Apgar Group Sites
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. All sites require a reservation. Most sites have a 6-month booking window with a good handful having a 4-day booking window.
This is the group site. Looking for the main campground? Apgar Campground, 211 sites, is next door.
More like this: reservable in Montana · pets allowed in Montana · group sites in Montana · dark sky in Montana
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 5 |
| Host/management | 5 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 21 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
5 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E06 | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Partial | 12 / 2 | Yes |
| E07 | Back-in | 78 | Gravel | Partial | 24 / 4 | Yes |
| E08 | Back-in | 93 | Gravel | Partial | 24 / 5 | Yes |
| E09 | Back-in | 89 | Gravel | Partial | 24 / 7 | Yes |
| E10 | Back-in | 97 | Gravel | Partial | 24 / 5 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Dark sky | Inside Glacier National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
Apgar is the largest campground in Glacier National Park. It offers 5 reservable group sites that accommodate 9-24 people each. Apgar Village is just minutes away, offering a visitor center, gift shops, a general store and casual restaurant. Amenities within the campground include flush toilets and drinking water. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided, and a campground host is on-site. Ranger programs are held nightly at the amphitheater. Lake McDonald is just a short stroll from the campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Apgar group sites are located 1 mile (.3 km) northeast of the west entrance near West Glacier, Montana. Access is from U.S. Highway 2, approximately 32 miles (10km) northeast of Kalispell, Montana.
| Nearest town | West Glacier, Montana |
| Coordinates | 48.5250° N, 113.9836° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 1.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Glacier Outdoor Center ↗ | 2.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Bish's RV ↗ | 29 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Apgar Campground | West Glacier National Park | A Site by Site Video Tour | See all the si
Worth a stop
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 offers great hiking, scenic boat cruises and several scenic drives all centered around the townsite of Waterton.
- 10.8 mi
- 11 mi
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Flathead National Forest.
- inFlathead National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,651,693 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
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.
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.
Guidebooks for Glacier National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Moon Montana and Wyoming: with Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Glacier National ParksCarter G. Walker, 2022Find 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 Apgar Group Sites?
Sites at Apgar Group Sites are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Apgar Group Sites?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Apgar Group Sites have?
10 sites, including 5 group sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Apgar Group Sites?
Apgar Group Sites is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Apgar Group Sites?
Amenities within the campground include flush toilets and drinking water.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Apgar Group Sites?
Yes, pets are allowed at Apgar Group Sites. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Apgar Group Sites?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Apgar Group Sites good for stargazing?
Yes. Apgar Group Sites sits inside Glacier National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
Is there cell service at Apgar Group Sites?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and T-Mobile 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 Apgar Group Sites?
Lake McDonald provides great opportunities for boating, water skiing, canoeing and fishing in its cold mountain waters. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Apgar Group Sites?
West Glacier, Montana. One must-see attraction is Waterton Lakes National Park, Glacier's sister park across the Canadian-U.S.
Source: Getting there
What if Apgar Group Sites is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Apgar Campground (under 0.1 mi), Fish Creek Campground (1.6 mi), and Sprague Creek Campground (7.2 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby