Best Campgrounds near Essex, MT

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. 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."

    4. Apgar Campground — Glacier National Park

    58 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)."

    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. 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."

    8. Middle Fork Flathead River Dispersed

    43 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."

    9. 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."

    10. Murray Bay Campground (MT)

    5 Reviews
    Essex, MT
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 752-7924

    $18 / night

    "Sites on the water had paths right down to the bay, but there was also a common use path and boat dock."

    "Loved staying at this campground as it was right on the water and extremely secluded from all that goes on at Glacier. 20 Miles from anything, located in Flathead National Forest."

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Recent Reviews near Essex, MT

1257 Reviews of 247 Essex Campgrounds


  • Jeff R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Camp off North Fork Road

    Beautiful spot

    Just a big field, room for about 20 figs of any size. About 20 minutes from West Glacier, Columbia Falls closer has everything you'd need.

  • Greg J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Blair Flats

    blair flats

    Stayed for two days in site #2 . Awesome experience.

  • Phil P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Big Creek Campground (flathead National Forest, Mt)

    Great if you can stand the road

    Pretty campsite. The 2 miles of gravel over to Glacier Park hasn't improved any. Literally 5 mph was too fast. I hear there is 7 miles of the same stuff if you come via north fork road so I wouldn't do that. The hosts are super nice as reported elsewhere. Very remote area. Recent bear campground activity when I was there. Starlink was difficult due to talk trees without a super long 100' cord that reaches the river clearing.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Middle Fork Flathead River Dispersed

    Busy beach, rough road

    I parked in a turnout across the street and walked down to this location. The road was filled with huge pot holes. The beach was crowded with several campers and other boaters that weren't camping there. It would be worth it, probably, with kids, but I'm alone with my dog and decided i want her to have more freedom, so I moved on. However, there are several other turnouts on the road, so it is worth exploring if you don't have a large vehicle.

  • Mason O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Apgar Campground — Glacier National Park

    Pretty basic campsites

    Used to dispersed camping so a bit different for us. Sites were good distance from each other to not feel crowded. Campground has 1 shower location on loop A so a bit inconvenient but hey at least it’s a shower. Check in was a bit confusing so we ended up just going to our site and there were no problems. Firewood only available for purchase, no scavenging for wood. Another good spot for a one night stop for us.

  • Mason O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    St Mary Campground - Glacier National Park — Glacier National Park

    Good accessibility to park

    Stoped here overnight before the going to the sun road. Nice site and decent privacy. No showers and bathrooms are just ok. Close to beaver pond hiking trail for a good evening hike. All around a good quick stop. Pictures are from hike

  • Matthew R.
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Beaver Creek

    Peaceful, Private, and Picturesque

    The sites are just spaced out enough to feel private. In our site, we could barely see any other fires at night. It was great having easy access to the abandoned "D Loop" walking trail.

    As others have said, these were some of the cleaner vault toilets we've seen.

  • Curt M.
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Bowman Lake Campground — Glacier National Park

    Beautiful site off the beaten Glacier path

    It takes several miles of semi-rough gravel road to get there, but this first-come-first-serve site was a treat. There were ~45 camp sites tucked away in the trees only a short walk from the Bowman Lake (pictured) and several hiking trails. There's a drop box to pay the $25 fee via cash or credit card. 

    No cell service for many miles out. Starlink works but you might have trouble finding an opening large enough in the canopied campground to catch a strong signal. 

    For EV owners, the closest L3 chargers I saw were in Kalispell maybe 50 miles south. I had no trouble with the round trip or the terrain in my Kona.

  • Reagan M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Stillwater Getaway

    Super friendly spot, with kayaks and canoes available

    Diverse campground with tent sites, car camping sites, and cabins and teepees. Ryan was super friendly and offered showers, an outdoor kitchen, kayaks to use, and potable water


Guide to Essex

Camping near Essex, Montana, offers a fantastic escape into nature, with stunning views and a variety of campgrounds to choose from. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, this area has something for everyone.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the breathtaking trails in Glacier National Park. Many campers rave about the scenic hikes, with one reviewer noting, "Glacier provides world-class hiking and scenery."
  • Fishing: The lakes and rivers around the campgrounds are perfect for fishing. One camper mentioned, "The river is very fast for fishing; could maybe get away with fly fishing."
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for bears and other wildlife. A visitor at Many Glacier Campground shared, "There was some bear activity while we were there, and the friendly and diligent Ranger team stayed on-site making us feel safe."

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers love the beautiful landscapes. One reviewer at Two Medicine Campground said, "The views are gorgeous! It was a great last-minute choice."
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Many appreciate the peaceful environment. A camper at Fish Creek Campground noted, "Relatively cramped but quiet enough."
  • Convenient Locations: Campgrounds like Apgar Campground are close to attractions. One visitor mentioned, "You couldn't get any closer to Apgar visitor center."

What you should know:

  • Bear Country: Always be bear aware. A camper at Fish Creek Campground advised, "This is in bear country, and you should definitely take the precautions seriously."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds lack showers and other facilities. A visitor at St Mary Campground pointed out, "There were only two showers open for the whole campsite."
  • Reservations Recommended: Many campgrounds fill up quickly, especially during peak season. A camper at Rising Sun Campground mentioned, "Be ready to come early and wait in line to grab a campsite."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for sites with amenities like playgrounds. A reviewer at Glacier Campground said, "The lawn was great with a communal fire pit and small playground."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of fun activities. One family enjoyed the "live music every night during peak season" at West Glacier KOA Resort.
  • Safety First: Always keep an eye on kids, especially in bear country. A camper at Two Medicine Campground warned, "You had to stay within reach of your food to be able to quickly grab it and retreat into your vehicle if the black bear was in camp."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Not all sites accommodate larger RVs. A visitor at Many Glacier Campground noted, "The sites are all these pull-through curves, and some are on these gnarly hills."
  • Plan for Limited Hookups: Many campgrounds don’t have electric hookups. A reviewer at Glacier Campground mentioned, "The campground is about 1 mile from the west entrance of Glacier Park!"
  • Be Prepared for Tight Spaces: Some RV sites can be cramped. A camper at Apgar Campground said, "Sites are extremely tight and unlevel."

Camping near Essex, Montana, is a great way to connect with nature and enjoy the great outdoors. Just remember to plan ahead and be prepared for the unique challenges of this beautiful area!

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.