Red Bus tours and campgrounds around Glacier National Park?

My husband and I plan on going to Glacier National Park in Montana for the first time the first week of this coming August. We are trying to decide which campground to stay at and are torn between Fish Creek Campground in the park and Glacier Campground just outside of it in West Glacier. I’ve done some researching online but cannot find many reviews on either of these. We will be camping in a travel trailer. Has anyone been to either of these campgounds? Experience?

Also, we are trying to decide whether or not to take a Red Bus tour and I have read mixed reviews of these online. We have a choice between the Red Buses, which can be costly but are informative, or a free shuttle. Has anyone had experiences with either of these? Any feedback appreciated!

Thank you!

The Red Bus tours can be fun, but I think alot of it depends on which tour you take, who else is in the bus with you, and who your driver is. Some drivers have been working in the park for decades, and some will get there for the first time in May or June. All of them though are trained and knowledgable about the park, but individual experiences do vary. Compared to the free shuttle, the red busses are definitely a more informative experience. I think the red bus tours, or any tours really, are good if you don’t know anything about the park, where to go, or what to see. The tours will make sure you see the main sights and learn a few things. On the other hand, if you already have an idea of what you want to do in the park (you know some of the sights you want to see, places you want to stop, a trail or two that you want to walk), I would suggest seeing the park on your own, because you have much more freedom that way. I think it really just comes down to if you’d rather find your way around on your own, or be shown around the park.

If you want to learn about the park for free, you can always attend the ranger programs in different locations throughout the park. You can pick up a schedule of times, locations, and topics in any of the visitor centers if you don’t get one at the park entrance gate.

In terms of the campgrounds, I think Fish Creek is nice. There is a nice shallow swimming spot there, which I think bumps it above the Apgar campground. Fish Creek is also one of the few in the park that you can reserve in advance (on the site recreation.gov), which is very helpful in the peak season (like August) when the campgrounds fill quickly. I honestly can’t remember the Glacier Campground though, so I don’t know what to tell you versus which one of those two is better. I think you’ll still love your trip to Glacier either way!