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Rising Sun Campground in Montana
Very Hard to BookNational Park

Rising Sun Campground

Glacier National Park, Montana

We can email you the day Rising Sun Campground opens again.

It is off-season. Rising Sun Campground is closed until May 29, 2027

National Park Service closes this campground on September 5, 2026 and reopens it on May 29, 2027.

ClosedSeptember 5, 2026 – May 29, 2027
OpenReopens May 29, 2027

National Park Service says: “Winter Closure”

As of October 2026, Rising Sun Campground is a campground in Glacier National Park, Montana with 83 campsites. Rising Sun Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

  • PermitSnag checks Rising Sun Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • Rising Sun Campground is located at 48.6954° N, 113.5213° W.
people allowed on each site
8

Rising Sun Campground reservations and next available dates

Stay and booking rules

  • Mid-stay changes allowed

Published by Recreation.gov for Rising Sun Campground, read on September 28, 2026.

Campsites at Rising Sun Campground

  • Standard 83
  • Accessible 1

Amenities

  • restrooms
  • showers
  • potable water

At a glance: Setting: Mountain.

Things to do: boating, swimming, hiking, wildlife, photography, stargazing.

All sites at Rising Sun Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

SiteLoopTypeSleepsAccess
1Lower LoopStandard8-
2Lower LoopStandard8-
3Lower LoopStandard8-
4Lower LoopStandard8-
5Lower LoopStandard8-
6Lower LoopStandard8-
7Lower LoopStandard8Accessible
8Lower LoopStandard8-
9Lower LoopStandard8-
10Lower LoopStandard8-
11Lower LoopStandard8-
12Lower LoopStandard8-
13Lower LoopStandard8-
14Lower LoopStandard8-
15Lower LoopStandard8-
16Lower LoopStandard8-
17Lower LoopStandard8-
18Lower LoopStandard8-
19Lower LoopStandard8-
20Lower LoopStandard8-
21Lower LoopStandard8-
22Lower LoopStandard8-
23Lower LoopStandard8-
24Lower LoopStandard8-
25Lower LoopStandard8-
26Lower LoopStandard8-
27Lower LoopStandard8-
28Lower LoopStandard8-
29Lower LoopStandard8-
30Lower LoopStandard8-
31Lower LoopStandard8-
32Lower LoopStandard8-
33Lower LoopStandard8-
34Lower LoopStandard8-
35Lower LoopStandard8-
36Lower LoopStandard8-
37Lower LoopStandard8-
38Lower LoopStandard8-
39Lower LoopStandard8-
40Lower LoopStandard8-
41Lower LoopStandard8-
42Lower LoopStandard8-
SiteLoopTypeSleepsAccess
43Lower LoopStandard8-
44Lower LoopStandard8-
45Lower LoopStandard8-
46Lower LoopStandard8-
47Lower LoopStandard8-
48Lower LoopStandard8-
49Upper LoopStandard8-
50Upper LoopStandard8-
51Upper LoopStandard8-
52Upper LoopStandard8-
53Upper LoopStandard8-
54Upper LoopStandard8-
55Upper LoopStandard8-
56Upper LoopStandard8-
57Upper LoopStandard8-
58Upper LoopStandard8-
59Upper LoopStandard8-
60Upper LoopStandard8-
61Upper LoopStandard8-
62Upper LoopStandard8-
63Upper LoopStandard8-
64Upper LoopStandard8-
65Upper LoopStandard8-
66Upper LoopStandard8-
67Upper LoopStandard8-
68Upper LoopStandard8-
69Upper LoopStandard8-
70Upper LoopStandard8-
71Upper LoopStandard8-
72Upper LoopStandard8-
73Upper LoopStandard8-
74Upper LoopStandard8-
75Upper LoopStandard8-
76Upper LoopStandard8-
77Upper LoopStandard8-
78Upper LoopStandard8-
79Upper LoopStandard8-
80Upper LoopStandard8-
81Upper LoopStandard8-
82Upper LoopStandard8-
83Upper LoopStandard8-

About Rising Sun Campground

Overview

Rising Sun Campground is located just west of St. Mary and halfway along St. Mary Lake. Campers at Rising Sun will enjoy beautiful sunrises in the morning with Red Eagle Mountain as a backdrop, and the campground serves as a convenient base camp to many day hikes located east of Logan Pass. Some sites are open, allowing for cool breezes throughout the day, while others are located among trees, accommodating those seeking some shade and privacy. Access to St. Mary Lake can be found at the Rising Sun Picnic Area, across the Going-to-the-Sun-Road from the campground.

