Our Favorite Glacier Campgrounds

Camp under starry skies and alongside glacier-fed sapphire lakes
Our Favorite Glacier Campgrounds
Courtesy of Montana Office of Tourism
Two Medicine Campground
Written by Sunset July 7, 2009

The park’s campgrounds, all first-come, first-serve, fill up by late morning during July and August; ask at any visitor center for locations and availability. Most are open from late-May to mid-September, though you can camp at Apgar or St. Mary at any time of the year. For overnight backpacking, you first get a free permit from any park visitor center.

Apgar Campground. Glacier National Park. Campsites sit in a pine forest beside glacier-fed Lake McDonald, with Continental Divide peaks at the head of the lake. Insider tip: The famously precipitous Going-to-the-Sun Road over Logan Pass isn’t open to cars until June (and free public bus tours start July 1), but a portion opens to bikes and pedestrians in May. Best for: First-timers Info: $20 (plus $25 park entrance fee per vehicle); no reservations; 406/888-7800 or recreation.gov.

Kintla Lake Campground. Glacier National Park. The quiet, rarely crowded campground sits by a tree-encircled lake with gorgeous mountain views, 40 miles from the Canadian border. Insider tip: Visit nearby Polebridge Mercantile (406/888-5105) to meet locals and try homemade huckleberry macaroons. Best for: Intimate, RV-free escapes Info: $15 (plus $25 park entrance fee per vehicle); no reservations; 406/888-7800 or recreation.gov.

Fish Creek. Located just off the Camas Road approximately 2.5 miles from Apgar Village on the west side of the park. Fish Creek serves as a central location to many day hikes in the area, including the Rocky Point trail. Reservations available; 406/888-7800 or recreation.gov.

St. Mary. The largest campground on the east side of Glacier National Park, and is conveniently located approximately one half mile from the St. Mary visitor center. A couple of miles down the road and outside the park, you will find amenities such as restaurants, gift shops, camp stores, gas, and a grocery store. Reservations available; 406/888-7800 or recreation.gov.

More campgrounds inside the park:

  • Avalanche
  • Bowman Lake
  • Cut Bank (primitive)
  • Logging Creek (primitive)
  • Many Glacier
  • Quartz Creek (primitive)
  • Rising Sun
  • Sprague Creek
  • Two Medicine

For information, visit nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/camping.htm.

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