Why Apgar Village Lodge Is Perfect For Budget-Conscious Glacier Visitors

Cabin 4 Apgar Village Lodge Glacier National Park

Here are my top finds for Glacier National Park:
🏨Hotels: Many Glacier Hotel, Glacier Park Lodge, Lake McDonald Lodge
📍Tours: Half Day Whitewater Rafting Trip, Nature Walk in Glacier
🐻 Save time! Buy your National Park Pass before your trip

Apgar Village Lodge: Budget Friendly In-Park Accomodations

The Apgar Village Lodge is located in West Glacier within Glacier National Park. The lodge offers a few different types of lodging including the Creekside Motel, Cabins, and the Front Motel.

While other lodges may have better views, amenities, and historical signifigance, the lodge does allow for in park accomodations for the budget-minded traveler.

The rooms are extremely basic but they offer great access to the park. Afterall, you are located near the heart of West Glacier you can easily walk to dinner or down to Lake McDonald right from your room.

Inside room at Apgar Village Lodge Glacier National Park — Inside Room 39 in the Creekside Motel, Apgar Village Lodge

Creekside Motel: Rooms along McDonald Creek

We stayed in room # 39 at the Creekside Motel, located behind the main Apgar Village hotel. You wind your way through the trees and find a strip of hotel rooms right on McDonald Creek.

There is ample parking in front of the motel. There were picnic tables and Adirondack chairs outside for relaxing and soaking in the Montana sun.

We had a 1-Queen room which had 2 chairs and a small table with a gorgeous view of McDonald Creek.

The bed is against two walls so if you have two people one person may have to crawl over the 2nd person or scoot to the end of the bed to get out of bed.

It is worth noting that there is a lamp over the middle of the bed. If you tend to sit up at night you will want to be aware of the lamp right above your head, especailly for the person stuck against the wall and need to get out of the bed at night.

There were two chairs that were great for relaxing with a view of McDonald Creek.

John standing in the shower at Apgar Village Lodge in Glacier

I am 6 ft 3 and the shower was well a bit low. LOL! The bathroom is not large but has everything you need.

Amenities

The rooms do not have air conditioning or television.

They do have a private bathroom, alarm clock, toiletries, and chairs.

We could have easily spent hours soaking in this view and watching the fly fishermen out the winder.

Cabin 5 in Apgar Village lodge Glacier National Park — Cabin 5 in Apgar Village lodge

Cabins

Apgar Village Lodge also has a selection of cabins. There are multiple sizes of cabins and some have kitchens others do not. Most cabins offer a fully equipped kitchen and are perfect for families.

The cabins do not have air conditioning or television.

Apgar Village Lodge in Glacier National Park — Front Motel at the Apgar Village Lodge, Glacier National Park

Front Motel

The Front Motel is right on the main street through Apgar Village. The motel has parking right in front of each room. There are multiple room configurations including 2 bedrooms with 1 queen and 1 double or 2 bedrooms with 2 queen beds.

Apgar Village Lodge & Cabins features 48 rooms and cabins right in the heart of Apgar Village and the west side of Glacier National Park.

Book the Apgar Village Lodge Here

Fly Fishing in creek behind Apgar Village Lodge

Best Glacier National Park Tours & Activities

Half Day Whitewater Rafting Trip
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars (1,900+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 2.5 hours | 🚣 Check Rates and Availability

The Middle Fork of the Flathead River runs along Glacier National Park's southwestern boundary, putting you in the heart of the wilderness from the moment you launch. Guides earn extraordinary reviews for their knowledge of the river, their safety training, and their ability to make every guest feel at ease on the water. All gear is provided. Recommended by 98% of travelers.

Nature Walk in Glacier National Park
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars (730+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 4 hours | 🥾Check Rates and Availability

A guided small-group nature walk covering two of Glacier's most iconic areas, the Lake McDonald Valley and the wild North Fork of the Flathead River. Each leg is approximately one mile round trip with a naturalist guide sharing the ecology, geology, and wildlife of the park throughout. A great choice for families, first-time visitors, and anyone who wants an informed, unhurried introduction to what makes Glacier so extraordinary. Priced per group making it one of the best values in the park. Free cancellation included.

Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Glacier National Park
⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars (101+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: Self-paced | 🚗🎧 Check Rates and Availability

A GPS-triggered audio tour covering Glacier's most spectacular stops including Going-to-the-Sun Road, Lake McDonald, Logan Pass, the Garden Wall, and the historic St. Mary area. Narration covers the park's glacial geology, wildlife, and the history of the Blackfeet Nation whose homeland surrounds the park. Works fully offline once downloaded, which is essential in Glacier where cell service is unreliable. Priced per vehicle for any group size. Free cancellation included.

Click here to find more great Glacier National Park tours.

Village Inn at Apgar in Glacier National Park — View from back porch at the Village Inn at Apgar, Glacier National Park

Alternative Lodging Options if the Apgar Village Lodge is Fully Booked

Glacier Lodging oftentimes fills up months in advance, especially in July and August. Below is a couple lodges near Apgar Village Lodge as a backup option.

⭐️ 4.8 of 5 Stars - Village Inn at Apgar - Click here for Rates and Availability.

This is one of my favorite lodges in Glacier and is located in Apgar Village. The lodge has several amenities and some come with a full kitchen. I love the 70's motor Inn retro vibe, but what makes me keep rebooking this lodge is sitting back in an Adirondack chair located on your back porch with epic views of Lake McDonald. It's the chef's kiss!

⭐️ 4.6 of 5 Stars - Lake McDonald Lodge - Click here for Rates and Availability.

Lake McDonald Lodge is one of the Classic lodges in the national park service with a lodge feel. It has epic views of Lake McDonald and a great spot to go hiking, driving the Going to the Sun Road, and taking a boat tour of the lake. THey have several amenities, a gift store, lounge, and a restaurant.

⭐️ 4.4 of 5 Stars - Belton Chalet - Click here for Rates and Availability.

Step back in time to an era of elegance and culinary prowess at the Historic Belton Chalet. Built in 1910 as the first of the Great Northern Railroad's iconic lodges, the Belton Chalet has served as the origional gateway to Glacier National Park for over a century, offering the same and unforgettable guest experience today, as it did when it first opened its doors. Now renowned for its world-class cuisine featuring locally-sources ingredients and an array of local beer and spirits, the chalet's restaurant and tap house provide a warm, welcoming environmentwhere the way it was is truly the way it still is. +

If you were unable to get into one of these lodges, make sure to check out my Glacier National Park Lodging Guide for a complete breakdown of lodges in Glacier.

Click on the map below to see additional hotels and vacation rentals near Yellowstone

Things to know when planning a stay at Apgar Village Lodge

Dates: May - September

Check-in time is after 3:00 PM.

Check-out time is 11:00 AM

All guest rooms and facilities are non-smoking.

Apgar Village Lodge office in Glacier National Park — Apgar Village Lodge office

Glacier National Park Entrance Fee

New in 2026: Each Non-US Resident aged 16 and older visiting Glacier National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.

Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.

Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Per-Person Entrance Pass - $20.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.

Annual Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.

Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.

$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

National Park Pass highlighting Collared lizard at Wupatki National Monument

Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.