🏕️ Best Campground Near Glacier National Park: Our Stay at Fish Creek Campground

by | Jan 4, 2026 | National Parks, Road Trips & RV Travel | 0 comments

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If you’re planning a family trip to Glacier National Park and want one of the best campgrounds near Glacier National Park with lake access, kid-friendly loops, and the perfect blend of adventure and downtime, Fish Creek Campground on the park’s west side is an excellent choice. We spent five nights here with a mix of kids (ages 4–10) and grandparents, and it quickly became one of our favorite national park camping experiences.

Below is everything to know before booking — including details on specific loops, RV size considerations, lake access, and what made this stay so memorable for our family.

Why Fish Creek is One of the Best Campgrounds Near Glacier Nationer National Park

Fish Creek is known for its shady, wooded sites and close proximity to Lake McDonald, and that’s exactly what made this campground special. The ability to walk to the water in just a few minutes shaped our entire stay — from early-morning fishing to sunset shoreline hangs.

It also offered the perfect mix of:

  • bike-friendly loops
  • access to ranger programs
  • a relaxed atmosphere
  • easy routes to Apgar Village and the west entrance

For families who love nature, freedom for the kids, and a quieter west-side basecamp, Fish Creek makes a great home base.

Booking, Rates, and Availability

Fish Creek Campground fills quickly — especially during summer — but your booking strategy depends on how flexible you are:

  • Standard nightly rate: current NPS campground rate (discounted if you have a Senior Pass)
  • Reservation window: opens 6 months out
  • For groups or fixed dates: book right when the window opens
  • For flexible travelers: many families we met booked last-minute and snagged 1–2 night stays when cancellations popped up

If you want a full week in a specific loop or site, plan ahead. If you can be flexible with nights or dates, you may find availability closer to travel time.

Check-in is at 1:00 PM, and check-out is at 12:00 PM.

    What to Expect: Dry Camping + Generator Hours

    Fish Creek is 100% dry camping — meaning no electric, water, or sewer hookups at the sites. This is important to know ahead of time, especially for families relying on RV amenities.

    Generator hours:

    • 8–10 AM
    • 12–2 PM
    • 5–7 PM

    Quiet hours run 10 PM–6 AM, and people respected those hours. Many families are up early to explore, so mornings were quiet but active.

    There is a central dump station (easy to use) and freshwater fill station near the entrance. Depending on your tank sizes and group size, you may need to break camp midweek to dump and refill.

    Our Campsite: Loop A (A7 + A29)

    A7 — Best for Larger Rigs

    We stayed in A7, which we found ideal for a larger RV (ours was 31 feet).
    It was:

    • a pull-through site
    • easy to maneuver
    • close to restrooms
    • perfectly shaded
    • flat with plenty of space for hammocks and kids’ bikes

    A29 — Great for Mid-Size RVs

    The other RV in our group (around 25 feet) stayed in A29, just behind our site.
    It offered:

    • excellent privacy
    • easy access for a mid-size rig
    • similar shade and bike visibility

    Both A7 and A29 were genuinely good — but if you’re in a larger rig, A7 is a standout option.

    What We Loved Most About Loop A

    Loop A became the perfect home base for the kids, especially the younger ones. It’s the flattest loop in the campground, which meant the kids could ride bikes independently and safely. You can see most of the loop from several sites, which gave us peace of mind.

    From Loop A, there’s a short, clearly marked path down a set of stairs to:

    • Lake McDonald
    • Fish Creek Picnic Area
    • a lower parking area
    • access to the Rocky Point Trail

    The 5-minute walk to the water became a daily ritual.

    Comparing the Loops (A, B, C, and D)

    If you’re trying to choose between loops, here’s a family-friendly breakdown:

    Loop A

    • Flattest
    • Best for young kids biking
    • Great for larger RVs
    • Close, consistent lake access

    Loop B

    • Moderately hilly
    • Mixed tents and RVs
    • Good general option

    Loop C

    • More hills
    • No generator use allowed (ideal for tent/van campers)
    • Excellent shade
    • Some great lakeside spots

    Loop D

    • Closest to the lake in most areas
    • Hillier in sections
    • RVs or trailers over 26 feet cannot navigate this loop
    • Great for older kids biking loops
    • A bit trickier for toddlers on bikes

    All loops connect via walking paths and allow easy access to the amphitheater, water, and Rocky Point Trail.

