2024 Glacier National Park Camping

Glacier National Park Campgrounds

There are 13 campgrounds in Glacier National Park. Every one of them is open seasonally and is fee-based with nightly costs ranging from $10 to $23 per site. As far as Glacier National Park lodging goes, camping is by far the most budget-friendly option.

Below is a list of all the Glacier National Park campgrounds:

• Apgar Campground
• Fish Creek Campground
• Sprague Creek Campground
• Avalanche Campground
• Many Glacier Campground
• St Mary Campground
• Rising Sun Campground
• Two Medicine Campground
• Cut Bank Campground
• Bowman Lake Campground
• Kintla Lake Campground
• Logging Creek Campground
• Quartz Campground

Each campsite can accommodate up to 8 people, 2 tents and 2 vehicles.

While the campgrounds in Glacier National Park are open seasonally, many have primitive and winter camping options as well. During the primitive camping season each campsite is $10/night and there is no running water. Then, during winter camping season each campsite is free, and there is still no running water. 

Regardless of when you camp at Glacier National Park you are responsible for having a valid entry ticket to the park. If you visit Glacier National Park during the summer months you will also need a timed entry vehicle reservation.

Campground	Location	Open Dates	Price	Shower	Max RV	System
Apgar	Apgar	4/1-10/10	$23	Yes	40′	Reservation
Fish Creek	Apgar	5/36-9/4	$23	Yes	35′	Reservation
Sprague Creek	Lake McDonald	5/24-9/25	$23	No	21′	Reservation
Avalanche	Lake McDonald	7/17-9/17	$20	No	26′	Reservation
Many Glacier	Many Glacier	6/14-9/15	$23	Yes	35′	Reservation
St Mary	Rising Sun	5/14-9/15	$23	Yes	40′	Reservation
Rising Sun	Rising Sun	6/5-9/15	$20	Yes	25′	First-come
Two Medicine	Two Medicine	6/14-9/15	$20	No	35′	Reservation
Cut Bank	Two Medicine	6/1-9/15	$10	No	n/a	First-come
Bowman Lake	North Fork	5/16-9/30	$15	No	n/a	First-come
Kintla Lake	North Fork	5/26-9/15	$15	No	n/a	First-come
Logging Creek	North Fork	6/27-10/31	$10	No	n/a	First-come
Quartz	North Fork	6/27-10/31	$10	No	n/a	First-come

Glacier National Park Camping Map

Camping in Glacier National Park is primarily divided into the East and West sides of the park. Most of the more primitive camping options can be found in North Fork (in the Northwest corner of the park).

Glacier National Park Camping In Apgar and West Glacier

Apgar Campground

Apgar campground is the largest of the Glacier National Park campgrounds and is well located near Lake McDonald. There are spots for tents and RV’s, and there’s even an amphitheater for evening programs with a ranger – the topics vary but they’re all quite interesting and worth attending. The best part about this campsite is how close it is to the best hikes in Glacier National Park.

Apgar campground offers primitive camping from 10/11-11/30 and winter camping from 12/1-3/31.

Campground Dates: April 1 – October 10
Fees: $23
Sites: 194
Toilet: Flush and vault
Shower: Yes
Reservations: Required for all sites
Electric: No
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Fish Creek Campground

Fish Creek is the second largest campground in Glacier National Park and is conveniently located near Lake McDonald. Some sites even offer filtered views of the lake. Sites are provided for both tent campers and RVers.

If you’re interested in a generator free camping experience be sure to book in Loop C.

There are no dates available for primitive or winter camping at Fish Creek campground.

Campground Dates: May 26 to September 4
Fees: $23
Sites: 178
Toilet: Flush
Shower: Hot
Reservations: Required for all sites
Electric: No
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Glacier National Park Camping In Lake McDonald

Sprague Creek Campground

Sprague Creek is a small campground along Going-To-The-Sun road with only 25 campsites. It’s only open during the summer months and must be booked in advance.

A few of the sites in this campground come with a view of Lake McDonald, and most have shade from trees. The maximum length vehicle at this campground (plus anything in tow) cannot exceed 21 feet.

Note: Sprague Creek Campground is a generator-free site. You can sleep peacefully to the sounds of nature and not the loud motor grinding from your next door neighbor!

Campground Dates: May 24 – September 25
Fees: $23
Sites: 25
Toilet: Flush
Shower: No
Reservations: Required for all sites
Electric: No
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Avalanche Campground

In my experience, this is the best campground on the West side of Glacier National Park. You can hike Avalanche Lake Trail and Trail of the Cedars, both with trailheads right next to your campsite.

