Now that you’re planning your trip, you are probably wondering what is the best way to get to Glacier National Park.
Whether you want to know the cheapest way to get to Glacier National Park so you can travel on a budget or are thinking of taking a road trip from home, this guide is here to help get you there.
All you need to know can be found in this guide, beginning with the location of Glacier National Park before moving onto towns and cities near Glacier National Park. We’ll then take a look at the closest airport to Glacier National Park, plus how to reach the area by plane, train, bus and car.
If you want to know the best way to see Glacier National Park, read on.
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How to Get to Glacier National Park
Where is Glacier National Park Located?
If you don’t already know where Glacier National Park is located, then the answer is in northwest Montana, among the Rocky Mountains. The park occupies almost 1,600 square miles of wilderness, and has over 700 miles of hiking trails.
The main road that crosses Glacier National Park is the Going-to-the-Sun Road. One of the most famous scenic drives in the US, its highest point is almost 6,650 feet above sea level. This peak of the scenic road is called the Logan Pass.
If you want to know the Glacier National Park location in terms of driving there, you can access the western edge of park via Highway 2. The eastern side of the park can be reached via Highway 89.
Now you know the answer to where is Glacier Park located, let’s take a look at the park entrances. Plus, what city is closest to Glacier National Park.
Glacier National Park Entrances
Something to think about when planning your trip to Glacier National Park is how you’re going to get in. Glacier has seven entrances, and the first three of these connect to the famous Going-to-the-Sun road.
West Glacier Entrance
This is the most popular entrance, and can be found to the park’s western side. It’s very close to the small town of West Glacier. You can access the Going-to-the-Sun road from here between around mid June and mid October.
Camas Creek Entrance
This more remote entrance is accessed via North Fork Road, which is part gravel. Like the West Glacier entrance, this one’s also on the western side of the park. It connects to the Going-to-the-Sun road.
St Mary Entrance
St Mary entrance lies to the east of the park, and just west of the town of the same name. You can access the Going-to-the-Sun Road from the east via the St Mary entrance, and the town makes a popular place to stay and visit. There is also the St Mary Visitor Center here.
Polebridge Entrance
Polebridge entrance is accessed via an uneven dirt road, and is under 25 miles from the Canadian border. It’s a remote entrance used mainly by locals, or travelers seeking an authentic backcountry experience.
Many Glacier Entrance
Many Glacier is also to the east, and this entrance is the most northerly of the eastern entrances. It’s normally open all year round, but access can still be tricky in winter. The Many Glacier hotel and Iceberg Lake are located near this entry point.
Two Medicine Entrance
Also on the eastern side of the park is the Two Medicine entrance. This is close to the Running Eagle Falls trailhead. Due to snow, this entrance is usually closed to cars between mid October and mid May.
Cut Bank Entrance
Due to dirt road access and snow closure in winter, this eastern entrance is the least used by park visitors.
What City is Glacier National Park closest to?
There are several towns near Glacier National Park.
One the west side, there is the small town of West Glacier, but this has limited facilities. Other contenders for the closest town to Glacier National Park that you can stay in and visit include Columbia Falls, Kalispell, Coram and Whitefish.
Kalispell is the biggest of these, so if you want to find the closest city to Glacier National Park, this is your best bet.
To the east, the town of St Mary is a popular place to stay . There is also East Glacier Park, close to the Two Medicine park entrance. Both of these towns also offer easy access to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation area.
Taking a Tour to Glacier National Park
There are several advantages to taking a tour at Glacier National Park. Taking a day trip means no stress over car rental, navigation, refueling or parking. You can also experience something new, such as snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in winter or whitewater rafting during summer. You also don’t need to worry about getting reservations to enter the park.
Here are some of the best organized Glacier National Park tours.
