The top one of course being that you are closer to the main part of Glacier National Park. Search all hotels in West Glacier, Montana. The options inside the park are great because youll be able to walk to every trailhead or activity, which means you dont have to worry as much about parking (which can be nuts in Glacier, especially in Many Glacier). 
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However, its a small price to pay to spend less time driving each day! Further to the east are the parklands. Additionally, these cookies are required for you to be able to use important features on our website, such as; logging in, submitting forms, joining newsletters, placing orders, etc. But thats just us. Custom Cabin Minutes From Glacier National Park ( 2 bedrooms / 1 bathroom): Newly built, modern, and spacious, this place would make a fantastic home base. As long as you go into it with the expectation that youre going to pay a pretty penny to stay inside the park, and the rooms are going to have a bit of a rustic feel, theyre a fun experience.
Alysha has spent her whole life here, minus four years in college, and Matts a relative newcomer with just under 10 years at the time of writing. Since then, guess how much time Ive spent in Sacramento?
Theres a fire pit and Weber grill to occupy your evenings after a day of exploring the park. We figured, sure, it looks nice, lets spend a week in Oregon on our way up to Seattle. Avoid having to drive huge distances to get to the park by deciding where to stay for Glacier National Park and booking in advance.
Keep in mind, because theyre canvas tents and Glacier gets COLD, the season is mid-June through mid-September. Both the east side and west side have lots of lodging options, ranging from high-style lodges to tent camping.
Access to one of the most popular trails in Glacier Park, the Trail of the Cedars/Avalanche Lake Trail, is from this section of the Sun Road. From golden eagles to the tiny American dipper, keep a sharp eye out.
There appear to be more deer on the west side. Another option with a choice between cabins and lodge rooms, Glacier Outdoor Center is right next to the option above. A less traveled trail in this region, but along small lakes and waterfalls, is the first 4 miles of the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail into Bullhead Lake. The other thing to know about staying inside a national park is that youre going to pay more than its worth for the convenience. Apgar Village usually has sites because its massive. Here youll find a wide selection of activities as well as access to the largest natural lake in the western United States, Flathead Lake. But where should you stay? If you have two days at Glacier, it can be done. This road trip route from Denver to Glacier National Park takes you through Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, as well as a number of other amazing stops! About 44 minutes south of West Glacier is the lakeside town of Bigfork. It is the Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) and considered the Gateway to Northwest Montana. Knowing where to stay for Glacier National Park is just one of the many elements that will make your trip a success.
That creates whats called the Big Drift, and some years, the snow piles up 90 feet. Many Glacier?
Find out more about the Glacier Vehicle Reservation System.
In this guide to where to stay in Glacier National Park, well detail the best places to stay inside and outside the park, both in West Glacier and the eastern side of the park.
Spend your second morning on a hike in that neck of the woods (you can read our picks. Here are four that caught our eye. If we were going to Glacier tomorrow and couldnt find a spot in the park (and werent up for camping), wed choose one of these places.
The western half of Glacier National Park is the most visited part of the park, featuring most of the places youve seen in the brochures and travel guides about Glacier like Lake McDonald, Going-to-the-Sun road, the Loop, the Highline Trail, and more.
This is when the Fish Creek and St. Mary campgrounds open up reservations. Other options are first come, first served. Whitefish is arguably one of the most popular places to stay near Glacier National Park. Determining where to stay in Glacier National Park requires understanding the bigger picture of how to get around the park and the surrounding areas.
Located about 12 minutes north of Saint Mary, Babb is the closest place to stay for the Many Glacier part of Glacier National Park. Hi, Im Julia! The west side trails include a seven-mile hike to Sperry Chalet, where, if you are lucky, you can spend the night in a rustic chalet and get three hearty meals. If you only have a night or two, its probably best to pick one, and do a day trip to the other side of the park. Road Trips | Packing | National Parks. The huge number of animals is why the park service is very strict when it comes to speed limits. Its tundra at the top, where only grasses and mosses struggle to grow. If youre looking to do less driving, but cant find accommodations in Glacier National Park, Saint Marys is the next best thing! and plenty of restaurant options.
More info on camping can be found here, including season dates and more details youll want to know. Julia February 26, 2022 Montana 14 Comments. Youll see some of the best scenery and also know just how strenuous the hikes are to prepare before you arrive.
