The Booking Reality
Glacier's front-country campgrounds number thirteen, with over a thousand sites combined. Seven take reservations through Recreation.gov; the other six are first-come, first-served. The booking window opens 180 days out at 8 AM Mountain Time. For July and August at the popular spots, you need to be logged in and clicking the second availability drops. Fish Creek and Many Glacier usually sell out within ninety minutes on opening day for peak dates.
What the park website doesn't mention: the first-come campgrounds (Apgar, Bowman Lake, Kintla Lake, Logging Creek, Quartz Creek, and Sprague Creek) often have openings midweek even in July. If you can flex your schedule, those are your best bet without a reservation.
Start with our complete visitor guide for park orientation, then come back here for the specifics on where to sleep.
Campground at a Glance
| Campground | Total Sites | Reservation Type | Season | Fee/Night | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apgar | 194 | First-come | Late May-September | $20-$30 | 3,200 ft |
| Avalanche Creek | 87 | Reservation | June-September | $20-$30 | 3,300 ft |
| Bowman Lake | 48 | First-come | June-September | $20 | 4,000 ft |
| Cut Bank | 20 | First-come | July-September | $15 | 4,500 ft |
| Fish Creek | 180 | Reservation | June-September | $23-$30 | 3,200 ft |
| Kintla Lake | 13 | First-come | June-September | $20 | 4,200 ft |
| Logging Creek | 7 | First-come | July-September | $15 | 3,800 ft |
| Many Glacier | 109 | Reservation | July-September | $23-$30 | 4,800 ft |
| Quartz Creek | 7 | First-come | July-September | $15 | 4,000 ft |
| Rising Sun | 84 | Reservation | June-September | $23-$30 | 4,500 ft |
| Sprague Creek | 25 | First-come | May-September | $20 | 3,300 ft |
| St. Mary | 148 | Reservation | June-September | $20-$30 | 4,500 ft |
| Two Medicine | 100 | Reservation | June-September | $20-$30 | 5,000 ft |
None of the front-country campgrounds have hookups. No water, electric, or sewer at any site. Generators are permitted during specific hours at most campgrounds, but enforcement varies.
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Apgar Campground: Complete Guide
Setting and Atmosphere
Apgar is flat and forested, near the park's southwest corner, a quarter-mile from the visitor center. You'll hear more road noise from Going-to-the-Sun Road here than at any other campground. The trade-off: immediate access to the village store, showers, and the Lake McDonald boat dock.
The ground is mostly packed gravel and dirt. Sites are close together compared to Bowman or Kintla. You can hear your neighbors' conversations at adjacent sites.
Loop Breakdown
Apgar has four loops - A, B, C, and D. Loops A and B are open to both tents and RVs. Loop C is tent-only with slightly more spacing between sites. Loop D is the newest section, with larger pull-through sites designed for RVs up to 35 feet.
For tent campers, Loop C is the clear choice. The sites along the back edge of Loop C back up to thicker forest, giving marginally better privacy. Sites C-15 through C-22 are the quietest.
For RVs, Loop D sites 1 through 12 are the largest. Anything over 30 feet will struggle in Loops A or B.
Sites to avoid: A-5 through A-10 sit closest to the entrance road and get the most traffic noise through the night. B-1 through B-4 are directly adjacent to the dump station.
Facilities
Flush toilets are available in all loops. Coin-operated showers are at the Apgar Village store, a short walk from the campground. Potable water spigots are located in each loop. There is a dump station near the entrance.
What the Booking Site Doesn't Show
The bear activity here is moderate - food storage boxes are provided at every site and are required for all food, trash, and scented items. Rangers will tell you that Apgar has the most consistent ranger presence of any campground, which means generator hour enforcement is stricter here than at Two Medicine or Many Glacier. Expect quiet hours (10 PM to 6 AM) to be enforced with actual patrols.
Cell service drops out at Apgar entirely. Verizon and AT&T both lose signal about a mile before the park entrance.
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Fish Creek Campground: Complete Guide
Setting and Atmosphere
Fish Creek is the largest campground in the park at 180 sites, located about two miles north of Apgar on the west side of Lake McDonald. The setting is denser forest than Apgar - Douglas fir and western larch provide good shade at most sites. You can't see the lake from any campsite, but the Fish Creek boat launch is a five-minute walk.
This is a family campground. The density of kids, bikes, and campfire smoke is high in July and August. If you want solitude, this isn't it. If you need a base camp with reliable facilities and your kids need other kids to run around with, this is the one.
Loop Breakdown
Fish Creek has five loops. Loops 1 and 2 are RV-friendly with larger sites and easier access. Loops 3, 4, and 5 are primarily tent sites with narrower roads and more trees.
Loop 5 has the best sites for tent campers wanting privacy. Sites 5-18 through 5-28 are tucked into a corner of the loop with thick undergrowth between sites. The trade-off is a longer walk to the restrooms.
Loop 1 sites are the most exposed - minimal shade, close to the road, and the first to fill with RV generator noise.
Best sites for families: Loop 3, sites 3-10 through 3-20. These are near the restrooms and the bike path, with enough space for a tent and a canopy.