Full Day Scenic Tour of Glacier National Park
Allow someone else to take the wheel while you simply sit back and relax. This guided scenic driving tour focuses on the East Glacier and Two Medicine areas. Park entrance fees, soft drinks and snacks are included, and this tour is limited to only your own small group for a more personalized experience.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK THIS FULL DAY TOUR OF GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Half Day Float on the Flathead River
A relaxing float on the Flathead River gives you another way to see the boundary of Glacier National Park. You’ll spend two-and-a-half hours floating on the river’s Middle Fork, while learning about and spotting local wildlife. The meeting point for the experience is West Glacier.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK THIS HALF DAY SCENIC FLOAT AT GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Full Day Glacier National Park Whitewater Rafting Trip
A BBQ lunch is included with this full day whitewater rafting experience from West Glacier. Your five to six hour day includes some down-time floating down the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, as well as the thrill of class II and III whitewater rapids. All equipment and tuition is provided.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK THIS FULL DAY WHITEWATER RAFTING TRIP
Half Day Cross-Country Skiing or Snowshoe Tour at Glacier National Park
When you’re visiting in winter, you might not want to pass up the chance of doing some cross-country skiing or snowshoeing at Glacier National Park. The tour takes you to Lake McDonald and Agpar Village. Leaving from Whitefish, the tour includes all guidance and equipment as well as snacks and drinks.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK THIS HALF DAY SNOWSHOE OR CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING TRIP
7 Day Tour of Glacier National Park from Spokane
If you want to spend a whole week in the park without worrying about driving or finding your way, then this tour departing from Spokane lets you see all the key sights while taking your time. Six nights’ accommodation is included, and you’ll spend two full days at Glacier National Park. Other sites like Flathead Lake, Coeur d’Alene, Wallace ID and the National Bison Range are also visited.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK THIS 7 DAY TOUR INCLUDING GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
How to Fly to Glacier National Park?
Now you may be wondering what city near Glacier National Park is best to arrive at by plane. For many, the answer to where to fly into for Glacier National Park is Glacier Park International Airport. This is around six miles from Kalispell, and is therefore also known as Kalispell Airport.
Kalispell Airport (Glacier Park International Airport)
This is the airport closest to Glacier National Park. Daily flights to/ from this airport include Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and Seattle. Six major airlines serve the airport, including Alaska, American, Delta and United.
Seasonal flights also operate between the airport and other cities including Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego and San Francisco.
There is a car rental center at the airport, so you can hire a car here to drive from the closest major airport to Glacier National Park.
If you’re wondering how to get from Kalispell Airport to Glacier National Park without renting a car, the easiest way is a taxi or Uber – the trip takes around 45 minutes.
Great Falls International Airport
Great Falls International Airport is between 130 and 165 miles from the park’s eastern entrances. These are the St Mary, Many Glacier and Two Medicine entry points. So how do you get to Glacier National Park from here? You can drive via I-15 N. It takes about two hours and 20 minutes.
Missoula Montana Airport or Missoula International Airport lies about 150 miles south of the park’s West Glacier entrance. This is a reasonable airport for Glacier National Park as the drive takes about two hours and 25 minutes via US-93 N and Montana Highway 35 W.
Though it’s in another country – Canada – Calgary airport is, in relative terms, an airport close to Glacier National Park. It’s around 185 miles – or a drive of about three hours and 10 minutes – between Calgary Airport and Glacier National Park. You can rent a car at Calgary to reach the national park.
Calgary is a good option as the closest airport Glacier National Park when you want to fly from a Canadian city. There are international connections to countries including Mexico and other Caribbean and Central and South American places. You can also fly to various European destinations too, or even to Japan.
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
While maybe not the best airport to fly to Glacier National Park due to the distance, Bozeman airport to Glacier National Park is an option, especially for those who also want to visit Yellowstone. The airport and Glacier National Park are about four-and-a-half hours or 280 miles apart, via US-287 N.
For more information about flying to Glacier National Park, read my guide to the best airport to Glacier National Park.
Check prices on flights to Glacier National Park here
Taking the Train to Glacier National Park
If you’re considering how to get to Glacier National Park by train, the good news is that this is one of the easiest US parks to access by Amtrak.
The Empire Builder line, which runs between Chicago and Seattle/ Portland, stops at West Glacier, Whitefish and Essex throughout the year. East Glacier Park is also a seasonal stop. So taking an Amtrak train to Glacier National Park is perfectly possible, even in winter.
During summer, a shuttle service is supplied by Glacier National Park Lodges. This transports Amtrak passengers from West Glacier to Apgar Village and the Lake McDonald Lodge. You will need to make a reservation if you want to use this Glacier National Park shuttle to get from Amtrak to Glacier National Park.
Chicago to Glacier National Park
Traveling via Amtrak from Chicago to Glacier National Park is a popular route. The historic Empire Builder line can transport you between the two destinations in a leisurely fashion. This trip takes around 32 hours in total.
For services from Chicago to Glacier National Park by Amtrak, various packages are offered by the rail operator. Typically these are for between six and ten days, and may be known as the Glacier National Park Express service.
