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Best Campgrounds near Whitefish, MT

1,293 Reviews

Camping options around Whitefish, Montana range from developed campgrounds to dispersed sites on public lands, with proximity to Glacier National Park being a major draw. The area includes established facilities like Whitefish Lake State Park Campground and Glacier Campground, offering tent and RV sites with varying amenities. Several dispersed camping areas can be found along the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Flathead River, providing free alternatives for self-sufficient campers. The region also features private RV parks and resorts with cabin rentals for those seeking more comfort.

Seasonal considerations heavily impact camping experiences near Whitefish. Most campgrounds operate from May through September or early October, with limited winter options. "When I need to disconnect from the world, be surrounded by the beauty of forests and crystal clear water, this is my sanctuary," one camper shared about Upper Whitefish Lake Campground, though noting access roads can be rough. Road conditions vary significantly, with some dispersed areas requiring high-clearance vehicles. Proximity to train tracks affects several campgrounds, particularly Whitefish Lake State Park, where overnight noise can be disruptive. Advance reservations are strongly recommended during summer months when Glacier National Park visitation peaks.

Waterfront camping locations receive consistently positive reviews, with lakes and rivers providing recreational opportunities beyond just camping. Campers frequently mention the crystal-clear waters of Whitefish Lake and the Flathead River system as highlights. Several reviewers note the convenience of staying near both outdoor recreation and the amenities of Whitefish town. Train noise emerges as a common complaint at certain campgrounds, with one reviewer noting, "There are train tracks about 40 feet away from some of the campsites and trains come through almost all night long." Wildlife sightings, including deer, moose and bears, add to the camping experience but require proper food storage and awareness. The combination of mountain views, lake access, and proximity to Glacier National Park makes this region particularly appealing to outdoor enthusiasts.

Map showing campgrounds near Whitefish, MontanaExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Whitefish, Montana (290)

    1. Middle Fork Flathead River Dispersed

    49 Reviews
    Coram, MT
    14 miles
    Website

    "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."

    2. Glacier Campground

    51 Reviews
    West Glacier, MT
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 387-5689

    $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."

    3. Apgar Campground — Glacier National Park

    59 Reviews
    West Glacier, MT
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 888-7800

    $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)."

    4. Fish Creek Campground — Glacier National Park

    62 Reviews
    West Glacier, MT
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 888-7800

    $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."

    5. West Glacier KOA Resort

    48 Reviews
    West Glacier, MT
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 387-5341

    "Proximity to the park and shopping in Kalispell or Whitefish was close too! We’d definitely visit again!"

    "The bathhouse near us was a dated design style but very clean and well stocked. Lots of families with kids onsite, I can see why with all the great amenities."

    6. Blankenship Bridge - Dispersed Camping

    31 Reviews
    Coram, MT
    14 miles

    "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."

    7. Whitefish Lake State Park Campground

    15 Reviews
    Whitefish, MT
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 752-5501

    $20 / night

    "Yep it runs right next to the park. Yep it can be loud and annoying, but don't overlook this place because of it. Bring earplugs and a white noise machine and you will sleep like a baby."

    "Away from it all while close to it all."

    8. North fork Flathead River dispersed camping

    24 Reviews
    West Glacier, MT
    15 miles

    "about 6 spots to camp. plenty of people close by, felt safe. fire pits. vault toilet. right next to the river - beautiful! some bees around but weren’t bothersome."

    "We had been searching around for a First come First served site and hadnt found anything that looked just right. We wanted to have a little space and be on water."

    9. Columbia Falls RV Park

    13 Reviews
    Columbia Falls, MT
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 892-1122

    $100 - $180 / night

    "Nice walking neighborhood. Great proximity to Glacier, Whitefish. Great butcher shop around corner!"

    "Nice location with Mountain View’s all around. Beautifully manicured sites with trees that are starting to gain size for shade. However, the sites are so close together."

    10. Rocky Mountain Hi Campground

    16 Reviews
    Kalispell, MT
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 755-9573

    $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 ..."

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Recent Camping Photos near Whitefish, MT

393 Photos of 290 Whitefish Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Whitefish, MT

1293 Reviews of 290 Whitefish Campgrounds

  • Raul C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Camp off North Fork Road

    Large and open

    The 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.

  • Vinny A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Middle Fork Flathead River Dispersed

    Riverside Camping

    Very 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.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Emery Bay Campground

    Beautiful campground with excellent host

    We 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.

  • Rikky F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Apgar Campground — Glacier National Park

    Good campground but felt like the amenities were scare for the number of sites

    We 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.

  • Kara S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    St Mary Campground - Glacier National Park — Glacier National Park

    Clean, open, big sites

    Nice 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!

