Apgar Campground, near West Glacier, Montana, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in the stunning beauty of [Glacier National Park](https://thedyrt.com/camping/montana/near/glacier-national-park). With its proximity to Lake McDonald, you’ll find plenty of opportunities for swimming and water activities, making it a popular choice for families and outdoor lovers alike.

The campground offers a range of sites, many of which are nestled among the trees, providing a bit of privacy while still keeping you close to nature. Visitors have noted the charm of the wooded sites and the convenience of having clean bathrooms with running water. As one camper put it, “When a national park bathroom has running water, it’s an automatic win.”

While there are no electric hookups, campers appreciate the chance to enjoy campfires and the simplicity of tent or RV camping. The area is also a great base for hiking, with trails like the Avalanche Trail nearby, which offers breathtaking views that make the effort worthwhile. 

Some campers have mentioned that the sites can be a bit tight, but the overall atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. If you’re planning a visit, be sure to arrive early to snag a good spot, especially during peak season. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer adventure, Apgar Campground is a solid choice for experiencing the natural wonders of [Glacier National Park](https://thedyrt.com/camping/montana/near/glacier-national-park).

## Overview

 Apgar, Fish Creek, and St. Mary Campground reservations WILL NOT provide access to any vehicle reservation areas (including the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, Many Glacier, and North Fork). To obtain a vehicle reservation, visit [Glacier National Park Vehicle Reservations][1] on Recreation.gov. Apgar Campground is situated on the southern tip of Lake McDonald in beautiful Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana. Pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains and spectacular lakes are found throughout the park. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a paradise for hikers seeking wilderness and solitude. It also provides countless scenic vistas for those wishing to relax and take in the natural beauty of the park. 
## Recreation

 Lake McDonald provides great opportunities for boating, water skiing, canoeing and fishing in its cold mountain waters. A variety of fish are found in the lake, including cutthroat, rainbow, bull and lake trout, whitefish and Kokanee salmon.The campground is conveniently close to many trailheads for day hikes, including Apgar Lookout Trail, a 3.3-mile (5.3 km) trail leading up to a fire lookout with breathtaking views of Lake McDonald. The Apgar Bike Path, a paved 1.5-mile (2.4 km) trail popular for walking and biking, leads to the nearby Apgar Visitor Center and Village. Horseback ride reservations, boat rentals, shuttle service and Red Bus Tour reservations are available here.One of the most amazing highlights of Glacier National Park is a drive on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, which travels past the campground. This engineering marvel spans 50 miles (80 km) through the park's wild interior, winding around mountainsides and treating visitors to some of the best sights in northwest Montana. 
## Natural Features

 Apgar is located in a dense forest on the western side of the park at an elevation of nearly 3,500 feet (1067 m). This area of the park generally receives the most rainfall. Daytime temperatures can exceed 90 degrees, although it is frequently 10 to 15 degrees cooler at higher elevations. Weather in the mountains can be varied, including snow in summer. Visitors should come prepared for anything.The park is named for its prominent glacier-carved terrain and remnant glaciers descended from the ice ages almost 10,000 years ago. Its diverse habitats are home to nearly 70 species of mammals including the grizzly bear, wolverine, gray wolf and lynx. Over 270 species of birds visit or reside in the park, including such varied species as Harlequin ducks, Dippers and Golden eagles. 
## Nearby Attractions

 One must-see attraction is Waterton Lakes National Park, Glacier's sister park across the Canadian-U.S. border. As the other half of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Canada's [Waterton Lakes National Park][2] offers great hiking, scenic boat cruises and several scenic drives all centered around the townsite of Waterton. 

[1]: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10087086
[2]: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/waterton/index

Apgar Campground — Glacier National Park

Looking for the best campgrounds near West Glacier, MT? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Montana camping has to offer. Discover great camping spots near West Glacier, reviewed by campers like you.

