Within Glacier National Park you’ll find gorgeous waterfalls, panoramic mountain views, beautiful lakes, picturesque valleys, challenging hikes, abundant wildlife, and yes, a few glaciers. The park stretches from the northwest corner of Montana at the Canadian border and across the continental divide in the Rocky Mountains.
Driving on the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road is slow going due to the winding, twisting mountain roadway. To maximize your time at Glacier National Park, you’ll want to choose a convenient location for all the activities you’re planning. Do you want to stay on the east side or west side? Lakeside or mountainside? At a campground or luxury lodge? So many decisions :)
This article will help you decide where to stay in Glacier National Park, from tent and RV camping to secluded cabins and chalets to luxurious hotels.
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In This Article:
Basic Info for Staying in Glacier National Park
In summer, a vehicle reservation is required (from 6 am to 3 pm) for several areas of the park: Going-to-the-Sun Road, the North Fork, and Many Glacier. Each location requires a separate reservation. Visit the Vehicle Reservation page for details.
Visitors with lodging or camping reservations do not need a vehicle reservation because they can use their confirmation email to access the portion of the park for which their hotel/campsite is booked. It’s a good idea to print out your confirmation email in case you cannot access your email while in the park. You will still need a vehicle reservation if you plan to visit certain other areas of the park. Confused yet? I know, it’s not the simplest vehicle reservation system around.
Should You Stay in West Glacier or East Glacier?
The best answer is that you should stay on both sides of Glacier National Park. However, if you only have two or three days in Glacier, then you probably want to choose one or the other.
For first-time visitors to Glacier National Park, I would recommend spending 2-4 days in West Glacier and 2-4 days in East Glacier OR spending a full week in one location if you don’t want to move from one hotel to another.
Reasons to Choose West Glacier
West Glacier has a better variety of places to stay as well as several small towns close enough for a quick trip to the grocery store or other shops. There are more shops and restaurants in West Glacier. It’s a lot less windy on the West Glacier side compared to East Glacier.
If you prefer to spend your time lakeside, then Lake McDonald Lodge or Apgar Village Lodge and Cabins or Village Inn at Apgar in West Glacier are great choices.
If you’re traveling with kids, then West Glacier seems a better choice. The convenience factor is one of the main reasons people choose to stay in or near the west side of the park.
Reasons to Choose East Glacier
East Glacier has far less selection for accommodations and fewer restaurants and stores compared to West Glacier. You’ll want to book early (13 months in advance is possible) because the lodgings are often fully booked a year in advance.
East Glacier is a great choice if you prefer to spend less time driving and more time hiking and enjoying the scenic views. There are more glacier spotting opportunities on the east side of the park.
For stunning lakeside views, stay at Many Glacier Hotel at Swiftcurrent Lake.
However, if you want to see a glacier up close, you’ll have to put in quite a bit of effort because, ironically, it’s not easy to see a glacier at Glacier National Park. I know, disappointing, but there are other spectacular features in the park with beautiful mountains, waterfalls, lakes, and forests.
You’ll find lots of things to do on both sides of the park, so no matter which side you decide to stay on, you will have opportunities for gorgeous views, scenic hiking trails, epic boat trips, and more!
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Driving in Glacier National Park
The roads in Glacier National Park are winding, twisting, scenic drives. Don’t expect to drive fast anywhere in the park due to winding mountain roads. Watch for cyclists, pedestrians, and wildlife on the roads.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Although the distance from West Glacier Entrance to St Mary (just outside the east park boundary) is only about 50 miles (80 km), but it takes about 2 hours to drive the route via Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Instead, if you prefer not to drive, you can always take the Going-to-the-Sun Road free shuttle bus service (July 1 through Labor Day and potential reduced service to mid-September) and leave the driving to someone else.
The map below shows the points of interest along Going-To-The-Sun Road and elsewhere in the park.
Driving Going-to-the-Sun Road offers many opportunities for scenic stops
When is the Best Time to Visit Glacier?
Summer is the best time to visit Glacier National Park. Summertime brings the best weather, but it’s also the most popular time to visit Glacier National Park, so it can be more expensive and more difficult to find the perfect place to stay.
