Sprague Creek Campground is a small but highly popular campground on Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. With only 25 sites a few of which offer epic views of Lake McDonald this is a campground that you will need to be ready to get into.
This campground is first to come first served and people line up in the summer to get a spot. You will want to be ready to snag a campground if one comes open. We heard that people will take any campsite they can for 1 night so they can stalk the sites that are closer to the lake. Each morning they will move closer and closer depending on which sites open up.
If you can get site 13 you may have one of the most epic National Park Campsites we have seen! WOW!!!
No vehicles over 21 feet are allowed in the campground due to the tight driving loop. This campground is only open for tents and camper vans.
Sprague Creek Campground
Season: 5/10 - 9/15
Number of Sites: 25
Location in the park: Northeast shore of Lake McDonald
Campsite Cost: $20.00 / night
Payments accepted: cash and check
Reservations: No
Latitude/Longitude: 48.6064° N, 113.8855° W
Elevation: 3200 feet
Accessible Sites: Yes
Pets Allowed: Yes, pets must be on a leash less than 6 feet long at all times.
Campground Reservations
Are campground Reservations Available? first-come, first-serve basis
First Come, First Served? Yes
Campground Amenities
Flush Toilets: Yes
Payphone: No
Is wifi Available? No
Is cellular Phone Service Available? Maybe, We had 1 bar of T-Mobile service in the campground.
Is camp host available on site? Yes
Is firewood available for purchase? Firewood is available for purchase at most camp stores in Apgar and West Glacier.
It is unlawful to gather or cut firewood
Amenities at each campsite:
Fire pit in the site? Yes
Picnic Table in the site? Yes
Bear Box in site/area? Yes, communal bear boxes.
Potable Water? Yes
Fee showers are available at the Rising Sun and Swiftcurrent Motor Inns and private campgrounds adjacent to the park.
RV Camping at Sprague Creek Campground
RV Length: No towed units
Don't forget to pack these camping essentials
How to get to Sprague Creek Campground
Approximate driving distance via Going-to-the-Sun Road:
West entrance: 9.5mi
St. Mary entrance: 40.2mi
Campground Regulations
A maximum of two tents per site is permitted.
Sites may not be left unattended for over 24 hours.
Campground speed limits are 10 miles per hour.
The maximum number of people in a campsite: limited to eight people
The number of cars per campsite: two vehicles
Checkout time: 12 noon
Quiet Hours: Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am.
Maximum Stay:
Between July 1 and Labor Day, camping in Glacier National Park is limited to 14 days, either in a single period or combined separate periods.
Between Labor Day and June 30, camping in Glacier National Park is limited to 30 days, either in a single period or combined separate periods.
Sprague Creek Campground Map
Glacier Ticketed Entry
In 2021, Glacier NP created a ticketed entry program for the Going to the Sun Road. This was created to help relieve congestion and allow visitors to enjoy the park.
In 2025, a ticketed entry was required to enter the Going to the Sun Road via the West Entrance between June 13 and September 28, 2025, between the hours of 7 am and 3 pm.
One ticket per vehicle will again be required to enter the Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) at the West Entrance, St. Mary Entrance, and the new Camas Entrance.
A ticket per vehicle was also required at the Polebridge Ranger Station to visit the North Fork area of the park.
There are two separate tickets for the Going to the Sun Road and the North Fork area. Visitors will be required to have a separate ticket for each area. The park anticipates a portion of tickets becoming available by early March.
The park will offer three-day tickets for GTSR rather than the seven-day ticket offered last year, and one-day tickets for the North Fork.
Visitors with lodging, camping, transportation, or commercial activity reservations within the GTSR corridor can use their reservation for entry in lieu of a $2 ticket.
Click the links below to get your ticketed entry for:
- Going to the Sun Road via the West Entrance Timed Entry Vehicle Reservation
- North Fork Timed Entry Vehicle Reservation
As of January 11, 2026, there has been no official announcement has been made for 2026. Keep checking back to the links above for availability.
Photos of Sprague Creek Campground
Sites 10, 12, and 13 are epic!
Sites 15 and 16 are also really good
Glacier National Park Entrance Fee
New in 2026: Each Non-US Resident aged 16 and older visiting Glacier National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $20.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$45.00-$145.00 for commercial sedan with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons), $25.oo for vehicle plus $20.00 per person 16+.
$75.00 for a commercial van with 7-15 seats
$100 for a commercial mini-bus with 16-25 seats
$200.00 for a commercial motor coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.
Additional Glacier Resources
Glacier Lodging Guide - Find out about all the lodging options within the park.
Glacier Camping Guide - Find out about all the campgrounds that can be found within the park.
Montana National Parks - Don't miss any of the great National Parks you can visit in Montana.
Free National Park Days - Find out the five days during the year the National Park Service waives entry fees.
Most Visited National Parks - Check out the most visited national park sites in the United States.
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