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Published: Jun 24, 2019 · This post may contain affiliate links

Glacier National Park Camping Guide

There is nothing quite like waking up in the morning already in Glacier National Park. You can get an early start on the Going to the Sun Road and enjoy the park before everyone shows up. Glacier National Park Camping is an epic way to experience this national park.

One thing to know is many of the Glacier National Park campgrounds are extremely popular! Don't let this discourage you from heading to the park. There are a few campgrounds in Glacier that take reservations.

Glacier National Park Camping

Most campgrounds in Glacier are first-come-first-served with the exception of Fish Creek, St. Mary, some of Many Glacier, and half of the group sites in Apgar.

The hardest decision when it comes to campgrounds in Glacier National Park is deciding what part of the park you want to be in and what type of camping you want to do. 

Do you want a campground that is close to a visitor center? Check out the Apgar Campground or St. Mary Campground.

Do you want a campground with easy access to Logan Pass and the Going to the Sun Road? Check out the Sprague Creek Campground, Avalanche Campground for easy access from the west side of the park. From the east side of the park, there is the Rising Sun Campground and St. Mary Campground.

Are you looking for group campsites? Group sites for 9-24 campers are available at Apgar, Many Glacier, St. Mary, and Two Medicine Campgrounds.

Glacier National Park RV Camping 

If you are planning on Glacier National Park RV Camping you may want to make sure the campground has a dump station. Most of the larger campgrounds have dump stations.   One thing to know is there are NO RV Hookups anywhere in Glacier National Park. 

Generator use is prohibited at ALL TIMES in the following campgrounds:

  • Fish Creek, C Loop
  • Many Glacier, sites 88-102
  • Rising Sun sites 49-84
  • Spraque Creek, All sites
  • St. Mary, A Loop
  • Two Medicine, sites 1-36
  • Cutbank Campground, all sites

A few of the campgrounds are not accessible with an RV!  RVs and truck and trailer combinations are not recommended at these campgrounds:

  • Bowman Lake,
  • Cut Bank,
  • Kintla Lake,
  • Logging Creek,
  • Quartz Creek,
  • and Sprague Creek

Glacier National Park Camping Reservations 

Reservations are available on Recreation.gov for Fish Creek, St. Mary, some of Many Glacier, and half of the group sites in Apgar

If you are worried about getting into a specific campground you might want to make a reservation for your first night or two so you know you have a place to stay. This gives you the opportunity to line up at your desired campground early in the morning.

We have heard of people lining up at 4 am to get into specific campgrounds. I am not sure how often this happens but I do know that camping in Glacier is extremely popular!

Glacier National Park Camping reservations open up 6 months ahead of time on a rolling basis. You will want to be online exactly 6 months before your trip to make sure you get a spot! I like to log into Recreation.gov a few days ahead of time to make sure that my calendar is syncing with theirs and I am ready on the right day.

You can check to see if a specific campground is full or what time it filled yesterday here. 

We have broken down each of the front country campgrounds that you can reach by car below. If you are looking for more detailed information on each of the campgrounds click the link below each campground to see our articles with campsite photos, additional details and what to expect in each campground.

Camping in Glacier is one of the best ways to experience this amazing jewel in the National Park Service! 

Please let us know which campground is your favorite! 

Glacier National Park Camping - Westside of the park 

Apgar Campground

Apgar Campground is the largest campground in Glacier National Park. It is close to Apgar Village which provides access to firewood, camp store, amazing ice cream cones, and Eddie's restaurant. 

The campground has a great amphitheater located on Lake McDonald with nightly ranger programs. This is a great campground to stay in if you are visiting Glacier for the first time or want to be in the heart of the park. 

Location: West Glacier near Apgar Village 

Elevation: 3,500 feet

Open: 

Summer - 4/27 - 10/6

Primitive - 4/1 - 4/26 and  10/7 - 10/31

Winter - 11/1 - 4/1

Number of sites: 194

Accessible Sites: Yes

Cost per night: $20.00 / night

Reservations?: No, First Come first served 

Campground amenities: 

RVs allowed?: 25 sites can accommodate up to a 40 foot RV or truck and trailer combination.

