Glacier National Park is located in northern Montana along the Canadian Border. Apgar on the west side and St Marys on the east side both can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet long. Campsites are suitable for tents, trailers and RVs with the exception of . All facilities are closed except for one pit toilet. We pulled into site 85 which has an amazing view and is about 100 yards from the lake. Please ensure that your fire out full out before leaving it unattended. And sites 1-36 in the Two Medicine Campground. In sites 49-84 in the Rising Sun Campground. We had a site with a direct view of the lake and mountain range. The following campsites do NOT allow generators at any time: At Sprague Creek Campground, In Loop C in Fish Creek Campground, In sites 49-84 in the Rising Sun Campground, In sites 86-100 in the Many Glacier Campground, In Loop A of St. Mary's, We accidentally arrived too early, around 1:00 am and slept in our car until first light. The Two Medicine Campground is planned to open Saturday with limited sites, on a first-come first-serve basis. You might want to check out this new blog if you're visiting this month: https://www.nomadswithapurpose.com/glacier-national-park-september/, Thinking about going up there in there at the end of august,and riding our harly up is it cold in the days that time of year. There is quite a bit of free camping in the area, although not especially close to West Glacier. When does the Ptarmigan Tunnel open? Big time hiking around here! The drive from Apgar Visitor center to Many Glacier is about 2.5 hours if you dont drive the Going to the Sun Road and take highway 2 and 464. A select number of sites have unobstructed lake views. Open Season: Middle of June - Middle of September. Estimated Drive Time to Glacier National Park, Estimated Drive time to Glacier National Park from nearby National Parks. We also enjoyed the bike paths surrounding the Apgar campground and that it was a short walk to Apgar Village for drinks, snacks, or supplies. The drive from Apgar to St Marys is called the Going-to-the-Sun road and it is a must do when you visit Glacier. Logging Creek Campground is a small campground located on the west side of the park. Our plan is to head to 2 Medicine campground fairly early 4th of July morning (via the road running south of the park). The Going to the Sun road corridor, which can be accessed via West Glacier on the west or St Marys on the east. Camping in Glacier National Park is a great way to experience this spectacular place. Copyright 2023 Nomads With A Purpose | Trellis Framework by Mediavine, you will not need to obtain a ticketed entry reservation, get your reservation here in our guide to Glaciers reservation system, Glacier National Park reservations in our simple guide, Click here to see a full list of shuttle stops and departure times. Our gps kept warning us about a 21ft limit on the road in, and wanted to reroute us, but the campground road turnoff is before the restricted road area. Be prepared to show a paper or digital copy of your reservation. Cell service is spotty, can occasionally send/receive a text when the stars align just right, Outstanding sites , several will accommodate larger rigs . Logan Pass is where our favorite hike the Highline Trail begins from. Off season rates reduce to $10/night ($5 senior pass). Reported by Spirit of Adventure 2.0 on 8/31/2019. By 8:00 am we picked our site, set up camp, and enjoyed a light breakfast by the lake. Contact Information Mailing. If you come after hours, your information and site number will be posted at the kiosk window. Thanks a lot! I am not sure about all the campgrounds but at the many glacier campground people start lining up first thing in the morning and wait for a ranger to come out at seven and assign spots. Tennis Has Met Its Match: Play Pickleball at These 45 RV Campgrounds, 18 Campgrounds Where You Can Stay Cool This Summer. This campground is nested on the western side of the park in a dense forest near the shores of Lake McDonald. Generally campers will stop at the fee station and pick up a fee envelope, proceed into the campground and find an available campsite. If your only interest in the Park is the GTTS road this area is not for you. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. For ease of trailhead access and to enjoy Lake MacDonald, I recommned trying to stay 2 or 3 nights at Apgar if you can. Sprague Creek Campground is a small campground on the west side of Glacier. Gorgeous views all around. We plan on doing short hikes all around the park. You may want to also join us on Instagram and follow our travels.. There is a boat rental kiosk located at the boat dock if you're interested in taking a spin on the lake in a canoe or kayak. Apgar campground is nice because you can walk down to Apgar Lake for sunrise/sunset. We provide tools and tips to discover First-Come, First-Served Campgrounds Reservation Campgrounds and may fill at certain times, but we got the pull through site we wanted by simply arriving early and waiting till the . This year, they had the As soon as Deas and I pulled into the Two Medicine campground, we knew we were in a special place. Travis and I wish we had more in-depth details to share about backcountry in Glacier, but