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Camping near Essex, MT

258 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Camping areas near Essex, Montana center around Glacier National Park, with options ranging from developed campgrounds to dispersed sites. Two Medicine Campground in the eastern section of Glacier National Park accommodates tent and RV camping with drive-in, hike-in, and walk-in access. The Middle Fork Flathead River area provides dispersed camping opportunities outside the park boundaries, while several established campgrounds like Fish Creek and Apgar offer more amenities within the park.

    Road conditions and seasonal closures significantly impact camping access throughout the region. Many campgrounds operate only from late May through early September due to Montana's mountain weather patterns. "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," noted one visitor about the strategic location of certain campgrounds. Travelers should check current conditions before arrival, as mountain roads can be affected by snow even in early summer. Cell service varies widely, with better coverage near West Glacier and limited or no service in more remote camping areas. Campgrounds within Glacier National Park typically fill quickly during peak season, making advance reservations essential for developed sites.

    Campers consistently mention the spectacular mountain views and wildlife viewing opportunities as highlights of the Essex area. Several visitors reported deer walking through their campsites, particularly at Fish Creek and Apgar campgrounds. According to one camper, "We had a deer walk through our site early morning, so wildlife is definitely near by." The proximity to Glacier National Park's hiking trails and lakes represents a major draw for most visitors. Tent and RV sites at campgrounds like Two Medicine provide drinking water and toilets, while dispersed camping areas along the Middle Fork Flathead River offer more primitive experiences with fewer amenities but greater solitude. Bear safety remains an important consideration throughout the region, with most established campgrounds providing bear-proof food storage boxes and regular ranger patrols.

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    Best Campgrounds near Essex (258)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVDispersedCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. West Glacier KOA Resort

      4.7(52)21mi from EssexRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "This is a big RV resort close to West Glacier town and park entrance. We came with our 25’ RV and reserved a tent pad site to ensure we were up against the edge of the resort."

      "9/13/19 West Glacier, Montana  West Glacier KOA Resort

      Most beautiful location of the KOAs I've stayed at. Nestled against the mountains and less than 3 miles to Glacier National Park. "

      Check Availability

      2. Two Medicine Campground — Glacier National Park

      4.8(36)19mi from Essex105 sitesRVs, Tents

      "I bring my waders and float tube and love to fish in the lake. The campground is at the base of a mountain where bear sightings are not uncommon!"

      "Took my brother to Montana for the first time. We did an epic road trip. 5000 miles all over the west. Stayed in two medicine camp ground for a week. We hit some great trails out there."

      from $90 / night

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      3. Apgar Campground — Glacier National Park

      4.5(62)24mi from Essex10 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Apgar is walking distance from the Apgar Visitor Center and park shuttles, as well as Apgar Village, camp store, equipment rentals, etc."

      "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)."

      from $45 - $90 / night

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      4. Glacier Campground

      4.4(53)23mi from EssexRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Montana is absolutely gorgeous! I may be biased because I go to college in Montana, but there is so many great outdoor activities. The mountains and scenery are my favorite."

      "Great place tucked away from the road. Sites are smaller. Place was clear even the showers. Hot water in the morning not so much at night."

      from $45 - $120 / night

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      5. Fish Creek Campground — Glacier National Park

      4.6(62)25mi from Essex189 sitesRVs, Tents

      "We have stayed in Many Glacier and Avalanche Creek but this is our favorite campsite in the park because of its proximity to Lake Mcdonald as well as Apgar village."

      "Now the good: We were really close to Apgar village and other sites along the Road to the Sun road. The rangers were nice and pleasant to interact with."

      from $30 / night

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      6. Middle Fork Flathead River Dispersed

      4.3(53)25mi from EssexRVs, Tents

      "It’s so close to the National Park entrance and a beautiful place to stay. The road is a bit bumpy getting down here but there’s plenty of room for tent camping and RVs. Be careful though!"

      "Perfect spot for camping outside the west entrance, about 25 minutes away. That road is a little rough coming in but it’s short and manageable, even saw a little Mazda make it in."

