Traveling to Glacier National Park and wondering what are the main highlights, how much time you need to visit the park, and what’s the best itinerary to follow? In this post, you can find our experience-based suggestions and Glacier National Park itinerary ideas for one to five days.
Our guest writer Jessica from Bring The Kids spends a lot of time in Glacier National Park with her family and knows the park really well. In this article, she shares suggested itineraries for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 days in Glacier National Park.
You can also find some practical information for visiting the park, learn how much time you need in Glacier NP, what kind of weather to expect, and what to know about the wildlife… And of course, we also cover the best hikes in Glacier National Park. Find out!
To make your travel planning easier, I also included detailed maps for each itinerary, indicating all the places mentioned in this article. Of course, you don’t have to follow these itineraries precisely, but it gives you a good idea of the main things to do in Glacier National Park and the time you need to see them.
Before we continue with the Glacier NP itinerary suggestions, we share some information and things to consider when planning your trip to Glacier NP. I encourage you to read this first!
Glacier NP Itinerary and Travel Tips – Overview:
- Practical info and tips for visiting Glacier NP
- 1 Day in Glacier NP
- 2 Days in Glacier NP
- 3 Days in Glacier NP
- 4 Days in Glacier NP
- 5 Days in Glacier NP
How many days do you need in Glacier National Park?
While you can see some of the main landmarks on Glacier NP in just a day or two, I suggest staying for at least 3 to 5 days to really make a Glacier National Park trip worth it.
You need to consider that if you’re driving there, Glacier NP is really far from just about anything. It’s located in northern Montana and the closest airport is in Kalispell, MT. The park borders Canada and is actually linked to Waterton National Park there. It’s closer to drive here from Calgary (6 hours drive) than from Seattle (10 hours drive).
I’m saying this not to discourage you from visiting, but to encourage you to spend more time in Glacier National Park. You won’t be disappointed! In fact, I wholeheartedly believe that Glacier is one of the most spectacular of all the National Parks in the United States. It’s well worth the far trip and your precious vacation time.
Best time to visit Glacier NP
Please note that these Glacier NP itinerary suggestions are valid for the summer months only – roughly from mid-June to mid-September.
The main thoroughfare, The Going To The Sun Road, is only open for a few months in the summer, so plan your trip accordingly. Please check the official website for more information on when the road is open. To give you an idea, in some years, the entire Going To The Sun Road only opens around the 20th of June.
You can visit the park even if the road is not open. In that case, it’s probably best to base yourself on the west side and explore that part of the park, based on what’s open at the time of your visit.
Because it is so cold here, very little of Glacier NP is open in spring, autumn, or winter. But it’s also the time when you can have the most amazing natural wonders all to yourself. Please check the official website for more practical information if planning to visit Glacier NP in the low season.
What to consider before you take a trip to Glacier National Park
Like all the best National Parks, Glacier is very popular and can get very crowded in summer. That means that you need to book your accommodation at least several months in advance. Plus, nowadays, you have to make reservations in order to drive to the most popular areas inside the park (more info further below).
Both sides of the park have lodging and camping options, but there is much more choice at the Western Entrance. Here you can find the best deals for hotels near Glacier NP.
If you are thinking of camping in Glacier NP, you should know that most areas inside the park have several first-come, first-served campground options. This means that you must arrive early in the morning and it also helps to have a good backup plan in case the campgrounds are full.
Glacier National Park borders Canada and is at a pretty high elevation, so plan for really cold temperatures, even in summer. In July when we visited, there were a few days when all my kids were wearing their winter down jackets and we even got snow at Logan Pass. That being said, we’ve also had scorching hot weather on other trips where we were jumping into every possible body of water.
So when visiting Glacier National Park, you really have to be prepared for all kinds of weather!
What is the best way to see Glacier National Park?
The best way to see Glacier is by driving + hiking. Unlike other parks like Yellowstone or Arches where you can see a lot of the park just by driving, that isn’t the case here, so you’ll have to walk. But it sure is easier to get to the hiking trails if you have your own car and are not reliant on the shuttle bus availability and schedule.
Alternatively, you can opt to take Glacier’s shuttle, but I would only advise this option if you have at least several days to spend in the park.
Make sure that you have sturdy hiking shoes that are well broken in before your trip and are in good enough shape to hike several miles a day to get maximum enjoyment.
