St. Mary Campground
The Quick Take
St. Mary is the eastern gateway campground — the one you book when you want to wake up and be first in line for Going-to-the-Sun Road without fighting for a spot at the more coveted (and smaller) Rising Sun or Many Glacier. It is the largest campground on this side of the park by a wide margin, which means better odds at snagging a reservation, but the trade-off is real: the landscape here is open prairie transitioning to mountain foothills, so shade is scarce and wind can be relentless. Forget about flush toilets or showers — this is vault-toilet territory despite the campground's size. The aspens are genuinely beautiful when the breeze picks up, and the fall color here rivals anything on the west side. Book St. Mary if you want a reliable east-side base camp, you are traveling with a larger RV, or you plan to spend your days on the trail rather than lounging at your site.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 148 sites are reservable.
Book at Glacier LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. Maximum length: 40 feet. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
Loop C: C146, C148 (36 feet) Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Pro Tips
Reservations open six months in advance on Recreation.gov and sell out fast for July and August. Set a calendar reminder for your exact date window and be online the moment slots drop — weekday arrivals in mid-September offer the best combination of availability, fall color, and smaller crowds.
The St. Mary Visitor Center is a short walk away and runs the free shuttle to Logan Pass, which solves the single biggest headache in Glacier: parking at the pass fills before 7 AM in peak season. Time your morning around the shuttle schedule and skip the stress entirely.
Wind is the defining feature of this campground — not bears, not rain. Bring extra-long stakes and a freestanding tent rated for gusty conditions. A windbreak or tarp rigged low between your vehicle and tent makes evening cooking far more pleasant. Also, pack layers: east-side nights drop into the low 40s even in July.
Photos
NPS Photo
NPS Photo
NPS/Jacob W. FrankGetting There
Directions
Located approximately one half mile west of the park boundary, near the town of St. Mary. Latitude, Longitude: 48.75083, -113.44694 48°45'3"N, 113°26'49"W
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