The Sun Road is 50 miles long from West Glacier on the West Side to Saint Mary on the East Side. The last choice is Avalanche Campground, which is past the Lake McDonald Lodge up Going-to-the-Sun Road. Below, were going to go through West Glacier and Many Glacier, giving you the best places to stay inside and outside the park for each to help you find the perfect place to stay near Glacier National Park. We enjoyed Whitefish. A Glacier National Park Geography Overview, Where to Stay in Glacier National Park: A Summary, The Best Places to Stay in Glacier National Park: A Complete Guide, A Celiacs Guide to the Best Gluten Free Restaurants in Sacramento, The Best Things to Do on Vashon Island: A Complete Guide, How to Plan an Incredible Oregon Road Trip Itinerary, How to Plan an Amazing Seattle to San Francisco Road Trip, How To Plan an Unforgettable Northern California Road Trip.
For one, the main Going to the Sun Road will be closed due to the higher elevations starting to receive snow. Glacier National Park really is a little slice of heaven!
You will get wonderful views of many mountain peaks that include Heavens Peak, Stanton Mtn, Bearhat Mtn, Haystack Butte, Mt Oberlin, Mt Cannon and the Continental Divide ridge which contains Mt Gould, Bishops Cap, Pollock Mtn, and more. Animal viewing is best early in the morning and in the early evening. While driving to this region, youll enjoy views of several glaciers located in the Livingston Range in Glacier Park. Of course that comes with some downsides, like accommodations around Glacier National Park book up quickly, particularly for summer. If youre up for camping, youve got a plethora of campground options on the west side of the park. Access to Bob Marshall Wilderness, where you can really escape civilization, is also on the West Side. So much love, that he became a driver of one of the famous red buses. In some cases, we may be the publisher, in other cases, a third-party may be the publisher. This is the part of the park that most people stay in and around, both because it has the highest concentration of things to do and see, and also because it has the best choice of places to stay just outside the park boundary. However, the same caveats about staying inside the park apply here its not a great value for the money in terms of the quality of the rooms, and youll have to book well in advance to have a chance to stay there. By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy. It exceeded our expectations despite less than ideal conditions, and we cant wait to go back in better conditions to explore more.
While hiking the trails along either Bowman Lake or Kintla Lake, you get fabulous views of the mountain peaks and glaciers across these lakes. Not the case here! In fact, from West Glacier its over a two hour drive one-way. Additionally, if you want to see the Many Glacier region of the park, it can be a long drive from the west side of Glacier National Park.
The other fun hike is to Iceberg Lake. It was built back in 1914, and sits on the southern shore of Lake McDonald. There are some excellent golf courses located in the vicinities on the West Side including Glacier View Golf Course, located right in West Glacier.
The walk includes stunning views of fields of wildflowers.
This tribe has not always encouraged the private development of activities, one of the few activities outside the Park on the East Side is a golf course in East Glacier. The West Side encompasses 35 miles of this Road and will provide you with the more scenic and picturesque drive.
The hike up to Numa Lookout will give you great views of Bowman Lake and its surrounding peaks.
Are there shuttles in Glacier National Park? When visiting Glacier National Park, the biggest decision many travelers face is which side of the park to stay on, West or East. Planning a trip to Glacier National Park? This has encouraged development of many different and exciting activities. Babb is a farming and ranching community with a population of just 174. Camping in Glacier National Park is only permitted in designated campgrounds. It was our favorite part of the park (although Going-to-the-Sun Road is pretty spectacular), and is home to some of the best hikes in Glacier National Park, like Grinnell Glacier, Cracker Lake, and Ptarmigan Lake. Porto is somewhat of a contradiction in that, on one hand, it feels very young and lively (especially at night) while simultaneously feeling older and more historic than, Read More Where to Stay in Porto: A Helpful GuideContinue, When we quit our jobs in February 2020 to travel the world after years of talking about it, saving money, and spending hours planning our trip, Oregon barely made the list. Youll have your choice between the lodge rooms, cabins, and motel-style rooms, which is a nice diversity of choices.
Selecting accommodation in the main part of Glacier means most of the must-see attractions and many of the best hikes in Glacier NP are easily accessible. Plus, youll have more choices for horseback riding in Glacier Park on this West side section of the Sun Road, including and all day ride to Sperry Chalet. I (Matt) grew up in Seattle, and lived there for 15+ years before relocating to San Francisco, where I met Alysha, who grew up in the Bay Area. I stayed in the KOA at Glacier and almost got into the cabins at Polebridgebut I was really glad that I booked in advance.
These are great options for enjoying a quiet and scenic part of the park outside of busy daytime hours. Youll love it! Wed recommend using West Glacier and Many Glacier as your home base for exploring the park, splitting your time and staying in each place (which are about two and a half hours away from each other).
