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Best Campgrounds near Essex, MT

1,271 Reviews

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 Camping Sites Near Essex, Montana (247)

    1. Two Medicine Campground — Glacier National Park

    37 Reviews
    Browning, MT
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 888-7800

    $90 / night

    "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."

    2. West Glacier KOA Resort

    48 Reviews
    West Glacier, MT
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 387-5341

    "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. "

    3. Apgar Campground — Glacier National Park

    59 Reviews
    West Glacier, MT
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 888-7800

    $45 - $90 / night

    "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)."

    4. Glacier Campground

    51 Reviews
    West Glacier, MT
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 387-5689

    $45 - $120 / night

    "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."

    5. Fish Creek Campground — Glacier National Park

    62 Reviews
    West Glacier, MT
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 888-7800

    $30 / night

    "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."

    6. Devil Creek Campground

    6 Reviews
    Essex, MT
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 752-7924

    $22 / night

    "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."

    7. Middle Fork Flathead River Dispersed

    48 Reviews
    Coram, MT
    25 miles
    Website

    "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."

    8. Summit Campground

    9 Reviews
    Essex, MT
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 466-5341

    $10 - $20 / night

    "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."

    9. Emery Bay Campground

    13 Reviews
    Martin City, MT
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 752-7924

    $22 - $300 / night

    "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."

    10. Lid Creek Campground

    8 Reviews
    Martin City, MT
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 752-7924

    $18 / night

    "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."

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Recent Camping Photos near Essex, MT

392 Photos of 247 Essex Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Essex, MT

1271 Reviews of 247 Essex Campgrounds

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 26, 2025

    Duck Lake Campground

    Quiet & Cozy

    19 Rustic campsites— some drive-thru— & a couple cabins. 4 sites have elec hook-ups, none have water or waste; but all have lakeside access. Clean Port-a-potties sprinkled along the lane of campsites & a single ADA pit toilet near office. Turning around could be challenging for a truck-trailer combo if not in one of the sites w/ elec. Bring leveling boards (or improvise w/ rocks like we did). $30 for unimproved site; booked online (but host had not received reservation).

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Emery Bay Campground

    Beautiful campground with excellent host

    We arrived mid September for 4 nights. Our site #21 is huge and private. 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. Water spigot just across from the toilets provided lean potable water. Kevin the host is on top of his game, easy to find and very friendly and accommodating. Glacier National Park is about a 20 minute drive from there. Probably about 15 minutes from Corum and all of the essential services.

  • Rikky F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2025

    Apgar Campground — Glacier National Park

    Good campground but felt like the amenities were scare for the number of sites

    We visited the weekend after Labor Day and I'd say the campground was moderately busy, someone I ran into at Logan Pass said they weren't able to get a site there so it must have been full.

    I didn't research this campground as much as I should have. This is the largest campground on the west side, serving about 200 sites, and for some reason only has one shower building located on loop A. That building has exactly 2 showers. They're private, you can lock the door to go in, there's a bench outside of the shower portion, and while they seemed clean it wasn't as bougie as the showers at Canyon Campground in Yellowstone National Park. I never ended up trying the showers because after a long day, waiting to shower wasn't what I felt like and sometimes I was so tired I crawled into the tent after packing the food away and slept.

    According to something I read online, there is no where to wash your dishes. Dish washing is to be done at your site, and the grey water transported to the disposal area located in loop C. I had no deep desire to haul a bucket of water around or have it sloshing in the back of our car so thankfully we had backpack meals and the only thing we needed to clean was forks which were wiped off with a paper towel and called good. When we used some stuff on the Going to the Sun Road, I decided to walk over to C when we got back to camp. There was a door labeled "Wash Station" and there was soap and a sponge. There's nowhere to clean anything off, so I guess you still need to figure that out if you have a significant amount of bits and pieces left after your dinner. It seems odd to me though that the largest campground on the west side has so few amenities for such a large number of sites.

    The campsites are all kind of different. Like we have a huge Big Agnes Bunkhouse 6 and B 118 was a little inappropriate. I picked it so I only have myself to blame, but I recommend checking out any online views of the campsite you're thinking of just to make sure it vibes with your setup.

    The bathrooms seemed plentiful enough, although the one closest to us had no soap on either side (as confirmed by my gf). I highly recommend bringing your own soap, however you want to accomplish that.

    You can hear a train from camp, which didn't bother me but I know some people aren't fans. Everyone around us was pretty quiet for the most part, and we were a quick walk from the lake and the amphitheater. There's also a trail to Apgar Village and some nearby hiking trails (easy little walks, not hardcore hikes).

    I have Verizon and had one bar that just refused to do much for me unless it was like 2am. My gf has T Mobile and her phone worked great!

    Even though for the most part this is a good campground and it's worth going back to, I would explore other campgrounds if we 8 get to go back.

  • Kara S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    St Mary Campground - Glacier National Park — Glacier National Park

    Clean, open, big sites

    Nice level sites. Clean bathrooms. Short little walk over the lake to the visitors center which hosts nightly ranger talks. It was pretty buggy this time of year but lovely none the less. A few of the sites had way better views than ours so pick a spot that’s less wooded for a better view!

  • katherine W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Middle Fork Flathead River Dispersed

    Beautiful spot, large and just outside Glacier

    Only about 5 miles off the main road we took out of Glacier. Easy to find and get to, we made it down here with a truck and Pacifica. Lots of wide open space for everyone to enjoy. Come here, you won’t regret it. It feel like a little community and safe

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Middle Fork Flathead River Dispersed

    Lovely but busy

    It’s a great spot! The views in my opinion are so-so but glacier is a 30 min drive away so I can’t complain. There’s a bumpy road in but it’s very short, saw a lot of people with 20ft+ trailers make it in just fine. Big RVs might have a hard time as there is a couple big bumps to go over. There’s cell service (AT&T) and port-o-potties spread around.

    Like everyone else has said it is busy. A lot of people camp at the edge of the first open river front but there’s good spots if you go back in the trees.

    Only downside is the 3 day stay limit… but it doesn’t seem that rangers are coming around to enforce it.

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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