Kalispell, Montana
Spruce on the River RV Park in Kalispell, Montana, sits on the Flathead River and is 30 minutes from Glacier National Park – a nice park with river views. A short drive to spectacular Flathead Lake.
Key campground takeaways:
- Pull-through sites, full hookups but most sites are very close together
- Large designated dog area
- Lots of rules and would not consider this campground dog friendly
- Close to attractions of Flathead Lake, Kalispell, Bigfork and Whitefish
Our campground stay:
We were disappointed with Spruce on the River RV Park. Some sites had awesome river views, and a few sites were spacious, but most sites were very close together with no views. There were so many rules, especially regarding dogs, that we could not call this campground dog friendly. We did appreciate the large area that was designated as the pet area, but it was difficult to get the dogs to that area without breaking any rules. Dogs were not allowed on the grass near the picnic area overlooking the river. There were so many mosquitos, it was difficult to spend much time in the pet area. Many campers love this park as it is very family friendly but for some it comes down to the right site and the experience for dogs. The location is fine to split the difference between Glacier National Park and the Flathead Lake area, but we would not come back to this RV park.
What to do:
Rent a pontoon from Old Faithful Watersports and spend a day on Flathead Lake. This 30-mile lake is just spectacular. Take the dogs along for the pontoon ride and let them swim in this very clean lake. Dock at The Raven for a lakeside lunch – dogs are allowed on the patio.
Explore the small town of Bigfork with many options for dining and shopping.
Go to the resort town of Whitefish for more shopping and dining. Check out the Unleashed Winery in downtown Whitefish. Dogs are not allowed but all of their wines and labels are dog-themed. Good wine and nice vibe.
Visit the Flathead Lake Brewing Company for dinner on their lakeside patio. Arrive early as this is a popular place, but the beer is good and the views are amazing.
Enjoy some amazing pizza at the Moose’s Saloon in Kalispell. Casual dining with sawdust on the floor, this saloon is a favorite with locals for pizza and beer.
Hike with the dogs at the Wayfarers section of the Flathead Lake State Park. Go early morning to avoid the crowds and let the dogs swim by the picnic area near the boat landing.
Grab breakfast at the Echo Lake Cafe in Bigfork – very popular restaurant, but worth the wait. .
Chili & Cedars’ Campground Review: 4.2 PAWS (out of 5 PAWS)
We were not crazy about the Spruce on the River RV Park. Although they had a large dog play area, we had to cross our legs trying to get there! Lots of rules that started with “no”. We loved our pontoon ride on Flathead Lake. Chili loved swimming in this clean lake. Next time, we want to find a campground on Flathead Lake!