If you’re coming from a much lower altitude, remember to take it easy the first few days and to drink lots of water to avoid altitude sickness. Pack a good reusable water bottle and fill it up on every occasion.
What are the main areas of Glacier National Park?
When you are considering driving through Glacier National Park, your one real option is the Going To The Sun Road. Only open for a few months a year, this is the main way to connect the East and West Entrances of the park where a majority of the sites and amenities are.
The East Entrance is made popular by St Mary Lake and the Western Entrance is right next to Lake McDonald.
The other main areas of Glacier NP are Many Glacier and Two Medicine on the East side, as well as Pole Bridge on the northwestern side.
Where to stay in or near Glacier National Park
In our itineraries below, we have specific suggestions for the best accommodations that suit that specific itinerary best.
If you want to stay inside the park and can get a reservation, Lake McDonald Lodge is the best option on the western side, and St. Mary Lodge – on the eastern side.
TIP: Using the map below, you can compare hotels and short-term rental accommodations near Glacier National Park. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see what’s available for your stay. Check it out!
Do I need to be worried about bears in Glacier National Park?
Bears are very active in and around Glacier National Park. While you are out hiking and camping, it’s important to exercise caution. I always carry bear spray with me and make sure that it’s easily accessible in the water bottle holder of my backpack, in case of an emergency.
We also make sure that we are making enough noise so that animals know we are coming and we don’t startle them. Truthfully, with 5 kids we make plenty of noise everywhere we go. We’ve never encountered a bear while we are out hiking in Glacier NP, but we’ve met many people hiking just a little ahead or behind us who have seen bears.
On our last trip to Glacier NP, we saw 11 bears from the car and one bear walked through our campground during dinner time. So you always have to be alert and aware.
Glacier NP entrance fees, passes & reservations
If visiting Glacier National Park in the summer, you have to make reservations in order to drive to the most popular areas. Between the end of May to mid-September: Going-to-the-Sun Road and the North Fork; from July to mid-September also Two Medicine and Many Glacier. This applies to anyone traveling by vehicle from 6 am to 3 pm. For more information and reservations, see here.
In addition, you also need to pay to enter the park. Just like most American National Parks, Glacier offers several ticket options. You can get a 7-day pass for 35 USD per vehicle/family or a yearly pass for 70 USD.
Alternatively, get America the Beautiful annual pass. It is by far the best option if you are visiting several National Parks in the same year.
TIP: If you are looking for ideas for other great National Parks to visit not too far from Glacier, please check our suggestions for Yellowstone itinerary, as well as things to do in Grand Teton NP in one day. Many people also combine a trip to Glacier National Park with both, Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
Without further ado, here are our itinerary suggestions for visiting Glacier National Park:
1 Day in Glacier National Park
If you only have one day in Glacier National Park, you are going to need to pack as much in as you possibly can. Expect this to be a VERY LONG DAY with lots of time in transit, so that you can see as much of the park as possible.
The best way to do one day in Glacier is to start at the East Entrance and work your way over the Going To The Sun Road towards the West Entrance. However, accommodation options are really limited on that side of the park. You could also stay on the west side; it just means you’ll have to do a bit more driving in the morning.
During the summer months, Going To The Sun Road is packed and parking is very limited up at the top of Logan Pass. It’s horrible to get all the way up there to then find out that you can’t find a place to park. To avoid this, I recommend starting your day in Glacier NP very early.
Logan Pass
Plan on starting your day no later than 7 am. While you will see lots of beautiful sights along the Going To The Sun Road, your goal is to make it to the top of Logan Pass first.
I suggest to try and limit your stops and just drive to Logan Pass. Afterwards, you will come back and see a few things along the road, but trust me on this one – start at the top first.
Once you get up to the top of Logan Pass, head into the visitors center and learn a bit about the local plants and animals, as well as the park’s history.
Hidden Lake Overlook
From there, you have a couple of options.
The best thing to do is to head west on the trail up the mountain to the Hidden Lake Overlook for a 2.7-mile round-trip hike.
Along the way, you’ll find spectacular views, a few small waterfalls, plenty of wildflowers, and almost always some mountain goats.
St Mary Falls
After you are done at Logan Pass, head back east (yes, where you came from) to the pullout for St Mary Falls.
