St. Mary Campground
Glacier National Park
| Address: | Going-to-the-Sun Rd, Browning, MT 59417, USA |
| GPS: |
48°45'5.3"N 113°26'42.9"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Montana |
National Park
Camp
St. Mary Campground is the main campground on the drier east side of Glacier National Park, set just half a mile from the St. Mary Entrance at the foot of St. Mary Lake, where the plains meet the mountains. As the eastern gateway campground it is a natural base for exploring the Going-to-the-Sun Road from the east, and it has the big-sky, wind-swept character that sets the east side apart from the lush west.
The campground has about 148 sites, roughly two dozen of which can take RVs up to 35 feet, with flush toilets and drinking water; coin-operated showers and a camp store are available nearby at St. Mary. Sites come with picnic tables, fire rings and bear-resistant food storage, and the campground is on the reservation system, so summer nights should be booked in advance. It sits at the transition zone between forest and prairie, so it can be notably breezy and open compared with the sheltered west-side campgrounds.
Just up the Going-to-the-Sun Road are some of the park's signature sights: the Wild Goose Island overlook on St. Mary Lake, the waterfalls of the St. Mary and Virginia Falls area, and the long climb to Logan Pass. Boat tours run on St. Mary Lake, and the campground is well placed for reaching the Many Glacier valley to the north. With its east-side scenery, full front-country facilities and prime position on the Sun Road, St. Mary is one of the park's most useful and scenic campgrounds.
More Information
Glacier National Park Itinerary
This Glacier National Park Itinerary will help you get started as you plan your vacation to Glacier National Park.
https://www.justgotravelstudios.com/collections/national-park-itineraries/products/glacier-national-park-itinerary?ref=9zpxis0diinCamping - Glacier National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Front Country Campground Status
https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/camping.htm
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Glacier National Park
- Head northwest on Glacier Rte 1 Rd/
Going-to-the-Sun Rd (0.8 mi) - Turn right (0.2 mi)
- Turn left onto Lp B RdDestination will be on the left(39 ft)
Other Arenas Nearby
Rising Sun Campground
Glacier National Park
5.2 miles SWMore than 150 sites in eastern Glacier National Park close to Going-to-the-Sun Road, St. Mary's Falls and Red Rock Falls trails, and frequent bear, elk, and bighorn sightings.
Camp 0.6 mi
Baring Falls
Glacier National Park
8.5 miles SWA moderate trail hike in Glacier National Park to 30-foot Baring Falls dropping into crystal-clear water — with scenic mountain overlooks, wildlife, and an optional gorge viewpoint 1.5 miles beyond.
Hike 1.4-4.6 mi
St Mary and Virginia Falls
Rising Sun, Glacier National Park
9.2 miles SWA scenic 3.7-mile roundtrip hike past St. Mary Falls' 50-foot two-tiered drop to the upper and lower tiers of Virginia Falls, best in early season when snowmelt is rushing.
Hike 11.8 mi
Cracker Lake Trail
Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
10.1 miles WA 12.5-mile hike through forests and meadows to a surreal turquoise lake in the Many Glacier area — plan for two days to fully enjoy this bear-country gem.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Siyeh Pass Trail
Logan Pass, Glacier National Park
10.7 miles WA top-of-the-world point-to-point hike through Glacier's Preston Park meadows to a high pass with glacier views, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep.
Backpack, Hike
Cut Bank Campground
Glacier National Park
10.7 miles SA peaceful forested campground along Cut Bank Creek in Glacier National Park with 48 first-come sites, nearby hiking trails, and access to fishing at St. Mary Lake.
Camp
Many Glacier Campground
Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
11.0 miles WCamp near Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
Camp 9.7 mi
Iceberg Lake
Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
11.1 miles WNine miles of alpine trail deliver sweeping views of Ptarmigan Wall, Mount Grinnell, and Mount Wilbur before arriving at an iceberg-dotted cirque lake in Glacier NP.
Backpack, Camp, Hike 10.5 mi
Ptarmigan Tunnel
Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
11.1 miles WA long hike to a hand-carved 240-foot tunnel through the Ptarmigan Wall at Glacier National Park, opening to views of Seaward Mountain and Elizabeth Lake — open mid-July through early October.
Backpack, Hike
Grinnell Lake
Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
11.6 miles WA 7.5-mile round-trip hike along glacier-fed subalpine lakes to a turquoise glacial lake in Glacier National Park — with a waterfall along the way and an optional ferry across Lake Josephine.
Hike, Swim
Clements Mountain Trail
Logan Pass, Glacier National Park
13.0 miles WA four-mile round-trip climb of Clements Mountain in Glacier National Park, with several routes of varying difficulty and significant elevation gain — often confused with nearby Reynolds Mountain.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Rock Climb
Highline Trail
Logan Pass, Glacier National Park
13.0 miles WOne of Glacier National Park's most celebrated hikes — the Highline Trail spans alpine meadows, the Continental Divide, and the Garden Wall with mountain goats, wildflowers, and views to rival anything in the park.
Backpack, Hike 5.0 mi
Hidden Lake
Glacier National Park
13.0 miles WA 6.6-mile round-trip hike from Logan Pass through alpine meadows, dense forest, and rocky terrain to the crystal-clear waters of Hidden Lake, with bighorn sheep and mountain goats along the way.