West Glacier

The Best Camping Near West Glacier, Montana

Apgar Village is located on the west end of Glacier National Park. Though crowded during the season, this campground offers lakefront views, ranger-led lessons and access to hiking and biking paths. Also a short walk from Apgar Village shops and restaurants, as well as a shuttle that will take you anywhere you want to go in the park (go public transit!). Be sure to check out the telescopes in the parking lot! ProTip: check the Glacier website each morning during the high season for the availability in each Glacier campground (they fill up, some as early as 7:30 a.m.). 

Quintessential Glacier 

Glacier is one of the most beautiful parks in the country. Apgar provides a great jumping off point for a lot of Glacier Adventures because of it's generally central location. The campgrounds definitely get very full, especially on summer weekends (we got lucky and found one!). There's a little village close by with restaurants and ice cream. It's a fabulous place for kids too!

Beautiful Sites and lots to do!

We probably got one of our worst nights sleep at this campground but it was worth it for the beauty. The wildlife kept us away and we sat in our tent ready to use our bear spray (you can buy some or rent it but would definitely recommend it). While up there we saw the most bears we sa the whole trip in one day, a mother and her 2 cubs, and 2 other bears in separate locations. Would return for the wildlife again for sure.

Apgar

Lake MacDonald is breathtaking. Most sites have shades from large, moss covered trees. Bathrooms had water and were well-maintained. Walk to the lake from any campsite is quite short. Would love to go back one day when I have the time. 

Bring your bear canisters

This is a very busy and fairly typical National Park campground.  The sites are situated between "Apgar Village" and the road along lake MCDonald.  This makes the large campground easy to use and access, but not very private.  The good news is coffee, ice cream and shopping are all within walking distance.  The views of Lake McDonald as the sun sets are a bonus!

Apgar - Glacier NP

The first night I didn't sleep all that well concerned about bears but after that it was awesome!  The drive to the top of the mountain was gorgeous and the facilities at the campground were kept clean and has running water. Loved it!

Loved it!

Lake McDonald and the immenseness of everything in Glacier National Park really blew me away. Apgar is a great place to see it all. Hike trail of Cedars check out the lodges, drive going to the sun road or just hang out at your comfortable camp site. We spent a few nights camping and a few nights in each of the lodges which was a good mix of both worlds. Whatever you do enjoy the scenery and happy adventuring!

One word majestic!

We had a group site for all the cousins my family. 8 of us made it this year and it was a good thing because our group site only had 3 tent pads. Crazy for a max of 24 campers! The water spigot by our site leaked the entire three night stay. Other than those things, this was a great site! The bathrooms were almost always clean and the car noise from the road wasn't too bad if you were on the far side of the site from the road. Some of my family was on the tent pad closest to the road, so they heard car noise, but they also heard unidentifiable animal noises, which is great! The entire park is amazing, so I would have endured almost anything to stay in the park and explore all weekend! My only advice, stay longer than 3 days! You'll need so much more time to see everything!!!

Apgar Group Site

Apgar Campground is one of my favorite places to camp. I love that I live within a good driving distance to the Glacier National Park. I've camped in many campgrounds and areas in Montana, and this one is probably one of my favorites. I love that it is so big and spacious, which is nice because it gives you a little room between campsites. It's one of the largest campgrounds in the National Park. If you are new to the area, or if it's your first time camping in the park, I would advise you to stop by the visitor center- Apgar Visitor Center. You'll be able to pick up some maps of the area, which is a must do I would say. They also have a cool gift shop, small restaurant and a place where you can rent water toys (boat rental, kayaks, etc). The campground itself is really nice, and surrounded by trees. Great for hammocking! There are really great sites for tents and also RV set ups. I always tent, just because it makes the experience that much better. They do have bathrooms, and I think they were very well kept and clean. There is a pretty great lake nearby, Lake McDonald. I bring my kayak and get in the water in the morning. During the summer months, you will find that this lake is pretty busy....not only do you encounter people using the lake who are also camping, but there are other people using the lake just for the day. There are also some really great hikes, which I always enjoy doing. I enjoyed hiking to Apgar Lookout and also Hidden Lake Trail. Hidden Lake Trail is VERY busy in the summer months- I would suggest getting a really early stay if you do this hike. Apgar Lookout has a great view from the top, and the trail is pretty well maintained. I did this hike early in the morning, and it was pretty foggy but the views were still great. I would recommend coming here. There is a lot to do, with great views. 