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      7. Devil Creek Campground

      4.7(6)7mi from Essex13 sitesRVs, Tents

      "The facility are excellent to Montana cleanliness standards. The hosts are always more than helpful. We have always loved traveling in Montana!!!!!!!!!!!"

      "It’s close access to Glacier NP. We chose a site without trees for the open sky. The dark night skies here were excellent for star gazing."

      from $22 / night

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      8. Lid Creek Campground

      4.6(10)14mi from Essex23 sitesRVs, Tents

      "We ended up at Lid Creek after the first few campgrounds along the lake were full. Sites are on the small side, and most are not very flat."

      "The lake, Salish Mountains and Montana’s big sky are all front and center here. Lid Creek is 15 miles off U.S. 2 on a very winding but paved road."

      from $18 / night

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      9. Summit Campground

      4.3(9)12mi from EssexRVs, Tents

      "I even had a moose walk about 30 yards passed my tent which was pretty cool. There are hiking trails nearby if you don’t want to drive to Glacier for hiking."

      "There is a nice monument here if you just want to stop off while driving by and hit a vault toilet. The sites are quite and secluded for their close proximity to the highway."

      from $10 - $20 / night

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      10. Emery Bay Campground

      4.1(14)16mi from Essex28 sitesRVs, Tents

      "Surrounded by large conifers with a large fiberglass topped picnic table that is easy to clean and fire pit. The vault toilets are within a short walking distance."

      "So close to five stars - I'm just picky about having more space between sites and having sites not right next to the campground road.  Call me spoiled, though.  Can't go wrong here."

      from $22 - $300 / night

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    Recent Camping Photos near Essex, MT

    392 Photos of 258 Essex Campgrounds

    Recent Reviews near Essex, MT

    1381 Reviews of 258 Essex Campgrounds

    • Mark V.
      Jul. 28, 2026

      The Lodge & Resort at Lake Mary Ronan

      Don't Book Here

      We booked here through Airbnb. It was very expensive, $1973.40 for 3 nights. The pictures looked great, for this kind of money it should be. But it was far from it.

      My wife has ALS. We drove for over 11hrs to get here. We arrived later that evening. There were piles of mosquitoes everywhere and more flying outside and inside the cabin. There were urine stains in the rugs and the smell was bad. The master bedroom floor was visibly damaged.The property looked nothing like advertised. Weeds were high all around the perimeter up to the cabin. We contacted the manager, Connie I believe. She said maintenance could remove the rug. That's all. Not sure how that addresses all those issues.

      We explained due to unsafe health conditions considering my wife's situation there was no way we could stay. We were over 1700 miles from home now stuck with looking for somewhere else to stay. We never stayed there, only walked thru the door for a few minutes.

      Luckily we found a place over an hour away.

      Donna, the host thru Airbnb offered us a refund of $1010. Charging us a cleaning fee and taxes on the days we never stayed a single night.

      We are currently disputing the charges. We sent out emails to the different ALS/MS organizations notifying them of the poor treatment at this property.

      The absence of service is astounding. We attempted to call the property over a dozen times no answer.

      Buyer beware, don't stay here. Unless they look hard at their policies and treatment of people with disabilities.

      No Go- MVP

    • SThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 28, 2026

      Blankenship Bridge - Dispersed Camping

      Nice spot but felt unsafe

      This review might not be totally fair since I didn’t stay right down by the river but found a more private spot right by the dirt road that leads to the water (so take this with a grain of salt). I’m a solo female traveler car camping and wanted a bit of privacy since I don’t have coverings on all my windows and thought this spot was good. Last night when I was falling asleep a truck pulled up next to me which I thought was odd and then moments later there were flashlights into my car and two quiet voices. In the past when I’ve parked and been asked to leave they announced themselves and knocked but there was no knock. They tried opening my car and kept looking in the vehicle. I then heard rustling over by where I locked my bike and they left shortly after. I was able to peak out and it appeared to be two men in a white truck, I ended up moving and trying to find a different spot on Ryan road.

    • Zoey T.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 27, 2026

      Lubec Dispersed

      Not really dispearsed camping

      This is just a narrow bumpy road with 2 pull off spots

    • Zoey T.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 27, 2026

      Skyland Rd Dispersed Camping

      Just perfect!

