The Glacier National Park offers a diverse collection of campgrounds, ranging from Apgar, nearly 200 campsites near a visitor’s center, to tiny Quartz Creek Campground with just 7 campsites and a remote location off of a dirt road.
This makes Glacier’s campgrounds an option for campers who enjoy a lot of company and access to many amenities and those who prefer quiet backwoods experiences. Many of the park’s campgrounds offer incredible views, with some on the shores of one of the park’s many lakes and streams.
This article will review the best campgrounds in Glacier National Park. We’ve organized this page by the park’s main areas, including the more popular West Glacier and East Glacier, and the remote Polebridge.
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Things to know before booking NPS campsites
- The peak season is from May to October.
- Campsites can be booked 2 months ahead.
- The maximum stay per visit is 14 nights for each campground.
- A $10 fee is applied for each campsite to change the reservation dates.
- A $10 fee is applied for any cancellations up to 1 day before.
- Late cancellation (starts from one day before) will incur the first night’s fees.
- Notify the Campground Ranger Station if you’re checking out earlier to get the refund for your remaining days.
- Glacier National Park charges entrance fees in addition to campsite fees – $35 per vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, or $20per person.
Best campgrounds in West Glacier
Avalanche Campground
- Type : Tent / RV
- Open : Year-round
- Cost : $20 per night
- Reservation : No
Located in one of the most popular sections of the park, Avalanche Campground sits among cedar and hemlock trees, which provide shade for most campsites. It’s close to two popular trails, including Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake, so pack a good pair of hiking boots. The campground is located about 16 miles from the West entrance and 34 miles from the St. Mary entrance.
This campground features 87 sites and is available to both tents and RV campers up to 26 feet long in total length. Sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Amenities include potable water and restrooms with flush toilets and running water.
There are no utility or sewer hookups at this site. Glacier’s free shuttle service, which travels the Going-to-the-Sun Road has a regular stop at this campground.
Apgar Campground
- Type : Tent / RV
- Open : Year-round
- Cost : $20 per night
- Reservation : No
With 194 sites, Apgar is the largest campground in Glacier National Park. It is located near Apgar Village, where you can find restaurants, gas, gift shops, and a camp store. Activities available at the village include boat rentals, horseback riding, bus tours, and access to the park’s free shuttle system. The campground is also just a short drive or shuttle ride to many of the park’s popular hikes.
The campground sits among trees, providing shade for most sites available to both tents and RVs. Apgar is a short walk from beautiful Lake McDonald. Ranger-guided presentations regularly take place at the campground’s amphitheater during the summer.
Amenities include potable water, restrooms with flush toilets and sinks, and showers. There are no utility hookups at this campground. All sites are first-come, first-serve.
Fish Creek Campground
- Type : Tent / RV
- Open : Late May to early September
- Cost : $23 per night
- Reservation : Yes
Fish Creek Campground is the second largest campground in Glacier National Park, with 178 sites for tents and RVs up to 35 feet long. The campground is located about 2.5 miles from Apgar Village on Camas Road. It’s a wooded area, providing the sites with shade cover. Campsites are also far enough apart to offer some privacy, with some sites offering views of Lake McDonald.
Fish Creek features access to the popular Rocky Point trail hike. Amenities include restrooms with flush toilets, sinks, potable water, and showers. There are no utility hookups at this campground.
Fish Creek is one of only two in the park that takes reservations. Ranger presentations are held each evening in the campground’s amphitheater.
Sprague Creek Campground
- Type : Tent
- Open : Year-round
- Cost : $20 per night
- Reservation : No
With just 25 campsites, Sprague Creek offers a quieter, more intimate camping experience. This campground is located 9 miles from the park’s west entrance on the northeast shore of Lake McDonald.
Campsites are amid trees, providing shade during the hot summer months, with some featuring full views of the lake. Although this campground is closer to Going-to-the-sun Road and hence more traffic noise, it’s a good option for tent campers who don’t want to set up camp amid motor homes and travel trailers.
Amenities include access to potable water, restrooms with flush toilets and sinks, and a picnic area. The campground is also just a mile from McDonald Lodge, which offers a camp store, restaurant, gift shop, and access to a variety of tours. Glacier’s free shuttle service makes regular stops at Sprague Creek.
Best campgrounds in East Glacier
Cut Bank Campground
- Type : Tent / small RVs
- Open : Year-round
- Cost : $10 per night
- Reservation : No
With just 14 campsites, Cut Bank Campground offers a peaceful camping experience you won’t find at Glacier’s larger campgrounds. The campground can be reached via a 5-mile dirt road accessible from Highway 89. All of the campsites are in a wooded area that provides shade and privacy, making this an excellent option for those camping with a tent.
Cutbank also offers convenient access to Glacier’s trail system, with several trailheads nearby that take you to such park attractions as Triple Divide Pass, Medicine Grizzly Lake, and Morning Star Lake.
There are few amenities at this campsite with no potable water, restrooms, or showers available, so make sure to bring drinking water along with you. This campground is only available on a first-time, first-serve basis. A ranger station is located near the campground.
Many Glacier Campground
- Type : Tent / RV
- Open : Year-round
- Cost : $20 per night
- Reservation : No
With its optimal location near some of the park’s best attractions, Many Glacier is one of the most popular campgrounds in Glacier National Park. The campground features some 109 sites for tents and RVs located amid pine trees.
This campground features access to some of the park’s most popular hikes, including Many Glacier Trail, which takes you to one of the park’s largest glaciers. It’s also common to see wildlife around this campground, including, bears, moose, and bighorn sheep.
Amenities include access to potable water and restroom facilities with flush toilets and sinks. There are just 13 sites that can handle vehicles up to 35-feet long, so book early if you are camping in a longer RV. Many Glacier Campground is near the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, which offers a camp store, hot food, and pay showers.
