Glacier National Park Travel Guide

Glacier National Park entrance near St. Mary

Glacier National Park was established as a park on May 11, 1910.

The park covers 1,012,837 Square miles and includes 131 named lakes.

St. Mary Lake is located in the eastern side of the park, while Lake McDonald lies to the west.

Lake McDonald is the largest lake, 9.4 miles long; 1.5 miles wide and 464 feet deep.

Elevation at Logan Pass is 6,646 feet, while the highest mountain, Mt. Cleveland, rises to a height of 10,448 ft.

The park includes 25 named glaciers.

Mountain scene near St. Mary in Glacier National Park

Going to the Sun Road

The park is traversed east to west by the 50-mile long Going to the Sun Road, completed in 1932.

Tour bus navigating the curves on the Going to the Sun Road

The road is open only part of the year, roughly from early summer to late September. Portions of Going to the Sun Road remain open all year and provide access to many locations and activities. The opening of the alpine portion varies, based on snowfall and plowing progress. There is no set date for the road to open.

Vehicles, and vehicle combinations, longer than 21 feet (including bumpers) or wider than 8 feet (including mirrors), are prohibited between Avalanche Campground and the Rising Sun picnic area parking.

Vehicle and vehicle combinations over 10 feet in height may have difficulty driving west from Logan Pass to the Loop, due to rock overhangs. Stock trucks and trailers are able to access Packers Roost on the west, and Siyeh Bend on the east.

It takes at least 2 hours (nonstop) to drive the full length of the road. Logan Pass is 32 miles from the west entrance and 18 miles from the east entrance.

We have driven the road several times, both east to west, and west to east, on sunny days, and in heavy fog! It is a magnificent highway, easy drive in most sections, though narrow in areas where it is carved into the side of mountains.

Cars in the distance ... Going to the Sun

Fall colors and deep blue skies

Plowing the Going to the Sun Road at Rim Rock on May 24, 2018. The road opened for the season on June 23, 2018.

Plowing the Road

Plowing the road is a monumental challenge each year. Unpredictable spring snow storms or other weather related events can slow down plowing progress.

It is not uncommon for plowing crews to need to re-plow sections of park roads when weather events happen.

Safety for plowing crews, contractors, and the public is of utmost concern and priority. These unknown factors make predicting the opening of date impossible from one year to the next.

Lodging Options in/near Glacier National Park

Lodging in the park varies from rooms in historic grand hotels to cozy cabins and from comfortable motels to backcountry chalets. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Rooms book up fast, especially during the peak months of July and August. Camping and wilderness camps are also available.

Listed below are some of the lodging options in/near the park, and surrounding Montana cities.

In Glacier National Park

Apgar Village Lodge

Village Inn Motel

Lake McDonald Lodge

Swiftcurrent Motor Inn

Sperry Chalet

Mary Glacier Lodge

Lodging in Nearby Cities

Lodging in West Glacier

Lodging in Whitefish, Montana

Lodging in Kalispell, Montana

Lodging in Great Falls, Montana

Lodging in Missoula, Montana

Interactive Map of the Glacier National Park Area

Glacier National Park Location

Glacier is located in the north section of Montana, adjacent to the Canada border. St. Mary is located at the east end of the park, West Glacier and Whitefish at the west end.

The East Entrance at St. Mary

Panoramic view of the St. Mary Visitors center and Glacier National Park

The West Glacier Entrance

The town of West Glacier, Montana is located at the west entrance to Glacier National Park.

It is located on U.S. Route 2 and a main line of the BNSF Railway.

A visitor center, dining options, fuel station and shopping is available. West Glacier Sign

Scenes in the Park

There is much to see and do in the park! Don't miss Lake Mc Donald, Grinnell Lake & boat tour, Logan Pass, Highline Trail, Avalanche Lake, Hidden Lake Overlook, Lake Bowman and so much more.

The park provides numerous camp sites, hiking and biking paths, and ranger-led programs.