Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [163]
Situated just off U.S. 2, this campground is conveniently located within walking distance of East Glacier and is the closest to town with laundry facilities. Plan to arrive early if you want to snag one of the few sites with trees. This place is a great value and an ideal place to plant the RV before heading off to explore the region.
IN ST. MARY
Johnson's of St. Mary
St. Mary, MT 59417. ☎ 406/732-4207 campground, or 406/732-5565 cafe. www.johnsons ofstmary.com. 40 tent sites, 82 RV sites. $16 tent; $25 RV with electricity and water only, $28–$30 full hookup; $20 motor home, no hookup.
From April through September (depending on the weather), this is where you want to camp if you can get a spot. The campground has showers ($3), an 18-hole miniature golf course, and a Laundromat. Campers both inside the park and out come to St. Mary for a good meal at Johnson's Cafe, which serves homemade American grub family style (with serving dishes placed on each table) at breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Lunches include burgers, sandwiches, and homemade soup (most items $3.50–$6.50), and dinners usually include your choice of entrees such as fried chicken (the Sun special), trout, sirloin or T-bone steak, or pork chops, with prices from $10 to $18.
IN WEST GLACIER
Glacier Campground
P.O. Box 447, 12070 U.S. 2, West Glacier, MT 59936. ☎ 888/387-5689 or 406/387-5689. www.glaciercampground.com. 80 tent sites, 80 RV sites, 5 cabins. $19 tent; $20–$26 RV; $35–$45 cabin.
One mile west of West Glacier on U.S. 2 is the closest campground outside the park. Set in a forested area overgrown with evergreens, it's a quiet, comfortable place to retreat under the shade of the trees, especially on hot summer days. Most sites have water and electric hookups; the rest are perfect for tent camping. Five rather primitive cabins are also available, with modest furnishings, electricity, beds with mattresses, and use of the campground's bathhouse. Recreational facilities include volleyball, horseshoes, and a basketball court; also on the premises is the excellent Cajun Mary's Cafe, along with a Laundromat and a small general store.
Lake Five Resort
540 Belton Stage Rd., West Glacier, MT 59936. ☎ 406/387-5601. www.lakefiveresort.com. 9 cabins, 6 tepee lodges; 31 sites with electricity and water, 14 sites with electricity, water, and sewer hookup. $100–$145 cabin; $50–$60 tepee; $30–$35 site.
Located 3 miles west of West Glacier and less than a mile from U.S. 2, this cabin and campground arrangement is an alternative to potentially crowded park campgrounds but is still close to the park. The resort is on a 235-acre lake. Seven of the nine cabins are on the lakefront; all are equipped with bathrooms and showers.
Where to Stay
INSIDE THE PARK
With only one exception, Glacier Park, Inc. (GPI) operates all of the hostelries in Glacier National Park, which fall into two categories. Lake McDonald Lodge, Glacier Park Lodge, and Many Glacier Hotel are first-tier properties that have been popular destinations since early in the 20th century; Swiftcurrent Motor Inn is typical of the casual motel-style properties at the other end of the spectrum that provide good accommodations for less money. Although the lodges have a certain stately charm, don't expect in-room hot tubs or even air-conditioning. The structures may have been constructed to withstand natural disasters, but little thought was given to interior soundproofing. If you're an eavesdropper, you'll be in heaven; if you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs. Although all of the lodges are adequately comfortable, their greatest attribute, aside from the architecture, may be their location in one of the most stunning natural settings in the world.
Reserve well in advance; July and August dates may fill before the spring thaw. For more information on the GPIOPERATED properties and to make reservations, contact Glacier Park Inc., P.O. Box 2025 Columbia Falls, MT 59912 (☎ 406/892-2525;