Is There Rv Camping In Glacier National Park

Glacier Camping Spot: Moose Creek Rv Park And B& b

Now, back to West Glacier , we find the Moose Creek RV Park which was formerly known as SanSuzEd RV Park. A wise name change in my humble opinion.

Here you find more outstanding reviews, a location that is hard to beat just 5 minutes down the road from the west entrance to Glacier National Park, and lots of outdoor activities to keep the whole family entertained and occupied .

Its location is better than our #1 pick, so nothing not to love there! Definitely worth a peek if you can find an opening. My guess is that finding availability closer to the park, at least on this west side, will be more of a challenge and require booking further in advance.

Getting To Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is located in northern Montana along the Canadian Border. The park has several entrances along its east and west borders. Glacier can be accessed via US Highway 2, 17, or 89. The closest airport to the park is Glacier Park International Airport located in Kalispell, MT. This airport is 30 miles from the West entrance. Other nearby airports include Missoula International Airport , Great Falls International Airport , and Calgary International Airport .

Amtrak offers rail service to the East Glacier, West Glacier, and Whitefish train depots on the Empire Builder line. Shuttles are offered from the depots to the park. Please call 855-733-4522 for more info.

Glacier National Park has a shuttle bus that travels the Going-to-the-Sun Road and there are several private tour operators who can arrange tours of Glacier.

Estimated Drive Time to Glacier National Park

• Kalispell, Montana 0.75 hours

• Badlands National Park 11.5 hours

All About Camping In Glacier National Park

Is there anything better than standing at the base of a jagged peak, swimming in a pristine alpine lake, or breathing in the crisp mountain air? Imagine yourself camping in Glacier National Park all of those things can be yours!

Camping in Glacier is an enchanting experience that will enhance your vacation to this Montana wilderness.

This guide is all about the frontcountry camping possibilities within the national park. It is designed to help you decide which campground is perfect for your needs!

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Know Your Vehicles Limits

The deeper you go into public lands, the more rugged the roads. Unpaved, rutted, and narrow are common qualities, so you need to know what your rig can handle. If you have a longer RV or travel trailer , you might not be able to turn around easily. If you have low clearance, take it slow and have a spotter watch your undercarriage. When we hit a tricky spot, we like to scope out the road on foot to see if our vintage camper can handle it. Pro Tip: When youre looking at the various boondocking apps , check the comments section if the road is bad, users will note that and often give tips for the best approach.

To Enjoy An Epic Drive Along The Going

One of the best highlights of visiting Glacier National Park is driving along the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Roadpreferably with the top down and wind blowing through your hair. Winding through the heart of the park, the 50-mile roadway hugs steep cliff sides, serving up sweeping views of the valley below that are so stunning they almost distract from its infamous tight, hairpin turns.

The drive connecting the parks east and west entrances takes about two hours, and leads to the Logan Pass Visitor Center which sits at a 6,700 elevation straddling the Continental Divide.

Inside youll find exhibits about Glacier National Park animals and plants, as well as helpful rangers to assist with trip planning. From here its worth exploring surrounding hiking trails like the Hidden Lake Overlook which serves up gorgeous, panoramic views of the alpine ecosystem, towering Clements Mountain, Mt. Oberlin and the lakejust be warned, the pathways can be packed with people.

The Logan Pass Visitor Center. Credit: NPS

Logan Pass. Credit: NPS

Back on the highway, keep an eye out for wildlife like mountain goats, finishing at St. Mary Lake in time to enjoy a sunset cruise. Camping in Glacier National Park means youll have plenty of time to enjoy the drive, so be sure to make the most of it!

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You Might See The Northern Lights

If visiting the park during the late fall, you may be lucky enough to experience the Aurora Borealis, more commonly known as the Northern Lights.

Ethereal curtains of constantly moving lights shimmer overhead when electromagnetic conditions are just right.

Its a fantastic display that will take your breath awaya sight not soon forgotten!

Be Bear Aware And Carry Bear Spray

Glacier National Park has over 300 resident grizzly bears.

Many visitors come to see these spectacular creatures, but few enjoy a random surprise encounter with them while hiking or camping.

Follow all protocols like proper food storage, hiking in groups, and carrying bear spray while in the backcountry.

The park strictly enforces a 100-yard distance from wildlife to protect the animals and humans, so dont attempt any selfies with a 400lb grizzly!

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Private Campgrounds Near Glacier

If youre looking for campgrounds with more amenities such as electricity and showers there are plenty of private campgrounds in the area. Road trippers who spend more than one week per year camping should consider joining a discount camping club. These clubs cost a small yearly fee to join and allow you to save up to 50% on participating campgrounds.

