St. Mary Campground — Glacier National Park
Going-to-the-Sun Road starts here. Most dramatic camp views in the US.
Location: St. Mary, MT, MT
Price: From $23 per night
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (1560 reviews)
Elevation: 4511 feet
Season: Late May–late Sep
The east entrance to Glacier with sweeping views of St. Mary Lake and the towering peaks of the Continental Divide. St. Mary is the gateway to Going-to-the-Sun Road and offers some of the most dramatic mountain views of any campground in the US.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Flush Toilets, Dump Station, Amphitheater, Camp Store Nearby
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/st-mary-glacier to be notified when sites open up.
Glacier National Park contains some of the most dramatic mountain scenery remaining in the continental US, and St. Mary sits at the east entrance where the plains meet the Rockies in a collision of geology. Going-to-the-Sun Road, considered the most scenic 50 miles of road in America, begins here.
Two Medicine Lake — the least-visited major valley in Glacier, 30 miles south of St. Mary. Boat tours, dramatic peaks, almost no crowds compared to Logan Pass.
What is new at St. Mary Campground — Glacier National Park: 2026: New vehicle reservation system continues. Logan Pass visitor center renovations complete. Additional bear spray rental stations added at St. Mary.
Wildlife alert: Grizzly bears are common throughout the park — bear spray mandatory on all trails. Mountain goats at Logan Pass are habituated and will approach for salt. Moose often seen near St. Mary Lake. Mountain lions rare but present.
Fire rules: Campfires in fire rings only. Fire restrictions common in late summer — check nps.gov/glac. Firewood available at camp store. Ground fires strictly prohibited. No campfires during dry periods.
Things to do near St. Mary Campground — Glacier National Park: Going-to-the-Sun Road. St. Mary Lake sunrise. Grinnell Glacier hike (Many Glacier). Baring Falls Trail. Logan Pass boardwalk.
Insider tips for St. Mary Campground — Glacier National Park: Stay at the St. Mary KOA if the campground is full — it’s adjacent and has hot showers The Chief Mountain border crossing (seasonal) to Canada is 30 miles — do a day trip to Waterton Lakes NP Hike Otokomi Lake Trail from Rose Creek (2 miles from camp) — almost nobody does it, spectacular views
Skip St. Mary Campground — Glacier National Park if: You can’t deal with grizzly bear protocols. You need hookups (21ft RV limit). You visit before July (road likely closed). You want solitude — it’s a busy park.
Best time to visit St. Mary Campground — Glacier National Park: Mid-Jul — Roads fully open, wildflowers peaking, best wildlife activity.. Aug–Sep — Huckleberries ripe (grizzly prime time), clear weather, warm enough to hike..
Common issues at St. Mary Campground — Glacier National Park: Vehicle reservations required for Going-to-the-Sun Road May–October. Book at recreation.gov — reserve at 8am MST when your entry date becomes available 60 days out. Grizzly bear country requires constant food discipline. Use the provided bear boxes religiously. Cook away from sleeping areas. Carry bear spray on every hike — available to rent at St. Mary Village. Extremely short season — snow can close roads through June. Mid-July through mid-September is the reliable window. Check NPS road status at nps.gov/glac.
What campers say about St. Mary Campground — Glacier National Park: "Saw a grizzly bear 50 yards from camp on my first morning. Absolutely terrifying and magnificent." — Campendium "Going-to-the-Sun Road should not be legal — too beautiful for human eyes. I had to pull over every mile." — The Dyrt "Get the vehicle permit AND book Logan Pass parking if you want to summit. Both sell out." — Google
What are the best sites at St. Mary Campground Glacier? Sites 1–40 closest to St. Mary Lake have lake views and catch morning light on the peaks behind camp. The campground sits at the eastern entrance of Glacier, where the landscape transitions from forest to open prairie — dramatically different from the denser west-side campgrounds. Sites near the amphitheater (loops C and D) are convenient but can be noisy on ranger program nights. The Going-to-the-Sun Road starts here.
How do I book St. Mary Campground Glacier National Park? St. Mary accepts reservations 6 months in advance on Recreation.gov. It books out for July and August within hours of opening. A Going-to-the-Sun Road vehicle reservation (separate from camping) is required May–October — buy both at the same time on Recreation.gov. Walk-in sites (15–20) are available for same-day arrivals — go to the campground entrance booth by 8 AM. The park reservation system changes annually — verify current requirements at nps.gov/glac before your trip.
Can I drive Going-to-the-Sun Road from St. Mary Campground? Yes — St. Mary is at the eastern terminus of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Logan Pass (the high point, 6,646 ft) is 20 miles west. In peak season (July–August), a timed entry permit is required to drive the full road before 3 PM — book it on Recreation.gov. After 3 PM, vehicles can enter without a permit. The St. Mary Visitor Center next to the campground has daily road condition updates.
What wildlife can I see near St. Mary Campground? St. Mary Lake area is one of the best wildlife zones in Glacier. Grizzly bears, black bears, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, and wolves have all been spotted near the campground within the last two seasons. All food must be stored in bear boxes (mandatory). The Two Dog Flats area (1 mile from camp) is particularly good for grizzly sightings at dawn. Bring binoculars — the distances are large.
