Camping in Glacier National Park gives you a stunning example of unbridled wildness and evolving geology.
Furthermore, day tours just scratch the surface of the park’s 1,500 square miles of splendor.
Traveling to Glacier, Montana’s extreme northwest corner, is not always a short excursion.
This implies that staying overnight at Glacier National Park is ideal for seeing the Crown of the Continent.
Summary
| Guide | Camping In Glacier National Park |
|---|---|
| Things to bring | Torch, camp, etc. |
| Campgrounds | Apgar Campground, and more |
| Best places near | Lake McDonald Valley, and more |
| Situated in | Canada |
Camping In Glacier National Park
Here are our top 10 Campgrounds in Glacier National Park that you must visit:
1. Apgar Campground
Apgar Campsite is Glacier National Park’s biggest campground. It’s less than three miles from the West Entrance on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, and it’s a short walk from Apgar Village, which has restaurants, souvenir stores, and camping supplies.
Other local amenities include a tourist center and Ranger Station. Some concessionaires provide services like guided horseback rides and kayak rentals.
Address: US Hwy 2, West Glacier, MT 59901
2. Many Glacier Campground
On the east side of Glacier National Park, the Many Glacier Campground day hikes, animals, and large mountain features around it.
It is close to a restaurant as well as a lodging choice. Prior to 2020, you could have reserved around half of the 109 campsites at the campground in advance.
The entire campsite became reservation-only in 2021.
Address: Continental Divide Trail, Browning, Montana
3. Mary Campground
The largest campground on the park’s east side, St. Mary Campground, is one of three with spots that you can reserve ahead of time.
The campsite is on the shores of St. Mary Lake, and it is connected to the St. Mary Visitor Center by a short hiking route.
Visitors can take the free Going-to-the-Sun Road shuttle from the Visitor Center to tour the rest of the park.
Address: Going-to-the-Sun Road, East Glacier
4. Fish Creek Campground
The Fish Creek Campground in Glacier National Park’s second-biggest campground and one of three that accepts reservations for basic campsites.
It’s on the park’s west side, along the picturesque Camas Road, about four miles from the West Entrance.
Address: Fish Creek Campground Road, West Glacier, Montana
Read: Camping In Bend Oregon
5. Two Medicine Campground
This 100-site campsite, 11 miles from East Glacier Park Village and not connected to the Going-to-the-Sun Road, is in a less-frequented park area.
However, during the summer, tent campers and RV campers continue to occupy the campsite to full. Only ten spots for RVs up to 36 feet in length are available.
Address: East Glacier Park, Montana
6. Avalanche Campground
This first-come, first-served campsite near the popular trailheads for Avalanche Lake and Trail of the Cedars welcomes both tents and RVs.
Avalanche Campground has 87 sites; however, only about half of them can accept RVs longer than 26 feet. During the summer, campsites fill up quickly.
Address: Going-to-the-Sun Road, West Glacier
7. Rising Sun Campground
The park’s St. Mary Entrance is six miles away from Rising Sun Campground. Every single one of its 84 locations is first-come, first-served.
The campsite is halfway along the St. Mary Lake shoreline, next to the Rising Sun Motor Inn, which offers casual eating, a small store, and coin-operated showers.
Address: Going-to-the-Sun Road, East Glacier
8. Sprague Creek Campground
This popular campsite, nine miles from the park’s West Entrance and accessible through the Going-to-the-Sun Road, has just 25 sites available and is on a first-come, first-served basis.
The campsite does not accept towed automobiles. You can see Lake McDonald from a handful of the Sprague Creek campsites.
Campers have access to running water and fast access to various west side attractions and hiking trails.
Address: Going-to-the-Sun Road, West Glacier
9. Bowman Lake Campground
The Bowman Lake Campground is in the North Fork section of Glacier National Park, about 33 miles north of the West Entrance, and offers a more secluded camping experience.
If you want to camp at Bowman Lake, you’ll have to travel the twisty and gravelly North Fork Road.
Vehicles longer than 21 feet can not go on the road leading to the campsite.
Address: West Glacier, Montana
10. Kintla Lake Campground
The Kintla Lake Campground is Glacier’s most isolated front country campground, with only 13 sites in the extreme northwest portion of the park near the Canadian border.
Due to the 40-mile trip on a dirt road from the West Entrance to the campgrounds, vehicles exceeding 21 feet in length aren’t allowed in the campground very often.
Address: Boulder Pass Trail, Polebridge, MT 59928
Best Places To Visit Near Glacier National Park
Lake McDonald Valley
The Lake McDonald Valley is the hub of activities in Glacier National Park’s west side.
Massive glaciers are why the valley came into existence millions of years ago, and the area was previously home to them.
The Lake McDonald Valley is currently home to hiking paths, breathtaking views, various types of animals and flora, ancient chalets, and the stately Lake McDonald Lodge.
The largest lake in Glacier National Park, Lake McDonald, is a direct product of glacier sculpting, measuring 10 miles long and over 50 feet deep.
Logan Pass
During the summer, Clements Mountain and Reynolds Mountain peak above the fields of wildflowers that cover the ground near Logan Pass.
Fields of yellow glacier lilies push up through the snow. Soon, a diversity of alpine plants will take their place.
These alpine plants have evolved to thrive in a tough yet beautiful environment.
The location is the highest point in Glacier National Park, and you can reach it by automobile.
The Hidden Lake Trail and the Highline Trail are two of Logan Pass’s most popular hiking paths.
Best Things To Do Near Glacier National Park
Checklist Before Camping In Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park’s lower elevations, expect warm days and freezing nights.
In the higher elevations, snow is possible all year, so carry plenty of clothing if you want to trek in these places.
Expect afternoon thunderstorms and brilliant sunlight during the day. Some things you should bring with yourself:
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket
- Synthetic layers
- Hiking boots and/or comfortable shoes
- Extra socks
- Camera
- Refillable water bottles
- Bear Spray
FAQ
What does "Primitive Status" signify for a campground?
There are no flush toilets or potable water in primitive campgrounds.
How can I figure out how early I should arrive for a first-come, first-served campsite?
By looking at how popular the campground is. However, it does not matter how popular it is for a campground to be full by the early morning in the peak season.
Is it possible to camp all year?
In the winter, most campsites are closed. Some campgrounds might be open.
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