US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 65221698).
The red circle marks Lake McDonald.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Montana: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).
Official FWP pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.
No public access sites are listed for this water in the OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) data.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 65221698), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
We found 37 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake McDonald, 13 of them within 5 miles. 4 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
Electric hookups · RVs welcome · Dogs allowed
RVs welcome · Tent sites · Dump station · Drinking water
RVs welcome · Dogs allowed
Tent sites
RVs welcome
All campgrounds & RV parks in Montana
Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.
Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.
The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Lake McDonald, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:
Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (48.5838, -113.9191). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake McDonald. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in MT (America/Denver), and accurate to within a few minutes.
Lake McDonald covers about 6,910 acres in Columbia Falls, Montana (Flathead County).
Yes. We list 37 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 13 of them within 5 miles.
Lake McDonald touches Columbia Falls in Flathead County, Montana.
Know Lake McDonald? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Montana lakes & ponds · All waters in Columbia Falls