Its super useful to have this list of hotels . This typically happens in late June or early July but is fully dependent on the weather.
But, it also has some perks. I hope my path leads me there one day! If these things are important to you, consider staying on the west side of the park. Or, you can drive to the top of Desert Mountain and enjoy stunning views of Lake McDonald, the North Fork River drainage, and the Flathead Valley area. This can make determining where to stay when visiting Glacier National Park a bit of a challenge.
This is glamping at its finest and most bougie youll stay in a canvas tent under the stars (with West Elm furniture, duh) and have access to the communal fire pit (SMORES) and the picnic areas and barbecues. The most remote region of Glacier Park accessible by vehicle is on the West Side about an hours drive from Smoky Bear Ranch. If youre going to Glacier in the offseason or shoulder season, youll have to stay elsewhere. Find tips, itineraries, packing guides, expert advice, and stories of travel around the world from the experience and lessons Ive learned from traveling to over 90 countries.
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However, there are very, very limited amenities here, and youll be paying a premium for the ones you do find (namely, gas and groceries). They have a range of room types, split between cabins and lodge rooms.
Scout the options before you decide to drive or ride! If youre not able to snag a spot inside the park and want to stay as close as possible to all the action, this is your best bet. It gives you the small town charm while offering the conveniences you need.
The winds come swooping over the mountains and pick up speed on the downslope. Wow! Maybe pick the two bedroom cabins if youre traveling with your inlaws. Its the perfect way to maximize your time in the surrounding areas of Glacier National Park. As you plan your trip, another option to consider is to take a road trip to Glacier National Park. Almost none. Which seems like the best way to go glamping with kids. The barrier free trail to Running Eagle Falls (formerly Trick Falls) is also in this region of Glacier Park. You can stay inside the park at one of the three park-run lodging options, or you can stay outside the park near Duck Lake, which is a 45 minute drive away from the Many Glacier entrance. Whitewater rafting is a very popular activity. East or West shouldnt be a choice. In Many Glacier and St. Mary on the eastern side of the park, your options will be limited at best. Stop by any of them to find maps, information about the park, restrooms, water fountains, and more. All three make an excellent home base for exploring Glacier and the surrounding area. Under Canvas, which has made our lists for Zion, Moab, and the Grand Canyon, is going to be a cool experience. Search all hotels in East Glacier Park, Montana. For the latest updates, check out our full list of national parks requiring changes for visitors. Theres also some fun places to stay north of town on Whitefish Lake, which will add time to your drive into the park, but make up for it with waterfront accommodations where you can watch the sun set over the lake. The full 50 miles of the Going-to-the-Sun Road will take about 2 hours to drive. After 7.5 miles, youll see Granite Park Chalet. Not to mention you will also likely struggle to find parking.
Theres no TV or WiFi, so youll be able to completely disconnect and immerse yourself in the natural beauty that Glacier has to offer. If youre looking for activities other than hiking, youll find many on the West side. In the guide below, youll find suggestions on where to stay on the western side of Glacier, on the eastern side of Glacier, and near Many Glacier for a range of budgets and styles. On the east side, it is a bit warmer and windier. This is where the options get a little more robust, with a nice variety of places to stay from a historic lodge, to glamping, to upscale cabins for families and groups. There is such an incredible amount of things to do, see, and, Read More How To Plan an Unforgettable Northern California Road TripContinue, Your email address will not be published. This is when the Going to the Sun Road is open, you are able to raft and fish the rivers, hike the top trails in Glacier, and even stay in the backcountry chalets in the park. This website uses various third-party Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, the most popular pages, and how visitors interact.
The only one that you can reserve in advance is Fish Creek Campground, and its super competitive. There are only really three good options here. I found the Glacier National Park shuttle super helpful even with a car because there were a few one way hikes that I could then tackle and not worry about getting back to my car afterwards! Unfortunately though, it will still take you about 45 minutes to get up to the St. Marys Visitor Center. The subalpine tundra is a bit lower in elevation. Search all hotels in Columbia Falls, Montana. The Many Glacier area of Glacier National Park offers a couple of great accommodation options, as well as other services critical to your enjoyment of the region.
If youre looking for a place to stay near Glacier National Park with a little more space to accommodate a larger group, this spacious cabin (three bedrooms and three bathrooms, sleeps six) just across the road from the turn into the park might be the right choice for you.
However, youll find plenty of quaint hotel choices!
