Cardwell General Store & Campground is located near Cardwell, Montana, a few miles from Glacier National Park, Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park, and Yellowstone National Park. A relatively well-known spot where Lewis and Clark camped and passed through is a few hundred feet west of the property, according to the owner. The campground offers a total of 72 units that are available for visitors to rent, 42 of which are RV sites and the other 30 are tent campsites. Certain sites range in service from having power and water to having power, sewer, and water. All powered units have 30 and 50 amp service. Grassy areas constitute a considerable portion of the campground, and the property has recently installed roads. Curt, one of the owners, says it is a place where wildlife can be seen. He and his visitors have observed moose, mountain lions, bears, and deer.
Cardwell General Store & Campground is located east of Cardwell, Montana, at the base of several mountains. Curt, one of the park's owners, describes Cardwell as a small place that can barely be called a city, saying "we are the city" when referring to his property. The campground is surrounded by mountains and trees and is bordered by two rivers. Much of the area that is directly south and west of the campground is also composed of farmland.
The 8-acre property contains 72 units and is generally spacial and grassy. A concrete road connects the RV sites, which are arranged in a triangular fashion, and a few trees are scattered throughout the premises. Cardwell General Store & Campground has 42 60-foot-long RV sites. Twelve of these units provide full hookups with power, water, and a sewer connection, while the remaining 30 offer power and water. All of the RV sites supply 30 and 50 amp service, as well as picnic tables and a nearby dump station for park guests. An additional 30 tent sites come with picnic tables, 15 of which are equipped with power units to charge phones and other devices.
A central general store sells items such as ice cream, espresso, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, clothing, beer, wine, ice, hardware, hunting and fishing supplies, and "everything a general store should have." It also doubles as a gift shop. Cardwell General Store & Campground offers a laundry facility and shower house with bathrooms. Furthermore, guests may access on-site horseshoe pits, cornhole games, an outdoor theater and stage, and walking trails near one of the rivers. There is space on the property for visitors to walk their dogs, and three playgrounds for children are also available. Finally, Curt explains that there are a few areas, such as the apple or cherry orchards and some gardens along the river walk.
According to Curt, Cardwell General Store & Campground guests frequently visit nearby parks. Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park are both near the campground, and Curt notes that most of his visitors pass through to visit Yellowstone National Park. Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park, Montana's first state park, is also about 7 miles from Cardwell General Store & Campground. Curt further explains that a relatively well-known spot where the two American explorers camped is near his property; the landmark is a few hundred feet west of the RV park. Regarding places to eat, he recommends his visitors try Lahood Park Steakhouse, Land of Magic Steakhouse, and Two Bit Saloon.
Curt, one of Cardwell General Store & Campground's owners, says visitors are "one big family" when they stay at the campground. He says he and Laurie, his wife, try to emulate this atmosphere by having "a cocktail or a glass of tea" with their guests. Curt says he feels it is important to be kind and likes to interact with visitors throughout the day. Cardwell General Store & Campground also hosts activities to help bring people together. For example, an annual vintage camper rally is held each June 14th to the 20th at the property. Movie nights for kids are hosted Saturdays at 8:00 PM as well, and guests are welcome to use the playgrounds, horseshoe pits, or cornhole sets.
When reviewing Cardwell General Store & Campground, Curt says many people visiting the park comment that it is clean, and Curt emphasizes that he wishes for the property to be as orderly as possible. One visitor said, "Beautiful campground! Clean, shaded trees, horseshoe pits, corn hole, laundry. [The store] was filled with local products and run by delightful people." Another guest commented, "Couldn't have had a more pleasant experience. Our plans changed, and by chance, they had a spot for us last minute and kept the lights on for us when we came in late. The new owners have made some serious upgrades, and the bathhouse and store are amazing. The grounds are well maintained with continuing improvements."
Curt believes that the local wildlife sets Cardwell General Store & Campground from other campgrounds. He remarks that he has observed moose, bears, deer, and mountain lions on the property. He also feels that the park's grass is a unique feature, as he says that "green grass is a rarity in Montana sometimes."
A few policies are in place that visitors should adhere to. Nobody should exceed the 5 mph speed limit at any time. Quiet time is from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, and all facilities are exclusively for guest use. Children and pets are allowed at Cardwell General Store & Campground, but all pets must be supervised, and no children under the age of 16 may stay without adult accompaniment.
Cardwell General Store & Campground is open year-round, and Curt says the peak season of operation is from June through October due to more favorable weather conditions. He also estimates that most visitors are "outside-of-state" and typically range from 40 to 60 years of age. Most people visiting the park consist of couples or families, and Curt affirms that most of them are visiting the area to see Yellowstone National Park. He further estimates that most guests find out about the campground through Google or other online platforms.
Cardwell General Store & Campground was established in 1994. Curt and Laurie Perry, the park's current owners, acquired the property in mid-2021. Curt says he was led into the lodging industry because he was attracted by the lifestyle it offered and has had many years of camping and RVing experience.
Since obtaining Cardwell General Store & Campground, Curt and Laurie have invested about $2 million in changes to the campground. Roads, grass, and the outdoor theater were added. They also built the stage and installed apple and cherry orchards and cottonwood groves. In the future, they would like to add more RV sites and host theater events such as Shakespeare in the park or live band groups.
770 Highway 2 East
Cardwell, Montana
United States
Campground
Curtis and Laurie Perry