During peak summer season, nearby Rising Sun day use area offers lodging, a restaurant, camp store/gift shop, picnic area, and boat tours. Shower facilities may be available at the Rising Sun Motor Inn for a fee. Rising Sun Campground is typically open from early June to early September. During its open season, the campground is located within the Moutain Daylight Time zone (MDT).

Recreation

Rising Sun Campground is located on the east side of the park, which boasts some of the best trails available for day hiking. Trailheads start at a higher elevation than those on the west side, so less ascent is required to reach scenic vistas. The Otokomi Lake Trailhead is the closest to the campground and begins at the west end of the Rising Sun Camp store parking lot.

Facilities

Potable water is accessible in the campground, and restroom facilities provide flush toilets and sinks with running water. Communal bear proof food storage lockers can be found spread throughout the campground.

Natural Features

Nestled against a cliffside, Rising Sun offers primarily shaded sites. Mixed aspen trees flutter in spring and summer breezes and provide colorful splashes of yellow late in the season. St. Mary Lake which, although too cold and occasionally too rough to swim in, provides refreshing scenery on warm days. Campers at Rising Sun will enjoy beautiful sunrises in the morning with Red Eagle Mountain as a backdrop

Nearby Attractions

One must-see attraction is the sister park across the U.S.-Canadian border, Waterton Lakes National Park. As the other half of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Waterton Lakes offers fantastic hiking, scenic boat cruises and several scenic drives all centered around the Townsite of Waterton. Immediately east of Glacier National Park lies the picturesque Blackfeet Indian Reservation, spanning 1.5 million acres. Visit the Museum of the Plains Indian, in Browning, Montana, for a fascinating introduction to the rich cultural heritage of the largest Indian tribe in Montana.

For information on nearby campgrounds, including on US Forest Service land or the Blackfeet Nation, take a look at Glacier National Park's website.

Rules and notices at Rising Sun Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 28, 2026. Check Rising Sun Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

•

Generators: generators are allowed between the hours of 8:00am-10:00am, 12:00pm-2:00pm, and 5:00pm-7:00pm.

•

After Hours Arrival. Campers arriving after hours with valid reservation may proceed to their campsite. Camp reservation tags will be on designated site posts.

•

Wildlife and Food Storage . Grizzly and black bears frequent the area; food storage regulations strictly enforced; when not in immediate use, all food, beverages, coolers, cooking utensils, pet food, or other attractants must be kept in a closed, hard-sided vehicle or secured in bear proof storage lockers near campground restrooms

•

Vehicle length limits. Vehicles or vehicle combinations longer than 21 feet (6.4 m) or wider than 8 feet (2.4 m) including mirrors are prohibited between the Rising Sun picnic area and Avalanche Campground on Going-to-the-Sun Road.

•

Entrance Fees. The park entrance fee is $35 per vehicle, $30 for a morotcycle or $20 for a hiker or bicyclist. The fee is valid for seven days and may be paid upon arrival or purchased in advance . The park also honors interagency annual and lifetime passes such as the senior or access.

•

Pass Discounts on Camping. Campers making a reservation using an Interagency Senior Pass or Interagency Access Pass for a 50% camping discount will be required to present the pass upon arrival at the campground. The owner of the pass must be camping in the site to be entitled to the discount. Annual entrance passes and Glacier Annual Entrance passes are not eligible for a discount on camping fees. These passes are for entrance fees only.

•

Maximum Stay. The maximum length of stay in the campground is 14 days.

•

Maximum Number of Tents. Campsites allow a maximum of 2 tents per site.

•

Camping Rules and Regulations . It is the camper's responsibility to be aware of all Glacier National Park Campground Rules and Regulations

•

Hammocks. Hammocks must be hung over non vegetated areas using one inch straps or wider. Vegetation may not be trampled to access hammocks.

•

Renting an RV or trailer? Per 36 CFR 5.3, commercial business may not take place inside Glacier National Park. This includes RVs and trailers being delivered within Glacier's boundaries. Renters of these must drive them in themselves.

•

Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.

•

Directional Site Parking: All campground loops are one way traffic. Vehicles occupying sites must be facing the one way direction.

Rising Sun Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Rising Sun Campground?

Rising Sun Campground is rated "Very Hard to Book" based on historical demand. This campground is popular and often books out weeks in advance. Your best strategy is to monitor cancellations.

How do I find last-minute availability at Rising Sun Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at Rising Sun Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Rising Sun Campground have?

Rising Sun Campground has 83 campsites.

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