Just across the road, Apgar Village Lodge and Cabins is the other option, and youll choose between cabins with a kitchen, cabins without a kitchen, and motel rooms. Its in my bucket list priority! How did a rain forest end up in the northern Rockies? It is just outside the park. I was actually born in Sacramento. The walk to Grinnell Glacier is popular because of the wildlife and the payoff: a close-up view of a glacier that you can walk on. Its worth noting that the one bedroom cabins have two queen beds AND a sofa bed, so they can really sleep up to six people if youre willing to share a relatively small space. Though theyre a little further away from Glaciers west entrance, Tamarack Lodge and Cabins is probably one of the best places to stay in this neck of the woods. You should still see good weather this time of year and be able to enjoy everything the park has to offer. Fifteen miles of the Going-To-The-Sun Road is located on the East Side of Glacier Park. Youll even find some restaurants and fast food options that you might recognize between Whitefish and Glacier National Park. Its great to know there is a shuttle. The Jewel Basin Hiking Area, a very rugged mountainous region, is located in the Flathead National Forest. Choose between standard king rooms (with one king bed), a room with two queen beds, or a room with a king and a twin bunk bed. One of the biggest disadvantages of staying in Coram is simply the limited restaurant options in town.
Located right outside of the most popular entrance of Glacier National Park, West Glacier is the gateway to Glacier and a hub for all outdoor activities. How long does it take to drive through Glacier National Park? If youre looking to avoid the crowds along the Sun Road, this is the region of Glacier Park to visit (its our our favorite region of the Park). Just 14 minutes south of the Two Medicine Lake area of Glacier National Park, East Glacier Park is another option off of the east side of Glacier National Park.
Copyright 2021 Smoky Bear Ranch All Rights Reserved , waterslides, go carts, bumper boats, zip lines, a human maze, and more, Glacier National Park Camping: Top 10 Campgrounds to Visit in 2022. Recently, the park has seen a huge influx of visitors, which is straining their systems and making it essential that you book your accommodations early. The east side also was hit by a roadside wildland fire in 2015, which drastically changed the views in the park as the Reynolds Creek Fire burned about 5,000 acres. Of course, the lodging options in Glacier National Park do fill up, so book in advance! Driving from the western entrance over to Many Glacier takes more than two hours, pushing three with traffic and road work (theres always road work in the summer prepare yourself for delays!). Another perk some winter nights you can even see the Northern Lights from Glacier National Park! Weve got some other travel guides to help you plan an incredible trip. Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book.
You will also find golf courses in Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Kalispell, and Bigfork.
You can take a guided boat tour on Swiftcurrent Lake which continues on Lake Josephine and a short guided hike into Grinnell Lake.
Stop wondering about the places you want to visit and start wandering, following your dreams, wherever they may take you. Im Julia, a travel addict who has explored 90+ countries and is always following my curiosity into my next adventure. The Two Medicine region is vertical real estate, and will be a bit less populated. Theres free showers, and lake access from some loops to get you down to the shore of Lake McDonald. It turns out, I, Read More A Celiacs Guide to the Best Gluten Free Restaurants in SacramentoContinue, Of the three main islands in the Puget Sound that make for a good day trip from Seattle Bainbridge, Whidbey, and Vashon Vashon is our favorite. For most people, that doesnt really work who knows what well be up to in 13 months?! I recommend parking at the visitor centers as they have the most parking spots! This small town of just 227 people does offer very limited restaurant choices. In fact, you can enter at six different locations: The primary entrances for the popular Going-to-the-Sun Road are the West Glacier entrance and St. Marys, which is on the east side of the park.
The Ridge at Glacier is located on an offshoot just off of Highway 2, which takes you up onto the ridgeline where youll find several cabins with great views. The cabins are our pick, mostly because each one has its own kitchen facilities, which is important to us when were traveling. Wow what a place to visit. Leave your car at the pass and walk downhill. There are about 1,200 bears in Glacier National Park and 300 of them are grizzlies.
Glacier National Park is a real treat. Most roads have a 25-mile-an-hour speed limit, which is strictly enforced.
The shuttle connects all parts of the park, including West Glacier, Apgar, Lake McDonald Lodge, St. Mary, and Many Glacier. Cabins are fairly spacious, with a kitchen that has a full size refrigerator and a small two burner stovetop and a microwave. The Ultimate Guide to Glacier National Park Hotels: Where to Stay for Glacier NP, How to Decide Where to Stay for Glacier National Park, Staying in the Many Glacier Region of Glacier National Park, Where to Stay West of Glacier National Park, Where to Stay East of Glacier National Park, Visiting Glacier National Park in Off Season, Additional Details for Hotels near Glacier National Park. This part of the park has the best selection of places to stay just outside the entrance. Staying on the east side of Glacier National Park puts you closer to the Many Glacier region of the park.