While Avalanche campground offers sites for tents and RVs, there is a limited number of sites which can accommodate larger vehicles up to 26 feet.

No primitive or winter camping is available at Avalanche campground.

Campground Dates: July 17 – September 17
Fees: $20
Sites: 87
Toilet: Flush
Shower: No
Reservations: Required for all sites
Electric: No
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Glacier National Park Camping In Many Glacier

Many Glacier Campground

In my experience, Many Glacier Campground is the best campground in Glacier National Park. Why? It’s right next to the trailheads for the best hikes in the park, including some of the best waterfall hikes in Glacier National Park.

There are spots for tents and RVs (but you’ll want to check your campsite before booking as there’s a limited number of sites that can accommodate larger vehicles).

This is also a great campsite to see wildlife nearby like moose, bighorn sheep, and bears.

If you prefer a generator free experience make a reservation within sites 48-59, 71 or 88-102.

Campground Dates: June 14 – September 15
Fees: $23
Sites: 109
Toilet: Flush
Shower: Coin-operated
Reservations: Required for all sites
Electric: No
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Glacier National Park Camping In Rising Sun

St Mary Campground

The St Mary Campground is the largest campground on the Eastern side of the park. Its location, close to St Mary Visitor Center and Saint Mary Lake, makes it a popular choice. However, there’s little shade at these campsites so it may be warm during peak summer months.

St Mary campground is open year round. I stayed here during my trip to Glacier National Park in late September and was thankful for a centrally located campsite that was still open.

During the summer season (May 14 – September 15) advanced reservations are required for all sites. From September 16 – October 31 and April 15 – May 13 the campground operates on a primitive camping schedule and sites are available first-come, first-serve. Winter camping (which is free) is available from November 1 – April 14.

If you prefer a generator free experience make a reservation within A loop.

Campground Dates: May 14 – September 15
Fees: $23
Sites: 148
Toilet: Flush
Shower: Hot
Reservations: first-come, first-served in the spring and fall. Reservations only during the summer months
Electric: No
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Rising Sun Campground

Rising Sun Campground is very conveniently located along GOing-To-The-Sun road, on Saint Mary Lake. There’s a mix of open and shaded spots available, as well as easy access to many hikes.

If you are planning to spend less than 3 days in Glacier National Park I recommend this campsite as it’s conveniently located between the East and West sides of the park.

If you prefer a generator free experience make a reservation within sites 49-84.

Campground Dates: June 5 – early September
Fees: $20
Sites: 84
Toilet: Flush
Shower: Coin-operated
Reservations: First-come, first-serve
Electric: No
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Glacier National Park Camping In Two Medicine

Two Medicine Campground

Two Medicine Campground is one of two campgrounds in Glacier National Park Two Medicine area. This is the only campground in Two Medicine which can be reserved in advance. 

In past years primitive camping has been available in the fall. However, currently no primitive camping dates for Two Medicine Campground have been released for 2024.

If you prefer a generator free experience make a reservation within sites 1-36.

Campground Dates: June 14 – September 15
Fees:
Sites: 100
Toilet: Flush
Shower: No
Reservations: Required for all sites
Electric: No
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Cut Bank Campground

Cut Bank Campground in Glacier National Park is accessed via a 5 mile dirt road. For this reason trailers are not recommended. 

There are a limited number of campsites (14) available on a first-come, first serve basis. Additionally, no dump or potable water is available in the campgrounds.

Note: Cut Bank Campground is a generator-free site. Don’t worry about noisy neighbors powering their AC and big screen while you’re trying to sleep!

Campground Dates: June 1 – mid-September
Fees: $10
Sites: 14
Toilet: Vault
Shower: No
Reservations: First-come, first-serve
Electric: No
Water: No
Dump: No

Glacier National Park Camping In North Fork

North Fork is located in the Northwest corner of Glacier National Park. There are four campgrounds in the area and all of them operate on a first-come, first serve system.

Bowman Lake Campground

Bowman Lake Campground is accessed via a very bumpy dirt road – no trailers are permitted. It’s located just 30 miles south of the Canadian border and sits close to the shoreline of Bowman Lake.

Campground Dates: May 16 – September 30
Fees: $15
Sites: 48
Toilet: Vault
Shower: No
Reservations: First-come, first-serve
Electric: No
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Kintla Lake Campground

Kintla Lake Campground sits right on the lakeshore and is one of the most remote frontcountry campgrounds in Glacier National Park. While it operates on a first-come, first-serve basis it rarely fills.

