Most people miss out on some of the most amazing views in Glacier, but that doesn’t have to be you! Check out this itinerary before you go.
STEP TWO: Pick Your Dates
>> How long should I stay?<<
This task should only take a few minutes. Based on the decision you made in Step One, now it’s time to look at the calendar and pick your dates!
The reality of your trip will begin to set in as soon as you specifically decide when you are going to go.
As you look at the calendar to pick your dates, you’ll want to keep these things in mind:
- How much time you’ll be able to get off of work
- The amount of time it will take to travel to and from Glacier (not including your sightseeing days)
- How many days you can afford for lodging and dining
- If there are any major holidays/fee-free days/festivals you’d like to be in the park for or avoid
In addition to picking a specific time to visit, you’ll also need to think about how many days you want to be in Glacier. Let me provide some guidance!
4 Days
To fully experience the park and its many regions, I strongly suggest giving yourself at least 4 FULL sightseeing days. In that amount of time, you can see the best points of interest and give yourself time to get off the beaten path as well.
A 4-day visit will allow you to avoid the crowds like a champ, which will be especially beneficial if you plan on being in the park during the summer! If you have time to stay longer, you’ll open up more options for longer hikes and extra activities such as horseback riding or fishing.
3 Days
Spending 3 full days in Glacier will still allow you to see all of the park’s main attractions, but you’ll likely have to cut out a few of the smaller and off-the-beaten-path stops.
2 Days
If you have 2 full days in Glacier, you’ll really only have time to see two sections of the park. If you’ve never been before, that’s likely West Glacier and the Going-to-the-Sun Road to Saint Mary.
Organizing your sight-seeing options to avoid crowds and have a more enjoyable time is possible, you just probably won’t have time to fit in everything you’d like to do!
1 Day
Glacier in 1 day can be done, but I definitely don’t recommend it! It is possible to see the big stuff in that amount of time….but it’s a ton of driving and it will be impossible to avoid the crowds.
You’ll also be traveling to the most popular areas of the park during some of the busiest times of the day, so getting caught in a few traffic jams along the way is inevitable!
Alright, are you ready to complete Step Two? Let’s lock in some dates! Don’t forget to choose your dates based on how many sightseeing days you have PLUS the number of travel days you’ll need to get to and from the park.
It’s time to take a look at the calendar and pick some specific dates for your trip to Glacier!
Congrats! It’s so exciting to have the actual dates picked out.
Ready for Step Three? Let’s go!
Click NEXT to answer the question “what should I do in the park?”.
We are thinking about visiting Glacier National Park the first week in June 2023 after 4 days in Yellowstone. Can you please share how Glacier is typically at the beginning of June as far as available open roads and lodging? How many days would you advise for this time of year in Glacier?
Thank you!
Hi Karen! You’ll find that info here: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/the-best-time-to-visit-glacier-national-park/ or here: https://www.dirtinmyshoes.com/is-glacier-open-year-round-weather-hours-and-closures/
I have a husband that loves to hike, and two teen girls that don’t. We scheduled a trip to Glacier July 3-8 2021… Does your itinerary allow for non-hiking activities – like an afternoon swim in one of the lakes (if it’s warm enough of course)?
It does! There’s a good variety of activities in there, including some time to swim :)