unfortunately at the time we last visited, we did not have the proper skills or experience and only completed day hikes & car camping. Robyn (right) and oldest daughter, Gabi (left), are the co-founders of nomadswithapurpose.com and the creators behind the growing multi-media adventure and lifestyle brand. When will Going-to-the-Sun Road open? Answer 1 of 10: For some background, we are coming into Glacier from a trip to Yellowstone the second week in August. Enjoy your visit! Group sites are for groups of 9 to 24 campers. Two Medicine Campground, Glacier National Park - Recreation.gov Alert: Reservation tip: While searching for available campsites, scroll down to view all campsites within the campground. ADA specific sites: Yes, the designated campsite is #20. Please take a look at the area details below for more information about visiting this location. Two Medicine Campground: Tent campers, beware of noise in the off season - See 49 traveller reviews, 66 candid photos, and great deals for Two Medicine Campground at Tripadvisor. Private campgrounds and hotels are available outside of the park as well. Showers are available at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. This is the cost of a basic tent site without electricity at Two Medicine Lake Campground inside the park. Most of the campgrounds are first-come-first-serve but fill up quickly so try to get there before 10 a.m. While it does provides a shuttle up to Logan Pass, one of the absolute best parts of visiting Glacier National Park is the Going-to-the-Sun Road so youre not going to want to miss out on this scenic highway. We have a normal sized car and don't need to glamp. Via US Hwy 2 to Hwy 89: 90 miles, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. If this is your first time to Glacier National Park, its important to know that it can be quite a long drive to get from one area to another and hopefully, this blog will help you plan accordingly. Between May 26 and June 30, you also need a reservation for Going-to-the-Sun Road from the west side. By 8:00 am we picked our site, set up camp, and enjoyed a light . ADA specific sites: Yes, the designated campsites are A8, A10, A12, A34, B65, B68, D158, and D160. There are multiple trail heads in walking distance of the campgrounds. Kicking off 2023 with one of our biggest and most, Exploring an ice cave inside of one the largest gl, Last month I had the pleasure of leading a group o, We've had a pretty epic year traveling around the, I don't know if we're really brave or really crazy, We hiked all the way to the bottom of the world's, An essential part of any tour to Salar de Uyuni -, Nothing for thousands of miles but salt.. lots and, Sunset Magic on Salar de Uyuni At the end of, It feels like we say this too often but the Ata, We're typically not city people, but we absolutely, Banff Done Better: 7 Reasons to Visit Banff in the Winter, Visiting Banff in Winter: The Ultimate Guide, A Winter Trip to Banff: The Perfect Five Day Itinerary, Descriptions, distances, & other necessary details for planning a day hike in Glacier. We accidentally arrived too early, around 1:00 am and slept in our car until first light. The only negative in my opinion of camping inside the park is the lack of showers. Please check our directions, transportation, & road conditions page for the sections of road that are open. If you are a large group cam[ping together, group sites in Apgar can be reserved as well. Please note that these are rough estimates and can vary greatly. There are no gas stations in the park so make sure you fuel up in West Glacier. I wish someone would have told us that this campground is closed in May. Hi, sorry for the delayed response. The lodge here is small but a best kept secret. Entrance fees can be paid for at the entrance gate. West Glacier to St. Mary (Going-to-the-Sun Road): 50 miles, 2 to 2 1/2 hours We didn't have any Veriz Visited northwest Montana for many weeks at a time over the last few yearsif you can get into this campground and want to be off grid then this is a must. Most campgrounds have NPS designated storage lockers and bear-proof trash cans available as well. This area is often overlooked for the Going-to-the-Sun Road or Many Glacier but it is an area not to be missed. Most of the major lakes are located along the Going of the Sun Road, but definitely take the time to explore other sections of the park to experience even more stunning bodies of water. There are showers available to the public at Rising Sun and Swiftcurrent Campstoresfor a fee. Find incredible places and experiences that help you bring home a story through The sites dont have much privacy but they are spacious enough. Please select a reason for flagging this item: 2023 Campendium Inc. All rights reserved. Get your desired campground and check the campsite board for directions on claiming your site. Two Medicine campground is located in Glacier National Park and has 100 single-family campsites around the shores of Pray and Two Medicine Lakes. Select stock photography provided depositphotos. : Yes, 3 sites can accommodate RVs up to 40 ft and 22 sites can accommodate RVs up to 35 ft. Facilities: Water, picnic tables, fire pits, flush toilets, showers, Season: St. Mary Campground is open year-round. Were