If you visit in early to mid-September, the temperatures are cooler, but the park is less crowded. It is not unusual to see snow in September, especially at higher elevations in the park.
From late May to mid-June, some of the lodgings are not yet open, and Going-to-the-Sun Road is usually not fully open until late June to early July. Also, the weather tends to be cooler, along with a greater possibility of rain or snow.
In high-elevation areas like Glacier National Park, the weather changes rapidly, and it can snow any month of the year.
When To Book Lodging in Glacier National Park
Most places allow bookings a full year (or more) in advance, so as soon as you know your travel dates, you should make your hotel reservations.
With a short peak season, it’s always advisable to book one year ahead for the best selection. In fact, some of the lodges within the park allow booking 13 months in advance.
Some of the hotels on the East Glacier side open a little later, around early June. Be sure to check the opening dates while planning your trip and deciding where to stay when visiting Glacier National Park.
Make a list of your top picks for places to stay in Glacier National Park as well as lodgings outside of the park in case everything in the park is already sold out.
Best Places to Stay Inside Glacier National Park
There are 7 lodges in the park and 2 backcountry chalets in the park, as well as 13 campgrounds.
This first section covers only the hotels and campgrounds within the park boundaries. Don’t worry; there are more places to stay near the park if you can’t book one of the places right in the park.
Hotels in West Glacier
There are four lodges in West Glacier National Park, but they book up fast and some are quite expensive.
Lake McDonald Lodge, a historic lodge that looks like a Swiss chalet, is located on the eastern shore of Lake McDonald. It has 82 guest rooms total, no A/C, and is open from mid-May to mid-September.
Accommodations on Lake McDonald offer incredible mountain and lake views
Motel Lake McDonald Rustic rooms, no A/C, close to Lake McDonald, open from late May to mid-September.
Village Inn at Apgar is open from mid-May to mid-September. Retro-style lakefront accommodation with stunning views of Lake McDonald and the mountains.
Apgar Village Inn is a superb location on Lake McDonald
Apgar Village Lodge Cabins and motel rooms, no A/C, open from mid-May to mid-September.
Hotels in East Glacier
Many Glacier Hotel is on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake and features spectacular mountain views from lakeside rooms, with over 200 rooms total, no A/C, open from early June to mid-September.
Gorgeous lake and mountains views for guests staying at Many Glacier Hotel on Swiftcurrent Lake
Rising Sun Motor Inn Cozy rustic cabins close to Saint Mary Lake, no A/C, open from mid-June to mid-September.
Swiftcurrent Motor Inn 2-Star accommodations with 95 rooms total, rustic cabins, open from early June to early September. Located 1 mile from Many Glacier Hotel.
Backcountry Chalets in West Glacier
There are two backcountry chalets at Glacier, and both are located in the West Glacier side of the park.
The Sperry Chalet is open for the 2025 season from July 11 to September 12.
To get to Sperry Chalet, you will need to hike a minimum of 6.7 miles (with a 3,300-foot elevation gain), which generally takes about 4.5 hours and is considered a strenuous hike. The trailhead is located at Lake McDonald Lodge.
Rates for Sperry Chalet in 2025
$314 for the first person, and $203 for each additional person in the same room
Granite Park Chalet – The smallest hotel in Glacier Park is only open from June 39 through September 12 during the 2025 season.
Granite Park Chalet is for folks who want more rustic accommodation. They have a full kitchen, and you can pre-order food supplies from the Granite Chalet website.
The main reason to stay at Granite is for the hiking, and guests usually spend one night, but you can stay 2 or 3 and really explore the backcountry hiking trails. You don’t need a backcountry permit for your stay.
Rates for Granite Park Chalet in 2025 are $155 for one person and $102 for each additional person in the same room. Reservation required. Optional linen and bedding is $40 per person.
Campgrounds in Glacier National Park
There are 13 campgrounds and over 1,000 campsites available in the park. While several of the campgrounds are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, there are 7 that require a reservation.
Have a look at the NPS site for all the info on campgrounds, including maps, prices, and historic fill times, so you can get an idea of what your chances are of getting a spot.
