Free Camping Near Glacier National Park: Boondocking Near Columbia Falls, Montana
Camping near a major national park can put a serious dent in your travel budget—especially when you want to stay long enough to really explore the area.
During our month near Glacier National Park, however, we found a free Forest Service camping area near Columbia Falls, Montana, that worked beautifully for us.
It wasn’t fancy.
There were no hookups, showers or campground amenities.
But we had an easy-to-access site among the trees, good internet service and a convenient location for exploring Glacier National Park and the surrounding area.
And the price?
Free.
For us, it was a great place to call home while we explored northwestern Montana.
Our Free Campsite Near Glacier National Park
Our campsite was in a fairly open Forest Service camping area surrounded by trees.
We deliberately positioned our trailer so that our main view faced the woods.
We were there long enough to actually watch some of the leaves begin changing color, which made our little corner of the camping area especially pretty.
There was already a fire ring at our site, although Ed ended up rebuilding it a bit.
Hopefully whoever camped there after us got some enjoyment out of his handiwork!
What Was the Camping Area Like?
The overall layout was pretty simple.
The camping area was roughly square, with a road running diagonally through it and campsites situated around the open area.
There were other RVers staying there during our visit, but we were comfortable with the amount of space we had.
We also met some nice people while we were there.
That’s one of the things we’ve enjoyed about boondocking.
You never quite know who is going to pull into the area with you.
Sometimes everyone keeps to themselves. Other times you meet fellow travelers and end up having some good conversations.
During our stay here, we were very happy with both the site and our temporary neighbors.
Easy Access for Our RV
One of the best things about this particular boondocking area was the access.
We didn’t have to take our travel trailer miles down a rough dirt Forest Service road to reach it.
The main road was paved right up until the entrance to the camping area.
That made getting our trailer in and out considerably easier than some of the other boondocking locations we’ve encountered.
There was also a Forest Service facility nearby that appeared to be used primarily for maintenance, since we saw heavy equipment around the property.
How We Found the Camping Area
This particular camping area wasn’t terribly obvious from the road.
During our visit, we used Glacier Rim River Access as one of our landmarks.
The camping entrance was just beyond that area.
There was also a No Passing Zone sign near the entrance, which became another useful landmark for knowing when the driveway was coming up.
The main road was North Fork Road, also identified as Highway 486, heading north from Columbia Falls.
If you’re looking for this area today, don’t depend entirely on our old landmarks or directions.
Road signage, access and public-land camping rules can change, so we’d recommend checking current Forest Service maps and information before heading out.
But during our visit, once we knew what we were looking for, the camping area was relatively easy to access with our travel trailer.
Free Camping Near Columbia Falls
We really enjoyed Columbia Falls while we were staying in the area.
It gave us access to the everyday things we needed while still keeping us close to the outdoor attractions we’d come to Montana to experience.
We also spent plenty of time exploring the countryside around Columbia Falls, including the Flathead River and some of the more remote roads north of town.
And, of course, our primary reason for being there was Glacier National Park.
Having a free place to stay gave us the freedom to spend much longer in the area than we might have if we’d been paying campground rates every night.
The One Big Downside: Road Noise
Our site wasn’t perfect.
The biggest drawback was the road.
The main paved road was only about 30 feet from our campsite, so there was fairly constant traffic noise during the daytime.
Fortunately, it quieted down considerably at night.
Because of that, the traffic never really bothered us.
If you’re looking for absolute wilderness silence all day long, however, this particular spot might not provide it.
For us, the easy access and convenient location were worth the daytime road noise.
Internet Access Was Surprisingly Good
Here’s something that can make or break a boondocking site when you’re traveling full-time:
Internet access.
We were pleasantly surprised by the service we had here.
Our internet access was actually very good during our stay.
For full-time RVers who need to stay connected, that’s a significant advantage.
We’ve camped in some gorgeous places where getting online was nearly impossible, so having free camping in a beautiful area and good connectivity was a nice combination.
Of course, cell and internet performance can vary by carrier, equipment and changing network conditions, so our experience doesn’t guarantee what you’ll find today.