      We love being way off the beaten path van camping where you see close to no one and have beautiful nature and this for sure did that.

      The road is a little pothole filled but certainly manageable even with our low vehicle. There are at least 9 sites over a 6+ mile stretch. Most of the sites are just off the road fire pits but there are a few scattered ones deeper. We loved the 4th one by mile maker 2 for the cool clean stream but also loved 9 after mile marker 5 for the cool breeze. No amenities but no flies, clean stream water and cool breezes!

    • CThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 26, 2026

      Columbia Falls RV Park

      Disappointing stay

      The location is very close to town and about 20 minutes to Glacier NP. The sites are very close together. We had huge RVs with slide outs next to us and the picnic table at some sites were right next to the sewer lines of your neighbor. The men’s bathroom was dirty, the showers were cold for both sexes and the WiFi was unusable. There were kids riding scooters at unsafe speeds unaware or ignoring cars & rigs coming & going. The laundry room was clean and functional, bring $2 for washing and $2.50 for drying a load. I will not be returning, not worth it.

    • BThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 26, 2026

      Camp off North Fork Road

      Free Level spots spread out

      Got into the area late and was able to find a spot no problem without a booking. Plenty of area, not official camp stalls.

    • Fa B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 25, 2026

      Blair Flats

      Gunshots from angry drunken idiots fighting

      Potential loose bullets were never mentioned in other reviews but here we are … just 10 seconds upon arrival. Drunk idiots on the water + guns = sketchy scenario.

      There’s a really secluded solo spot on the right before you get to the general sites by the water if you want to stay away from everyone and their generators. It’s not as marked with weeds growing but you’ll see tracks from previous vehicles. It will ONLY fit one vehicle (no tow-anything) and will require a 60-point maneuver 🥴 (à la Austin Powers stuck in the tunnel) with a full-size truck to reverse-fit right above the makeshift small fire pit, but it’s much safer and quieter.

    • David R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 25, 2026

      St Mary Campground - Glacier National Park — Glacier National Park

      Two sites in two days

      We cobbled together two nights in two different sites (C153 &A19). Easy walk to river and visitor center but village is 1 mile. Visitor Center is nice. C153, more shade than some, not level, seems close to other sites but trees and bushes give a little privacy, bathrooms close and nicer than Apgar. A19, closer to river and other places, more level, close to water spigot, didn’t spend much time at site. From the lake, you can take a boat to the trailhead of the hikes to the three water falls. Have to hike fast to get to Virginia falls and back to the boat in time!

    • David R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 25, 2026

      Apgar Campground — Glacier National Park

      West Glacier access

      Level, campground was convenient to the visitor center(.5miles) and Apgar village(1 mile), and McDonald Lake. Bathrooms convenient but old and not as nice. Trash bins and recycling readily available, heavily wooded, decent space between sites considering, lots of deer. There is a nice “beach” right next to the campground on Lake McDonald, great for SUP.

    Guide to Essex

    Camping sites near Essex, Montana range from primitive dispersed spots to accessible campgrounds with basic amenities. Located within Flathead National Forest at elevations between 3,500 and 5,000 feet, the area experiences significant temperature fluctuations with cool nights even in summer. Most camping options require self-sufficiency with limited potable water access, especially at dispersed sites along the Middle Fork Flathead River.

    What to do

    Hiking from campgrounds: Two Medicine Campground offers direct trail access to mountain landscapes. "This is one of my favorite parts of the Park due to its quietness. It's less visited than the other parts leaving a wonderful place to hike and a great place to see wild life," notes David B. about Two Medicine Campground.

    Water recreation: Rent boats or paddleboards at Lake McDonald near Apgar. "A short stroll between sites 19 and 21 is a mini trail that leads to a staircase to the Southwest Side of Lake McDonald where kids and adults can take a dip in the water," shares Mai K. about Fish Creek Campground.

    Stargazing: Some areas offer exceptional night skies with minimal light pollution. "The dark night skies here were excellent for star gazing," reports Tree V. about their experience at Devil Creek Campground.