Campsites are available for reservation 6 months in advance from the date of your stay.
The following campgrounds at Glacier can be booked in advance—use the above link to book your campsite:
- Avalanche Creek
- Sprague Creek
- Fish Creek
- Apgar (largest campground in the park)
- Many Glacier
- St Mary (reservation required up to August 14)
- Two Medicine Lake
These are the campgrounds in Glacier National Park that are first-come first-served:
- Bowman Lake
- Quartz Creek
- Kintla Lake
- Cut Bank
- Logging Creek
- Rising Sun
- St Mary (ONLY after August 14 for first-come, first-served)
If you can’t get a campsite inside the park, there are other campgrounds near Glacier National Park that are listed later on; keep reading :)
There are lots of options for camping at Glacier National Park
Best Places to Stay Near Glacier National Park
The following hotels are not located inside the boundaries of Glacier National Park, but they are conveniently located near the park.
All of these hotels are highly rated by folks who stayed there—click on the links to read reviews, see photos, and book your room.
You’ll notice there are more hotels near West Glacier. If you are flying into Montana, the airport is west of the park. If you are driving south from Canada, you’ll be entering at East Glacier.
There are several options for hotels, inns, and cabins near the East Entrance and West Entrance and some cabins close to the (more remote) North Fork Entrance.
Hotels in St Mary
Located only a few minutes’ drive from the East Entrance of Glacier National Park, the small town of St Mary is a perfect location just outside the park boundaries.
The Cottages at Glacier 2-bedroom cabins with views of St Mary Lake. This location receives rave reviews from guests, and the location on Going-to-the-Sun Road right next to the park entrance is superb.
St Mary Village An excellent location on Going-to-the-Sun Road at the eastern edge of Glacier NP, full-service hotel and a few cottages next to a creek offer mountain views. On-site restaurant.
Hotels Near East Glacier
Hotels in East Glacier Park and the town of Browning are about a 30-minute drive to the Two Medicine entrance and about 30 to 45 minutes’ drive to St Mary and Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Glacier Park Lodge This East Glacier Park lodge is also home to The Great Northern Dining Room and The Empire Bar. East Glacier Park Amtrak station is across the street from the lodge.
Glacier Peaks Hotel in Browning MT, has an indoor swimming pool, hot tub, fitness center, laundry facilities, and free breakfast. Located less than a 2-minute walk from the Museum of the Plains Indian.
Hotels Near West Glacier Entrance
These hotels and cabins are close to the Glacier National Park West Entrance. Driving time to the park will depend on traffic, weather, and road conditions. Some of these lodgings are only a few minutes’ drive from the west entrance.
Glacier Outdoor Center (Paddle Ridge) Located 1 mile from the West Glacier entrance. Cottages with full kitchen, A/C, private stocked trout pond, outdoor store, and a fly shop onsite. Read reviews, check availability and pricing
Sky Eco Glacier General Store and Cabins 4 cabins feature full kitchens and A/C; studio units are also available, general store onsite. Perfect for solo travelers or couples. This is where I stayed when I visited Glacier in late May to early June. Read reviews and book now
Glacier Homestead Features a variety of options: cabins, private lodge, bunkhouse, and a hostel. All within about a 5-minute drive to Glacier west entrance.
Belton Chalet Historic hotel in West Glacier close to the entrance to the park. It was the first chalet built by the railroad and is located across from the Amtrak station in West Glacier.
Hotels Between West and East Glacier
These hotels are in Essex MT (Highway 2) and offer convenient access to both the east and west sides of the park.
Driving Time to Park Entrances
West Entrance: 35 minutes to 1 hour
Two Medicine Entrance: 35 to 45 minutes
St Mary Entrance: 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes
Summit Mountain Lodge & Steakhouse East Glacier Park location with mountain views, onsite restaurant and lounge makes for a comfortable stay in a convenient location on the eastern side of the park.
Izaak Walton Inn Reopened in 2024 after renovations. Good selection of regular rooms and a 4-bedroom house. Also a restaurant, bar, hot tub, and sauna.