But during our stay, connectivity wasn’t a problem for us.
Camping in Bear Country
There was information posted reminding campers that we were in bear country.
That’s something to take seriously when camping in this part of Montana.
During our own stay, though, we didn’t see any bears.
We didn’t see coyotes either, and we don’t remember hearing wildlife around the campsite at night.
That doesn’t mean bears or other wildlife aren’t present. It simply means we didn’t personally encounter them during our stay.
Anyone camping near Glacier National Park should follow current Forest Service guidance for food storage, trash and camping in bear country regardless of whether you’ve actually seen a bear.
Smoke During Our Stay
You may notice haze in some of our photographs and video from this trip.
We were in Montana during the terrible western wildfires of 2020, and smoke from fires in California and Oregon was drifting into the area.
That affected visibility throughout much of our stay.
We’d hoped to get beautiful clear photographs of Glacier National Park and the surrounding mountains, but nature had other plans.
Even with the smoke, we loved the area.
How Long Could We Stay?
At the time of our visit, the posted stay limit at this Forest Service camping area was 16 days.
That was a generous amount of time for travelers who wanted to use the area as a base for exploring.
Public-land camping limits can change, though, so don’t assume that our 2020 information still applies.
Always check the current posted regulations and Forest Service information when you arrive.
No Hookups Means True Boondocking
This was free camping, not a developed RV campground.
That meant we were responsible for our own needs.
There were no hookups at our site.
For us, that was simply part of boondocking.
If you’re considering free camping near Glacier National Park for the first time, make sure you’re prepared to manage your own power, fresh water and holding tanks.
The longer you plan to stay, the more important those things become.
What We Liked About This Free Camping Area
There were several reasons this spot worked so well for us:
- Free camping
- Pretty wooded surroundings
- Easy access from a paved road
- Room for our travel trailer
- Good internet access during our stay
- Friendly fellow campers
- Convenient location near Columbia Falls
- Good base for exploring the Glacier National Park area
- Long stay limit during our visit
- No difficult back-road drive required to reach our site
The biggest negative was simply the daytime traffic noise from the nearby road.
For us, that was a pretty minor tradeoff.
Would We Stay Here Again?
Yes.
We were very happy here.
This wasn’t the kind of campsite where you wake up to a spectacular mountain panorama directly outside your window.
What it gave us was something different:
A practical, comfortable and free home base for exploring one of the most beautiful parts of Montana.
We liked facing our trailer toward the trees.
We enjoyed watching the leaves begin to change.
We met nice people.
We had good internet.
And we could get our RV in and out without fighting miles of terrible dirt road.
Sometimes that’s exactly what we need from a boondocking site.
Tips for Free Camping Near Glacier National Park
If you’re planning to boondock around Glacier, here are a few things we’d keep in mind based on our experience:
Verify that you’re actually on land where camping is permitted. Public-land boundaries aren’t always obvious.
Check the current stay limit. Ours was posted as 16 days when we visited, but regulations can change.
Prepare for bear country. Follow current food-storage and wildlife-safety requirements even if you don’t see bears around your campsite.
Have an off-grid plan. Know how you’ll handle electricity, water and your holding tanks.
Check road conditions before towing in. Our access was excellent, but Forest Service roads and dispersed camping areas can change.
Don’t count on internet reports being permanent. We had excellent service, but coverage changes and different carriers can perform very differently.
Expect other campers. This wasn’t an isolated campsite miles from another person. It was a shared public camping area.
A Great Base for Our Glacier National Park Adventure
We stayed in the Glacier National Park area for about a month, exploring not only the park but Columbia Falls, the Flathead River and the beautiful countryside of northwestern Montana.
Having access to free camping helped make that extended stay possible.
We could spend our money on exploring rather than paying for an RV site every night.
And when you’re a full-time traveler, those savings add up quickly.
This wasn’t a luxury campground.
It wasn’t supposed to be.
It was a simple place among the trees where we could park our little home, enjoy Montana and head out each day looking for another adventure.
For us, that was plenty.
We’ll see you down the road…and Over the Hills.
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