So many things to do, big campground!

This is a massive site in Glacier with a ton of sites an large group site area, Apgar village with rental stuff, restaurants and bus pickup/dropoff. The sites are decent sized, but pretty close to one each other. That said it is a great spot to start off your exploration of Glacier, easy access to the large visitor center. 
Decent bathrooms and water. No bear boxes like other sites, but it's so busy I assume it's never a problem.
Lake Mcdonald is super colorful and you must explore the rest of this amazing park.

Huge site with tons going on

Loved the campground itself. All of the sites were nice and some were extra nice if you were lucky enough to snach them. The early booking time is annoying (get there by 6:30 to for sure get a site), and some of the sites were too close to the road and traffic was a little noisy, but the ranger talks were interesting every night. There are dump stations and no showers, but you have lake mcdonald within a mile of you, so who really even needs showers? I stayed here alone and felt safe from bears (and people, but i just turst people too quickly). I do wish I had stayed in a campgroup closer to the mountains and the northern side of the park though, like st mary or rising sun. Although there is wifi at the apgar visitor center and sometimes i got service at my site (i have verizon). The drive up to logan pass and beyond does take a while. The shuttle service is fantastic though! and free! I gave it 4 stars because of its location within the park and the lack of showers.

Great campground

To be honest, this wasn't our first pick, but it ended up being great. Clean sites and bathrooms. It's a huge campground with tons of loops, which I usually shy away from due to crowds, but everyone seemed to respect quiet hours and there weren't too many whiny kids. Great biking trails throughout the area and you are in a great location to visit Lake McDonald and Apgar Village.

Huge Campground, Clean sites.

There are plenty of camping sites here. There’s Loop A, B, C, D, E. Busy during the summer so get there early as you can. That goes for hikes as well, if you don’t like crowds get up as early as you can. You see lots more animals that way too! Very family friendly area with Lake McDonald views and the Sun Road. 

Apgar Sites

Apgar sites are great! The forest in which the tents can be built is lovely. Anti-bear storage has to be shared between sites. Very close to Apgar village and Lake McDonald, which is a pretty nice place to relax and enjoy the views renting bikes or canoes. Also, a WiFi spot at the visitor center is not too far from there. Quick access to West Glacier too, in case you need gas or some camping gear. Loved this place!

Awesome location!

A small campground opened seasonally at the south end of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. The lImIted spaces are  tucked in the trees bIt are a short walk to the beautiful lake. 

Apgar Campground

Apgar is easy to find and seems like there is always someplace for you to camp or park your RV. Be sure to bring your bicycles as there are many places to bike around in. They have boat and kayak rentals to take on the lake if you happen to not have any. There is a friendly staff with numerous places to eat and find souvenirs of your travels. Definitely recommended for your first stop in Glacier. 

Apgar, perfect to hike and bike!

Apgar is a large campsite right next to the Apgar village and Lake McDonald. We spent the day at the lake and enjoyed a nice dinner at the campsite. Bathrooms were clean with flush toilets and waste stations. Reasonably priced. Find a site before the evening as all of the campsites at Glacier fill up quickly. 

Clean and Friendly

My husband and I have been doing a lot of camping and we found this spot in Apgar to be perfect. Plan to arrive early though places fill up from what we saw within 30 minutes or less of being vacated. 

Perfect

and crowded. I had the misfortune to camp next to a noisy family. no showers at this campground. but the shuttle for the road to the sun stops at this campground. 

pretty but noisy

Such a great spot right in Apgar!! Primitive spots and first come first serve but the greatest little spot! clean bathrooms. No showers. 

July stay at Apgar campground

Out of the three campgrounds we stayed in at Glacier NP this was the most private with tall trees and space between sites. Alot of hikes close by including the trail of the cedars to avalanche lake a 5.7 well trafficked hike with a beautiful view. Not alot of animals this far down but we did manage to see a few deer on the trails. No showers but the bathrooms are nice.

private sites

This camp ground had the bare minimum but I loved it. Not a huge campground which made it nicer. Quiet and clean. Nice little village area with a restaurant, store, rentals. Lake is gorgeous!!!

