STEP FOUR: Book Your Lodging
>> Where should I stay? <<
Alright, you’re more than halfway there. Step Four is a fun one!
Let’s make your lodging reservations. I’m going to help you decide where you want to stay while visiting Glacier. After this task is complete, it’s official….you’re making your dream trip a reality!
So go ahead and get out the list you made in Step Three….the one that has the points of interest you want to visit divided up by region. Which region has the most activities? You’ll want to book your lodging near that area of the park.
Now, if you plan on being in the park for more than two or three nights, you may decide to book a few nights in one area of the park and then a few nights in another. One of the biggest mistakes people make when visiting Glacier is not factoring in all the driving — you could end up spending too much time in the car just trying to get from place to place. No fun.
If you can, try to snag a reservation in the park. If you are unable to stay in the park, you may want to stay a few nights in West Glacier and then a few nights in St. Mary.
Click here to see the lodging options within the park. In-park lodging often fills one year in advance. If there’s no availability, you’ll need to consider options outside of the park near the entrances. Here’s what you can expect at each entrance:
West Entrance (West Glacier)
Coming in through the West Entrance is the most popular way to enter Glacier. From here, you’ll have easy access to the fun activities at Lake McDonald and Apgar Village. There are 3 nearby campgrounds — Sprague Creek, Avalanche, and Fish Creek. You’ll also find trailheads for the popular Avalanche Lake Trail and the Trail of the Cedars.
This is also where the Going-to-the-Sun Road begins to connect you to the Saint Mary side of the park.
West Glacier itself is quite small, but you’ll find a few places to stay, several restaurants, a couple of souvenir shops, and a Welcome Center. Drive a few miles further into the park and you’ll reach Lake McDonald and Apgar Village {which also has a few places to stay, eat, and shop}. The larger towns of Columbia Falls, Whitefish, and Kalispell are all nearby and have larger grocery stores, hotels, and restaurants. You should be able to find anything you need in this area.
Because of its location, you’ll likely want to stay here for a few nights during your trip to Glacier. I suggest staying as close to the park entrance as possible.
Saint Mary Entrance (Saint Mary)
If driving the entire Going-to-the-Sun Road is on your bucket list, at some point you’ll end up in Saint Mary on the east side of the park. This town is the jumping-off point for some great activities! You can enjoy the views at Saint Mary Lake, hike to Baring, St. Mary, or Virginia Falls, or camp at the St. Mary or Rising Sun campgrounds.
It’s generally faster to get to the popular Logan Pass area of the Going-to-the-Sun Road from the Saint Mary Entrance rather than from West Glacier. The scenery along the road coming from Saint Mary is less dramatic than driving up from West Glacier {you should definitely drive the whole road if you can}, but still gorgeous. If you plan on doing a lot of hiking, staying on this side of the park gives you quick access to some of the park’s best hiking trails too!
The town of Saint Mary is a little sleepy….there’s not much going on by way of things to do. But what it lacks in amenities, it makes up for in proximity to some of the best parts of Glacier.
I highly recommend staying on the east side of the park for a night or two during your trip, whether it’s in Saint Mary or closer to the Many Glacier area listed below.
ONE WORD OF CAUTION: The Going-to-the-Sun Road is only fully open for a few months each year {usually July-September}. If you book any lodging on the east side of the park, just be aware that you may not be able to get there from West Glacier unless you drive all the way around the south end of the park {via East Glacier/Two Medicine} if you visit when the Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed.
Many Glacier Entrance (Saint Mary or Babb)
The stunning Many Glacier Lodge sits majestically on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake. It doesn’t get much more beautiful than this!
Although the Many Glacier area is just a small part of the park, the scenery and wildlife make it a fantastic place to stay for a night or two. Some of the park’s best hiking trails {Grinnell Glacier and Iceberg Lake} start from here. If you came to see wildlife, you have to visit Many Glacier. Large game such as bears, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats frequent the area.
If you’re not able to snag a hard-to-get room or campsite right in the Many Glacier area of the park, the small town of Babb isn’t too far from the entrance. Lodging and dining options here are slim, so you may find yourself a little further away in Saint Mary. Either is a fine option for exploring the area.
If you plan on being at Glacier National Park for 3+ days, I definitely recommend spending at least one night in the Many Glacier area.
Two Medicine Entrance (East Glacier Park)
The Two Medicine Entrance leads you into a small but gorgeous area of Glacier National Park. The main draw of this spot is that the crowds are pretty minimal. The hiking trails from here are top-notch, but most are long and would best be done as a backpacking trip.
The Two Medicine Campground is picturesquely set next to a small lake near the larger Two Medicine Lake. Boat tours run from the lake, and the exciting Running Eagle Falls trail is just a few miles down the road.
The town of East Glacier Park, while small, has a decent selection of places to stay and eat. I don’t generally recommend staying in East Glacier unless you are specifically coming to explore the Two Medicine area. Otherwise it’s too far removed from the park’s main points of interest.
Camas Creek Entrance (Polebridge)
There’s really nowhere to stay near this entrance, so there’s a good chance you won’t spend much {if any} time here. I only mention this entrance because you’ll pass through it if you are making the long drive up to the Polebridge community.
Why drive to Polebridge? First, you may have heard of the legendary Huckleberry Bear Claws that they sell at the Polebridge Mercantile. They are delicious, but personally I don’t think they’re worth the drive alone. What is worth the drive? Bowman Lake.
Bowman Lake is the reason you drive to Polebridge. This lake is absolutely stunning! A drive down a narrow and rough dirt road is required to get to the lake and parking is extremely scarce.
If you decide to make the trek to Bowman Lake, just know that it will take 3-4 hours of your precious sightseeing time. It may be something to save for a future visit to the park if your time is limited.
In a large and popular park like Glacier, finding lodging can be a complex process. Determine what area of the park/entrance you’d like to stay in first, then start digging for the lodging that will best suit your needs. Rooms sure can get snatched up fast so let’s book your lodging!
If you’re interested in my recommendations for places to stay, I’ve included a helpful lodging guide with these Glacier itineraries.
Alright, it’s time to tie up our loose ends so that you’ll have an awesome Glacier vacation plan under your belt.
Click NEXT to see Step Five — let’s put it all together!
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 :)