For more information and photos check out our post on 

Check out our full post on Apgar Campground to see site photos and more information. 

Avalanche Campground

Location: West side of the park along the Going to Sun Road 

Elevation: 3,100

Open: 6/21 - 9/15

Number of sites: 87

Accessible Sites: Yes

Cost per night: $20.00 / night

Reservations?: first-come, first-serve basis

Campground amenities: fire ring, picnic table, running water, flush toilets. 

RVs allowed?: 50 sites can accommodate up to a 26 foot RV or truck and trailer combination.

For more information and photos check out our post on Avalanche Campground 

Bowman Lake Campground

Location: North Fork area of Glacier National Park

Elevation: 5,600 ft

Open:

Summer - May 17 - Sept 8

Primitive - Sept 9 - Oct 31

Number of sites: 46

Accessible Sites: Yes

Cost per night: $15.00 / night

Reservations?: No, Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Campground Amenities: Pit toilets, close to Bowman Lake which is great for boating. Fire rings and picnic tables in each site. 

RVs allowed?: Vehicles over 21’ in length and/or vehicle-trailer combinations are prohibited at Bowman Lake due to the nature of the long, narrow, and windy dirt road to the campground, and very tight parking areas at each campsite.

For more information and photos check out our post on Bowman Lake Campground 

Fish Creek Campground (Reservations)

Location: West side of Glacier National Park.

Elevation: 3,500 feet

Open: 5/31 - 9/1

Number of sites: 178

Accessible Sites: 8 sites (A8, A10, A12, A34, B65, B68, D158 and D160)

Cost per night: $23.00 / night

Reservations?: Yes on Reservation.gov

Sites not reserved ahead of time are available on a first-come first-serve777777777777767 basis. 

Campground amenities: fire pit, picnic table, flush toilets, running water. Easy access to the Going to the Sun Road and west side of Glacier National Park 

RVs allowed?: 18 sites can accommodate up to a 35 foot RV or truck and trailer combination.

For more information and photos check out our post on Fish Creek Campground 

Kintla Lake Campground

Location: Uppermost northwest section of the park

Open:

Summer - 6/7 - 9/8

Primitive - 9/9 - 10/31 (no water available)

Number of sites: 13

Accessible Sites: Yes

Cost per night: $15.00

Reservations?: first-come, first-served basis.

Campground amenities: Pit toilet, water via a pump, fire rings, picnic table. Easy access to Kintla Lake for kayaking and canoeing. 

RVs allowed?: Vehicles over 21’ in length and/or vehicle-trailer combinations are prohibited at Kintla Lake due to the nature of the long, narrow, and windy dirt road, and very tight parking areas at each campsite.

For more information and photos check out our post on Kintla Lake Campground. 
 

Logging Creek Campground

Location: West side of Glacier National Park 

Elevation: 3,439 feet

Open: 6/28 - 9/22

Number of sites: 7

Accessible Sites: Unknown

Cost per night: $10.00

Reservations?: No

Campground amenities: No water available, pit toilets

RVs allowed?: Vehicles over 21’ in length and/or vehicle-trailer combinations are prohibited at Logging Creek 

For more information and photos check out our post with site photos and more information on Logging Creek Campground. 

 

Quartz Creek Campground

Location: Westside of Glacier National Park north of Polebridge, Montana 

Elevation: 3,515 ft

Open: 6/28 - 10/27

Number of sites: 7

Accessible Sites: No ADA access

Cost per night: $10.00 / night

Reservations?: No

Campground amenities: There is no water available. The campground is equipped with pit toilets. 

RVs allowed?: Vehicles over 21’ in length and/or vehicle-trailer combinations are prohibited at Quartz Creek

For more information and photos check out our post on Quartz Creek Campground 

Glacier National Park Camping - Eastside of the park 

Cut Bank Campground

Location: East side of Glacier National Park

Open: 5/31 - 9/15

Number of sites: 14

Accessible Sites: Unknown 

Cost per night: $10.00 / night

Reservations?: No

Campground amenities: Cut Bank Campground operates in primitive status all season. 

