Glacier National Park and Mount Rushmore campgrounds

Can you still see enough of Glacier if the Road to the Sun is not open or don't have an entry ticket for it?

bob213 wrote:
Can you still see enough of Glacier if the Road to the Sun is not open or don't have an entry ticket for it?

In my opinion, no, you really don't see much of it without going to the top. It's like driving to Rushmore to look at the parking structure.

That's just my opinion though.

bob213 wrote:
Can you still see enough of Glacier if the Road to the Sun is not open or don't have an entry ticket for it?

I spent a day going over the road, it was great.
Also spent a day on the west side including a couple of the lakes and the Hotel and boat cruise. Spent another day on the east side where the moose can be easily spotted. Then two days in the north at waterton to enjoy the small town and an evening boat ride.

While GTTS road is great, it was mostly just a drive by for us. I did utilize the tours so the stories were good too. Although certainly the whole trip was not centered on this road.

The first time we went to Glacier, we stayed on the West side first at Mountain Meadows RV park. Beautiful and wooded. Then that same trips we moved to the East side and stayed at the KOA. At that time, it was fairly new and not so crowded, but it sure was windy. Next trip back we stayed at North American RV Park for a few days since we used Passport America for half off, then we moved to the West Glacier KOA.

Another vote for Rafter J. Loved everything about it. base camped there and did a lot in the area. Had a wooded spot for a 35 footer with Jeep. No issues.

Another vote for West Glacier KOA here. very much enjoyed our stay there.

Don't have any experience with camping in the Mt. Rushmore area so can't offer an opinion on that.

We liked Buffalo Ridge in Custer, nice roomy sites.

We stayed in my cousins driveway in the hills outside Kalispell. But if I was going to stay anywhere it would be west Glacier KOA. We seen more wildlife at their house than I did in Glacier and Yellowstone combined!
As for MtRushmore area, we liked Horse Thief campground (private). But we had a TT, I don’t remember if a big rig would fit! While Rafter J is nice, it doesn’t have the Black Hills feel. It feels like I’m camping in a field, which I can do here in iL!

We stayed at the KOA in Hill City while in the Mount Rushmore area. Big park, with several stores...for souvenirs, ice cream, supplies, and a nice restaurant.