“View the spectacular wildlife in style!”
Big Arm State Park is located on Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States. Twenty-eight miles long and 15 miles wide, Flathead Lake is renowned for its fishing. Located on the lake's Big Arm Bay, this State Park's long pebble beach is popular with sunbathers and swimmers. Camping under a stand of mature ponderosa pine and juniper is a major attraction. The hiking trail provides excellent vistas of surrounding mountain ranges and high peaks with abundant watchable wildlife opportunities. Other opportunities include: fishing for lake trout, board sailing, boating, swimming, camping, picnicking, bicycling, hiking the 2.5 mile trail, wildlife viewing, scuba diving, and water-skiing. This site is 2,953 feet in elevation and has 217 acres. There are seven tent sites available, and 41 RV/trailer sites. Size is limited to 30 feet. Bear resistant storage lockers are also available. Big Arm State Park now has the latest in circular camping comfort, a 20-ft wide, 10-ft tall yurt. You only need to bring bedding, cooking utensils, personal toiletries, a flashlight and a container for water. Electrical outlets, lights, electric heat and a propane barbecue for outdoor cooking are also provided. A joint state/tribal fishing license is needed for fishing at this park and campers may stay only 14 days during a 30 day period. Pets are required to be on leashes. Big Arm is a popular jumping-off point to Wild Horse Island State Park, a 2,163 acre island off the west shore of the lake that is home to bald eagles, bighorn sheep, yellow-pine chipmunks, and wild horses. Wild Horse Island is accessible only by boat.
Reviews of Big Arm Campground
15 people have reviewed this location
Ratings Summary
Cell Coverage
Verizon 4G
Confirmed by 7 users | Last reported on July 13, 2023AT&T 4G
Confirmed by 4 users | Last reported on June 06, 2023T-Mobile 5G
Confirmed by 1 users | Last reported on August 25, 2022A great spot for enjoying the lake. Huge, wooded sites offer privacy and lake access. We stayed in site B2 which had a water view and our very own beach! Gorgeous Flathead Lake is crystal clear and perfect for swimming, boating, fishing or any other water related activity. A nice hiking trail winds around the park and up into the surrounding hills. Water is available onsite, but there is no dump station so come prepared with empty tanks. Overall we had a wonderful experience at this small, peaceful state park.
Nightly Rate: $28.00
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: 2
Great stop on your way to Glacier, if you have time. I can see in the summer when the sun is out more this lake is ideal for water sports. Our spot was great, on the lake, with parallel to the road parking and a breathtaking view of the water. Solar was available most of the day in spite of partial clouds and some trees. Looks like B13 is also a great site. Sites are rather close together -- wish they were just a bit more private -- but in general this was a great place to be for four days.
Make plans to get on the water and visit Wild Horse Island for some hiking. Saw about a dozen bighorn sheep grazing in a meadow, and heard there were eagles and of course wild horses around. Rented our boat from Big Arm Boat Rentals & Rides, which also offers delivery service to anywhere on the lake.
Hosts were on top of it, and very helpful and friendly. Verizon & ATT signal was solid the whole time. Showers are coin-op ($3) and pretty icky, but better than nothing!
Nightly Rate: $28.00
Days Stayed: 4
Site Number: B12
We arrived this first day of October after a week in Glacier National Park to an empty campground on prime real estate. Too bad the water is shut off because we really were looking forward to a hot shower. But the view is hard to beat! Well spaced out sites which may feel otherwise on a busy summer day.
One less star than perfect because they shut everything off really early. It's 65 degrees out!
Two bars of Verizon LTE, well maintained vault toilets at either end of the single loop.
Highly recommend a meal at Desoto's in Kalispell, just 40 minutes north. Outstanding brisket cheese steak sandwich and Portobello mushroom sandwich. Don't miss the smoked Apple or cherry cobbler alamode.
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: B15
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
Easy access, good cell with 4 bars on Verizon, nice volunteers. Our site, B13, is parallel to the road, grassed area, picnic table, fire pit and a lovely little beach. The site is level. There are at least 4 tent sites a bit off the road at the B curve that looked nice and had their own little beach as well. The A loop says that if you are longer than 20’ you shouldn’t consider it. That road is narrow and has low clearance. Sites didn’t seem particularly level. There are also 2 or 3 yurts available. There is some road noise but we weren’t bothered by it. You could hear it in the A loop, though. I read somewhere that buying a non-resident annual pass for $35 is a good deal if you are going to be in Montana state parks for more than a few days. Out of state daily rate is $20. With a pass it’s $14 and the annual pass is $35. Since we’re traveling around the state for another 10 days, at least, it makes sense to get the pass. Just may end up coming back in the fall!
Nightly Rate: $14.00
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: B13
This large and well-maintained state park offers amazing vistas of Flathead Lake from just about every site. We stayed in the A loop and most every site was flat, had unobstructed lake views (or were actually on the lake) and offered privacy from neighboring sites. The pit toilets right in the A loop were nice and clean, and there was a plumbed bathroom with great showers as well. Highly recommended.
Nightly Rate: $28.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: A7
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
AT&T 4G
We could only snag a waterfront site for one weekend night in July but would have happily stayed longer.
The sites are huge and well spaced with plenty of privacy and you can be right on the water.
The bathroom was super clean but it was a pay shower so we skipped that.
There are no hookups so you are essentially boondocking in paid spot with some conveniences. We hiked and SUP’d and enjoyed the outdoors.
Nightly Rate: $28.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 3
our site is so close to the shore and had an amazing view! Most sites are parked parallel and very little privacy between fire rings. No dumpsite but have potable water, pay showers. Full att signal. But all in all this place is beautiful, peaceful and rustic!
Nightly Rate: $28.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: B13
It’s a pretty sweet spot. Esp the lakeside sites. You can book them online and in advance. Could spend a week here easy.
Nightly Rate: $28.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: B 11
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
Great views, right on the lakeshore.
Nightly Rate: $28.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: B13
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
This campground has breathtaking views of Flathead Lake and Wild Horse island. The campsites are just steps from the water, picnic tables and fire pits for most sites are just 10 yards from the waterS edge. This campground is pristine. Very well kept, very clean facilities, very attentive and accommodating hosts. We stayed in the off-season, Sep 24-25, which meant the showers were closed. But it was super easy to find a good spot by the lake, campground was at maybe 30% capacity. My one gripe was that the off season rate of $24 seems high if they are going to close the showers, but at the end of the day it was worth it. Highly recommend. Great cell service too!
Nightly Rate: $24.00
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: A-10
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
AT&T 4G
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Big Arm Campground
Hours
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
- Affiliation
- State park or forest
- Last Nightly Rate
- 27.0
- Longest Vehicle Length Reported
- 30.0
- Lowest Nightly Rate
- 14.0
- Max Length
- 30 ft
- Sites Count
- 40
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Paved Sites
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Fifty Amp
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Full Hookup
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Pull Through
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Tent Sites
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Dump Station
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Big Rigs
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Open Seasonally
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Age Restricted
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Boondock
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Cabin Sites
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Dispersed Sites
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Firewood
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Fulltime Residents
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Group Tent Sites
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Laundry
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Mobile Homes
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Permit Required
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Potable Water
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Propane
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Public Water
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Pull Through RV Sites
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Reservations
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Sewer Hookup
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Showers
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Sites
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Standard Tent Sites
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Water Hookup
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