Apgar Campground
Gateway to Glacier — Lake McDonald, Going-to-the-Sun Road, and grizzly country
Location: West Glacier, MT, MT
Price: From $25 per night
Price range: $25–$35 per night
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (1847 reviews)
Elevation: 3241 feet
Season: Year-round (limited facilities Nov–Apr)
Glacier National Park’s largest and most accessible campground, Apgar sits on the southwest shore of Lake McDonald — the park’s largest and most photographically iconic lake with kaleidoscopic pebbles along its shore. The west entrance to Going-to-the-Sun Road is 1 mile away. The historic Apgar Village has a visitor center, general store, pizza shop, boat rentals, and ranger programs all within walking distance. Open year-round (limited winter facilities). Grizzlies and black bears are both pres
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Fire Rings, Bear Boxes, Picnic Tables, Dump Station, Ranger Programs, Boat Rentals Nearby, General Store Nearby, Pizza Shop, Visitor Center, Pet Friendly
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/apgar-glacier to be notified when sites open up.
Glacier National Park is the most visually dramatic national park in the continental US and Apgar is its best-positioned campground. Lake McDonald's shore — famous for its kaleidoscopic multi-colored pebbles photographed by millions — is a 5-minute walk from every site. Going-to-the-Sun Road west entrance is 1 mile away. The Apgar Village cluster of visitor center, general store, pizza shop, and boat rentals makes it the most self-contained major campground in the park. And this is prime grizzly country.
The colored pebbles of Lake McDonald's shoreline look like scattered stained glass — red, green, purple, blue, and orange stones from different geological formations polished by glacial meltwater over thousands of years. The colors are most vivid when wet, making post-rain mornings the best photography opportunity. The north shore of the lake, accessible by boat or a 5-mile drive, has the densest concentration of colored stones and almost no visitors.
What is new at Apgar Campground: Glacier NP vehicle permits required through recreation.gov for peak season 2026. New shuttle system expanded with more frequent service between Apgar and St. Mary Visitor Center. Bear activity reports updated in real-time on the Glacier NP app.
Wildlife alert: HIGHEST grizzly bear density in the lower 48. Bear spray is absolutely required on every hike — no exceptions. Both grizzly and black bears present. Mountain lions, wolves, and wolverines all present. This is true wilderness.
Fire rules: Campfires in designated rings only. Fire restrictions common in summer — Glacier is a dry fire-risk area. Check nps.gov/glac for current conditions.
Things to do near Apgar Campground: Lake McDonald north shore pebble photography at dawn after rain. Avalanche Lake trail (6 mi round trip) — cedar grove and glacially carved lake, one of the best hikes in the park. Going-to-the-Sun Road drive to Logan Pass — highest road in the Rockies, open mid-June. Logan Pass wildflowers in July — mountain goats and bighorn sheep year-round. Lake McDonald boat tour from Apgar Village marina.
Insider tips for Apgar Campground: Book Going-to-the-Sun vehicle permits simultaneously with campground reservation — they have the same demand North shore of Lake McDonald for best pebble photography — drive or take the boat Enter the park before 7am or after 3pm to avoid the vehicle permit requirement window
Skip Apgar Campground if: You need hookups. You're going without bear spray (not optional in Glacier). You're visiting late May–early June without a mosquito strategy.
Best time to visit Apgar Campground: Jul — Logan Pass open. Wildflowers peak. Beargrass bloom. Mountain goats with kids. All trails snow-free.. Sep — Crowds drop 40%. No vehicle permits needed after Labor Day. Fall color begins. Bears feeding before hibernation..
Common issues at Apgar Campground: Going-to-the-Sun Road requires a separate vehicle permit in peak season (late May–Sept, 7am–3pm). Book the vehicle permit ($2 reservation fee) through Recreation.gov when booking camping. The permit window is 7am–3pm. Arrive before 7am or after 3pm to enter without a permit. Mosquitoes in June–early July are extremely intense. DEET repellent is mandatory. Bring a head net. Long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk. This is not an exaggeration — June mosquitoes in Glacier are notorious. No hookups — dry camping only. Whitefish, MT (25 miles) has private campgrounds with full hookups. West Glacier town (2 miles) has limited services.
What campers say about Apgar Campground: "Lake McDonald pebble shore at sunrise. Teal water, multi-colored rocks, mountains reflected. Nothing in the lower 48 looks like this." — The Dyrt 2025 "Hiked Avalanche Lake trail from the campground. Completely silent glacial lake inside a cedar grove. One of the best hikes of my life." — Reddit 2025 "Grizzly bear seen near the Apgar visitor center two days running. Bear spray is mandatory — not optional here." — Campendium 2025 "Logan Pass wildflowers in July are extraordinary. Book Going-to-the-Sun vehicle permit when you book camping — they fill fast." — The Dyrt Jul 2025
What are the best sites at Apgar Campground Glacier? Sites B1–B20 face Lake McDonald and have direct lake views from the picnic table — these go first. Sites on the outer edges of D and E loops back up to forest and are quietest. The campground is large (194 sites) and spread across multiple loops — sites near the lake add a 3–5 minute walk to the boat ramp and beach. All sites are within a mile of the Apgar Village visitor center and camp store.
How do I book Apgar Campground in Glacier? Apgar accepts reservations 6 months in advance on Recreation.gov. It is one of the most sought-after campgrounds in the park given its location on Lake McDonald and close access to the Going-to-the-Sun Road. July and August sell out immediately. A portion of sites (typically 20–30) are held for walk-in, same-day use — arrive at the campground entrance by 8 AM. Going-to-the-Sun Road vehicle reservations (separate from camping) are required May–October — book those at the same time.
Can I swim in Lake McDonald from Apgar Campground? Yes — Lake McDonald has a designated swim beach within the campground. The water is glacier-fed and cold (55–65°F even in August) but clear and beautiful. No lifeguard. The lake is also excellent for kayaking — rentals are available at Apgar Village (10 min walk). The famous multicolored stones visible through the clear water are best seen in the shallows near camp.
Are there bear problems at Apgar Campground? Both black bears and grizzly bears are active throughout Glacier National Park. Apgar has had incidents in recent seasons — food storage in the provided bear boxes is mandatory, not optional. Never cook or eat at your tent. The campground has electric fencing around the perimeter but individual sites do not. Report all bear sightings to the camp host immediately.
