Glacier National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in the United States. There are over 130 beautiful lakes and dramatic peaks and valleys carved by glaciers.
It is home to the Going to The Sun Road, one of the most scenic drives in the country, as well as several of the country’s legendary national park inns and lodges. With stunning scenery and dozens of trails, it’s a hiker’s paradise.
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Glacier National Park at a Glance
⭐ State: Montana
⭐ Main attractions: Mountains, lakes, scenic drive
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Glacier National Park Travel Guide
Planning a trip to Glacier National Park can be overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. Click on the links below to go to detailed guides and answers to your questions.
How to Plan a Trip to Glacier National Park
Some helpful Glacier National Park trip planning information:
Because the park has several sections, planning a trip can be tricky.
Read More: 15 TIPS FOR VISITING GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
This guide will help you with what you should AVOID doing when you plan a trip to Glacier National Park.
Read More: 7 MISTAKES TO AVOID IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
A timed entry permit is needed for most of Glacier National Park in the busy summer months.
Entrance Fee for Glacier National Park
There is an entrance fee for the park. Find the latest fees on the NPS website.
To avoid long lines and save money, if you are planning to visit more than just Glacier National Park this year, it can be great value to purchase an America The Beautiful pass.
The one-year pass includes standard entrance at all sites managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Army Corps of Engineers. The pass covers the entrance fee for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle or up to 4 adults at sites that charge per person.
Get an America The Beautiful pass here
There are other types of passes available for seniors, veterans, etc.
Read More: NATIONAL PARKS PASSES
Glacier National Park Visitor Centers
The park is divided into several distinct sections that are not connected by road:
🌲 Going To The Sun Road – the main part of the park. It connects the east side (St Mary Entrance) and the west side (Apgar Entrance).
🌲 North Fork (west side)
🌲 Many Glacier (east side)
🌲 Two Medicine (east side)
There are three Visitor Centers, all on the Going To The Sun Road.
ℹ️ St. Mary Visitor Center is on the east side of the park, adjacent to the St. Mary Entrance. It’s open daily from late May through early October.
ℹ️ Apgar Visitor Center is on the west side of the park, at the four-way stop intersection of Camas Road and Going-to-the-Sun Road, approximately two miles (3.2 km) north of the West Entrance. It’s open daily mid-May to mid-October.
ℹ️ Logan Pass Visitor Center is in the middle of the park at the highest point along Going-to-the-Sun Road, approximately 32 miles (51.5 km) from the West Entrance and 18 miles from the St. Mary Entrance. It’s open daily during the peak season.
Best Tours of Glacier National Park
🎧 Get a self-guided audio tour of Glacier National Park
Hikes in Glacier National Park
There are a LOT of amazing hikes in Glacier National Park.
A summary of my favorite hikes in Glacier National Park.
Read More: BEST HIKES IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Where to Stay In and Near Glacier National Park
There are several lodges and campgrounds in the national park.
Lodges and motels inside Glacier National Park
🛏️ Village Inn Motel, Lake McDonald Lodge, Rising Sun Motor Inn, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, and Many Glacier Hotel are operated by Glacier National Park Lodges/Xanterra Parks & Resorts.
🛏️ The Apgar Village Lodge and Motel Lake McDonald are operated by Glacier Park Collection (by Pursuit).
🛏️ Sperry Chalet and Granite Park Chalet are backcountry chalets that you need to hike to.
⛺ There are 13 campgrounds inside Glacier National Park.
There are plenty of accommodation options nearby. The main gateway towns are West Glacier, Apgar, Whitefish, and Columbia Falls.
➡️ Find a hotel near Glacier National Park on Expedia.
➡️ Find a vacation rental near Glacier National Park on VRBO.
How to Get To Glacier National Park
The most common ways to get to Glacier National Park are to drive or fly into one of the nearby airports and pick up a rental car there.
Read More: HOW TO GET TO GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
✈️ If you’re looking for a flight, find a good deal on Skyscanner
The Airports for Glacier National Park
The airports near Glacier National Park with the pros and cons of using each of them.
Read More: THE AIRPORTS NEAR GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
This is the closest airport to Glacier National Park’s entrances.
Read More: CLOSEST AIRPORT TO GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
✈️ If you’re looking for flights, use Skyscanner to scan the Internet for the cheapest deals.
How to Get Around Glacier National Park
There are free shuttles along Going To The Sun Road in summer. There are express shuttles and regular shuttles. They mean you don’t need to find a parking but often fill up so you may need to wait for one with space to come by.
There is also a couple private bus tours in the park: Sun Tours, which are conducted by the Blackfeet Indians, and the Red Bus Tours.
Having your own vehicle gives you more flexibility, but the Going To The Sun Road is narrow and winding.
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
When to Visit Glacier National Park
The park is open all year but the Going To The Sun Road, which is one of the highlights of the park, as well as the hiking trails, are only open late June at the earliest until around the third Monday of October, but this can happen earlier due to wintery weather.
A quick summary of the best time to visit the national park for different interests and priorities.
Read More: BEST TIME TO VISIT GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Take a look at what the park’s like in each season and month to help you decide when to visit Glacier National Park.
Read More: WHAT TO EXPECT IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
How Long to Spend in Glacier National Park
How many days you should go to Glacier National Park for depends on when you have time off, how much time you have, your budget, and your interests. I recommend at least three days to drive the Going To The Sun Road, do some of the many hikes in the park and visit several areas in the park.
Travel Insurance for Glacier National Park
In addition to working out the logistics of your trip using this travel guide, Glacier National Park planning should also include travel insurance. Protect yourself against trip cancellation, loss or theft of your property, or any medical emergencies.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:
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About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.