If you are thinking about camping in Glacier National Park, probably the next question is “where to camp?” It is extremely enchanting to camp in Glacier with boundless sceneries of mountains, alpine lakes, and rugged wilds to discover. And it is home to a diverse collection of campgrounds making that an excellent option for many campers. So here we bring the guide to camping in Glacier National Park.
Thinking about getting the Glacier experience at Apgar Campground, hike to Granite Park Campground, explore beyond, and get a comfortable stay at West Glacier RV Park or more! Let’s go ahead with the top campgrounds covering the park’s main areas. Explore the abounding beauty in Glacier!
Campgrounds in West Glacier
As the busy towns of Whitefish, Kalispell, and Columbia Falls are found in West Glacier, this is the most popular entrance to the park. These towns are having many lodging selections, stores, and restaurants. While amenities thin out getting close to West Glacier, the comfort to your eyes gets wider with pictures around.
From the West entrance, you get close to the Visitor Center of the Apgar Village, Lake McDonald, and the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Apgar Campground
- Open Season: Year-round, (limited facilities during the off-season)
- Max RV Length: 40 feet
- Type of Camping: Tent/ RV
- Dump Station: Yes
- Reservations Required: First-come, first-served but reservations are required during the summer months
- Cost: $20 per night
- Number of Sites: 194
- Pets Permissible: Yes, check Glacier’s Pet Policy
- Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
- Wheelchair Accessibility: Possible in 2 sites
Apgar Campground in Glacier’s biggest that is sited just about two miles into the park along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. It is also close to the Apgar Village, where you get a lot of facilities like restaurants, gift shops, gas, and a store together serving activities like boat rentals, bus tours, horseback riding, and the park’s free shuttle system access. And with a short drive or shuttle ride, you can visit many of the best hikes in Glacier National Park.
Avalanche Campground
- Open Season: End of May – Early September
- Max RV Length: 26 feet
- Type of camping: Tent/ RV
- Dump Station: No
- Reservations Required: Only first-come, first-served
- Cost: $20
- Number of Sites: 87
- Pets Permissible: Yes, but check with the Glacier’s Pet Policy
- Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
- Wheelchair Accessibility: Possible in a site (1 site)
Located just about 16 miles from the West entrance and only 34 miles away from the St. Mary entrance, found in one of the popular areas of the park Avalanche campground appears to be the choice of many campers. It is located close by the two popular trails, Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake. There, it is better you pack a fine pair of hiking boots.
Fish Creek Campground
- Open Season: From the end of May to early September
- Max RV Length: 35 feet
- Type of Camping: Tent/ RV
- Dump Station: Yes
- Reservations Required: Yes, check availability
- Cost: $23
- Number of Sites: 178
- Pets Permissible: Yes, check for Pet Policy
- Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
- Wheelchair Accessibility: Possible in 8 sites
Fish Creek Campground is the second largest in the area that is with 178 sites for tent and RV camping. This is just about 2.5 miles from Apgar Village on Camas Road offering some great lake views. This is a campground in a forested area with shade protection and you can find access to the Rocky Point trail hike that is high in popularity. Fish Creek Campground is one of the parks in Glacier that requires reservations.
Sprague Creek Campground
- Open Season: From mid of May to mid of September
- Max RV Length: No RVs allowed
- Type of camping: Tent
- Dump Station: No
- Reservations Required: No
- Cost: $20
- Number of Sites: 25
- Pets Permissible: Yes, please check Pet Policy
- Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
- Wheelchair Accessibility: Only one site is available
Sprague Creek is a small campground only home to 25 sites and some have amazing water views as they are sited along the gorgeous shores of Lake McDonald. And this is an ideal campground for peaceful a camper which is just 9 miles distance from the park’s west entrance.
Campgrounds in East Glacier
With small towns and limited facilities, we find this side of the park is less crowded than the West Glacier. However, this is no second to the chance of wildlife viewing and amazing mountains.
St. Mary Campground
- Open Season: Year-round open (limited services offered during the off-season)
- Max RV Length: 40 feet
- Type of camping: Tent/ RV
- Dump Station: Yes
- Reservations Required: Reservations are needed only from June 1 to September 4. Click the status here. And in the other times of the year, it is just first-come, first-served
- Cost: $23
- Number of Sites: 148
- Pets Permissible: Yes, but make sure you check the Pet Policy
- Restrooms: Flush toilets and running water available
- Wheelchair Accessibility: 2 sites only
For your east side excursion, St. Mary Campground is a perfect option that is located at the East entrance, Going-to-the-Sun Road. This is a place full of scary trees and beautiful mountain looks. And from 148 sites, you can look for more shaded ones in Loop A best for tent camping, and Loop B and C for great RV camping with the setting of amazing views of the lake with Mountains; Singleshot, EastFlattop, and Red Eagle.