We believe that travel is about learning, discovery, and connection. From there, you can catch the shuttle further into the park. Forests pretty much control the west side of the park, thanks to heavier rainfall. Even though this region of Glacier Park is on the East Side, it is just as easy and quick to access from Smoky Bear Ranch as it is from either Saint Mary or Many Glacier regions. The west side of Glacier has much heavier forests, including an actual rain forest. But note that the park service cautions visitors that the ice can be dangerous. And you cant beat the convenience. For most people, the best time to visit Glacier NP is between late June/early July and early to mid-September. Glacier is bisected by the continental divide, giving us two parks: One is the east side and the other, the west.
Can I sleep in my car in Glacier National Park?
If youre a couple, look at the treehouse, which looks fun. Not the sexiest campground in the world, but itll do the trick. Its likely you still have some lingering questions about where to stay near Glacier National Park. When booking hotels for Glacier National Park, youll need to take into consideration the time of year youre visiting. I founded this blog back in 2015 when I quit my corporate job to pursue a lifelong dream of traveling the world full-time, and Im looking to help others, like you, totravel more and travel better. Want more on Glacier? Were Matt and Alysha, the two endlessly curious gluten free foodies behind Wheatless Wanderlust. All of the land outside of Glacier Park on the East Side is the Blackfoot Indian Reservation. Animals are more active around those times and there are fewer folks on the trails to scare them away. The dipper frequents fast-moving water and actually submerges and uses its wings and tail to fly underwater. Like mentioned above, book your hotels for Glacier National Park early! Whether you are staying inside of Glacier National Park or staying in one of the surrounding towns, you can park at any of the shuttle stops. Their three bedroom cabins have room for up to ten, with two separate living areas.
Also, theres a spot on the Going-to-the-Sun Road where winds stop blowing over a mountain and drop their load of snow. They have a range of cabin sizes between one and three bedrooms, so theyre a great choice for groups from one to two people (or a couple) all the way up to bigger groups of six to eight. If the facilities are constantly at capacity, when are they going to update them? Heres an overview of the options outside the park in order of proximity to the park entrance (well get into details in each section below): Distance from the Apgar Visitor Center: 8 minutes / 2.5 miles. Heres why I spend my summers as a Glacier Red Bus driver. The most noted views on this section of the Sun Road are Jackson Glacier and Saint Mary Lake with Wild Goose Island. You give pro and cons for staying on the east or west sides.
The biggest lodge in the park, which was fully renovated a couple years ago, is in Many Glacier Valley. Glad that it will be of use for your friends (and you in the future!). Another four miles and the trail dumps you at the main road, where you can ride the shuttle back to the pass. Near St. Mary? As the snow and ice start to melt in the summer, the Going-to-the-Sun Road opens up.
It is also home to 1,900 guest rooms in hotels, motels, lodges, and RV Parks.
There are two options at Apgar Village, which are both a worse location (further from Logan Pass), and are slightly less rustic and charming. Not to mention youll find ample restaurants and alternate activities available in the quaint downtown of Kalispell, Montana. In the park, you can stay at Lake McDonald Lodge, a 1913 lodge with incredible views of Lake McDonald and a vast collection of Western art. We loved Wild Coffee, Sweet Peaks Ice Cream, and Montana Shirt Company, among other things. Lodge suites, which cost a little bit more, have a kitchenette.
They all raft the Middle Fork of the Flathead River which forms the southwestern border of Glacier Park. If youre an avid hiker, there are two backcountry chalets you can hike into for accommodations. This region contains two gorgeous glacial finger lakes, Bowman Lake and Kintla Lake. They also have deluxe cabins which are bigger and nicer than the standard cabins, with kitchen facilities and three bedroom options.
When traveling to a place youre unfamiliar with, its hard to know the complete layout, and what to expect.
Click here for up to date questions and answers about Glacier Park, 4761 Smokey Bear Lane, Columbia Falls, Montana, 59912, United States Phone: 1-800-555-3806. There are a few western red cedars and hemlocks, both of which need lots of water to grow. Theres a lot of hotel choices in Whitefish, so were going to give them to you in rapid fire with a couple of sentences on what stands out to us. Plus, the upside of staying outside the park is that you dont have to book a year in advance, which is probably what its going to take to get a spot at the highly coveted Lake McDonald Lodge. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam.
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