Glacier Haven Inn features cottages and The Glacier Haven Café, along with RV and tent camping. The Glacier Haven Café is onsite.
Hotels in Columbia Falls
North Forty Resort is the perfect place if you want to stay in a beautiful cabin near Glacier National Park. Each log cabin features a full kitchen, plus there’s a hot tub and sauna on site.
Cedar Creek Lodge provides luxury accommodation year-round. It’s only 17 miles from the West Entrance to Glacier, so it’s a great option for a summer visit to the park. Free hot breakfast buffet daily.
Meadow Lake Resort and Condos features a seasonal outdoor pool, a year-round indoor pool and hot tub, free use of bicycles, and free shuttle service to the Glacier Park International Airport.
Hotels in Whitefish
Townplace Suites by Marriott Whitefish 3-Star Condo Hotel with full kitchens (including dishwashers) outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, free bike rental, and pet friendly!
Lodge at Whitefish Lake is right on the shore of Whitefish Lake for beautiful views. Onsite restaurant and full-service spa make this a great choice for relaxation and rejuvenation.
The Pine Lodge on Whitefish River is a pet-friendly hotel with indoor and outdoor heated pools, a hot tub, and fitness center.
Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge is another pet-friendly hotel in Whitefish. Outdoor pool, hot tub, and free airport shuttle service.
Kandahar Lodge at Whitefish Mountain Resort offers a casual and cozy atmosphere at Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort, open year-round.
Firebrand Hotel 4-Star Hotel in Whitefish. After reading numerous reviews, I have concluded guests either LOVE IT or HATE IT, so I suggest looking at the photos and reading lots of reviews to help you decide on this one.
Hotels in Kalispell
Springhill Suites by Marriott Kalispell 3-star modern hotel with an indoor swimming pool, free bike rental, mini-golf, and clean, comfy suites.
Glacier International Lodge is less than 10 miles from Big Sky Waterpark and about 35 minutes’ drive to Glacier National Park West Entrance. The hotel features mountain views, an indoor swimming pool, and a hot tub.
Hampton Inn Kalispell Hotel just off Hwy 2 with 24-hour indoor pool and hot tub, free shuttle to/from Glacier International Airport.
Kalispell Grand Hotel Affordable rates at historic hotel close to downtown Kalispell.
My Place Hotel Clean and comfortable rooms with kitchens (full-size refrigerator, stovetop, and sink) make for a convenient place to stay in Kalispell.
Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn and Suites Free hot breakfast daily, this hotel also features a 24-hour indoor pool and fitness center.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Kalispell Free hot breakfast included, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, full kitchens, pet-friendly hotel.
Greenwood Village Inn & Suites Rooms with kitchenettes, large suites, free hot breakfast served daily.
Cabins Near North Fork Entrance
The town of Polebridge offers access to Glacier National Park via the North Fork Entrance. Hikers and bikers can park across the river from Polebridge Ranger Station, and since it’s not within Glacier Park, you don’t need a vehicle reservation.
Polebridge Mercantile & Bakery + Cabins is worth a visit for the bakery alone. In spring, summer, and fall you can rent a rustic cabin. No running water inside the cabins, but it’s a short walk to the bathhouse.
Polebridge cabins are close to the North Fork entrance of Glacier National Park
Thunderbird Cabins in Polebridge offers luxury, cozy cabins about 2 miles from the Polebridge Mercantile.
Best Campgrounds Close to Glacier National Park
West Glacier KOA Resort is less than 3 miles from the west entrance of Glacier National Park.
West Glacier RV Park offers RV sites and cabins less than 1 mile from the west entrance of Glacier NP.
Red Eagle Campground is a large primitive campground located along the Two Medicine River, only 3.4 miles from Two Medicine entrance to Glacier NP.
Devil Creek Campground is in the Flathead National Forest near Essex MT and is about equal driving distance (around 1 hour) to either the west or east entrance to the park.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many choices for accommodations in Glacier National Park. You’ll need to balance your priorities along with your travel budget in order to choose the best place for you to stay. Wherever you decide to stay, be sure to make your reservation early because many hotels are sold out months in advance.
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