Glacier Nat'l Park Campgrounds

May is too early for Glacier, visit it on your way back. Banff and Jasper will be open, they're not afraid of heavy equipment. At Lake Louise campground (my favorite in the park), the staff would fire up a digging machine and open campsites as the park filled up... That was mid May 2013.

Lake Louise itself was frozen, the lodge was in full hot cocoa mode.

Lake Moraine was also frozen, and the road going to it, bit of a bummer.

After staying a Louise for a few nights I headed west on 1 to the 97. Largely winter disappeared. A few lakes on the 97 had thin layers of ice.

I didn't get back to visit Jasper until later in June. It was all thawed and quite busy.

That time of year, I would recommend crossing to the west side of the park on US 2, visiting Glacier, then heading into Canada on Hwy 93. You can cross the Rockies back into Banff at the junction with Canada 1. The route will take you through Yoho and Kootenay National Parks, then you get Banff and Jasper. As the Going to the Sun road will be closed, that's the best way to see the west side of Glacier (Lake McDonald area). In general, it's quite early season in that part of the world (both the US and Canada), and you'll find more facilities on the west side of the divide.

There is no more spectacular trip in North America. I took this trip in late May last year. Heavy snow year and the rivers and waterfalls were roaring.

Also, you will find many more campgrounds open on the west side of the Rockies on Hwy 93 than on the east side. Plenty of places to camp in West Glacier, and along 93 in Canada. Yoho and Kootenay will be virtually empty. Radium Hot Springs has lots of facilities.

Glacier is a bit out of the way from the Sweet Grass crossing. Maybe just cross at Carway instead.

With the heavy snows they've already had this year, the first week of May will probably be a little early. Going to the Sun Road will definitely still be closed, but there's still things to see. St. Mary CG in the park is open but no water. Primitive camping at that point in time.

If you're planning on continuing up through Banff and Jasper, you will similarly still find things pretty snowed in at that time.