Facilities
Flush toilets throughout. Coin showers are at the Apgar Village store, a 5-10 minute drive. Potable water at central locations in each loop. No dump station at Fish Creek - the nearest is at Apgar.
What the Booking Site Doesn't Show
The road noise here is less than Apgar but still present. You'll hear vehicles on Going-to-the-Sun Road as a low hum during the day. Nighttime is quiet.
Bear activity is higher here than at Apgar. The park service reports more food storage violations at Fish Creek than any other campground. Lock everything up.
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Many Glacier Campground: Complete Guide
Setting and Atmosphere
Many Glacier sits at 4,800 feet in the northeast section of the park, surrounded by some of the most dramatic mountain terrain in the lower 48. The campground is in a valley with Swiftcurrent Lake visible from some sites and Grinnell Point rising directly to the south.
This is the premier base camp for serious hikers. The Many Glacier Hotel is a short walk away, the trailheads for Grinnell Glacier, Iceberg Lake, and the Highline Trail are all within a mile. The atmosphere is more alpine and more rugged than the west-side campgrounds.
The campground is also the windiest in the park. Afternoon gusts are common, and tents need to be properly guyed out.
Loop Breakdown
Many Glacier has two sections. The main loop has 109 sites arranged in a rough circle. The group campsite area is separate, about 200 yards east.
Sites 1 through 20 are the most protected from wind, tucked against a ridge. Sites 40 through 60 are the most exposed - tents here catch the full afternoon wind off the glacier.
Best sites: 12, 14, and 17 for wind protection and views of Mount Gould. Site 48 is the worst - directly in the wind channel and closest to the generator area.
Sites 80 through 109 are walk-in tent sites, requiring you to carry gear 50 to 200 feet from the parking area. These are the quietest sites in the campground.
Facilities
Flush toilets, but no showers. Potable water at two locations in the loop. A small camp store at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn nearby has basic supplies.
What the Booking Site Doesn't Show
Cell service drops out at the park entrance road. Once you turn off Highway 89 toward Many Glacier, you have no signal until you leave.
The bear activity here is significant. Grizzlies are regularly seen in the campground, especially in early morning and evening. Rangers do evening bear safety talks at the amphitheater. Pay attention.
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St. Mary Campground: Complete Guide
Setting and Atmosphere
St. Mary sits at the east entrance of Going-to-the-Sun Road, at 4,500 feet elevation. The campground is in a relatively open area with scattered lodgepole pine - less forested than the west-side campgrounds. The St. Mary River runs along the northern edge of the campground, and you can hear it from most sites.
This is the most convenient campground for accessing the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and the St. Mary Visitor Center. The opening to the road is literally at the campground entrance.
Loop Breakdown
St. Mary has two loops. Loop A has 84 sites and is reservation-only. Loop B has 64 sites and is first-come, first-served.
Loop A sites along the river side (A-1 through A-20) are the best in the campground. You get river noise (which masks neighbor noise) and the best breeze for summer nights. Loop B is more open, with less shade and less privacy.
Sites to avoid: A-40 through A-50 are closest to Highway 89 and get road noise all night.
Facilities
Flush toilets. No showers. Potable water at central locations. A dump station is available but has a separate fee.
What the Booking Site Doesn't Show
The wind here is less than Many Glacier but still notable. Afternoons get breezy. The sun exposure at St. Mary is intense - bring shade structures for daytime use.
Cell service drops out about two miles before the campground on Highway 89. Don't count on making calls.
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Two Medicine Campground: Complete Guide
Setting and Atmosphere
Two Medicine is in the southeastern corner of the park at 5,000 feet, in a valley surrounded by Sinopah Mountain and Rising Wolf Mountain. The setting is quieter and more remote than the more popular campgrounds. Fewer visitors make it this far, which means less noise and more available sites even during peak season.
The Two Medicine Lake is a five-minute walk from the campground, and the boat tours and ranger-led programs launch from the dock there. The atmosphere is relaxed, almost sleepy compared to the bustle of Fish Creek or Many Glacier.
Loop Breakdown
Two Medicine has a single main loop with 100 sites arranged in a horseshoe shape. Sites 1 through 30 are along the outer edge, with more space between neighbors. Sites 31 through 60 are in the inner loop, closer together and closer to the restrooms.
Best sites: 8, 12, and 15 for views of Sinopah Mountain. Site 22 is a walk-in tent site with excellent privacy. Site 45 is the worst - directly across from the restroom and the first to get foot traffic at dawn.
Facilities
Flush toilets. No showers. Potable water at two locations. A small general store at Two Medicine Lake has limited groceries and camping supplies.
What the Booking Site Doesn't Show
The mosquitoes at Two Medicine are the worst in the park in June and early July. Bring repellent and consider a head net. The lake attracts them, and they are aggressive.
Cell service drops out completely at the Two Medicine entrance station. You are off-grid once you turn off Highway 49.
