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Old 12-06-2021, 02:41 PM   #21
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IF you can cross the border, and IF you have the time, a side trip to Waterton is recommended. Stay at the Waterton Townsite Campground and you are right at the lake with access to the town, with full hookups available.
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Old 12-06-2021, 08:22 PM   #22
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To tag on to the means into the park if you don't get the pass. If you don't mind a 25 mile dirt road trip, you can take side roads that enter into the park after the gates which is fine by them. It also gives you a chance to visit the Polebridge Mercantile which is the most amazing bakery every, and beautifully placed in the middle of nowhere!
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Old 12-06-2021, 09:26 PM   #23
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Coffee and cinnamon buns at the bakery! Definitely worth the drive...
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Old 12-07-2021, 06:38 PM   #24
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Camas Road entrance

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Originally Posted by goransons View Post
To tag on to the means into the park if you don't get the pass. If you don't mind a 25 mile dirt road trip, you can take side roads that enter into the park after the gates which is fine by them. It also gives you a chance to visit the Polebridge Mercantile which is the most amazing bakery every, and beautifully placed in the middle of nowhere!
You’re referring to the west entrance to GNP at Camas Road, accessed by the North Fork Road (the route to Polebridge). While this route was a way to beat the ticketed entry system last summer, the park service plans to install a manned entrance station there for the 2022 tourist season. Highly recommend the trip northward to Polebridge and to Kintla and Bowman lakes in GNP. Parking areas for those two lakes were usually full by 830am last summer.
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Old 12-07-2021, 08:11 PM   #25
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If you are entering from the West side, do not overlook the possible RV and state parks located in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, or Hungry Horse (in descending distance from GNP). Since entry is variable and who know just what it will be next year - why not take a look at the spectacular scenery in the whole geographic area. As a secondary suggestion ... Flathead Lake also offers many RV and state parks as well... located just a few miles south of Kalispell.
From the east side, choices are more limited for closely located CG and parks ... you will need to go further east to find many choices outside of St Mary. I spent several years as the LE ranger at Logan Pass and the views from either side as well as the southern route around the park are SPECTACULAR.
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Old 12-07-2021, 08:44 PM   #26
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You’re referring to the west entrance to GNP at Camas Road, accessed by the North Fork Road (the route to Polebridge). While this route was a way to beat the ticketed entry system last summer, the park service plans to install a manned entrance station there for the 2022 tourist season. Highly recommend the trip northward to Polebridge and to Kintla and Bowman lakes in GNP. Parking areas for those two lakes were usually full by 830am last summer.
Wow, good to know. We did get the pass, but waited until our last day so the rest of our party could go in with us to the main road, we did some evening stuff after hours. The food there in Polebridge was, well incredible as was the scenery. Great to know those details! Thanks for the info!
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Old 12-07-2021, 10:41 PM   #27
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I've just booked the West Glacier RV Park for the week of June 21st. We are really looking forward to this trip. Hopefully, it will be in our new 30 Foot Classic. It is suppose to be in late March or early April. I will try to remember to pop on here during the trip and post anything I find of interest. Hopefully, it will be of some help coming in just after we depart.
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Old 12-08-2021, 10:38 AM   #28
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Recommendation for campground GNP

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My wife and I are planning a trip for next July to the Pacific NW and we would like to visit Glacier National Park on the way.
Any good recommendations for RV site (28' International) near the park?

Thanks,
Tom
We spent a week at Mountain Meadow RV Park at the West Entrance near Hungry Horse. I can highly recommend this park! Pull thru sites with good separation and a few with decent seclusion. Everything about the park is top notch. Book early, study their map for the best sites! Very convenient to park and Hungry Horse.
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Old 12-08-2021, 10:45 AM   #29
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We visited GNP in early October 2021 and stayed at the West Glacier KOA. It is one of the finest KOA's we stayed at, I wouldn't hesitate to offer this recommendation.
I second that recommendation...West Glacier KOA is by far the finest KOA I've ever stayed at! It rivals some of the high end Class A coach only resorts I've stayed at over the years. I've since moved back east, but plan on returning some day soon!
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Old 12-08-2021, 10:49 AM   #30
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If you haven’t been whitewater rafting, that is a great activity to do, and if you think you’re too old, I’m here to tell you that you’re not.

If you have kids with you, consider the Aerial Adventure and other summer activities at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

https://skiwhitefish.com/

The latter my grands favorite activity from our trip last June.

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Old 12-08-2021, 10:53 AM   #31
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West Glacier Lake Five Resort

We stayed at the Lake Five Resort in Oct last year just as they were getting ready to close. It was wonderful. They are 3 miles from the entrance to the park and just outside of town and in a woodsy setting. They are on a small lake which is home to some beautiful wildlife. A pair of eagles had a routine right in front of the resort. A young family owns and runs the place. It has been in the family for three generations. The office is the original log home of the grandparents, and it is charming with incredible memorabilia. They kept the water running for us to stay five days even though the snow hit. We were the only campers there. It may be a bit different if it were packed with families, but I would still go back no matter what. The owners told me that September is the very best time to visit. Fewer crowds and still great weather. We are going to shoot for that. I would choose this place over a jammed KOA anytime.
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Old 12-08-2021, 10:59 AM   #32
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Campground recommendation

We spent a week 3 years ago at Mountain Meadow RV Park. Top notch facilities. Pull through sites with lots of room. Some with good seclusion. Very close to west entrance and also the town of Hungry Horse.
Book early after studying the site map, some sites are much better than others.
Good Luck
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Old 12-08-2021, 01:10 PM   #33
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My wife and I are planning a trip for next July to the Pacific NW and we would like to visit Glacier National Park on the way.
Any good recommendations for RV site (28' International) near the park?

