Sprague Creek Campground
The Quick Take
Sprague Creek is Glacier's most intimate lakeside campground -- a pocket-sized camp tucked into the trees along Lake McDonald's northeast shore, just a short drive from the West Entrance on Going-to-the-Sun Road. With only a handful of sites, it trades scale for atmosphere. The shore-facing spots deliver some of the best unearned views in the park: sunset over Lake McDonald without breaking a sweat. The trade-off is real, though. No flush toilets, no showers, no dump station, and a strict 21-foot vehicle limit that keeps the big rigs out. That size cap is actually the secret weapon here -- it filters out the motorhome crowd and keeps the campground quieter than its roadside location would suggest. Book this one if you want a lakefront base camp without the zoo-like atmosphere of the larger campgrounds, and you don't mind roughing it slightly on amenities.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 25 sites are reservable.
Book at Glacier LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. Maximum length: 21 feet. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
There is a short accessible path on the north end of the picnic area that leads to the lake. Restroom facilities are accessible. Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather
Rules to Know
- Checkout:Check out time is noon.
- Occupancy:A maximum of two tents per site is permitted.
- Stay Limit:Between July 1 and Labor Day, camping in the park is limited to 14 days, either in a single period or combined separate periods.
Pro Tips
Request a shore-side site when booking -- not all 25 sites have lake views, and the difference between a tree-enclosed interior site and one with an unobstructed Lake McDonald panorama is enormous. The campground is small enough that even interior sites are a short walk to the water, but waking up to that view is worth the effort.
You're sitting at mile 9.5 of Going-to-the-Sun Road, which means you have a head start on the Logan Pass crowd. Leave camp by 6:30 AM in peak season to beat the parking chaos at the summit. The drive from Sprague Creek to Logan Pass is about 25 miles of the most dramatic road in America -- treat the commute as the attraction.
No camp store means no firewood sales on site. Pick up bundles at the West Entrance area before driving in, and grab ice and groceries in West Glacier or Apgar Village while you're at it. Bear-country rules apply hard here -- use the food lockers for everything scented, including toiletries and coolers.
Photos
NPS/Gabriel Morrow
NPS/Gabriel Morrow
NPS/Gabriel MorrowGetting There
Directions
Sprague Creek Campground is located on the northeast shore of Lake McDonald approximately 9.5 miles (15.2 km) from the West Entrance of the park.
Get directions