renting a camper van from September 18 to 25. There is a camp store right next to the camp ground which has some and most of the camping amenities needed and a small grill or kitchen for some eating needs. Glacier National Park, Near East Glacier Park, Montana. Whether you are camping in the park or have accommodation outside the park, if you want to avoid crowds I highly recommend getting to the park visitor center early because the line for the shuttle as well as the crowds on the trails can get pretty bad by 9 a.m.. We were not lucky enough to get one of the open sites near the lake. Is hiking the Highline Trail scary? Two Medicine Campground to Open - National Park Service Reservations are can be made up to six months in advance. Note that the section from Avalanche campground to Logan Pass, has vehicle restictions. more. There was no cell service in camp during my last visit but there was minimal service on the entrance road, near the Glacier National Park sign. Not every campsite in a campground can accommodate the maximum length trailer. more information on current conditions directions, transportation, & road conditions page, Going-to-the-Sun Road General Information page. Its great if you can get a campsite at all 3 and then you are close to all the best hikes in Glacier. ADA specific sites: Yes, the designated campsites are C146 and C148. Going to the Sun Road is themain road that connects the west side to the east side. Sites for big rigs are available, but limited. There are camp hosts on duty and the area is regularly patrolled by Park Rangers as well. It takes a lot of time to get into the park if you stay in West Glacier and especially if you stay further out in Columbia Falls, Kalispell, or Whitefish. 1-877-444-6777.Many Glacier and Two Medicine Campgrounds have one group site at each campground, and both are on a first-come first-serve basis. Be the first to add a video for Two Medicine Campground! Note: We didnt have any cell service in the park so its a good idea to check campground availability when you are in Columbia Falls or West Glacier so you know which side of Glacier to drive into. Get complete details onhow toget your reservation here in our guide to Glaciers reservation system. Hike with bear spray, where bells and let the kids talk or sing on the trails. To see the Going-to-the-Sun Road, you can take the shuttle from St Marys to Logan Pass and then change shuttles to ride down to Avalanche and back up in order to see the views. Two Medicine Campground, Glacier National Park - Recreation.gov We drove all the way here only to turn around and go stay in a (ugh!) Learn how your comment data is processed. Facilities: picnic tables, fire pits, pit toilets, Season: Logging Campground is open from July to mid-September. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Our Total Expense: $827. ADA specific sites: Yes, the designated campsite is #1. There is a shuttle stop at the campground. There are a lot of campgrounds nearby in West Glacier, a few miles further in Columbia Falls or Whitefish, and even free camping options. The other loop allows generators and is more open and Reservations Accepted? Like all backcountry trips, make sure to evaluate all possible terrain and weather obstacles and take the appropriate precautions to prepare for your trip. Read the full disclosure policy here. Even without a reservation, everything worked out great because of our pre-planning. They are passionate about adventuring in the outdoors through surfing, climbing, mountain biking, and hiking. The road itself was designed to showcase Glaciers natural beauty by blending the road into the existing landscape. You can check this website for up-to-date information on which campgrounds currently have spaces available. Book campsites ahead of time if you plan that early in advance. St. Mary Campground is one of the most popular in the park. We have complied all the fill times for each individual campground on our website so you can get an idea of how early you might want to show up. Campground reservations can be made online at Receation.gov. Mary Campground has 2 group sites that can be reserved up to one year in advance. This is a first come first serve campsite and has the benefit of being close to the trailhead of Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake, both of which are good hikes for younger children. Scenic Point in Glacier National Park: Ultimate Hike Guide - Two Outliers Bathrooms were very clean, lots of potable water spigots, access to the lake, stunning views! We walked all over the park and attended a nightly ranger talk. A perfect shuttle-stop hike; 5.4 miles round trip with a fairly challenging elevation gain and an amazing view at the end. The east side houses taller mountains, sweeping plains, and grassy areas surrounded by hardy alpine plants and pine trees. RV & trailer information - 10 sites will accommodate up to a 35-foot RV or truck and trailer combination. Dump Station: Yes. East Glacier to Two Medicine Shuttle. Its short distance and a low elevation gain also make it another great hike to do on a shuttle stop. Will we be able to camp out of the car pretty easy at that time of year? I'm pretty sure you do NOT need to obtain a GTSR ticket. We have an entire blog with