Kintla Lake is difficult to get to, requiring you to drive 40 miles on a dirt road. No trailers are permitted.

Most seasons primitive camping is available from early September through October, weather permitting.

Campground Dates: May 26 – early September
Fees:
Sites: 13
Toilet: Vault
Shower: No
Reservations: First-come, first-serve
Electric: No
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Logging Creek Campground

Logging Creek Campground is one of the smallest campgrounds in the park with only 7 campsites. The campground is accessed by a very narrow dirt road and trailers and RVs are not permitted.

There is no electricity, potable water or dumping station at this campground.

Campground Dates: June 27 – late October
Fees: $10
Sites: 7
Toilet: Vault
Shower: No
Reservations: First-come, first-serve
Electric: No
Water: No
Dump: No

Quartz Campground

Similar to Logging Creek, Quartz Campground is one of the smallest in Glacier National Park with only 7 sites. It’s accessible via Inside North Fork Road, which is a narrow and winding dirt road – no trailers or RVs permitted.

At Quartz campground you will find solitude and a lot of quiet time – but you won’t find potable water, electricity or a dump station.

Campground Dates: June 27 – late October
Fees: $10
Sites: 7
Toilet: Vault
Shower: No
Reservations: First-come, first-serve
Electric: No
Water: No
Dump: No

Glacier National Park RV Camping

It’s possible to RV camp in Glacier National Park. However, some roads are too narrow or have sharp turns (especially the case with Going-To-The-Sun road) which makes them inaccessible to longer RVs or anyone towing. These are the 8 campgrounds in Glacier National Park which allow RV camping, along with the length restrictions for each.

Campground	Max RV
Apgar	40′
Avalanche	26′
Fish Creek	35′
Many Glacier	35′
Rising Sun	25′
Sprague Creek	21′
St Mary	40′
Two Medicine	35′

What To Know About Camping in Glacier National Park

Bear Safety

Glacier National Park is home to bears, mountain lions and wolves. But it’s also home to moose, elk, lynx and even wolverines. My point is that there’s plenty of wildlife in the park and it’s important to respect their space.

While Grizzly bears get a bad rap, they’re actually not the most dangerous thing in the park. The largest number of fatalities in Glacier National Park come from falling (especially related to climbers), drowning and by natural causes. In fact, Moose can be more of a threat than a Grizzly can.

That said, it’s always important to know proper bear safety. Being able to identify the difference between a black bear and a grizzly is important in being able to cater your defense in an encounter to that specific breed. 

For example, grizzly bears are far more aggressive and have a “fight to win” mentality which means your best chance at survival during an attack is to make them believe you’re dead. Black bears are far more timid and generally, are just interested in escaping, but if they attack you do not want to play dead and instead you should fight back as hard as you can.

Personally, I’m far more scared of a mountain lion encounter than I am a bear encounter. When I visited Glacier National Park the first stop I made was to the ranger station to ask about Mountain Lion sightings. They assured me that it’s extremely uncommon to see them, in fact, one of the rangers had been working in the backcountry for over 8 years and had only spotted one once.

Is Glacier National Park safe? Statistically, you don’t have much to worry about with regards to wildlife attacks. In my experience, while hiking solo in Glacier National Park the largest animals I saw were an extremely overweight chipmunk (maybe he was getting ready for winter?) and some mountain goats in the distance.

Do I Need A Reservation To Camp In Glacier National Park?

Yes, you need a reservation to camp in most of the campgrounds in Glacier National Park, with a few exceptions.

Campgrounds that require reservations include Apgar, Avalanche, Fish Creek, Many Glacier, Sprague Creek, St Mary and Two Medicine.

Campgrounds available on a first-come, first-serve basis include Bowman Lake, Cut Bank, Kintla Lake, Logging Creek, Quartz Creek and Rising Sun. From September 16 – October 31 and April 15 – May 13 Saint Mary campground also operates on first-come, first-serve. 

Any campsite which requires a reservation can be booked at recreation.gov. In my experience, there is little or no cell reception within Glacier National Park so I recommend booking your campsites prior to arriving.

For the most part, reservations open 6-months in advance on a rolling basis. This means that if you want to book a reservation for August 1 you can do so starting February 1. However, summer dates are not released until January 1 (so if you’re booking for a date earlier than June 1 you’ll have to wait until January instead of being able to do so a full 6-months in advance).

