Where To Stay In Glacier National Park?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Lake McDonald Lodge. Lake McDonald Lodge. …
  2. Many Glacier Hotel. Many Glacier Hotel. …
  3. Village Inn at Apgar. Photo Source: Village Inn at Apgar. …
  4. Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. Swiftcurrent Motor Inn | Photo Copyright: Brad Lane. …
  5. Rising Sun Motor Inn. Photo Source: Rising Sun Motor Inn. …
  6. Glacier Guides Lodge. …
  7. Vista Motel. …
  8. Mountain Pine Motel.

Which Glacier National Park entrance is best?

Glacier's West Side: West Glacier


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.

How many days do you need in Glacier National Park?

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.

Which is better Whitefish or Kalispell?


If that's what you prefer, pick Whitefish

. If you want more options for dining/entertainment then Kalispell might be better. The drive to St. Mary from Whitefish via Going-to-the-Sun Road took us about 1 hour 45 minutes, and it would be nearly the same for Kalispell.

Should I stay on the east or west side of Glacier National Park?

The

east side of Glacier National Park is generally drier, cooler and windier than the rest of the park

. The base elevation is higher and the valleys are wider. That makes for some epic scenery and outstanding adventuring. Here are some of our favorite spots on the east side.

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.

Do you need bear spray in Glacier National Park?

Do I really need bear spray?

Yes

. We highly suggest that visitors carry bear spray in the park as Glacier is home to the largest numbers of both grizzly and black bear in the lower 48.

How far is Banff from Glacier?

The driving distance between Glacier National Park and Banff is

288 miles

. The travel time is 6 hours.

How long does it take to drive through Glacier National Park?

Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park is 51 miles long and runs from West Glacier to St. Mary. It takes approximately

2 hours

to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road without traffic or stops. However, plan to spend at least 4 to 5 hours exploring the scenic drive.

When should I avoid Glacier National Park?

The Best Way to Avoid Crowds in Glacier National Park

during the Summer

. The best way to avoid summer crowds in Glacier National Park is to arrive before 7am at the trailhead or parking area. For extremely popular areas like Logan Pass, 7am might not be early enough to find a parking spot.

Do I need reservations for Glacier National Park?


Entry reservation tickets are not required for any other portions of the park

(for example Many Glacier, Two Medicine, North Fork, Cut Bank or Chief Mountain Highway) but visitors are still subject to the per vehicle entrance fee. Visitors may also reserve a ticket through Recreation. gov's call center.

How far is Glacier from Yellowstone?

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.

Is Kalispell worth visiting?


While Kalispell, MT is a fantastic place to explore the outdoors and spend your time hiking, kayaking, and fishing

, there's much more to it than that. Being in the heart of the Flathead Valley, it's the economic center of the area and because of this it has so much more to offer.

What is the closest town to Glacier National Park?


Columbia Falls

may actually be the closest city to Glacier National Park, so if you're going to stay somewhere other than Whitefish, try Columbia Falls (especially Cedar Creek Lodge!) Kalispell.

How far is Whitefish from 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.

Which is prettier East or West Glacier?

The main attraction in Glacier National Park is the Going-To-The-Sun Road. The Sun Road is 50 miles long from West Glacier on the West Side to Saint Mary on the East Side.

The West Side encompasses 35 miles of this Road and will provide you with the more scenic and picturesque drive

.

Are there cabins for rent in Glacier National Park?

Rustic and Luxury Cabin Rentals

Rustic cabins rentals and fire lookout tours are available for rent from the United States Forest Service.

Cabins are also available in Glacier National Park

.

Does Glacier National Park have timed entry?


Timed-entry tickets for Glacier can be reserved for $2 at Recreation.gov

. It should be pointed out that in addition to the timed-entry ticket, each vehicle is required to have an entrance pass to enter any of Glacier's entry points.

Is Big Sky near Glacier National Park?

Glacier National Park in Montana, found

approximately 350 miles northwest of Big Sky

, has endless opportunities for seeking adventure, experiencing the wilderness, and viewing diverse wildlife and major geological features.

How far is Missoula from Glacier?

Glacier National Park is

137.6 miles

from Missoula, MT. It takes about 2 h 29 min (137.6 mi) via US-93 N and Mont Hwy 35 W.

Is Glacier National Park worth seeing?


Absolutely yes! Glacier National Park is Worth Visiting

! With 25 active , the park is one of the few places in the lower 48 states where you can view glaciers.

Are there grizzlies in Glacier National Park?

As you're probably already aware,

Glacier National Park is bear country, and is home to both black bears and grizzly bears

. For those wishing to venture into Glacier's backcountry, one of the first questions that comes to mind is how to have a safe trip while hiking with bears.

How common are bear attacks in Glacier National Park?

Although there is a significant bear population in Glacier National Park, bear attacks are

very rare

and only two have been fatal in the past thirty years! Both incidents occurred when a lone hiker stumbled upon a mother and two cubs. All that to say, keeping distance is vital, and hiking within groups is always safer.

Are there more bears in Glacier or Yellowstone?

A new report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicates that

Yellowstone's grizzly bears are more dangerous than those in Glacier National Park

, despite Glacier's larger bear population.

Which is better Banff or Glacier National Park?

For serious day hiking

Glacier is one of the best parks in the world

. Banff is far more touristy than Glacier which is more remote, however as noted the major trails can be more crowded at Glacier as the Canadian parks are larger and more spread out.

How do you get around Glacier National Park?

The best way to get around Glacier National Park is

by car or by using one of the park's shuttle services

. If you're arriving by car, Highway 2 runs along the southern edge of the park, while Highway 89 offers access on the east side.

Is there a train from Glacier National Park to Banff?


Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects West Glacier to Banff

. Furthermore, there is only one train per day, so you will have to plan your travel around this limited availability. On the other hand, you won't have to spend a ton of time comparing a bunch of possible options.

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.