The frontier town of Columbia Falls was originally founded in 1889, the same year Montana became the 41st state. The first postmaster’s wife, Margaret Kennedy, chose the name Columbia because of the town’s closeness to the headwaters of the Columbia River. She added falls to the name in order to provide a distinction from the town of Columbus. Land for the town was first purchased by a company from Butte as they believed the Great Northern Railroad was going to build a railway station here. However, the railroad company bypassed Columbia Falls in favor of nearby Kalispell. It was the farming and logging industries that contributed to the growth of the town along with a short stint as a mining town when coal was discovered in the region.
The city is home to four community parks, including the 20-acre River’s Edge Park. The Columbia Falls Community Garden is at the entrance to this park along with multiple walking paths leading to Flathead River. Families come here to enjoy the Big Sky Water Park and the Montana Vortex and House of Mystery.
Montana State Fair - Stop by here in late July and early August for entertainment, a carnival, and the annual Big Sky Pro Rodeo.
Heritage Days Festival - The various festival events take place in Columbia Falls over the last weekend of July.
Market Nights - Thursday nights in Columbia Falls are market nights at the O’Brien’s Co-op.
Glacier National Park is currently home to 26 glaciers although that number is shrinking. The park is best known for its scenic 50-mile drive along Going-to-the-Sun Road. Wildlife viewing is abundant here; you can see moose, bear, bighorn sheep, elk, and the park’s official symbol, the mountain goat. There are over 700 miles of hiking trails where you can see 200 waterfalls and 700 lakes. The park’s 13 campgrounds are truly primitive with no access to sewer, water, or electric hookups.
Yellowstone National Park, established on March 1, 1872, is the world’s first national park. There are over 300 active geysers, including the world-famous Old Faithful Geyser. Of the 67 mammal species that call this park home, two of them, the Canadian lynx and grizzly bear, are on the threatened species list. While active hikers come here to enjoy 900 miles of hiking trails, even the casual hiker can stroll the park's 15 miles of boardwalk. RVs are welcome at all 12 campgrounds inside the park, although some have size limitations.
Grand Teton National Park is home to eight mountain peaks that tower above 12,000 feet. The highest of these peaks, Grand Teton, is 13,770 above sea level. Wildlife here includes black bears, grizzlies, moose, antelope, and bison. RV camping is available at six campgrounds inside the park.
Just a 45-minute drive to the south, West Shore/Flathead Lake State Park is a popular spot for fishing, hiking, swimming, and boating. There is a campground here with 24 RV sites in a mature forest overlooking Flathead Lake. A few of the sites have electrical hookups.
Salmon Lake State Park is the place to go fishing. You will find brook, brown, bull, and cutthroat, and rainbow trout here, as well as kokanee salmon, largemouth bass, white mountain whitefish, northern pike, and yellow perch. The campground here can accommodate RVs in 20 campsites with electrical hookups only.
Fishing, swimming, and boating are just some of the fun adventures waiting for you at Round Lake State Park. In the northern Idaho panhandle, this beautiful forested park surrounds a 58-acre lake. The campground offers 16 sites with water and electricity.
The iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road is 50 miles of the most beautiful scenery in the Rocky Mountains. Now listed as a National Historic Landmark, this scenic drive stretches from the east entrance of Glacier National Park to the west entrance. Vehicles traveling this narrow winding road cannot be over 21 feet long, or more than 8 feet wide, and must be under 10 feet tall.
The Great Northern Railway Buildings are one of the top landmarks in the area. These five building complexes are in Glacier National Park and the surrounding area. They were built in the style of a lovely Swiss chalet, to support tourism in the area. They are now listed as National Historic Landmarks.
Built on the eastern shore of beautiful Lake McDonald in 1913 sits one of Montana's top landmarks, the historic Lake McDonald Lodge. Stop by here for a meal and watch the famous vintage Red Bus Tours go by.
Rollins RV Park is a popular choice for RVers traveling in this area. The park’s full-hookup sites are in a forested campground along Flathead Lake. A top pick for families, Rocky Mountain Hi RV Park and Campground offers a large playground and frontier town for the kids. If you are looking for an RV Park with large sites, the Columbia Falls RV Park is a top choice that is right in the heart of Columbia Falls, with easy access to all that this mountain community has to offer.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Columbia Falls, MT, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Columbia Falls?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Columbia Falls from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Columbia Falls?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.