Some of the closest private campgrounds and RV parks surrounding Glacier include:

Glacier National Park Camping Reservations

Four campsites in Glacier National Park take reservations: Fish Creek, St. Mary, Apgar, and Many Glacier. You can make reservations up to six months in advance for Fish Creek and St. Mary, and up to 12 months in advance for group sites at Apgar. During the summer season, camping fees range between $10 and $65 per night. If you’re planning to camp at Glacier National Park during the peak season, be sure to make reservations for these sites in advance on the website to guarantee your spot.

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What You Need To Know Before You Head Out In Your Rv

“Deposit Photos” Photo: Deposit Photos

Situated on the Montana-Canada border, Glacier National Park offers snow-capped peaks, stunning waterfalls, glacial blue waters and verdant green vegetation. While you can explore many parts of Glacier in your RV, there are a few things that are important to take note of before you head north. Size restrictions apply in some campgrounds and on Going to the Sun Road, so read on before you make the commitment to explore the park in your RV.

In 2022, Glacier National Park will be on a ticketed entry system for Going-to-the-Sun Road and Polebridge Ranger Station. Be sure to reserve your ticket in advance. Learn more here.

Extra Large Or Group Tent

Picturesque dry sites in a peaceful, natural wooded setting with free WIFI but no electric . The rate is for 2 tents and 4 people . Each additional tent set up on the site is $10/night and each extra guest is $5/night. A picnic table and a fire ring with a flip-over grill grate at each site with parking for 1 vehicle. Overflow parking is also available. Check-in time is after 3 pm and check-out by 11 am on day of departure. Clean private HOT pay showers $.50 for 10 minutes and bathroom facilities are a short walk from your tent site. Any visitors must check-in at office and depart by 10 pm. Pets allowed at no cost but cannot be left outside unattended. Firewood and ice are available for sale 24/7 at the office.

Amenities:

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Glacier National Park Campgrounds: How To Get A Camp Site

There are 13 Glacier National Park campgrounds and most are on a first-come first-served basis.

Enquiries for availability can be made at the kiosks at the entrance to each campground.

Reservations can be made for camping at Fish Creek and St Mary Campgrounds with the National Park Reservation Service.

Heres how you register a campsite at any other Glacier National Park campground:

On a side note, some recommend roping off your campsite if you leave to go hiking without pitching your tent.

While on my last Glacier National Park, Montana vacation, my girlfriend and I failed to do that and a family moved in on our site, even though we had paid and put up a marker on the post!

After a three hour ordeal with Park Rangers, the family was forced to movebut boy, what a headache!

Now, I always recommend marking your Glacier National Park campgrounds with either a tent, chair, or roping off your campsite.

Its not worth the headache of someone trying to steal your site.

Rv Camping At Glacier National Park

RV camping in Glacier National Park can be a great way to save money as well. Renting a space at one of Glacier National Parks RV parks is a whole lot less expensive then staying in a hotel or lodge within the area, plus you have the option of preparing your own meals and snacks from the comfort of your home on wheels.You have many options available to you if you choose to spend your vacation at one of the campgrounds of Glacier National Park. There are several rustic but well-maintained gampgrounds within the park if you want to stay right in the heart of the Glacier wilderness. This can be fun if your primary focus is to spend your entire vacation hiking, fishing and enjoying the other wilderness activities of Glacier Park. However may people find that it is more convenient to stay at one of the RV parks or campgrounds just outside the park in one of the gateway communities to Glacier Park. Staying at one of these neighboring RV parks still allows for easy access to all of the attractions and activities that the park has to offer, but it also gives you the opportunity enjoy all the shops. boutiques, restaurants, grocery stores and entertainment venues available only in the gateway communities of the park.

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Whitefish Lake State Park

If you want to see a different part of Montana, apart from Glacier Park, Whitefish Lake is the epitome of the Treasure State. Located about 45 minutes from West Glacier, this state park has 25 campsites for both RVs and tents, bathrooms, and picnic areas.

Photo by Troy Smith

The park also has access to Whitefish Lakes swimming area and kayak and paddleboard rental services. For a state park, the other amenities are pretty substantial. The park allows for pets, has bear-resistant food lockers, showers, and firewood for sale. Some of their sites are also ADA accessible.

Glacier National Park Tip #: Finding Showers

The only negative in my opinion of camping inside the park is the lack of showers.

There are showers available to the public at Rising Sun and Swiftcurrent Campstores for a fee. Rising Sun is near St Marys and Swiftcurrent and is within walking distance from Many Glacier Campground.

The St. Marys and Fish Creek campgrounds have free token operated showers only for guests staying at those campgrounds .