Loved it

Campground is a short walk to Lake McDonald (beautiful)and Apgar Village. There are no electrical hookups and no showers. Beautiful wooded campground, large sites, and typically not too noisy. Best bet is to get to the campground early in the morning to get a spot as it is first come first serve and fills up pretty quickly. We typically find a spot where campers are up and getting packed up, place a tag on the site marker and come back after 12 to set up. You can run over to Apgar village if you want to rent canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, or motor boats by the hour.

Beautiful but busy

Apgar is one of the first camp grounds you can stay at in Glacier. The campsites have platforms for tents, fire rings most come with adjustable grates and there are drinking water pumps dotting the campground. The bathrooms were extremely clean and Lake McDonald isn't too far away. It was a great spot to camp for one night. The only down side was our campsite was close to the road so we heard traffic drive past often. My puppy also enjoyed himself there immensely so don't leave your dog at home!

Well Maintained Forested Campground

Beautiful campground and a short walk to Lake McDonald. Shuttles available at this campground. We were in loop A as close as you can get to the lake which is within walking distance. No traffic noise near our site, A55. Got there early with no RSVP and had no trouble getting into a spot. Must keep camps maintained and items put away at all times due to bear activity or you will get warned or fined. Shops and visitors center within walking distance. Had the best time with family camping, hiking and paddle boarding! No showers.

Great centrally located campground!

I don't often "car-camp" but I will here. It's a good place to stay in order to be close to starting off a day of adventures in the park. This is a large campground so there will be plenty of other people but with the dense forest and small sites it is usually pleasant. You can walk to the amphitheater for ranger talks and then take in sunset on the lake. Tent and Rv sites but no power or sewer hookups, just a dump station

Base Camp

We landed a great spot at the back of loop D. These sites on the outside of the loop have more privacy and trees. Our sit was huge and backed up to a lot of trees. Within an hour of arriving we saw a black bear and her 2 cubs about 50 yards behind our site! Then shortly after that a deer walked into our neighbor’s site. 

The bathrooms are what you’d expect at a national park campground. Fresh water was readily available and tasted great. Close to the Apgar Visitors Center so you can easily walk to the shuttle. Very peaceful and beautiful, I’d definitely camp here again. 

Great experience !

This is THE campground to go to in Glacier-especially if you have an RV or if you have a tent but don’t want to risk not getting a backcountry permit. It has a multitude of campsites and parking spots, as well as being walking distance from the lake and shops (gift shops, restaurant, convenience store, firewood, ice cream, crafts, and more). Beautiful sunset over the lake’s mountains too! 

Absolutely perfect!

Typical national park accommodations. Nice and clean sites. Close to Lake McDonald and Apgar visitor center, gift shops and cafes. Be ready to reserve your campsites 6 months in advance. Nice bike path to ride around the area. 

Nothing beat GNP camping

A little crowded but that is expected. Clean bathrooms and plenty of tree cover. In walking distance to Apgar restaurants and stores. 

Typical National Park Campground

This is where I go to find my soul again. Large campgrounds with several loop. Camp amongst Aspen trees. Bathrooms, water, and picnic tables 

Perfect in every way

God's Country 

Stayed there for couple of days. Easy access to market and water. Will recommend. 

Nice

They reopened just one loop (B) for primitive camping on the day we arrived. So the dump station was closed as were some of the toilet facilities. Vault toilets were still available.

We saw wolves stroll through the first evening we were there.

Camps were spaced okay, but nothing secluded. I could see 6 or 7 other camp fires burning while sitting next to mine. 

We stayed three nights and every night heard someone a site or two over as he was talking too loud (and too much). The last night we were there I could even hear snoring from the site next to us. Plus trains run all night.

All of that being said, the park is such a beautiful place that it’s easy to look past those things.

This camp is near the entrance and walking distance to Apgar village and the south end of Lake McDonald. We could get some cell service in those locations, but none at camp on either Verizon or AT&amp;T.