Rising Sun Campground
- Type : Tent / RV
- Open : Year-round
- Cost : $20 per night
- Reservation : No
Rising Sun Campground features 84 campsites west of St. Mary on St. Mary Lake. Campers here have two options when choosing a campsite: a wooded site that offers shade and privacy, or an open site with unobstructed views of beautiful Red Eagle Mountain.
Rising Sun offers convenient access to many of the park’s hiking trails, including a 5-mile hike to Otokomi Lake. Access to boat tours on St. Mary Lake is also nearby.
The campground’s facilities include access to potable water and restroom facilities with flush toilets and sinks. Rising Sun also features a camp store and restaurant. The park’s free shuttle service regularly makes stops at Rising Sun.
This popular campground does not take reservations, so arrive early if you want one of its coveted campsites.
St. Mary Campground
- Type : Tent / RV
- Open : Year-round
- Cost : $23 per night
- Reservation : Yes (up to 6 months ahead)
With 148 campsites, St. Mary is the largest campground on the east side. Located near the town of St. Mary, this campground offers convenient access to the St. Mary Visitor Center. The campground sits amid aspen trees, offering partial shade for many campsites.
Sites on Loop A offer the most shade, while the more open Loops B and C offer great views of the lake with EastFlattop, Singleshot, and Red Eagle Mountains serving as a backdrop.
Amenities include access to potable water, restrooms with flush toilets and sinks, and a shower facility. Restaurants, camp stores, gas, and a grocery store are available nearby St. Mary.
St. Mary Campground requires reservations, which can be made up to 6 months in advance.
Two Medicine Campground
- Type : Tent / RV
- Open : Year-round
- Cost : $20 per night
- Reservation : No
Located in one of the less popular park areas, Two Medicine offers one of the more accessible campgrounds at Glacier. It features 100 campsites, including sites capable of handling RVs up to 35 feet long. It is located on the shores of Two Medicine Lake, offering excellent waterfront views with the surrounding mountains as a backdrop.
Two Medicine Chalet, which now functions as a camp store and gift shop, is nearby. In addition to offering supplies, Boat tours and Red Bus tours are also available from the chalet. This campground also offers several trails, including a hike to the beautiful Running Eagle Falls.
Campsites at Two Medicine are available on a first-come, first-served basis only.
Best campgrounds in Polebridge
Bowman Lake Campground
- Type : Tent / RV
- Open : Year-round
- Cost : $23 per night
- Reservation : Yes
Located in the park’s North Fork Area, this campground offers 46 campsites on the shores of Bowman Lake against the backdrop of Glacier’s beautiful mountain peaks. Campsites offer shade and privacy for tent campers. This campground is 33 miles north of the West Entrance off a rugged dirt road.
Amenities include potable water via water spigots and vault toilets. There are many hiking opportunities directly from the campground, and Bowman Lake offers access to fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. Cool off in the clear lake, which sits about 100 yards from the campground. Bowman Lake is first-come, first-serve.
Be sure to pack bug spray as this campground is popular with mosquitoes and campers. Be aware that this is also grizzly country, so make sure to have bear spray with you.
Kintla Campground
- Type : Tent
- Open : Year-round
- Cost : $15 per night
- Reservation : No
With its remote location and small size of just 15 campsites, Kintla Campground is an excellent option for those looking for a backwoods feel in a car-accessible campground. Kintla sits in the uppermost northwest section of the park called North Fork, about 40 miles from the West Entrance. It involves a 15-mile drive on a rough dirt road, so make sure to come prepared with a flat repair kit.
The campground sits in a wooded area on the shores of Kintla Lake, with wonderful views of the surrounding mountain tops. Amenities include potable water via a hand pump and a pit toilet. The lake is limited to non-motor craft, making it an excellent location for quiet canoe and kayaking trips.
Several day hikes are near the campground, including Bowman Lake Trail, Numa Ridge Lookout Trail, and Quartz Lake Loop Trail.
Logging Creek Campground
- Type : Tent / RV
- Open : Year-round
- Cost : $10 per night
- Reservation : No
Logging Campground is one of the smallest campgrounds in Glacier National Park, with just seven campsites. It’s located on the west side of Glacier, just south of Polebridge. You must take North Fork Road, a rugged and winding dirt road for 8 miles to access this campground.
The campsites are spread apart in a heavily forested area, providing plenty of shade and privacy. Logging Lake trailhead is at the campground, offering an easy day hike to the lake. Other nearby hiking trails include the North Pilgrim trail and Paine Gulch Trail.
There are few amenities at this campground. There is no potable water, so you’ll need to haul in your drinking water. There are vault toilets on site.
Sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Quartz Creek Campground
- Type : Tent
- Open : Year-round
- Cost : $10 per night
- Reservation : No
Quartz Creek is Glacier’s smallest campground. It features just seven sites and is located on the park’s west side. This campground is accessible via North Fork Road, a windy dirt road. This campground is in a heavily wooded area that provides plenty of shade and privacy for each of its sites but very limited views.
A 6.2-mile one-way hike leads to Lower Quartz Lake, which offers excellent vistas of the surrounding mountains. It’s also an excellent place for a quick dip or fishing. Amenities are few at this campground.
There is no potable water, so you’ll need to bring drinking water. Quartz Creek does include pit toilets. The campground is adjacent to a creek, a usable water source if you bring a water purifier along.
Amanda Williams
Amanda Williams is a writer, plant-nerd, and outdoor enthusiast. She has traveled extensively, around the U.S., throughout Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Everywhere she treks, she takes time to enjoy the outdoors. John Muir is her hero. She aspires to inspire people to live better as he did.