    Showers, Bathrooms, and Amenities

    Bathrooms are scattered throughout the campground and were always clean.

    Showers are centrally located.
    Expect a line in early evenings — this is peak time after families return from full-day activities. Mornings or midday had much shorter waits.

    We didn’t find a playground in this campground, but the combination of bikes, shoreline access, and camp games kept our kids happily occupied all week.

    Evening Ranger Programs

    Each night the amphitheater hosts ranger-led programs — a highlight for kids and grandparents alike.

    Bring:

    • headlamps
    • flashlights
    • reflective gear

    The walk back gets dark, and the tree cover makes it feel even darker.

    Wildlife + Safety Precautions

    Glacier is serious bear country, and Fish Creek’s rules reflect that.

    Important things to know:

    • All food and scented items must be stored in bear boxes or locked vehicles.
    • Rangers enforce this thoroughly — even our “unscented” bug spray left out overnight earned us a warning.
    • Wildlife does occasionally roam through.
    • A bear had come through camp the week before we arrived, though we didn’t encounter any issues.

    This is a good campground for teaching kids about responsible wildlife safety.

    Food Storage, Coolers & Meal Planning

    Because there are no hookups, planning meals takes a little strategy.

    What worked well for us:

    • Bringing a large, high-quality cooler (our Yeti ice lasted most of the week)
    • Keeping a mix of simple camp meals + meals out in Columbia Falls
    • Restocking a few perishables midweek
    • Avoiding the need to store a full week’s worth of cold food with limited fridge capacity

    Columbia Falls has restaurants, grocery stores, and breweries — easy options to break up the camping meals.

    Cell Service, Starlink & Staying Unplugged

    Expect limited to almost no cell service within the campground, depending on your carrier.

    We didn’t pull out Starlink on this trip, but several sites were using it without issue. Being unplugged for the week was honestly one of the best parts of the stay.

    Biking to Apgar Village

    One of the most fun surprises: a bike ride from the campground to Apgar Village.

    The route is:

    • partly on signed paths
    • partly on campground roads
    • partly on paved bike trails

    The signage isn’t perfect, so we pieced the route together as we went, but it was absolutely worth it. Once you reach Apgar Village, you’ll find:

    • ice cream
    • coffee
    • shops
    • kayak/SUP rentals
    • a great lakeside beach

    It’s a full afternoon of built-in fun.

    Final Thoughts: Is Fish Creek Campground Worth It for Families?

    Absolutely.

    What really set Fish Creek apart for our family was the combination of easy lake access, bike-friendly loops, shady and spacious campsites, engaging ranger programs, and its close proximity to Apgar village and the west entrance. The whole area has an unmistakably family-friendly feel, and it ended up being the perfect home base for a week of exploring Glacier.

    If you want to see exactly how we structured our days from this campground, here’s our full Glacier National Park with Kids Itinerary, which pairs perfectly with a stay at Fish Creek Campground.

    Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort Campground (Group Site)

    Olympic National Park
    Nearest town: Forks, WA

    Sol Duc is one of the best family campgrounds in Olympic National Park and an ideal first stop if you’re exploring the peninsula with kids. The biggest draw is walking access to the hot springs, plus multiple trails that start right from the campground.

    If you’re camping with another family or want more breathing room, the group site is worth prioritizing. It’s slightly removed from the rest of the campground, giving you space to spread out. Regular tent sites and RV sites with hookups are available but are closer together.

    This is a true rainforest. Our first visit over Memorial Day weekend was the rainiest camping trip we’ve ever taken—and we still loved it.

    We hiked to Sol Duc Falls (~2 miles), soaked in the hot springs several times, explored the Hoh Rainforest, visited Hurricane Ridge for Junior Ranger books and scenic viewpoints, and stopped at Lake Crescent on the way home.

    Good to know:

    • Olympic National Park pass required

    • Bring serious rain gear and extra clothes

    • Dogs are allowed in the campground, but Olympic National Park restrictions made us leave ours at home

    Nearby highlights (choose a few):
     Salt Creek Recreation Area tide pools, Hoh Rainforest, Ruby Beach, Rialto or Second Beach, Hall of Mosses, Hurricane Ridge hikes and Lake Crescent Lodge. Check low tide times if tide pooling.