details of our favorite hikes in Glacier. Thursday, August 17 Two Medicine Campground (NPS), Glacier National Park, MT, $10. ADA specific sites: Yes, there are 2 designated campsites are #3 and #7. Apgar Campground mid-afternoon during summer, rarely fills rest of the year, Bowman Lake Campground mid to late afternoon, Cut Bank Campground mid to late afternoon (if it fill), Kintla Lake Campground early to mid-afternoon, St. Mary Campground reservation during summer, rarely fills rest of the year, Two Medicine Campground early to late afternoon, 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. Unpredictable spring snow storms or other weather related events can slow down plowing progress. Reservations can only be made in advance for the Fish Creek, Many Glacier, and St. Mary campgrounds. It is a short hike from the campground to the lake. (Traviss favorite experience). We shall return! 10 LGBTQ+-Friendly Campgrounds Throughout the U.S. Video: 5 Amazing Places to Camp for Free in the Western U.S. This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com, Wow! ADA specific sites: Yes, the designated campsite is #13. A hotel, restaurant, camp store, showers, and boat tours are available from this location. If you cant get a campsite inside Glacier National Park, dont worry. A nice getaway spot, if you want to do things in the Two Medicine area, but too far to access other areas of the park. Glacier National Park occupies a special place in our hearts as one of our favorite parks in the US. Camping in the park is not only gorgeous, but it puts you close to the shuttle service which will save you time and get you on your hikes earlier when the trails are less crowded, plus you get better photos in the early morning light. Throughout Glacier National Park wildlife is plentiful: bighorn sheep, mountain goats, moose, elk, grizzly and black bears, wolverines, deer and so many more. Typical Fill Time: Reservation during summer, rarely fills the rest of the year. Kintla Lake Campground is a remote frontcountry campground near the Canadian border. West Glacier to Polebridge: 28 miles, 1 hour. Potable water is accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities provide flush toilets and sinks with running water (during peak season). There are numerous campgrounds available within Glacier National Park, of which only Fish Creek and Saint Mary take reservations (not required, but probably a good idea during the peak summer tourist period). This large campground is located on the east side of the park near Many Glacier Hotel and has easy access to a range of services including a camp store and restaurant. The Highline Trail is one of the more popular trails and is often closed well into the summer season due to snow. Listed details from Spring 2018. Tell at a glance whether pills have been taken. During peak season millions of tourists descend upon the Going of the Sun Road resulting in traffic jams, crowded viewpoints, and long lines for everything. As an additional, more-rustic option, the parks primitive campgrounds do not include running water and tend to stay open during the fall and winter. Easy access to lots of great hiking, useful general store . Depending on the campgrounds location and amenities, campsite prices can range from $10 $23 in the summer, with cheaper prices during the off seasons. Its shorter if you take the GTSR but then again, youll have traffic congestion and probably want to spend some time up at Logan Pass. Max RV Length: 25 feet. We were there in mid September and it was very windy. The campground is located near Apgar Village and associated amenities such as visitor center, camp store, gift shops, restaurant, boat rentals, and shuttle service. Each mode of transportation has its pros and cons, but both serves as a great option to explore the most popular portion of the park. During a visit to Glacier National Park it is near impossible for you tire of seeing another one of the thousands of glacier fed lakes scattered throughout the park. Answer 1 of 8: Hi All, 30 year old dad and 10 year old son tent camping Thursday through Sunday 9/11-9/14 in Glacier. Depending on where you would like to camp campsites can be a little hard to get. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I did however appreciate that the market in Apgar Village sold cold beer and at a very reasonable price! ADA specific sites: Yes, there are 2 designated campsites are C152 and O122. Many Glacier and Rising Sun campgrounds have showers for purchase from the Swiftcurrent and Rising Sun Campstores. With that, below you will find our guide for planning a trip to Glacier National Park! Sears Motel and Campground 1023 Highway 49 N # 275, East Glacier Park, MT 59434 (406) 226-4432 Report inappropriate content gnp4me Mahtomedi, Minnesota Level Contributor 2,121 posts 16 reviews 5 helpful votes 2. Overall the park was awesome, it offered a quiet place to relax and a great place to get your trek on. RVs? Our problem is that the train is scheduled to arrive at 6:45pm and according to what I read in the forums, will most probably be late. Click here to see a full list of shuttle stops and departure times. For group site reservations, 5 of Apgar Campground's 10 group sites can be reserved up to one year in advance. In addition, once the Going-to-the-Sun road opens, reservations are required to drive the scenic road up to Logan Pass between May 26 and September 10. Outdoor + Adventure Travel The campground sits in a mature Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, and quaking aspen forest and most sites have some shade. Boat tours and horse rides are also available at the Lake McDonald Lodge. The campground is nice and surrounding fall colors make the lake shine. Would you recommend either Two Medicine or Avalanche or is there a better one? It was very confusing to find. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (406) 888-7800. The campground is located near Logging Lake. What a spectacular place to stay our first night at Glacier. Facilities: Water, fire pits, pit toilets, some sites have picnic tables, Season: Kintla Lake Campground is open from late May to mid-September, Typical Fill Time: Fills early to mid-afternoon. Boat tours around the lake are offered during the peak summer months and are pretty popular. Some areas allow generators. You can hike directly on the Continental Divide on the Highline Trail at Logan Pass easily one of the parks most popular hikes. Our programs begin around the third week of June and begin tapering off around Labor Day. Apgar provides convenient access to the Going-to-the-Sun Road,. Other nearby airports include Missoula International Airport (MSO), Great Falls International Airport (GTF), and Calgary International Airport (YYC). We have a large group of campers, do you have group sites? Many Glacier and Two Medicine can accommodate up to 35 ft. Avalanche and Rising Sun can accommodate up to 25 ft. There is a ranger station and campstore in close proximity, but no other services or accommodations are located in the valley. Camping in Glacier can put you close to many of the parks major attractions. 54 per person). new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, Lake has been closed to public watercraft for several years due to staff shortages for watercraft inspections. Trailheads start at a higher elevation than those on the west side of the park, resulting in a shorter ascent to reach scenic vistas. Spirit of Adventure 2.0 would stay here again, Two medicine is a very sought out park, so arrive early. Two Medicine is an iconic, stand-alone in the park - both for its scenic views and history. Bowman Lake Campground is a remote campground reached via a rough, dusty, dirt road with blind curves. East Glacier to Two Medicine Shuttle - Tripadvisor This campground is ideally situated along the Going-to-the-Sun Road next to St. Mary Lake. Any idea on. I had sporadic Verizon coverage when I walked down to the lake. : Sort of, vehicles are limited to 21 ft in length, Facilities: portable water, vault toilets, fire pit, Season: Bowman Lake is open from late May to September, Typical Fill Time: Fills mid to late afternoon. : Yes, 13 sites can accommodate RVs up to 35 ft. Facilities: dump station, flush toilets, fire pits, shower, water, Season: Many Glacier Campground is open from late May to late September. Most of our higher elevation trails are not snow and hazard free until mid-July. There is a hand cable available for about 50 yards. There is also Many Glacier, which is on the northeast side. While camping, where do I store food to keep it safe from wildlife? Sprague Creek and Fish Creek are also good options nearby. St. Mary Campground is open for winter camping. It is not uncommon for plowing crews to need to re-plow sections of park roads when weather events happen. Campendium is an Amazon associate site and earns from qualifying purchases. Many activities at campground. We have five kids and have never had a negative experience. The park itself does not have much for food/restaurants. You absolutely must stop and take in the views at Logan Pass! And there is a gift shop, general store and snack bar located near the boat dock for any last minute items that you may need. Trailheads start at a higher elevation than those on the west side, so less ascent is required to reach scenic vistas. Flinsch Peak : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Travis + Stephanie = Travanie Mad Wolf Mountain : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering - SummitPost Hey! If you like getting off the beaten path and are looking to be closer to some backcountry trails, or are hoping to see a bear, then this is the campground for you. Whether you wish to tent-camp, camp with an RV or other vehicle, one or more of the park campgrounds should suit your interest. This Glacier campground is located in the old-growth cedar and hemlock trees. As the other half of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Waterton Lakes offers fantastic hiking, scenic boat cruises and several scenic drives all centered around the Townsite of Waterton. Campers are reminded to keep a clean camp and obey food storage regulations.Animals are attracted to food and food odors. No data but was able to make a call and text. If you have a Service Reservation including campsites, lodging, a boat ride, a bus ride, a horseback ride, or guided hike reserved, you will not need to obtain a ticketed entry reservation. There are also private campgrounds outside the park that sell shower service.