Glacier National Park Camping

There is no better way to experience Glacier National Park than by camping in one of the many Glacier National Park camping grounds or nearby RV parks. Camping in Glacier National Park is a unique experience but rv parks outside of the park offer proximity to amenities, restaurants, and shopping. Take a look at Glacier Park camping options here.

Glacier National Park camping is waking up to a glorious sunrise with natural splendor surrounding you. You can camp at any one of the 13 separate campgrounds within Glacier or stay at any of the private campgrounds or RV parks in and around the nearby communities. When staying outside the park in private RV parks or campgrounds, you’ll have easier access to restaurants, shopping and many more amenities.

Glacier Park camping offers breathtaking scenery along with the convenience of being close to the park’s numerous activities and other popular sights. You can make reservations for the campgrounds within Glacier when required (see list below) by calling the toll free number: 1-877-444-6777.

The campgrounds located within Glacier National Park are:

Fish Creek
Glacier camping is at its best at Fish Creek, with lots of shade from the surrounding trees and some nice privacy. You can get filtered views of Lake McDonald.

• Location: on the west side of the park, just off Camas Road, about 2.5 miles from Apgar Village
• Amenities: potable water, flushing toilets, running water, ranger-led programs, Fish Creek Amphitheater, day hikes, wildlife watching
• Dates: (summer) June 1 to September 6
• Fees: $23 per night in summer
• Reservations: available (877-444-6777)

St. Mary Lake
Views of the mountains with some shade make this a lovely place to camp.

• Location: about one half mile from the St. Mary visitor center
• Amenities: potable water, flush toilets, sinks with running water, hiking, boat rentals, nearby restaurants, gift shops, gas, grocery store, interpretive programs, shuttle service, bus tours
• Dates: (summer) June 1 to September 19, (primitive) April 1 to June 1 and September 20 to November 30, (winter) December 1 to April 1
• Fees: $20 per night in summer; $10 per night for primitive camping, no fee for winter camping, but you’ll need a park entrance pass
• Reservations: available (877-444-6777)

Apgar
Privacy and shade make this popular for all visitors who want to camp out, with a short walk taking you right to Lake McDonald.

• Location: close to Apgar Village
• Amenities: potable water, flush toilets, sinks with running water, Apgar Visitor Center (gift shops, camp store, restaurant), shuttle, boat rentals, horseback rides and a bus tour (in Apgar Village), Apgar Amphitheater
• Dates: (summer) May 7 to October 11, (primitive) April 1 to May 7 and October 12 to November 30, (winter) December 1 to April 1
• Fees: $20 per night in summer; $10 per night for primitive camping
• Reservations: not required

Sprague Creek
This small campground is close to Lake McDonald with nice shade and beautiful views of the lake.

• Location: nine miles from the west entrance on the northeast shore of Lake McDonald
• Amenities: potable water, flush toilets, sinks with running water, picnic area, evening programs with a ranger, at Lake McDonald Lodge there are bus and boat tours, restaurant, gift shop, horseback riding
• Dates: (summer) May 14 to September 13
• Fees: $20 per night in summer
• Reservations: not required

Avalanche Campground
Old growth cedar and hemlock trees keep this campground cool in the summer.

• Location: four miles from Lake McDonald and west of the Continental Divide
• Amenities: potable water, flush toilets, sinks with running water, 50 sites for RVs up to 26 feet, day hikes, wildlife watching
• Dates: (summer) June 11 to September 6
• Fees: $20 per night in summer
• Reservations: not required

Rising Sun
Enjoy views of the mountains with gorgeous sunrises, and you can choose open sites or those shaded with privacy.

• Location: west of St. Mary halfway up along St. Mary Lake
• Amenities: flushing toilets, running water, shuttle service, day hikes
• Dates: (summer) May 28 to September 12
• Fees: $20 per night in summer
• Reservations: not required

Many Glacier
You’ll find lots of trails around Many Glacier Campground, and access to the lake.

• Location: on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake and 21 miles from St. Mary
• Amenities: potable water, flush toilets, sinks with running water (no water during primitive camping season), nightly ranger programs, day hikes, at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn there is a gift shop, camp store, shuttle, restaurant, and showers in a separate building
• Dates: (summer) May 28 to September 19, (primitive) September 20 to October 31
• Fees: $20 per night in summer; $10 per night for primitive camping
• Reservations: not required

Two Medicine
There’s a certain majestic beauty about this location, with lots of peace and quiet.

• Location: about 13 miles from East Glacier on the shore of Two Medicine Lake
• Amenities: potable water, flush toilets, sinks with running water (no water during primitive camping season), 13 sites for RVs up to 32 feet, nightly ranger programs, tours, and hiking
• Dates: (summer) May 28 to September 19, (primitive) September 20 to October 31
• Fees: $20 per night in summer; $10 per night for primitive camping
• Reservations: not required

Kintla Lake
Camping in Glacier National Park is sometimes best in a really remote location, and Kintla Lake gives you this plus spectacular views and fishing and boating access.

• Location: 40 miles from the west entrance in the section of park known as North Fork
• Amenities: potable water via hand pump, pit toilets, access to paddling, fishing
• Dates: (summer) May 28 to September 12, (primitive) May 2 to May 28 and September 13 to December 1
• Fees: $15 per night in summer, primitive camping is $10 per night
• Reservations: not required

Bowman Lake
Here you’ll discover towering mountains and plenty of privacy, with nice shade trees.

• Location: 32.5 miles from the west entrance in the North Fork area
• Amenities: potable water, pit toilets, picnic area, fishing, boating and hiking
• Dates: (summer) May 28 to September 12, (primitive) May 2 to May 28 and September 13 to December 1
• Fees: $15 per night in summer
• Reservations: not required

Quartz Creek
Glacier’s smallest campground gives you a true wilderness setting.

• Location: located on Inside North Fork Road on the west side of the park
• Amenities: pit toilets, no water so bring your own drinking water
• Dates: (primitive) July 1 to November 30
• Fees: $10 per night in summer
• Reservations: not required

Logging Creek
From primitive Logging Creek Campground, you can get to Logging Lake and really get away from it all.

• Location: on the west side of the park, south of Polebridge
• Amenities: no water so bring your own drinking water, hiking
• Dates: (primitive) July 1 to September 28
• Fees: $10 per night in summer
• Reservations: not required

Cut Bank
Cut Bank Campground is a wonderful place to make your home base for many hikes into the interior of the park.

• Location: on the east side of Glacier National Park
• Amenities: no water so bring your own drinking water, nearby shuttle service, hiking
• Dates: (primitive) May 28 to September 6
• Fees: $10 per night in summer
• Reservations: not required

Campgrounds outside of Glacier National Park will run about $20 per night on up for tent-only sites, $30 for RVs and tow-rig combinations. Major factors that determine pricing are amenities you seek, size of the camp spot, its location relative to major attractions and how far in advance these sites are booked up.

Camping in Glacier Park can become a family tradition that endures a lifetime! But don’t forget that while camping around Glacier Park, you are in prime bear country. This means extra special precautions need to be taken with regard to food and cooking equipment storage. Unlike going to a lake in southern Arizona where you might be able to leave everything out overnight and find it all in tact the next morning, both government and private entities are bound by laws that protect both bear and you. Please become educated on the proper ways to store perishable items, for everyone’s sake.