NPS · Glacier National Park · West Glacier, MT

St. Mary Campground

St. Mary Campground is the largest campground on the east side of Glacier National Park, and is conveniently located approximately a half-mile from the St. Mary Visitor Center. The visitor center offers interpretive programs, shuttle service and Red Bus tours leaving from the center. The campground sits near the entrance of the popular scenic byway, the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Generators are allowed only in Loops B & C. Generators are prohibited in Loop A.

More like this: reservable in Montana · big rigs in Montana · pets allowed in Montana · group sites in Montana · dark sky in Montana

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
St. Mary CampgroundSt. Mary CampgroundA map indicating the location of St. Mary CampgroundSt. Mary Campground
Photos courtesy of NPS, NPS Photo · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups124
Tent-only14
Group sites1
Host/management18
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 25 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

139 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntrySurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
A01Loop AStandardPull-throughGravel8 / 2Yes
A03Loop AStandardGravel8 / 2Yes
A04Loop AStandardPull-throughGravel8 / 2Yes
A05Loop AStandardPull-throughGravelPartial8 / 2Yes
A06Loop AStandardPull-throughGravelPartial8 / 2Yes
A07Loop AStandardPull-throughGravelNone8 / 2Yes
A08Loop AStandardPull-throughGravel8 / 2Yes
A09Loop AStandardPull-throughGravelNone8 / 2Yes
A10Loop AStandardPull-throughGravelNone8 / 2Yes
A11Loop AStandardPull-throughGravelNone8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:30 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length40 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Tent padsYes
Dark skyInside Glacier National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park
AccessibilitySites C146, C148 are listed accessible

Potable water is accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities provide flush toilets and sinks with running water. A couple of miles down the road and outside the park, visitors will find all the comforts of home, including restaurants, gift shops, camp stores, gas and groceries.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near St. Mary Campground20°30°40°50°60°January: 2.07 inches of precipitationFebruary: 2.06 inches of precipitationMarch: 2.50 inches of precipitationApril: 2.45 inches of precipitationMay: 2.83 inches of precipitationJune: 3.07 inches of precipitationJuly: 1.20 inches of precipitationAugust: 1.28 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.63 inches of precipitationOctober: 2.17 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.70 inches of precipitationDecember: 2.13 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 23.2°F averageFebruary: 23.0°F averageMarch: 28.8°F averageApril: 36.8°F averageMay: 45.6°F averageJune: 52.3°F averageJuly: 59.7°F averageAugust: 58.9°F averageSeptember: 50.9°F averageOctober: 40.4°F averageNovember: 31.0°F averageDecember: 23.8°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at St. Mary 1 SSW, 1 mile from the campground at 4,555 feet, station USW00004130 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 26 inches a year.

Getting there

Located a half-mile west of the St. Mary entrance near St. Mary, Montana. Access is from U.S. Highway 89 approximately 33 miles (51 km) northwest of Browning, Montana or over Logan Pass when open. Vehicle restrictions are in effect.

Nearest townWest Glacier, Montana
Coordinates48.7508° N, 113.4469° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗28.3 mi
Outdoor gearTamarack Outdoor Outfitters ↗29.6 mi
RV sales & serviceBish's RV ↗56.3 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Campground site review of Saint Mary Campground -Glacier National Park

Worth a stop

One must-see attraction is the sister park across the U.S.-Canadian border, Waterton Lakes National Park. As the other half of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Waterton Lakes offers fantastic hiking, scenic boat cruises and several scenic drives all centered around the Townsite of Waterton. Immediately east of Glacier National Park lies the picturesque Blackfeet Indian Reservation, spanning 1.5 million acres. Visit the Museum of the Plains Indian, in Browning, Montana, for a fascinating introduction to the rich cultural heritage of the largest Indian tribe in Montana.

Natural features

Though shade is sparse, the aspen trees that grace St. Mary Campground flutter in spring and summer breezes and provide colorful splashes of yellow late in the season. Views of Singleshot, East Flattop and Red Eagle Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop to the landscape. St. Mary Lake which, although too cold and occasionally too rough to swim in, provides refreshing scenery on warm days.

Recreation

St. Mary Campground is located on the east side of the park, which boasts some of the best trails available for day hiking. Trailheads start at a higher elevation than those on the west side, so less ascent is required to reach scenic vistas.

Guidebooks for Glacier National Park

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Moon Glacier National Park
    Becky Lomax, 2021
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Lonely Planet Banff, Jasper and Glacier National Parks
    2024
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Landscape Photographer's Guide to Glacier National Park
    Anthony Jones, 2024
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Glacier National Park Pocket Guide
    Jane Gildart, 2023
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Moon Montana and Wyoming: with Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Glacier National Parks
    Carter G. Walker, 2022
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at St. Mary Campground?

Sites at St. Mary Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at St. Mary Campground?

Check-in 12:30 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does St. Mary Campground have?

157 sites, including 124 standard sites without power, 14 tent-only sites, and 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at St. Mary Campground?

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are there showers or a dump station at St. Mary Campground?

Potable water is accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities provide flush toilets and sinks with running water.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at St. Mary Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at St. Mary Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at St. Mary Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at St. Mary Campground?

Sites C146 and C148 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is St. Mary Campground good for stargazing?

Yes. St. Mary Campground sits inside Glacier National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park.

Source: DarkSky International

Is there cell service at St. Mary Campground?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at St. Mary Campground?

St. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to St. Mary Campground?

West Glacier, Montana. One must-see attraction is the sister park across the U.S.-Canadian border, Waterton Lakes National Park.

Source: Getting there