There is no water or flush toilets available at Cut Bank Campground.

RVs allowed?: RVs are not recommended due to the nature of the road and campground layout. 

For more information and photos check out our article with site photos and more information on Cut Bank Campground 

Many Glacier Campground (Reservations)

Location: East side of Glacier National Park

Elevation: 4,500 feet

Open: 

Summer season - May 24 - Sept 22

Primitive -Sept 23 - Oct 31

Number of sites: 109

Accessible Sites: unknown 

Cost per night: $23.00

Reservations?: From June 14 through September 1 half of the campsites are available for reservation 

Campground amenities: 

RVs allowed?: Only 13 sites that can accommodate vehicle lengths up to 35 feet in length.

For more information and photos check out our post on Many Glacier Campground 

Sprague Creek Campground

Location: Next to Lake McDonald and off of the Going to the Sun Road in West Glacier National Park. Sprague Creek Campground provides easy access to the Lake McDonald Lodge if you are looking to take a boat ride. 

Elevation: 3200 feet

Open: 5/10 - 9/15

Number of sites: 25

Accessible Sites: 

Cost per night: $20.00 / night

Reservations?: No, first-come, first-serve basis 

Campground amenities: modern bathroom, fire rings, picnic tables. Multiple campsites are located right on Lake McDonald offering epic views and fishing. 

RVs allowed?: No towed units

For more information and photos check out our post on Sprague Creek Campground 

Rising Sun Campground

Location:  East side of Glacier National Park. 6.2 miles from the St. Mary Entrance 

Elevation: 4567 ft

Open: 6/7 - 9/8

Number of sites: 84

Accessible Sites: Yes

Cost per night: $20.00 / night

Reservations?: No, first-come, first-serve basis 

Campground amenities: firepit, picnic table, running water, communal bear boxes, close to the Rising Sun General Store

RVs allowed?: 10 sites can accommodate vehicle lengths up to 25 feet.

For more information and photos check out our post on Rising Sun Campground 

St. Mary Campground (Reservations)

Location: East side of Glacier National Park

Elevation: 4488 feet

Open: Open year-round

Number of sites: 148

Accessible Sites: Yes 

Cost per night: 

April 19 to May 23 all sites are first-come-first-served and the Fee is $10/night
May 24 to May 30 all sites are first-come-first-served and the fee is $20/night.
May 31 to September 1 the campground is operated as part of the National Recreation Reservation System and the fee is $23/night.
September 2 to September 15 all sites are first-come-first-served and the fee is $20/night.
September 16 to October 31 all sites are first-come-first-served and the Fee is $10/night.
November 1 to April 18 all sites are free and the campground is in primitive status with no running water. Campers should bring their own water.

Reservations?: Yes, Sites can be reserved June 1 through September 1. 

Campground amenities: 

RVs allowed?: 3 sites can accommodate up to 40 feet, 22 sites can accommodate up to 35 feet

For more information and photos check out our post on St. Mary Campground

Two Medicine Campground

Location: 13 miles from East Glacier

Elevation: 5207 feet

Open: Summer season - 5/31 - 9/22

Primitive - 9/23 - 10/31

Number of sites: 100

Accessible Sites: Yes

Cost per night: $20

Reservations?: No, first come - first served

Campground amenities: Close to Two Medicine Lake, fire rings, picnic tables, hiking trails 

RVs allowed?: 10 sites will accommodate up to a 35 foot RV or truck and trailer combination.

For more information and photos check out our post on Two Medicine Campground

There are so many amazing Glacier National Park Campgrounds to choose from! It really depends on what part of the park you want to stay in and if you want to reserve a site ahead of time. 

Additional Glacier Resources

Glacier Lodging Guide - Find out about all the lodging options within the park.

Montana National Parks - Don't miss any of the great National Parks you can visit in Montana.

Free National Park Days - Find out the five days during the year the National Park Service waives entry fees.

Most Visited National Parks - Check out the most visited national park sites in the United States. 

 

 

 

 

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