Definitely would return. 

The park is amazing. The camp is okay.

Whether you’ve arrived on foot, by car or by rail, Apgar places you in an excellent position to take advantage of what Glacier has to offer. This is particularly true for first time visitors, and those seeking to avail themselves of regular access to park amenities, which are predominantly concentrated here in West Glacier. Apgar is walking distance from the Apgar Visitor Center and park shuttles, as well as Apgar Village, camp store, equipment rentals, etc. I was privileged to camp here near the end of season, and fortunate to arrive with spaces open, and the adjacent loop closed for the season and maintenance. Traffic near the entrance can be relatively heavy in the morning, drivers trying to get a jump on limited parking for hikes elsewhere, leading up to checkout.

Situated near the southern outlet  of Lake McDonald into McDonald Creek above the middle fork of the Flathead, it worked well as a great jumping off point to explore landmarks on the West shore like the Apgar Fire Lookout tower and Fish Creek camp, and then push North and East into the park visiting the Lake McDonald Lodge as you climb toward Logan Pass.
Recommend getting here around checkout, it fills up fast on a first come first serve basis. Same for the shuttles, particularly if you’re planning a longer outing like the Highline Trail. Parking fills up quickly at Logan Pass, shuttles fill up quickly here. Pay attention to schedule changes for both directions of your journey, give yourself time to enjoy the park, and get to the shuttle stop before the last shuttle. 

Pros: 
Newly remodeled hot showers, which are apparently free to use for through hikers as well. 
Well maintained sites, helpful host staff.
Close to park infrastructure and Lake McDonald

Cons:
Busy, fills up quickly.
Farther away from the park’s major trails.

During season it fills quickly, and though same day was possible this visit, likely will require reservations going forward. Fees scale by season and use.
Off season/winter it is free first come first served. Visitor Center restrooms remain open, but the remainder of facilities are closed.

Great basecamp

There's something special about camping inside the park instead of a crammed RV park miles away! This campground was rustic and exactly what I love. The sites are small, but most are spaced apart just enough so that you are not on top of your neighbor. Easy access to Lake McDonald and the Apgar Village area from the campground. Food lockers are provided. The bathroom has flush toilets and is much nicer that I expected for an older park like this. Go at the end of April or early May to avoid massive crowds and feel like you have to place to yourself!

Great campground inside of a National Park

Really excellent location right inside Glacier National Park limits and walking distance to Lake McDonald. I had very limited cell phone service with Verizon at the campground but I had 4G at the lake. The sites were spacious enough. Most sites had a semi circle type parking so easy to get in and out for trailers. Bathroom was ok but there was no soap. No wifi. Trash receptacles were available. The showers were not great. Deer frequented the sites. Proper food storage is very important. It was nice and quiet while I was there but during peak summer months would likely be very busy and crowded. 

Great location!

Running water, clean bathrooms, and amazing scenery in the forest with decent privacy for how many sites it has

Awesome campground

We had a great stay here over Fourth of July. Bathrooms were clean. Showers had hot water. All campers were friendly and respectful of sound levels. 

Pro tip, the rangers remove the tags at the campsites that are checking out around 6-7am. So if you’re trying to get a spot that morning, you can see what’s available. 

You cannot reach the campground without a reservation to the Going-to-the-Sun road!!!! Reservations for the road are available for 7 days at a time and open 2 days before the day. $2 each. 

Without this you have to walk from the entrance to the campsite. Yikes. 

A campsite reservation also gives you access to the road. But we figured $2 is nothing compared to the convenience. 

All good must be stored in the provided bear storages or your car. See video for bear storage. All of these are shared and accessible by all other campers. Nothing was stolen from us :-)

Highly recommend the site!

Great Stay!

This campground close to many areas such as the lake McDonald’s, the visitor center, and the village. I walked to those places after a long day of hiking and exploring glacier national park. No showers but bathroom has outlet. 

Perfect walking distance 

This campground is currently First Come,  except for the group sites.  We we lucky enough to snag a site and stayed 12 nights.  NOTE: Rangers were measuring the sites when we were there so I suspect they are going to move this campground to reservation only for next season. The site may take a little work to level, but doable for most. 