Many Glacier Campground
- Open Season: Late May to late September
- Max RV Length: 35 feet (note that most sites could not lodge slide-outs, and the road into Many Glacier is very bad making it hard for RV camping)
- Type of camping: Tent/ RV
- Dump Station: Yes
- Reservations Required: Half of the sites require reservations. Make sure you check the availability. And the other sites are first-come, first-served
- Cost: $23
- Number of Sites: 109
- Pets Permissible: Yes, but have to check Pet Policy
- Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
- Wheelchair Accessibility: No access
To catch some of the best views of Glacier, this is one of the best places to camp sitting close to the park’s highlights. And that is the reason why it is very competitive to get a site for you and get rewarded with amazing wildlife viewing, beautiful lakes, and impressive mountain sights. Glacier Trail is one of the top hikes for visitors here and you get easy access to hiking there from Many Glacier Campground. And nearby, you will find Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, offering camp stores, delicious hot food, and pay showers.
Rising Sun Campground
- Open Season: From mid of June to mid of September
- Max RV Length: 25 feet
- Type of camping: Tent/ RV
- Dump Station: Yes
- Reservations Required: No reservations, First-come, first-served only
- Cost: $20
- Number of Sites: 84
- Pets Permissible: Yes, make sure you check with Glacier’s Pet Policy
- Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
- Wheelchair Accessibility: Possible in only 1 site
Featuring 84 sites, Rising Sun Campground is found in the West of St. Mary on St. Mary Lake. And here when choosing a campsite, you can either choose a forested site high in shade and solitude or an open site full of views of gorgeous Red Eagle Mountain nearby. And from the campground, Rising Sun, you can find easy access to many hiking trails in the park.
Cut Bank Campground
- Open Season: From the middle of June to September
- Max RV Length: RVs not advised
- Type of camping: Tent and small RVs
- Dump Station: No
- Reservations Required: No reservations required, only first-come, first-served
- Cost: $10
- Number of Sites: 14
- Pets Permissible: Yes, but make sure you check for the Glacier’s Pet Policy
- Restrooms: Pit toilets with no running water. And you have no access to Drinking water here
- Wheelchair Accessibility: No access to wheelchairs
If you are looking for a more peaceful experience at Glacier, the Cut bank campground is a perfect option with only 14 sites. In fact, this is found in a corner of the park just off the beaten path. With sites in a forested area, you can find more shade and privacy for camping making that a first-rate option for tent campers. And from Cut bank, you have fine access to the trail system of Glacier. For those who appreciate solitude, this is a great place to camp while backed by a lot of amazing mountain views.
Two Medicine Campground
- Open Season: From June through September
- Max RV Length: 35 feet
- Type of camping: Tent/ RV
- Dump Station: Yes
- Reservations Required: No reservations required, only first-come, first-served only
- Cost: $20
- Number of Sites: 100
- Pets Permissible: Yes, make sure to check Glacier’s Pet Policy
- Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
- Wheelchair Accessibility: 1 site with access
Two Medicine Campground is found in a less popular area yet beautiful of the park but is a more accessible place. With 100 sites, it welcomes both tent and RV campers. Seated on the shores of Two Medicine Lake, Two Medicine Campground comes with excellent waterfront sights also with the backdrop of mountains.
Campgrounds in Polebridge
If you think you need a big break from your everyday busy lives and camp in a different primitive mood, choose to camp in Polebridge. It is a little community found in the park’s remote northwestern part where there is no electricity or cell service available. People of Polebridge find power from solar panels and a diesel generator making this a very unique town in the area. This is a great place for your adventures and can be rewarded with amazing views of lakeside campgrounds great in the eyes. And do not miss to enjoy the popular huckleberry Bearclaw simply stop by the Polebridge Mercantile.