Do I Need A Timed Entry Vehicle Reservation If I’m Camping In Glacier National Park?

Camping reservations are good for entrance into the park for the entrance gate noted on your reservation. This means you may ONLY enter the park through one gate and it does not guarantee you access to the entire park.

For that reason you may want to secure an additional Glacier National Park timed entry vehicle reservation for other entrances and areas within the park you plan to visit. Alternatively, you can utilize the free Glacier National Park shuttle system to avoid these requirements.

Weather

The weather in Glacier National Park can be cold, even in summer. The park sits at high altitude and experiences big changes in weather quickly.

During my trip to Glacier National Park in mid-September I started one morning hiking in a blizzard so thick I couldn’t see more than 10 feet in front of me. Within a few hours the weather had cleared and the sun was out.

It’s really important to pack extra warm layers, more than you think you’ll need. I always hike with an extra coat in my backpack and I’ve never had to use it until I hiked Grinnell Glacier Trail – the wind was so cold that even a 10-mile hike wasn’t enough to keep me warm and I needed to layer up. Gloves and something to cover your ears are also crucial.

Camping Near Glacier National Park – West Side

Instead of camping within the perimeter of the park, consider camping near Glacier National Park. The majority of campgrounds surrounding the park are located on the West side, near the West Glacier entrance. This area of the park also has many amenities like restaurants and shops.

West Glacier KOA

Have you ever stayed at a KOA? Let me tell you, they’re incredible. I’ve stayed at a few KOAs and they’re super clean, super fancy, and overall one of the most boujiee camping experiences you can have. If you’re looking for comfort and convenience this is the place for you.

West Glacier KOA is just 2.5 miles from the West entrance of Glacier National Park.

Camping in Glacier National Park is fairly rustic, but moving just a few miles outside the park entrance gets you a whole new world of glamping. This KOA has electric, water and sewer hookups, a pool, a hot tub, wifi and even a dog park!

While most campgrounds inside Glacier can accommodate a maximum RV length of 26 feet (40 in a few cases), West Glacier KOA can accommodate 75 foot rigs.

Campground Dates: Year-round
Fees: $85+
Toilet: Flush
Shower: Yes
Reservations: Recommended
Electric: Yes
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Glacier Campground

If you want to get even closer to the park, Glacier Campground is just one mile from the entrance. It’s also perfectly located next to West Glacier Village, so it’s easy to walk to activities like mini golf, shopping, horseback riding, helicopter tours or restaurants.

The campground has 40-acres of tree-filled campsites that’ll provide both privacy and shelter from the sun and wind. Best of all, the campgrounds are family owned and operated, which provides a really nice touch and an “at-home” feel for guests.

The property has a max RV length of 32 feet. Water and electric hookups are provided, but not sewer. However, there is a dump station on the property available 24/7. Or, if you’re feeling extra fancy you can schedule a pumper truck to come to you for a fee of $25 per pump.

Campground Dates: May 15 – October 6
Fees: $85+
Toilet: Flush
Shower: Yes
Reservations: Recommended
Electric: Yes
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Mountain Meadow Campground

Mountain Meadow Campground is a little further away from Glacier National Park, about nine miles West of the main gate. It sits on 33 acres and has numerous sites available for RVs (56 sites), cabins (4), rentable RVs (2) and tent campers (5).

You can bring your RV or trailer up to 45 feet. While you’re staying here you can enjoy wifi, a fenced dog park, and private hot showers.

Campground Dates: May 1 – October 1
Fees: $40+
Toilet: Flush
Shower: Yes
Reservations: Recommended
Electric: Yes
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Moose Creek

Moose Creek, family owned and operated, is another option for camping near Glacier National Park. It’s less than 3 miles from the park entrance. They even have a communal campfire (which sounds like a ton of fun to me after a long day of hiking). However, wood campfires at individual sites are not allowed. 

You can also enjoy basketball courts, tether ball (one of my favorite games!), volleyball, horseshoes and shuffleboard.

Additionally, campground amenities include wifi, laundry facilities, e-bike rentals, a cafe serving coffee and grab-n-go sandwiches and snacks. The cinnamon rolls and pies are legendary so make sure to try them, too!

Not only does Moose Creek offer RV and tent sites, but they also have bed and breakfast rooms and glamping pods available to book.

