Three NPS campgrounds serve the Lake McDonald corridor — all within the park boundary and within a short drive or shuttle ride of the lake, trails and Apgar Village. Combined, they offer nearly 400 campsites ranging from large RV-friendly loops to intimate tent-only spots on the water's edge.
Book early: All three campgrounds are reservable at recreation.gov. Apgar and Fish Creek open for reservations in mid-January for the following season and fill within hours. Sprague Creek is the smallest and most sought-after — book the moment reservations open.
The Three Campgrounds
The largest campground in the Lake McDonald corridor, situated at the western end of the lake near Apgar Village. Wooded sites with moderate privacy; the campground is large enough that it rarely feels overcrowded. Some sites accommodate RVs up to 21 feet.
The location is ideal: Apgar Visitor Center is a 5-minute walk, the NPS shuttle departs from here, and the boat rentals and beach are just down the road. Sites are divided into three loops — the "B" loop sites are closest to the lake.
Amenities: Flush toilets, running water, dump station, camp store nearby, ranger programs. No electrical hookups. Bears are active — food storage boxes at all sites are mandatory.
Located on the northwestern shore of Lake McDonald, about 2.5 miles from Apgar Village. Fish Creek has direct lake access via a small beach — one of the best features of any campground in the area. Many sites are heavily wooded and feel more private than Apgar's loops.
The campground accommodates larger RVs (some sites up to 35 feet) and has a group camping area. The beach is accessible for day use as well as campers.
Amenities: Flush toilets, running water, dump station, accessible sites available. No shuttle stop on-site — bike or walk to Apgar (2.5 miles) to connect with the NPS shuttle system.
The smallest and most intimate campground in the corridor — 25 tent-only sites directly on Lake McDonald's southern shore, about 9 miles east of Apgar and 2 miles west of the Lodge. No towed vehicles (RVs, trailers) allowed. This restriction keeps it quieter than the other campgrounds.
Sprague Creek is the most requested campground on this stretch of the lake. Sites sit directly on the shoreline with unobstructed views across the water to the peaks. Waking up here — with Lake McDonald literally at your tent door — is one of the defining Glacier camping experiences.
Amenities: Flush toilets, running water. No dump station. A shuttle stop nearby connects to the broader GTSR shuttle network.
Booking Strategy
All three campgrounds book through recreation.gov. Reservations for the peak season (July–August) open in mid-January — set a calendar reminder and be ready at 8 am Mountain Time on the release day. Apgar and Fish Creek often fill within hours of opening.
- Best chance for last-minute sites: Check recreation.gov at 7 am daily — cancelled reservations are released and snapped up quickly
- Walk-up sites: A small number of sites at Apgar and Fish Creek are held for walk-up registration — arrive at the campground by 8 am for the best chance
- Shoulder season (May, September): Reservations are much easier; some sites may be available same-day online
- Maximum stay: 7 nights during peak season, 14 nights during shoulder season
Bear Safety
All three campgrounds are in active grizzly and black bear habitat. Food storage boxes are provided at every site and are mandatory — store all food, coolers, toiletries and anything scented. Do not leave any food in your vehicle overnight. Carry bear spray on all trail walks from camp. Bears in this area are habituated to humans and move through campgrounds regularly — treat every bear sighting as serious and give animals wide berth.