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Doris Creek Campground Hungry Horse Reservoir

Less than 20 miles from the West Entrance, approximately halfway between West Glacier and Whitefish, the Hungry Horse Reservoir is another gem of Flathead National Forest. This high-elevation reservoir serves as flood control and a source of electricity, and it also provides several campgrounds to spend the night.

From the town of Hungry Horse, two paved roads lead to the Hungry Horse Dam and extend along either side of the reservoir. Doris Creek Campground is one of the three places to pitch a tent or park an RV immediately on the west side of the reservoir. It has nine sites available, accommodating RVs and tents, half of which are reservable ahead of time.

Doris Point Campground and Lost Johnny Point Campground are also nearby on the west side of the lake. On the east side of Hungry Horse Reservoir, Emery Bay Campground invites overnight visits with more than 24 first-come, first-served sites available. All visitors need to bring their own water when visiting campgrounds at Hungry Horse Reservoir.

Hungry Horse Dam Visitor Center

Besides being a great free camping spot near Glacier National Park, the reservoir itself has some interesting history and a Visitor Center at the dam.

The Hungry Horse dam has a Visitor Center and Museum which we visited to learn more about the 564-ft structure and how it came to be.

The Dam was completed in 1953 and was the 3rd largest and 2nd tallest concrete dam at the time . It is primarily used for hydro-electric power and flood control in the springtime. When full, the dam can hold bad 1.2 trillion gallons of water in the reservoir that stretches 34 miles long.

Its glory hole emergency spillway is the largest in the world. The glory hole is a unique feature to a handful of dams in the west which allows dam operators to release a lot of water quickly to prevent water from overtopping the dam. We were advised that we would NOT want to be around if this thing had to be used: imagine a firehose 64ft in diameter blasting water out that has just fallen 490 feet!

One of the most interesting things we learned about the Dam was how they cleared the trees behind the dam before it was allowed to fill. They had learned from previous dams that the trees needed to be removed beforehand or else they would be a major problem to clean up once they eventually came loose from the lake floor. Dead branches and rotting trees could float to the surface and clog the dam intakes.

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Why Visit Glacier National Park

If the park photos alone dont convince you to visit Glacier National Park, know that its even more stunning in person. The park is home to some of the most pristine forests, meadows, mountains, and lakes. In fact, there are 762 lakes in Glacier National Park, only 131 of which are named.

Its also home to 26 glaciers and 175 mountains! Thats not to mention the wildlife youre guaranteed to see with 71 species of mammals roaming the park. Mountain goats are the official symbol of the park, and bears are spotted so often that youll want to be armed with bear spray at all times.

The campgrounds near the Apgar Visitor Center are large and offer an excellent basecamp for exploring the park. From the campground, its a short walk or bike ride to the village, where theres a small store, gift shop, restaurant, vendors for renting kayaks, and the beach on Lake McDonald, which is one of the parks best locations for sunset watching.

In addition to its natural beauty, Glacier National Park has other unique qualities that set it apart from other parks. It has over 300 historical structures that are on the National Register of Historic Places.

From chalets and hotels to visitor centers and barracks, youll feel like youre in Europe when you visit these buildings. The park also neighbors one of Montanas most popular ski towns, Whitefish. Its definitely worth a visit to stroll down the main street, check out the shops, and grab a bite to eat.

Rv Camping In Glacier National Park

There are no RV hookups in Glacier National Park. The longer your RV is the more limited your camping option. Not every campsite in a campground can accommodate the maximum length trailer.

The following Glacier campgrounds can accommodate RVs or travel trailers:

• Apgar Campground up to 40 ft in length
• Avalanche Campground- up to 26 ft in length
• Bowman Lake Campground up to 21 ft in length
• Cut Bank Campground No RVs or trailiers
• Fish Creek Campground up to 35 ft in length
• Kintla Lake Campground up to 21 ft in length
• Logging Creek Campground up to 21 ft in length
• Many Glacier Campground up to 35 ft in length
• Quartz Creek Campground No RVs or trailiers
• Rising Sun Campground up to 25 ft in length
• Sprague Creek Campground No RVs or trailiers
• St. Mary Campground up to 40 ft in length
• Two Medicine Campground up to 35 ft in length

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Sleeping On A Regular Mattress

Anyone with the slightest hint of a back problem knows that a good, supportive mattress is essential every night. Its frustrating to wake up with a sore back and neck when you are supposed to be enjoying your getaway.

The best you will usually get with a tent is a blow-up air mattress or a foam sleeping pad. With an RV, it is just like buying a mattress for home. You can invest in something that will keep you comfortable this trip and many more in the future.

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