Seattle to Glacier National Park
It’s also possible to travel via Amtrak from Seattle to Glacier National Park. The same Empire Builder line stops in Seattle, and the trip time from this city is about 15 hours. The Amtrak train from Seattle to Glacier National Park is included if you book a package from Chicago on the Glacier National Park Express.
Taking a Bus to Glacier National Park
Taking a Glacier National Park bus is also a possibility when you want to reach the park without a car.
You can take a Greyhound bus to nearby towns and take catch a shuttle to Glacier National Park from their. Local towns with shuttle services include Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls. These shuttles are operated by private companies, and services can be seasonal.
To travel by bus from Kalispell to Glacier National Park, for example, then it’s best to book tickets in advance via local visitor centers. For a bus from Missoula to Glacier National Park, you’ll also need to use a local provider of private services such as Montana Adventure Shuttle.
Likewise, for a bus from Calgary to Glacier National Park you can use a private operator. Examples include Airport Shuttle Express which supplies services between Canada and Montana.
Glacier National Park Shuttle
For getting around Glacier National Park, a free shuttle service is provided on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. This is free to use, and available seasonally. Seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
The summer shuttle begins on July 1st and continues until Labor Day. A reduced service may also operate until the middle of September.
There is also a hiker-biker shuttle service. This allows hikers and bikers access beyond when the park gates are closed to vehicles. The hiker-biker shuttle service operates during weekends. It’s available until the Going-to-the-Sun Road fully opens, or between May 13th and June 26th – whichever happens first.
For private bus tours in the Going to Sun Road, you can take the Red Bus Tours or Sun Tours (interpretive tours).
Driving to Glacier National Park
If you want directions to Glacier National Park from the west, Highway 2 toward West Glacier is the route to take. The town is just over 30 miles from Kalispell. From here you can access the Park Headquarters, the Going-to-the-Sun Road, the Lake McDonald area and the Apgar Visitor Center.
NOTE that to enter Glacier National Park in the peak season you need to have a timed entry reservation. Read my Guide to the Glacier National Park Timed Entry System well in advance of your trip.
When accessing the park from the east, all three eastern entrances can be reached via Highway 89. The drive to Glacier National Park involves heading north from Great Falls via Browning, from where the routes are well signposted.
For more specific directions such as how to get to Glacier National Park from Seattle, the distance from Boise Idaho to Glacier National Park or how long the drive from Yellowstone to Glacier National Park takes, read on.
Here is how to get to Glacier National Park Montana from destinations all over the US.
Bozeman to Glacier National Park
The drive from Bozeman to Glacier National Park takes around four hours and 45 minutes via US-287 N. The distance from Bozeman MT to Glacier National Park is a little under 290 miles.
Kalispell to Glacier National Park
The distance from Kalispell to Glacier National Park is about 30 miles, and you can drive from Kalispell MT to Glacier National Park in around 40 minutes. If you want to know how to get to Glacier National Park from Kalispell, you can travel via Montana Highway 206 and US Route 2.
Seattle to Glacier National Park
It’s a long drive from Seattle to Glacier National Park. You’re looking at a journey time of about nine hours. The distance from Seattle to Glacier National Park is around 550 miles. When driving from Seattle to Glacier National Park, you can go via I-90 E.
Denver to Glacier National Park
Unless you’re planning a road trip via several states, the distance from Denver to Glacier National Park is a long way. The drive from Denver CO to Glacier National Park takes about 14 hours, and covers around 920 miles via I-25 N.
Boise to Glacier National Park
You can take a Boise to Glacier National Park drive via US-12 E. The distance from Boise to Glacier National Park is about 500 miles, and this takes about 10 hour by road.
Chicago to Glacier National Park
A Chicago to Glacier National Park drive isn’t for the faint hearted. A trip from Chicago to Glacier National Park by car takes about 23 hours. You’d cover a distance of over 1,500 miles. The short answer to how to get to Glacier National Park from Chicago is via I-94 W and US Route 2 W.
Missoula to Glacier National Park
The distance from Missoula to Glacier National Park, via US-93 N and Montana Highway 35 W, is about 135 miles. The trip time is about two hours and 30 minutes.
Boston to Glacier National Park
The distance from Boston to Glacier National Park is almost 2,500 miles – so it’s only good for a long road trip. You can travel via I-90 W and I-94 W, and the trip will take about 37 hours.
Colorado Springs to Glacier National Park
You can drive via I-25 N from Colorado Springs to Glacier National Park. The distance is about 985 miles. Expect a journey time of just under 15 hours.