  • katherine W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Middle Fork Flathead River Dispersed

    Beautiful spot, large and just outside Glacier

    Only 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

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Middle Fork Flathead River Dispersed

    Lovely but busy

    It’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.

Guide to Whitefish

Camping near Whitefish, 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 that cater to all types of campers.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the breathtaking trails in Glacier National Park. One camper mentioned, “Glacier provides world-class hiking and scenery. Be bear prepared,” highlighting the need for caution while enjoying the trails.
  • Fishing: The nearby lakes and rivers are perfect for fishing. A review noted, “The river is very fast for fishing; could maybe get away with fly fishing,” making it clear that anglers will find plenty of opportunities.
  • Swimming: Enjoy a refreshing dip in Lake McDonald. One visitor shared, “Lake McDonald was a short 2 min drive from our campsite to the picnic area,” emphasizing the easy access to water activities.

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the beautiful surroundings. One review stated, “The scenery and experience of this special place cannot be properly described,” showcasing the natural beauty of the area.
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Many appreciate the peacefulness of the campgrounds. A camper remarked, “It was quiet, clean, and not too cramped,” which is a big plus for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.
  • Wildlife Encounters: Campers enjoy spotting local wildlife. One review noted, “There were lots of deer,” adding to the charm of camping in this area.

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Fish Creek Campground, have basic facilities. A camper mentioned, “The bathrooms were closed when we drove in,” so be prepared for some inconveniences.
  • Reservations Required: Many campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak season. One visitor advised, “Make sure you have your reservation passes for any road that you intend to travel,” stressing the importance of planning ahead.
  • Road Conditions: Accessing some campgrounds can be tricky. A review stated, “If you are driving a low profile vehicle you are likely to blow your suspension,” so a vehicle with good clearance is recommended.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with amenities for kids. One camper noted, “The grandkids loved the pool and the Gaga ball pit,” which is a great way to keep children entertained.
  • Safety Precautions: Remind kids about wildlife safety. A camper warned, “This is in bear country, and you should definitely take the precautions seriously,” highlighting the need for awareness.
  • Pack Games: Bring along games or activities for downtime. One family mentioned, “The visitor tent has activities and games like scavenger hunts,” which can be a fun way to engage kids.

Tips from RVers:

  • Site Size Matters: Choose campgrounds that accommodate larger RVs. A review stated, “The sites are shady, and the cafe serves a good quality and imaginative menu,” indicating that some campgrounds are more RV-friendly than others.
  • Check Hookups: Ensure your campground has the necessary hookups. One RVer mentioned, “We did a water and electric hookup site,” which is essential for a comfortable stay.
  • Noise Levels: Be aware of potential noise from nearby roads or campgrounds. A review noted, “There was live music every evening,” which might not be ideal for those seeking peace and quiet.

Camping near Whitefish, Montana, offers a unique blend of adventure and relaxation. With the right preparation and knowledge, you can enjoy everything this beautiful area has to offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there good camping sites near Whitefish Lake?

Yes, Whitefish Lake offers excellent camping options. Whitefish Lake State Park Campground is located right on the south end of the lake with beautiful sunset views and access to the water. The campground is conveniently close to town while still maintaining a woodsy feel. Sites are smaller with narrow roads, so be cautious with large RVs. For a more secluded experience, Upper Whitefish Campground provides newly expanded and leveled sites, including 13 coveted waterfront locations. This serene setting offers crystal clear water and is perfect for disconnecting from everyday life, though it has become more popular in recent years.

What is the best time of year to go camping in Whitefish, Montana?

Summer (June-August) is the prime camping season in Whitefish with warm days and mild nights, though this is also when campgrounds like Riverside Campground are busiest. This period offers excellent hiking access and water activities, with July featuring spectacular Fourth of July fireworks visible from lakeside campgrounds. Early fall (September) brings stunning foliage and fewer crowds at popular spots like Apgar Campground, though nights grow cooler. Late spring (May-early June) offers a balance of decent weather and lower visitor numbers, but be prepared for occasional rain and cooler temperatures. Summer wildfires can affect air quality, particularly in late July and August, so check conditions before your trip.

What are the best campgrounds in Whitefish, Montana?

The Whitefish area offers diverse camping experiences for every preference. Sundance Campground & RV Park provides affordable accommodations with friendly hosts who go out of their way to accommodate guests. Sites are nestled among trees with dirt or grass parking areas, though leveling may be required at some spots. For those seeking proximity to activities, Camp Trinity offers a central location for exploring Glacier Park, Whitefish Mountain, and Flathead Lake. It's dog-friendly with responsive management. Just 20 minutes from Whitefish, Stillwater Lake offers rustic first-come, first-served sites with lovely trails and lake access, perfect for those seeking a more natural experience.

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