Hike 0.9 mi
Trail of the Cedars
Apgar Village, Glacier National Park
17.7 miles WAn easy wheelchair-accessible loop through towering 500-year-old cedars up to 100 feet tall in Glacier National Park, with gorge views of glacial Avalanche Creek and a footbridge over the water.
Hike 4.5 mi
Avalanche Lake
Apgar Village, Glacier National Park
17.8 miles WHike near Apgar Village, Glacier National Park
Hike
Avalanche Campground
Glacier National Park
17.8 miles WNestled on Glacier National Park's west side, Avalanche Campground puts 128 sites, flush toilets, and bear-proof storage right next to the Trail of the Cedars and the stunning Avalanche Lake hike.
Camp
Two Medicine Campground
Glacier National Park
18.3 miles SCamp near Glacier National Park
Camp
Glacier National Park
West Glacier, Montana
21.5 miles SWSwim near West Glacier, Montana
Swim
Sprague Campground
Glacier National Park
22.5 miles SWAn 85-site campground on the west side of Glacier National Park near Lake McDonald, with swimming, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, and the Trail of the Cedars nearby.
Camp
Fish Creek Campground
Glacier National Park
28.4 miles SWA 193-site Glacier National Park campground along Fish Creek, surrounded by pine and cedar forest, with mountain views, fire rings, and access to the Trail of the Cedars nearby.
CampNearby Campsites
Rising Sun Campground
Glacier National Park
5.2 miles SWMore than 150 sites in eastern Glacier National Park close to Going-to-the-Sun Road, St. Mary's Falls and Red Rock Falls trails, and frequent bear, elk, and bighorn sightings.
Camp 11.8 mi
Cracker Lake Trail
Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
10.1 miles WA 12.5-mile hike through forests and meadows to a surreal turquoise lake in the Many Glacier area — plan for two days to fully enjoy this bear-country gem.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Cut Bank Campground
Glacier National Park
10.7 miles SA peaceful forested campground along Cut Bank Creek in Glacier National Park with 48 first-come sites, nearby hiking trails, and access to fishing at St. Mary Lake.
Camp
Many Glacier Campground
Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
11.0 miles WCamp near Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
Camp 9.7 mi
Iceberg Lake
Many Glacier, Glacier National Park
11.1 miles WNine miles of alpine trail deliver sweeping views of Ptarmigan Wall, Mount Grinnell, and Mount Wilbur before arriving at an iceberg-dotted cirque lake in Glacier NP.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Clements Mountain Trail
Logan Pass, Glacier National Park
13.0 miles WA four-mile round-trip climb of Clements Mountain in Glacier National Park, with several routes of varying difficulty and significant elevation gain — often confused with nearby Reynolds Mountain.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Rock Climb
Avalanche Campground
Glacier National Park
17.8 miles WNestled on Glacier National Park's west side, Avalanche Campground puts 128 sites, flush toilets, and bear-proof storage right next to the Trail of the Cedars and the stunning Avalanche Lake hike.
Camp
Two Medicine Campground
Glacier National Park
18.3 miles SCamp near Glacier National Park
Camp
Sprague Campground
Glacier National Park
22.5 miles SWAn 85-site campground on the west side of Glacier National Park near Lake McDonald, with swimming, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, and the Trail of the Cedars nearby.
Camp
Fish Creek Campground
Glacier National Park
28.4 miles SWA 193-site Glacier National Park campground along Fish Creek, surrounded by pine and cedar forest, with mountain views, fire rings, and access to the Trail of the Cedars nearby.
Camp
Apgar Campground
Apgar Village, Glacier National Park
29.2 miles SWCampsites on the shores of Lake McDonald within Glacier National Park, with easy access to the Apgar Visitor Center, nature center, nearby hiking, and the western entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Camp
Cameron Lake
Waterton, Glacier National Park
32.9 miles NWA picturesque Canadian glacial lake in Waterton Lakes National Park surrounded by mountain scenery, avalanche-sculpted shores, kayaking, fishing, and Herbst Glacier views.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Logging Creek Campground
Glacier National Park
34.2 miles WA first-come, first-served campground nestled in the Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park, with 49 sites and close access to the Grinnell Glacier and Swiftcurrent trails.
Camp
Bowman Lake Campground
Glacier National Park
34.9 miles WA stunning lakeside campground in the heart of Glacier National Park with 50+ campsites, bear-proof lockers, nearby hiking trails, and access to swimming, fishing, and paddling on Bowman Lake.
Camp
Quartz Creek Campground
Glacier National Park
35.6 miles WA peaceful 22-site campground in the heart of Glacier National Park, close to Going-to-the-Sun Road and a short hike from iconic Grinnell Glacier.
Camp
Kintla Campground
Glacier National Park
35.8 miles NWA 26-site campground on the shores of Kintla Lake inside Glacier National Park — fire pits, bear boxes, vault toilets, and the Kintla Lake Trail at your doorstep.
Camp
Jewel Basin
Kalispell, Montana
45.8 miles SWThe Jewel Basin Hiking Area packs 35 miles of hiker-only trail, two dozen alpine lakes, and the Mount Aeneas lookout into the Swan Range near Kalispell.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
