretty buggy this time of year but lovely none the less. A few of the sites had way better views than ours so pick a spot that’s less wooded for a better view!
TravelerOnly about 5 miles off the main road we took out of Glacier. Easy to find and get to, we made it down here with a truck and Pacifica. Lots of wide open space for everyone to enjoy. Come here, you won’t regret it. It feel like a little community and safe
GuideIt’s a great spot! The views in my opinion are so-so but glacier is a 30 min drive away so I can’t complain. There’s a bumpy road in but it’s very short, saw a lot of people with 20ft+ trailers make it in just fine. Big RVs might have a hard time as there is a couple big bumps to go over. There’s cell service (AT&T) and port-o-potties spread around.
Like everyone else has said it is busy. A lot of people camp at the edge of the first open river front but there’s good spots if you go back in the trees.
Only downside is the 3 day stay limit… but it doesn’t seem that rangers are coming around to enforce it.
Camping near Columbia Falls, Montana, offers a fantastic mix of stunning scenery and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Columbia Falls, Montana, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, with plenty of options for families and RVers alike. Just remember to plan ahead and be prepared for the beautiful wilderness that awaits!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds in Columbia Falls, Montana?
Columbia Falls offers excellent camping options for every style. Columbia Falls RV Park provides solid WiFi, clean bathrooms, and a convenient location within walking distance to town amenities including a coffee shop and farmers market. For those seeking free camping experiences, North fork Flathead River dispersed camping offers riverside sites with the soothing sounds of flowing water, though it has a 3-day maximum stay and can get busy at the boat launch. Other notable options include Moose Creek RV Resort with its variety of site types and amenities, and Rocky Mountain Hi Campground with full hookups for those needing to recharge after boondocking adventures.
What activities and attractions are near camping areas in Columbia Falls?
Columbia Falls serves as an ideal base for exploring numerous attractions. From Big Creek Campground, you're just 20 miles from Columbia Falls shopping and close to the west entrance of Glacier National Park, with whitewater rafting opportunities nearby. The Blankenship Bridge - Dispersed Camping area provides access to the Middle Fork Flathead River. Downtown Columbia Falls offers dining options like the Gunsight restaurant (known for Taco Tuesday) and local breweries. The Hungry Horse Dam is worth visiting for its scenic beauty and interesting history. For those looking to explore local flavors, Montana Distillery in Coram and several breweries in the area make for excellent day trips.
Are there RV rental options available in Columbia Falls, MT?
While Columbia Falls itself has limited RV rental companies, the broader Flathead Valley area offers several options. Mountain View RV Park and Moose Creek RV Resort are excellent locations to park a rented RV, with the latter offering a variety of amenities including an on-site store and adult sauna. Most visitors typically rent RVs from companies in the larger nearby towns of Kalispell or Whitefish, then bring them to Columbia Falls campgrounds. For those planning to camp with a rented RV, it's advisable to make reservations well in advance, especially during the peak summer season when Glacier National Park visitation is at its highest.
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