A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

National Park Service campground

Apgar Campground

National Park Service campground in Glacier National Park, Flathead County, Montana. 3,177 feet. 14.3 miles from Columbia Falls.

Managed by
National Park Service Glacier National Park
Elevation
3,177 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
187 184 standard non-electric, 3 walk to
Longest rig
42 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Apgar campground is the largest campground in the park. It is situated in trees and provides tent and RV campers with shade and some privacy. Evening sunsets on Lake McDonald are only a short stroll, and you won't want to miss evening programs with a ranger at the Apgar Amphitheater. Many trails are located within a short drive of the campground. Five Group Sites are reservable in advance.

All sites require a reservation. Most sites have a 6-month booking window with a good handful having a 4-day booking window.

Hiker/Bicyclist sites A10, C144, and C146 are available through the Recreation.gov Scan and Pay system. In order to use these sites, visitors must download the Recreation.gov Application before arriving. At the Hiker/Bicyclist sites, simply scan the QR code posted onsite to follow prompts and complete payment. Additional instructions are provided onsite in Apgar Campground.

Recreation

This facility is conveniently located in the western part of the park. Explorers of all ages can attend nightly ranger programs at an amphitheater within the facility.

Facilities

The campground is large with 194 campsites. The sites are relatively spread apart and provide privacy for both RV and tent campers. Potable water is accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities have flush toilets and sinks with running water.

Natural Features

Apgar is heavily forested with partial shade. Some sites have views of Lake McDonald.

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.

Nearby Attractions

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, Waterton Lakes offers great hiking, scenic boat cruises and several scenic drives all centered around the townsite of Waterton.

Waterton Lakes National Park

The description, directions and fees are the National Park Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • camping
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • interpretive programs
  • visitor center
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Apgar Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated April 30, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.