    Best for: Rainforest adventures, hot springs access, National Park bucket-list trips
     Reserve: Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort Campground (recreation.gov)

    Paradise Creek Campground (Site 009)

    Gifford Pinchot National Forest
     Nearest town: Carson, WA

    Paradise Creek is a quiet, shaded campground near Mount St. Helens that feels secluded without being remote. While mostly tent camping, we did see several RVs (no hookups).

    This trip centered around Ape Cave—bring headlamps and jackets even in summer—and waterfall hikes like Panther Creek Falls and Falls Creek Falls. Our site backed right up to the creek, which meant hours of wading, stick throwing and dog play.

    Kids rode bikes freely, made quick friends and spent most of their time immersed in forest play. We visited in mid-June and found the weather comfortable, though we were warned bugs can be heavy later in summer.

    Good to know:

    • Vault toilets only

    • Water was listed online but not working when we visited—bring your own

    • Dog-friendly

    Site 009 comfortably fit two tents and a dog. Calm, clean and quiet.

    Best for: Creek play, waterfall hikes, shaded forest camping
     Reserve: Paradise Creek Campground (recreation.gov)

    Newhalem Creek Campground (Site 031, Loop B)

    North Cascades National Park Complex
     Nearest town: Newhalem, WA

    Newhalem Creek Campground is a great basecamp for exploring the North Cascades with kids. We stayed here in August with two tents and appreciated the flush toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, fire pits and dump station.

    The Skagit River is nearby, and kids loved fishing, roaming camp and exploring the Newhalem Creek Hydroelectric Project. In town, highlights included the Skagit General Store, the restored Old Number 6 steam engine and a surprisingly great playground.

    We walked the Trail of the Cedars (~1 mile loop) to the Newhalem Creek Powerhouse and explored the visitor gallery. With energy still high, we also tackled Ladder Creek Falls and Gardens.

    Road access to Diablo Lake closed due to an August wildfire, but kids were completely captivated watching firefighting helicopters scoop and drop water nearby.

    Good to know:

    • No national park pass required to explore this area

    • Shoulder season (October for larches) can be especially beautiful

    Best for: Easy hikes, river access, combining camping with a walkable town
     Reserve: Newhalem Creek Campground (recreation.gov)

    Kaner Flat Campground (Site 037)

    Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest
     Nearest town: Naches, WA

    Kaner Flat is the kind of campground where you arrive, set up and don’t feel the need to leave. We RV camped here in late July while friends tent camped, and both worked well. Dogs were welcome.

    There are large loops for walking dogs and riding bikes, plus a path down to the river where kids spent hours fishing, wading and playing. A hand water pump kept kids entertained for long stretches, and there was plenty of log climbing, frog catching and getting dirty.

    Some campers come here for ATVing and dirt biking, but it wasn’t overly noisy during our stay. Sites were spaced well enough to feel relaxed without total isolation.

    We also drove up the road to access the Tieton River for a different river view—perfect for picnicking and rock collecting.

    Good to know:

    • No hookups at our site

    • Prebooking recommended, though we found last-minute availability in July

    Best for: River play, biking loops, low-key camping days
     Reserve: Kaner Flat Campground (recreation.gov)

    Lakedale Resort, San Juan Island

    San Juan Island
     Nearest town: Friday Harbor, WA

    We stayed in a canvas cabin at Lakedale that slept five, and it was such a fun change of pace from traditional camping. Lakedale also offers standard cabins, tent sites and RV camping.

    This place feels like summer camp. On-site amenities include walking and biking loops, volleyball, tie-dye, lawn games, and three spring-fed lakes. There’s a swimming hole, a small dock and rentals for paddle boats and other small watercraft.

    You can’t use personal paddleboards on-site, but we took ours to Egg Lake, just up the road. It has a dock and is stocked with rainbow trout and largemouth bass.

    Beyond the resort, all of San Juan Island is within about 30 minutes.

    Island favorites:
     Lime Kiln State Park, Roche Harbor (including the sculpture park), Westcott Bay Shellfish Company, Amaro Farm (sheep and kittens), alpaca farm, lavender farm + ice cream and Serendipity Books.