Atlanta to Glacier National Park
If you want to drive across much of the US, then you could travel from Atlanta to Glacier National Park by road. The distance is approaching 2,000 miles, and the total driving time would be about 33 hours via I-90 W.
Spokane to Glacier National Park
The drive from Spokane to Glacier National Park takes around five hours, via US-95 N and U.S. Highway 2 W/U.S. Route 2 E. Distance-wise, this covers about 275 miles.
Helena to Glacier National Park
The distance from Helena to Glacier National Park is about 230 miles. It takes a little under four-and-a-half hours to drive between the two points.
Cody to Glacier National Park
The drive from Cody, Wyoming to Glacier National Park takes about seven-and-a-half hours. This covers a distance of about 465 miles, via US-87 N.
NYC to Glacier National Park
If you want to know how to get to Glacier National Park from New York, then expect a driving time of about 39 hours. The distance is just under 2,400 miles.
Las Vegas to Glacier National Park
You can get from Glacier National Park to Las Vegas, or vice versa, in a little less than 16 hours. The distance covered is around 1,070 miles, and you can drive via I-15 N.
Coram to Glacier National Park
Coram is under eight miles from the national park, and therefore it only takes about ten minutes to drive between the two. US Highway 2 is the road to take.
LA to Glacier National Park
If you want to travel from California to Glacier National Park, then you should be able to do this in under 20 hours. The distance is about 1,335 miles. How to get to Glacier National Park from Los Angeles is via I-15 N.
Yellowstone to Glacier National Park
If you want to visit a couple of national parks, you might wonder how to get from Yellowstone to Glacier National Park. Depending on the entrances used, the distance from Yellowstone National Park to Glacier National Park is about 370 to 400 miles. A drive of this distance typically takes about six to seven hours.
Rent a car at the Kalispell Airport here. Check out my guide to saving money on rental cars before you book.
How to get to Glacier National Park without a car?
If you want to travel to Glacier National Park without your own or a rented vehicle, then the best option is to take an Amtrak train to West Glacier, Whitefish, Essex, or East Glacier Park. Services to the latter are seasonal.
Or a take Greyhound bus to any of the nearby towns. Or fly to Kalispell and take a taxi to a closer town.
You can then use private and park shuttles to get around the area.
Or, of course, take a tour into the park.
FAQs about Getting to Glacier National Park
What is the cheapest airport to fly into for Glacier National Park?
When you want to find the cheapest way to fly to Glacier National Park, then Kalispell or Glacier Park International Airport is the most practical answer. You can get affordable airplane tickets from cities such as Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and Seattle. Plus more lots more destinations in summer, such as Los Angeles and New York.
Due to recent growth, this airport has become the definitive answer to where to fly into for Glacier National Park. You can rent a car here, and the 30 mile drive from the airport to the park takes around three-quarters-of-an-hour or under. The airport is just a few miles from Kalispell, and thus is sometimes known as Kalispell airport.
Is it better to drive or fly to Glacier National Park?
Glacier National Park is in northern Montana, and also borders Canada. The best way to reach Glacier National Park, if you’re traveling some distance, is to arrive at Glacier Park International Airport (Kalispell Airport). You can then rent a car to drive to the Montana park. Some visitors will combine a visit to Glacier with exploring other national parks such as Yellowstone or Grand Teton.
Can you get to Glacier National Park by train?
You can take an Amtrak train to Glacier National Park so you don’t have to deal with car rental, buying gas or directions. The Empire Builder line connects cities like Chicago and Seattle with the stations at West Glacier (Belton), Izaak Walton Inn at Essex and East Glacier Park. If you’re already staying locally, you can travel from Whitefish to West or East Glacier by Amtrak.
What is the closest major city to Glacier National Park?
Glacier National Park in northern Montana also borders Canada. The park is about 40 minutes by car from Kalispell. Calgary in Canada is approximately three-and-a-half hours drive away.
Travel Insurance for Glacier National Park
You should definitely have travel insurance when you travel to Glacier. Good travel insurance will cover you for trip cancellation, theft or damage of your property when traveling, medical help if you have an accident in or while getting to Glacier National Park, or medical repatriation if you need to get medi-vaced out.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:
You might also like to read:
Glacier National Park Guide
Guide to Glacier National Park Ticketed Entry
The Best Hikes in Glacier National Park
10 Fun Facts About Glacier National Park
Enjoy Glacier National Park!
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How to Get to Glacier National Park
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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 most of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, comprehensive camping and hiking gear reviews and buying guides, and helpful packing lists and gift guides 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.
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