Campground Dates: May 15 – September 30 (B&B and Glamping Pods through October)
Fees: $58+
Toilet: Flush
Shower: Yes
Reservations: Recommended
Electric: Yes
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Camping Near Glacier National Park – East Side

The eastern border of Glacier National Park is far less developed than the western border. There are also fewer options for lodging and camping accommodations. However, if you’re planning to spend time in Two Medicine, Rising Sun or Many Glacier areas of the park, the eastern side is the most convenient place to book campsites.

Johnson’s of St. Mary

Johnson’s of St Mary is located just outside of Glacier National Park, near the East entrance of Going-To-The-Sun road in St Mary. The campgrounds are a full-service RV park with RV sites, tent sites, cabins and options for dry camping.

Johnson’s is a family run business that’s been in operation for over 60 years and through 3 generations. They provide full electric, water and sewer hookups. There’s also options for renting unfurnished and furnished cabins on the property.

Additional amenities include laundry facilities, an on-site restaurant, free wifi, propane refills and exchanges, a mail center, and a dump station. The grounds are also pet friendly.

Campground Dates: mid-May to late September
Fees: $38+
Toilet: Flush
Shower: Token operated
Reservations: Recommended
Electric: Yes
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

St Mary East Glacier KOA

St Mary KOA is located just one mile from the entrance to Going-To-The-Sun road. RV and tent campers are welcome, as well as those looking to rent a log cabin. The campgrounds have a hot tub, swimming pool, horseshoe pits, putting green, bocce ball games and you can even do your laundry here! 

Additionally, there’s a dog park and dog walking path. Since dogs aren’t allowed in most areas of Glacier National Park you can leave them behind because this KOA offers pet sitting services as well as kennel boarding.

For those with larger RV’s, this park is one of few that accepts reservations for RVs up to 75 feet long.

Campground Dates: May 23 – October 1
Fees: $64+
Toilet: Flush
Shower: Yes
Reservations: Recommended
Electric: Yes
Water: Yes
Dump: Yes

Divide Creek Campground

Divide Creek Campgrounds is located just .25 miles outside of the St Mary entrance of Glacier National Park. They provide RV, tent and cabin rentals. This property is a more primitive camping experience compared to the other options in the area – pit toilets only. While showers are available you should be prepared for an outdoor shower (with hot water). 

While RV’s are permitted, there’s a very limited number of sites. Additionally, no hookups are available and generators aren’t permitted between 8pm and 8am.

This is one of the most affordable camping options outside of Glacier National Park.

Campground Dates:
Fees: $30+ (cabins starting at %100/night)
Toilet: Vault
Shower: Yes
Reservations: Recommended
Electric: No
Water: No
Dump: No

Gear Recommendations For Camping In Glacier National Park

When it comes to camping in Glacier National Park, there’s a few essential items you should have. Below is a list of everything you’ll need to bring to be prepared, along with my personal favorite recommendations for gear I use myself!

Tent
If you plan to tent camp, you’ll obviously need … a tent! My favorite tent is the REI Trailmade Tent. I’ve used this tent for backpacking and car camping trips. I love how lightweight it is, especially considering it’s price. It’s also an extremely well made tent for something under $200 and gives some more expensive tents (cough, $450+) a run for their money!

Sleeping bag
This is another obvious must-have for tent camping. I prefer Nemo sleeping bags– they’re well made and reasonably priced. I have the Womens Disco 30 sleeping bag (in Long because I”m 5’10”) and I think it’s the coziest sleeping bag I’ve ever owned. It’s one of the warmer bags, which I found perfect for cooler nights in the mountains. The second reason I bought this sleeping bag is because it packs down really small which is perfect for traveling and backpacking.

Sleeping pad
Unless you’re under the age of 15, changes are you probably need a sleeping pad in your tent or else you’ll wake up with more aches and pains than your grandma. For car camping trips I love my Therm-A-Rest BaseCamp sleeping pad. It has great support and comfort, it inflates super easily (like I barely have to do anything), and it has good insulation from the cold ground. Plus, it’s VERY durable. How durable? I’ve had mine for almost twenty years and it’s still going strong. However, these sleeping pads don’t pack down very small. If you’re looking for a better option for light travel or backpacking I recommend the Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated sleeping pad.