Thanks,
Tom
Keep in mind Glacier has height, and width restrictions, we have a Airstream Interstate GT24 EXT built on a Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500 van, Measures 24’6” and 10’ 6” height
, and was told NO at the entrance gate, also you need to pre register before going to drive Sun Drive which is the main RD through the park. We did not know to do this so it was a surprise, so we decided to just drive around to the other side of Park. There was a bad accident, so they told us at the even if we could get in we would only be allowed to drive a short distance. So, to make a long story short, while trying to decide what to do, we met a nice older Park Ranger, and he let us in. We were held up for about 3hours while they cleared the accident. Once in the tunnels were of no issues neither in height nor the length?. Just a crazy rule. But you have to get past the entrance gate. With that said GOOD LUCK, if you’re trying to drive your rig in. Also, keep in mind even once inside any Park Ranger can question you rig for the restrictions. We stayed in the park for 3 days, drove across probably 3 times so much beauty. We have also discovered that our RV is kinda stealth, so we park in the hotel, motel, resorts, etc parking lots at night. We have very good night shades. So even with the lights on it’s dark inside. It’s just a pretty neat way to travel…
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Old 12-08-2021, 04:34 PM   #34
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I got so excited reading this discussion that I just booked 4 days over Memorial Day at the West Glacier RV Park on our way from Chicago to our N. Idaho lake house for the summer. Unfortunately, not many exciting places between Chicago and there.....
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Old 12-08-2021, 09:01 PM   #35
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We boondocked at the Buffalo Calf campground just East of the park.
This place is owned and operated by the local natives. Just a huge grass field in the open with 360 views. This is not a KOA.

People driving by on Hwy 2 could see our lone Airstream.

After a while our tanks filled up and we drove into East Glacier to take care of that.
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Old 12-09-2021, 11:00 AM   #36
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Any recommendations for the east side of the park?
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Old 12-10-2021, 09:03 AM   #37
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Any recommendations for the east side of the park?
East side or SouthEast side? There is Two Medicine on the SouthEast side between East and West entrances. We have stayed there and around there outside the park several times. Beautiful when wind is not blowing...nice hiking and canoe/kayak on the lake. Outside that area, there are several campgrounds including inexpensive State campgrounds.

For East, of course St. Marys, and Rising Sun inside the park; outside St. Marys there are a few, including KOA. Our favorite is Swift Currant, at Many Glacier which is a sure bet for animals if you can get in there...it is pretty rough road going back in there from main highway, and half is reservation only now...(bummer) People will start lining up at the first come/first serve gate around 4am in a line waiting for the Rangers to open up and start "issuing" freed up sites which starts at 8am. The Lodge Hotel is great to hang and eat at, right on the lake...lots of great hiking and usually see moose and bears around so you need to be vigilant and take bear spray with you for sure. You can see when the park campgrounds are filling each day on the website for Glacier Park, to give you an idea of when you need to be in there. What we (and many others) do is book a reservation at a commercial site outside the park, and scout out where we want to camp next few days and try to get in early for a site. Can be crazy for sure, but I never get tired of Glacier...65 years now...
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Old 12-10-2021, 11:41 AM   #38
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We stayed at ST. MARY / EAST GLACIER KOA HOLIDAY on the east side this Fall and enjoyed it immensely. The east side of Glacier is quieter and closer to the hikes that we wanted to do. Our friends that we met there stayed at both the east and west KOAs and preferred the east.
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Old 12-17-2021, 08:22 PM   #39
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What side of the park?
All of the RV locations are in West Glacier. It is "MUST" that you get tickets for both the Going to the Sun Road and Polebridge entrances. The latter is new this year. Without these tickets you will not get to see the park. Yes, you can wait until after 5 PM but it will be a moving parking lot into and out. If you delay your visit towards the end of the summer you will more than likely encounter smoke. Lots of it.
I have stayed at all the resorts mentioned above. West Glacier KOA is, in my opinion, the finest KOA in the country! Book now or you will not get in. The resort at West Glacier is new and doesn't have any of the amenities with the exception of price. It's about the same. It is the closest to the West Entrance.

Lake Five is literally on a small lake. It offers a beach and you can put a canoe or kayak in the water there. However, this is a much older resort and the spaces are going to be very similar to a state park. Last I heard it was up for sale.

With that said, there are several other RV campgrounds between West Glacier south towards Whitefish. There is also another KOA between White Fish and Kalispel.
I live within 3 hours of this area and have camped there probably 15 or 20 times over the past few years.
Bottom line...sorry to repeat this...to see GNP you MUST have a ticket. If you don't have one you are wasting your time to see this beautiful area.

One other thing. The GTSR generally is closed to vehicle traffic until right around the 1st of July. Although closed throughout June you can still ride your bike to the top. Most people will park their cars at Avalance Campground. But you have to get there really early in the morning to get a parking spot. 6:30 AM is almost too late! In the past few years that campground has been closed but you could still park your car.
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Old 01-04-2022, 02:00 PM   #40
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Thanks for the recommendations!

Thank you all so much for the recommendations and pointers! I am really looking forward to this trip. We will end up near Seattle and visit my son and grandsons for a few days (he even has hook up for us at this house!). Then we plan to head south in to Oregon and northern California to see the redwoods.



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