How Long To Drive Through Glacier National Park?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Without stopping, it takes approximately 2 hours to drive the full 50 miles of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Logan Pass is the highest point on Going-to-the-Sun Road at 6,646 feet (2,026 m).

Can I just drive through Glacier National Park?

Know Your Route

The majority of the East-West route is on the inside next to rock walls, rather than closer to the road's edge. To drive a loop, you can drive from St. Mary to West Glacier along the Going-to-the-Sun Road then travel along Highway 2 to Highway 89 to return to St. Mary.

Can you do Glacier National Park a day?

Duration Full Day Parks Glacier National Park

Is it worth driving to Glacier National Park?

It's known for one of the prettiest drives in the United States, but you can also see 26 —and a whole lot more—on a Glacier National Park road trip. A Glacier National Park road trip is ideal for those who want to admire some of the country's most beautiful landscapes, even if just out the car window.

What is the most scenic drive in Glacier National Park?

Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road received its official name during its 1933 dedication at Logan Pass, borrowing its name from nearby Going-to-the-Sun Mountain. Taking 11 years to compete (from 1921 – 1932), this engineering marvel is also a National Historic Landmark.

Can you get around Glacier National Park without a car?

The East Side Shuttle runs between Glacier Park Lodge, Two Medicine, and St. Mary Lodge. From St. Mary Lodge, you can transfer to the free park shuttle on the Going-to-the-Sun Road or transfer to a Xanterra shuttle to visit Many Glacier.

What can you do in Glacier National Park without going to the sun?

  1. Go For A Drive! When the Going-to-the-Sun road is closed, know that there are other beautiful drives. ...
  2. Go For A Hike! There are fantastic long and short hikes that explore the park's outskirts. ...
  3. Go Rafting! ...
  4. Go Biking! ...
  5. Go Fishing!

How long does it take to drive from one side of Glacier National Park to the other?

Without stopping, it takes approximately 2 hours to drive the full 50 miles of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Logan Pass is the highest point on Going-to-the-Sun Road at 6,646 feet (2,026 m). Logan Pass is 32 miles (51.5 km) from the west entrance and 18 miles (29 km) from the east entrance.

How many miles is Going-to-the-Sun Road?

49.71 mi

How many days do you need in Glacier?

How Many Days Do You Need in Glacier National Park? Ideally, plan on spending at least two to three days in Glacier National Park. This gives you enough time to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, hike one or two trails, and visit the Many Glacier or Two Medicine areas.

Can you visit Glacier National Park without hiking?

With the Rocky Mountains in mind, it's important to note that you don't have to be a hiker to enjoy Glacier. No matter the reason you'd prefer to see the park on four wheels, it's certainly do-able !

What is the best entrance for Glacier National Park?

West Glacier, Montana is the most popular entrance to Glacier National Park. Its proximity and easy access to Glacier International Airport in Kalispell makes it the best place to start or end your trip.

Is Going-to-the-Sun Road a loop?

Officially open to the public in July of 1933, Going-to-the-Sun Road was an engineering landmark, and nowhere is that more obvious than at “The Loop,” where the road rises along the edge of the mountain and makes sharp hairpin turns.

Can you get to Lake McDonald Without Going-to-the-Sun Road?

Nope. Entry tickets are only needed to access the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor at the West Glacier, Camas Road and St. Mary entrances, as well as the North Fork (Polebridge).

How long does it take to bike Going-to-the-Sun Road?

Overall, it takes a reasonably fit person about 4 hours to bike from Lake McDonald Lodge to Logan Pass.

Is it better to stay on the east or west side of Glacier National Park?

You'll also be near the Many Glacier area of the park. In fact, if you stay in West Glacier, it will take you over 2 hours one-way to get to Many Glacier! This makes staying on the east side of the park the best option if you are visiting the area solely for Glacier National Park .

Is Going-to-the-Sun Road one way?

There are multiple ways to travel:

Take the free Glacier Shuttle System that runs two-way service between Apgar Visitor Center and St. Mary Visitor Center . Book a tour with commentary with either park concessionaire, Sun Tours or historic Red Buses.

Is Going-to-the-Sun Road worth it?

It was worth it, though – in fact, I love this hike so much, I wrote a whole post on how to hike to Avalanche Lake. The Loop: The Loop is a hairpin turn where the road starts slowly climbing up through the mountains (and is one of the main reasons why vehicles longer than 21” would be dangerous to drive on the road).

Is there a train ride through Glacier National Park?

Glacier National Park Express: 10 Days

This rail journey aboard the Empire Builder kicks off in the Windy City, where you'll enjoy a cruise of the Chicago Harbor. Savor Glacier National Park while touring its most stunning spots, including the gorgeous Two Medicine Valley.

How far is Bozeman from Glacier?

The distance from Bozeman to Glacier National Park is 249 miles . The road distance is 356 miles. ✔ What agencies operate bus routes between Bozeman and Glacier National Park? Salt Lake Express coordinates buses from Bozeman to Glacier National Park.

How far is Whitefish to Glacier?

Only 27 miles from Whitefish, the park's scenery, wildlife and history are not to be missed. The Going to-the Sun Road, a national historic landmark, can be traveled by personal car, hiking shuttle or a historic Red Bus Tour.

Is it worth going to Glacier If Going to Sun road is closed?

If you visit Glacier when the Going to the Sun Road is closed and you really like scenic drives, you can still enjoy them . On the west side of Glacier National Park, take the Camas Road to the Outer North Fork Road to Polebridge.

Is the road to Many Glacier paved?

In general, the project will closely follow the existing horizontal and vertical alignments of Many Glacier Road and reconstruction will provide a roadway with a consistent 22 foot-wide paved surface .

Why is Going-to-the-Sun Road closed?

The section of the road between Lake McDonald Lodge and Foot of St. Mary Lake is closed due to the weather . The seasonal closure on the upper portion of the Going-to-the-Sun Road is in effect. Spring plowing has begun.

What is the best time of year to visit Glacier National Park?

For most people, late June through mid-September is the best time to visit Glacier, because they want to drive the Going to the Sun Road, raft and fish the rivers, hike the trails, visit the backcountry Chalets, and explore several areas of the park, on both sides of the Continental Divide.

How far is Yellowstone from Glacier?

The driving distance between Glacier National Park to Yellowstone National Park is 441 miles . It takes approximately 7h 59m to drive from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone National Park.

Does Glacier National Park close?

Glacier National Park is open 24 hours a day 365 days of the year .

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.