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Bowman Lake and Kintla Lake Campgrounds
Both are first-come, first-served and both sit on the North Fork of the Flathead River drainage, accessed via gravel roads. Bowman Lake has 48 sites. Kintla Lake has 13. Neither has potable water - you must bring your own or treat lake water. Vault toilets only. No generators permitted at either.
These are the most remote front-country campgrounds in the park. The drive to Bowman takes about 90 minutes from West Glacier on a washboard gravel road. Kintla is another 30 minutes past Bowman. The isolation is the point.
Bowman Lake sites along the lake edge (1 through 15) are the best for views and breeze. Kintla Lake sites are all close to the lake and all good.
Quartz Creek and Logging Creek are even smaller - 7 sites each, vault toilets only, no water, no reservations. These are for people who want to be alone and know what they're doing.
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Reservation Strategy
The Recreation.gov window opens at 8:00 AM Mountain Time, 180 days before your arrival date. For a July 15 stay, you book on January 16. The system releases sites in batches - not all sites at a given campground go live on the same day. About 80 percent of sites release at the 180-day mark. The remaining 20 percent release 14 days before the arrival date.
For cancellations: check Recreation.gov at 7:00 AM Mountain Time daily. Cancellations are processed overnight and appear in the system by early morning. The 14-day-out release is also a good time to check - many people cancel when weather forecasts look bad.
For walk-in campgrounds (Apgar, Bowman, Kintla, Sprague Creek): arrive before 11 AM. The campground host logs departures throughout the morning, and sites open up as people pack out. Apgar fills earliest - by 9 AM in July. Bowman and Kintla have more availability, but a Friday afternoon arrival in July still risks finding no sites.
Group sites at Many Glacier and Two Medicine require a separate reservation through Recreation.gov. The group sites at Many Glacier hold up to 25 people. Two Medicine group sites hold up to 15. Both book out 180 days in advance for summer weekends.
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What to Know Before You Arrive
Bear Storage
All front-country campgrounds require food storage in bear-resistant containers. The park provides bear-proof food storage boxes at every campsite - large metal bins that fit multiple coolers and bags. Use them for everything scented: food, trash, toiletries, sunscreen, even empty coolers. Rangers check compliance daily. Fines start at $150.
Fire Restrictions
Fire restrictions change weekly based on conditions. As of 2026, campfires are permitted only in designated fire rings within campgrounds. During red-flag conditions or drought, Stage 1 or Stage 2 restrictions may ban all campfires. Check the park website or call the visitor center before you arrive. The Apgar Visitor Center posts daily updates on a whiteboard outside the entrance.
Quiet Hours
Quiet hours run 10 PM to 6 AM at all campgrounds. Enforcement varies. At Apgar and Fish Creek, rangers patrol regularly. At Bowman and Kintla, you're on the honor system. Generator hours are 8 AM to 8 PM at campgrounds that permit them.
Cell Service
No cell service at any campground in the park. The only reliable signal is at the Apgar Visitor Center parking lot and the St. Mary Visitor Center. Download maps, directions, and your reservation confirmation before you arrive.
Water
Potable water is available at all reservation campgrounds and at Apgar, Sprague Creek, and St. Mary. Bowman Lake, Kintla Lake, Quartz Creek, and Logging Creek have no potable water - bring your own or treat lake water with a filter or tablets.
Checkout
Checkout time is 11 AM at all campgrounds. No late checkout option. The campground host will visit unreserved sites around 10 AM to check status.
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Practical Takeaways
- Book exactly 180 days out at 8:00 AM Mountain Time for July and August stays at Fish Creek, Many Glacier, or Two Medicine. Miss that window and you're hunting cancellations.
- First-come campgrounds (Apgar, Sprague Creek, Bowman, Kintla) fill by 11 AM in peak season. Arrive before 9 AM for a site at Apgar.
- The best glacier bay camping stove for this park needs to handle wind. The Many Glacier and Two Medicine campgrounds get consistent afternoon gusts. A stove with a built-in windscreen or a separate wind barrier is worth the weight.
- Bring a head net for Two Medicine in June and July. The mosquitoes are thick enough to make cooking and eating uncomfortable without one.
- No hookups at any campground. If you're in an RV, you need to be self-contained for water and power. The dump stations at Apgar and St. Mary are the only ones in the park.
- Download everything before you arrive. No cell service anywhere in the park. Your phone is a camera and a map device only.
- Bear spray is not optional. Carry it on your belt, not in your pack. Rangers at the visitor centers will demonstrate proper use if you ask.
- The best glacier bay camping stove for a car camping setup at Fish Creek or Apgar is different from what you want at Bowman or Kintla. For car camping, weight doesn't matter - bring a two-burner propane stove. For the walk-in sites at Many Glacier or the remote campgrounds, a lightweight canister stove is the better choice.
- Check fire restrictions the morning you arrive. They can change overnight based on wind and humidity conditions.
- The hiking trails around Many Glacier and Two Medicine are the most popular in the park. Start your hikes before 7 AM to avoid crowds and afternoon thunderstorms. Rangers will tell you that the trailheads fill by 8 AM at Many Glacier.
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For more information, see our complete National Park Guide. Related: glacier bay park map guide Related: glacier bay national park map guide