    What campers like

    Secluded waterfront sites: Murray Bay Campground provides lake access despite remote location. "Sites on the water had paths right down to the bay, but there was also a common use path and boat dock," shares Anna P. about Murray Bay Campground.

    Wildlife encounters: Many campers report seeing deer and other animals. "We had a deer walk through our site early morning, so wildlife is definitely near by," notes Elizabeth N. about Lid Creek Campground.

    Evening programs: Some campgrounds offer ranger-led talks and activities. "Nice shaded sites (we stayed in B loop). Close bathrooms. Enjoyed the nightly ranger programs," writes Tyler W. about Lid Creek Campground.

    What you should know

    Road conditions: Access to remote campgrounds can be challenging. "We stayed in site 23. No water, no electric, generators allowed and at least 6 were going in the morning. Vault toilets but VERY clean. Hosts very helpful and available," reports Darrin R. about Lid Creek Campground.

    Limited amenities: Many sites lack services like water. "There is NO WATER available at the campground so bring your own or you'll be frustrated," warns Bob R. about Lid Creek Campground.

    Tent site quality: Ground conditions vary by campground. "Bring your mallets for the pads- the ground is rock hard and was a little tough to get stakes into," advises Jen G. about Fish Creek Campground.

    Tips for camping with families

    Kid-friendly facilities: Some campgrounds cater to families with designated areas. "There is a central gathering area with playground and group picnic shelters," explains Janet R. about Glacier Campground.

    Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer water access. "Lake access is a just short walk down a trail. There is a great rock beach with plenty of room for kids to play and splash," notes Elizabeth N. about Lid Creek Campground.

    Entertainment beyond hiking: West Glacier KOA provides organized activities. "Cool activities for kids and adults," mentions Megan B. about this family-friendly West Glacier KOA Resort.

    Tips from RVers

    Site selection: Choose carefully based on vehicle size. "Not all sites are big rig friendly, even if you technically fit... if you're in an rv and flatness is important to you, I'd try and get a site along the edges. Those sites were flatter and wider than the sites in the center of the campground," advises Laura M. about Two Medicine Campground.

    Access roads: Large rigs may need alternative routes. "Heads up: when we were on 89, there was a sign at the entrance to 49 saying that vehicles over 21 ft not advisable. We looked at google maps and decided that 49 between 89 and the campground did look pretty winding and decided to add the 15 miles to our trip by going out to Browning, down 2, then back up 49 from the south," explains Laura M. about approaching Two Medicine.

    Hookup limitations: Plan for boondocking at most national park sites. "There is a dump station and potable water fill at the entrance to the campground," notes Laura M. about Two Medicine Campground.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where can I find camping near Essex?

    Essex is ideally positioned near several excellent camping options in the Glacier National Park region. Apgar Campground — Glacier National Park offers an excellent location for first-time visitors with regular access to park amenities. For a more secluded experience, Bowman Lake Campground — Glacier National Park provides spectacular lakeside camping, though it requires traveling on dirt roads. Other nearby options include Two Medicine Campground on the east side and various RV parks in the West Glacier area, all providing convenient access to the park's stunning natural attractions.

    Are there any campgrounds with amenities near Essex?

    Yes, several campgrounds near Essex offer excellent amenities. North American RV Park & Yurt Village is just 5 minutes from West Glacier entrance with full hookups and is close to attractions like zip lines and adventure parks. Mountain View RV Park provides convenient access to Hungry Horse Dam, local distilleries, and breweries. For those seeking lakeside amenities, Rollins RV Park on Flathead Lake offers beautiful waterfront facilities with tent sites and cabins available alongside RV spots. Most amenity-rich options are within 30-45 minutes of Essex.

    What is the best time of year to go camping near Essex?

    The prime camping season near Essex runs from late June through early September when weather conditions are most favorable and all facilities are fully operational. Tally Lake Campground is excellent during summer months, offering fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities with clean facilities and hiking trails. Yellow Bay State Park Campground on Flathead Lake provides beautiful mountain views and crystal-clear water during the warmer months. Consider that higher elevation sites may have snow into June, and September can bring cooler temperatures with fewer crowds. Always check road conditions and campground schedules before traveling, as some facilities begin closing in early September.

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