Logging Creek Campground
- Open Season: July through mid-September
- Max RV Length: Vehicles longer than 21 feet are forbidden
- Type of camping: Tent/ RV
- Dump Station: No
- Reservations Required: Only first-come, first-served, and no reservations are required
- Cost: $10
- Number of Sites: 7
- Pets Permissible: Yes, but see Glacier’s Pet Policy
- Restrooms: Pit toilets but no running water and here you have no Drinking water available
- Wheelchair Accessibility: No
For a realistic wilderness adventure, this is a perfect primitive campground with only 7 sites. Logging Creek Campground is one of the smallest in Glacier National Park, South of Polebridge. If camping in solitude is what you are thinking about, you should go ahead on the rugged, curvy, dirt North Fork Road a few miles in.
Bowman Lake Campground
- Open Season: From late May through September
- Max RV Length: Restricted for vehicles longer than 21 feet
- Type of camping: Tent/ RV
- Dump Station: No
- Reservations Required: Only first-come, first-served, and no reservations are required
- Cost: $15
- Number of Sites: 46
- Pets Permissible: Yes, make sure you check with the Glacier’s Pet Policy
- Restrooms: Pit toilets available and also Drinking water available
- Wheelchair Accessibility: No
For those who are looking for amazing views, this is a perfect campground found in the North fork area of the park. Bowman Lake Campground has 46 sites found on the shores of Bowman Lake offering amazing views and opening prospects to kayak, hike, and fish. This is great for tent camping with privacy and fine shade. And to access the campground you have to take a drive about 33 miles from the west entrance along a curving dirt road. Among the essentials to pack here, a bug spray is a must as this campground is popular for mosquitoes.
Quartz Creek Campground
- Open Season: From July to mid of September
- Max RV Length: No access to RVs
- Type of camping: Tent camping
- Dump Station: No
- Reservations Required: No reservations required, only first-come, first-served
- Cost: $10
- Number of Sites: 7
- Pets Permissible: Yes, and check Glacier’s Pet Policy for details
- Restrooms: Pit toilets but with no running water and no Drinking water available
- Wheelchair Accessibility: No
This is Glacier’s smallest campground with only 7 sites that are found on the west of the park. Quartz Creek is an ideal option for tent campers rewarding a high wilderness experience. The area is full of wood providing great shade and privacy but with limited views.
Kintla Lake Campground
- Open Season: Open year around
- Max RV Length: Vehicles longer than 21 feet are restricted
- Type of camping: Tent camping
- Dump Station: No
- Reservations Required: Only first-come, first-served, and no reservations are required
- Cost: $15
- Number of Sites: 13
- Pets Permissible: Yes, and make sure to check Glacier’s Pet Policy
- Restrooms: Pit toilets are available and also drinking water is available
- Wheelchair Accessibility: No
If you want to adventure from the moment you get to your campground, Kintla Lake Campground is a perfect option. It rewards with a real backwoods feel to campers having 15 campsites in the area. And driving along about 15 miles on a quite rough and dirt road is no regret at the end thanks to the location of the park on the pristine shoreline of Kintla Lake, with no lack of adventures in this gorgeous area of the park. If you wish to visit the campground, make sure you have the right bug spray as it locates near the lake.
Guide to camping in Glacier National Park- Things in brief
- Book early! Here at Glacier National Park, there are only about 3 campgrounds that offer reservations. Up to 6 months early, the reservations are accepted, and believe me, the competition is real. If you want to have peace of mind about a perfect reservation, make it right ahead of time. In case you find your chosen dates are already full, make sure to check time by time as people tend to cancel
- At Glacier National Park, you find more campgrounds accepting first-come, first-served. These should claim by the mid-morning and be there earliest possible to get a good spot for you
- At each campsite, you can maximally have 2 vehicles. And here, if you take RVs, 5th Wheels, or trailers each of them counted as one vehicle to the site
- During summer, a 14-day stay limit is applied, and Senior/Access Pass holders are offered 50% off the camping cost. And this excludes the Annual America the Beautiful Pass
- A typical campsite can accommodate up to 8 people and two tents small in size. Anyone planning ahead with a larger group should book 2 campsites or should check for group campsites offered by some campgrounds
- Many campgrounds apply RV length limitations and you should check with specs for each campground you are planning with
- Glacier is a bear country where you can expect bear activity throughout the park. So having that in your planning process, have a bear-proof container or bear bag to keep your food securely. And for bear safety, take the right precautions together with bear spray
Got everything to choose the right campground; have happy camping at the base of a rough peak, breathing fresh in the mountain air, swimming in a perfect alpine lake, at Glacier National Park. Yes, all that is possible!
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