    Best for: Resort-style camping, built-in kid activities, island exploring
     Reserve: Lakedale Resort (direct booking)

    Rain Forest Resort RV Campground – Lake Quinault

    Olympic National Forest / Quinault Area
     Nearest town: Quinault, WA

    This is an RV-only campground located on the quieter side of Olympic National Park. It’s less crowded than the Hoh Rainforest but just as beautiful.

    We stayed in July and spent most of our time on Lake Quinault—paddleboarding, swimming and letting the kids fully take over the shoreline. Nearby trails work well for short nature walks or longer hikes, including a visit to the world’s largest Sitka spruce tree.

    Lake notes:

    • Personal paddleboards require a permit and inspection

    • The lake is managed by the Quinault Indian Nation

    • Rentals available nearby

    • Fishing and boating require checking tribal permit rules

    If you’re tent camping:
     There are several National Forest and National Park campgrounds along the Lake Quinault corridor that allow tent camping. We haven’t stayed at these yet, but they’re worth researching if you want a similar location without RV-only restrictions. Examples include Falls Creek Campground and Willaby Campground.

    Good to know:

    • Reservations by phone only

    • Electric and water hookups available

    • No national park pass required (unless you’re entering Olympic National Park)

    • The Pacific Ocean and Ocean Shores are under an hour away

    Best for: Lake days, RV comfort, quieter rainforest setting
     Reserve: Rain Forest Resort RV Campground (phone reservation)

    Wildcard: Lake Chelan State Park

    Washington State Parks (Discover Pass required)
     Nearest town: Chelan, WA

    I struggled on whether to include this campsite in the roundup, and ultimately decided to give it a wildcard spot so people can make an informed decision. Lake Chelan is an amazing destination, and we love being in the area. We stayed here in early June and it was nice to experience early summer before it came to western Washington.

    This campsite stands out because it is on the lake—walk from your campsite to swim. There’s a playground our kids loved and plenty of other kids nearby. Not only that, there are kayak and paddleboard rentals for extra fun.

    Here’s what we didn’t love—campsites were the closest together and the most cramped sites of any I can remember. We tent camped here, but there was a separate section for RVs (basically lined up in two rows). We brought our anxious dog and still had very little space for the kids. People were constantly cutting through our site, which set our dog off and made wrangling kids more challenging. We also had a noisy weekend with some upset kids nearby, which made mornings earlier than we were used to. Perhaps it was just factors we couldn’t control, but it was a more stressful camping experience than usual.

    That said, swimming in Lake Chelan (cold but refreshing), visiting town for ice cream, bookstores, mini golf and great food made the trip memorable.

    Best for: Lake access, town amenities, social camping (with flexible expectations)

    Reserve: Lake Chelan State Park (parks.wa.gov)

    Quick Comparison: Washington Campgrounds for Kids

    Campground Park / Forest Best For Tent / RV Water Play Reservations
    Sol Duc Hot Springs Olympic NP Hot springs, rainforest hikes Both Hot springs, rivers recreation.gov
    Paradise Creek Gifford Pinchot NF Creek play, waterfalls Both Creek recreation.gov
    Newhalem Creek North Cascades NP Complex Easy hikes, town access Both River recreation.gov
    Kaner Flat Okanogan–Wenatchee NF River days, biking Both River recreation.gov
    Lakedale Resort San Juan Island Resort-style family camping Both Lakes Direct
    Rainforest Resort RV Olympic NF / Quinault Lake swimming, RV comfort RV only Lake Phone
    Lake Chelan SP WA State Parks Lake + town access Both Lake State Parks

    Why We’re Camping Differently Lately (A Shift Toward Dispersed Camping)

    As we’ve gotten more comfortable camping as a family, we’ve started leaning more into dispersed camping—and it’s been a game changer. We love the freedom of choosing spots with more space, fewer neighbors and less structure.

    It does take more planning—bringing enough water, having backup locations and being comfortable without amenities—but we’ve had great success this past year using The Dyrt to help find locations that work well for families. More on that soon.

    Girls canal tour in copenhagen square

    Hi, I’m Jen — mom of three and the voice behind The Wandering Winders. I share family-tested itineraries, RV trips and practical tips to help you travel with kids confidently and joyfully.