Hiking boots
Nothing will ruin a camping trip faster than the wrong footwear (speaking from experience). My absolute favorite hiking boots I’ve ever owned are my Danner Inquire Chukka boots. They are the only boot I haven’t had to break in, and many of the other online reviews mention the same thing! They’re waterproof so I’ve also used these as snow boots (like when I went to Iceland and needed hiking boots and winter boots, these fit the bill for both!). Last, the mid-height means you have more ankle support – this really impacts my knees when I’m hiking on rocky terrain so ankle stabilization is a good way to decrease sore joints.
But I spend part of my year in very very warm climates and sometimes I need a light-weight hiking shoe. During hot weather I prefer my Oboz Sawtooth boots.

Waterproof camp sandals
For camping in Glacier National Park you’ll want a good “camp shoe”. This is just something comfy you can wear around camp. I prefer something I can wear with socks (so no flip flops) and that can double as a river crossing or shower shoe – which means it also has to be waterproof. My favorite shoe that checks all of these boxes are my Teva’s.

Water bladder
The easiest way to stay hydrated is to have constant access to water. I love having my water bladder during long hikes because I don’t have to stop to drink, I can sip as I go.

Water bottle
A water bottle is great to have while sitting around camp. I love my Nalgene water bottle because it can also be a bed warmer during colder nights – I just put hot water in the bottle, then put the bottle in my sleeping bag a few minutes before I get in.

Water filter
If you plan to hike in the backcountry then you’ll need to be prepared with a way to filter water in an emergency. I always hike with a life straw in my backpack, but for longer trips I pack my platypus filter system.

Head lamp
Imagine being able to play cards, walk to the restroom or hike in the dark without having to carry a flashlight in your hand! I love my headlamp – in particular it’s much easier to walk my dog.

Lantern
Having a lantern inside your tent is a game-changer. I have this collapsible solar powered rechargeable lantern by Luci and I’m obsessed. It deflates and takes up almost no space. During the day I hang it on the back of my backpack to recharge. It even comes with a loop so you can hook it to the top of your tent. I love this for getting ready for bed, or even just playing card games at night.

Bear Spray
Bear spray is a requirement for hiking or camping in Glacier National Park. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have your bear spray somewhere you can get to it in seconds, and that you know the proper way to use it. If you’re flying to Glacier then you cannot bring your bear spray with you, instead you’ll have to buy or rent it at the park (you can rent from Apgar Village). Some campsites and hotels will allow you to borrow bear spray.

Compass and Whistle
Hopefully you don’t ever have to rely on either of these, but it’s important to carry them with you in case of an emergency. I keep my compass and whistle clipped to the shoulder strap on my backpack. This way if I fall or become immobilized while hiking I’m still able reach my whistle for help.

First Aid Kit
First aid kits are crucial for being prepared in the backcountry. I love this complete first aid kit – I keep it in my vehicle at all times, and it has a small removable day kit that I put in my hiking and camping gear. If you have an FSA account with your health insurance plan you may be able to use it to purchase a first aid kit.

Day hiking food
Don’t forget to pack nutritious and calorie-dense foods for hiking in Glacier National Park. There are limited grocery options in the area so be prepared to bring food with you. Grocery stores in the area tend to be fairly expensive.

Rain jacket
A rain jacket serves two purposes in Glacier National Park – obviously it’s good for rainy days, but it’s also good as a wind breaker. Some of the summits in Glacier can get extremely windy, which will chill you off quickly. Having the proper gear is important – my favorite rain jacket is made of Gore tex. Gore tex is a bit of an investment but you will literally never buy another raincoat again (mine is over 10 years old, not peeling and still looks brand new).

FAQs About Glacier National Park Camping

How hard is it to get a campsite in Glacier?

There are two types of campsites at Glacier National Park – reserved and first-come, first-serve. Reserved campsites are available to book up to 6 months in advance. If you book 6-months ahead it’s possible to get campsites for the dates you’d like. 

Occasionally, reservation campsites are released the day before, and you may be able to get a last minute reservation, but you will have limited options as to which campground and which campsite.

First-come, first-serve campgrounds in Glacier National Park fill up early in the day. I recommend getting to the campground by 10am in the morning to secure a site for that evening.

How much does it cost to camp in Glacier National Park?

Campgrounds in Glacier National Park charge between $10 and $23 per site, per day, depending on the campground.

Can you camp anywhere in Glacier?

No, you cannot camp anywhere in Glacier National Park. Camping is permitted only in established campgrounds. This is part of the effort to keep Glacier National Park natural and unchanged for future generations.

How do I reserve a campsite in Glacier?

To reserve a campsite in Glacier National Park you must visit Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance. However, reservations can only be made for campgrounds which operate on the reservation system, and not for first-come, first-serve campgrounds within the park.