On days when the campground is full, in order to snag a site, arrive by 7 and wait in line at then entrance to the campground.   You  MUST have a park pass AND a Going to the Sun road pass to get through the main gate.  No GTR pass?  You can walk the 2 miles to the campground entrance.  If you snag a site, they will give you a GTR pass for the duration of your stay.

As others have said, the sites are very generous,  tree covered and private giving you the feel of being deep in the woods.  Generator hours are 8-10, 12-2 and 5-7.  There are 3 showers in Loop A.  

This is the most beautiful place and the convenience can't be beat.  

Total emersion in Glacier

Loved how central this campground was and the ability to walk down to Lake McDonald or Apgar Village. 

There is also a nice bike path from the campground over to the visitor's center and it also continues all the way into West Glacier. 

Sites are spaced out enough and the showers in the A loop were piping hot!

Super friendly staff in both the market and cafe in Apgar Village!

Spent Over a Week in the Park!

Good got showers. Huge trees. Deer. Friendly staff. Spaced out sites. 

The rangers were great and it was easy to get checked in.

Easy

Stopped for a night on my trip to Glacier in May. Not many people here at the time so it was first come first serve and easy to find a spot. Bathrooms are clean. Campsite was quiet. Some sites aren’t very level so watch out for that. 

Great spot in GNP

I was lucky to find a canceled site on rec.gov after 6 months of looking.  This was the only way to get onto the Going to the Sun Road.   Rangers moved us to more remote site because my wife's medical needs necessitated we use our generator a little more then what was allowed.  We really appreciated the rangers for coming up with a solution.

Rangers are the best

Costa $20 a night and is a first come first serve. Lots of campsites so you’re sure to get something if you come early enough. Hot showers are also available for FREE.

Amazing campsite

Just enough space among the trees to feel by yourself. There is some railroad noise and road construction noise at night. Facilities are decent. No wood gathering for fires. So bring own or pay $9 per bundle. 

End of the season

Glacier National park

It's a campground. The real attraction is Glacier National Park. I was lucky enough to visit when Going to the Sun Road was closed to cars and we could ride our bikes to the top. It was the highlight of my trip. That, and seeing a grizzly bear from the safety of our van. 

  

It was damp and rainy while we were there. No hook ups in the campground. Generators allowed except during quiet hours. 

  

This campground is close to Lake McDonald and there's boat rentals nearby.

Glacier National Park Campground

When a national park bathroom has running water it’s an automatic win. Nice sites it can be hard to get a site so plan accordingly. 

This campsite was awesome. It was cute with a stellar view of a mountain right from our tent. It's a short two-minute drive to a strip with a merchandise store, coffee/ice cream shop, restaurant, and a lake where there is a place to rent watercraft. It was a bit chilly at night, definitely slept in layers, but the daytime had nice temps even in the rain. Going-to-the-Sun-Road was closed and typically does not open till late June/July according to park rangers. We were still able to get an amazing hike on the Avalanche trial. I was blown away by the views of this hike and totally understand why Glacier is a popular favorite amongst tourists. I am already planning a trip back!

I get the hype

Good campsite (pull through), no hookup. Decent bathrooms, decent view, and close to Lake McDonald for a swim. However, also close to the road, which means that it is quite noisy at night, at least in loop A

Good location but noisy 

This site is close to the bathroom and showers which was nice but if you’re a light sleeper the noise from other campers showering and flushing toilets at night might keep you up.
No cell service for AT&amp;T.  July 2022


Site A25

We stayed 6 nights here and had a great time. The access to lake McDonald is the best part for sure and the wooded sites are beautiful.

Downsides, we have stayed in about a dozen NP campgrounds and this was one of our least favorite. Unlike other National Park campgrounds staying here still requires reservations for main park attractions like going to the sun road and many glacier. The bathrooms don’t have soap and there is no dishwashing stations. Sites are extremely tight and unlevel. Our site claimed to fit a 32ft rig, but there is no way. 

Photos of Apgar Campground — Glacier National Park

Real photos from real campers