It’s located about 6.5 miles back down the mountain. Parking can occasionally fill up here as well, but it’s not nearly as crazy as Logan Pass, which is why we recommend visiting them in this order.
From here, you can take a short 1.7-mile hike to see St Mary Falls. The highlight of this hike is a raging double waterfall. Sadly, due to fires in recent years, a good portion of this hike is through former burn areas. Luckily, this usually means good wildflower spotting along the trail.
Going To The Sun Road
Next in your whirlwind day, you’ll keep heading west over Going To The Sun Road. As you cross over the summit of Logan Pass, you’ll have jaw-dropping views of the west side of Glacier National Park.
From the road, you’ll see several waterfalls that have observation pullouts near them. Plan on pulling out at several of these and taking in the views.
Once you get down into the valley, you won’t be able to see as much because you’ll be surrounded by vegetation.
Avalanche Lake and Trail of the Cedars
As you head west, 15.5 miles from Logan Pass, you will reach the pullout for Avalanche Lake and Trail of the Cedars.
Trail of the Cedars is a scenic trail that’s mostly on a boardwalk and is suitable for anyone, including wheelchairs and strollers. Along this 1 mile hike, you’ll be surrounded by giant cedars, with some as tall as 100 feet.
The trail crosses over Avalanche Creek with great views of the gorge above and then loops around in the direction of the Avalanche Creek campground.
Lake McDonald
Finish off your day at Glacier NP watching the sunset over Lake McDonald. This is something you should do at least once, no matter how long your Glacier vacation is.
Accommodation. Stay in West Glacier. Or, if you can get a reservation, at the Lake McDonald Lodge, which is one of the best places to stay in Glacier National Park!
To summarize, here is how your day in Glacier National Park could look like
One Day Glacier National Park Itinerary:
- Logan Pass
- Hidden Lake Overlook
- St Marry Falls
- Going To The Sun Road
- Avalanche Lake and Trail of the Cedars
- Lake McDonald
Below you can see the map indicating all the places mentioned in this one day Glacier NP itinerary.
How to use this map: Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.
2 Days in Glacier National Park
If you have two days in Glacier National Park, plan on spending one day on each side of the park. Below is our suggested itinerary for the best way to see Glacier NP in two days.
Here’s what your two days Glacier National Park itinerary could look like:
Day 1: East Glacier
Start your day by heading up to Logan Pass and hiking to the Hidden Lake Overlook, as described in the one day itinerary above. After you finish your hike, walk north of the visitors center and cross the Going To The Sun Road and stroll around looking for bighorn sheep. There are a few small herds that hang out in this area right at the top of the summit.
Head back down east and hike to St. Marys Falls and Virginia Falls. The trail is almost 1.5 miles to St Mary’s Falls and then an additional mile to Virginia Falls.
Travel all the way over to the west side of the park, watch the sunset over Lake McDonald. and stay the night there.
Accommodation. If you are booking long in advance, try Lake McDonald Lodge, if you are camping – Avalanche Creek Campground (first come, first served). Alternatively, you’ll find a somewhat bigger choice of accommodation at West Glacier or Coram, just outside the park.
Day 2: West Glacier
Start your day with a hike through the Trail of the Cedars and then on up to Avalanche Lake. The trail is about 4.5 miles and a good portion of it is right along Avalanche Creek, which makes the scenery absolutely amazing. This trail is very well-traveled, so the earlier you come here, the less crowded it will be.
Next, head towards John’s Lake Loop where you’ll get some great river and waterfall/cascade views. It’s an easy short hike – perfect for families with kids as well.
Finish off your day by heading into the town of West Glacier for any- and everything huckleberry (pies, shakes, ice cream, candy…they’ve got it all!)
Accommodation. Same as the previous night.
Here is a map indicating things to do in Glacier NP in two days.
3 Days in Glacier National Park
Spending three days in Glacier National Park will give you time to get a bit off the beaten path and discover some of the hidden gems that make this park so spectacular.
If you have three days in Glacier NP, I suggest you follow our 2-day itinerary as described above, but start with West Glacier first. Below is our suggested three-day Glacier NP itinerary.
Here’s what your three days Glacier National Park itinerary could look like:
Day 1: West Glacier
John’s Lake Loop, Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake. Watch the sunset over Lake McDonald. See the second day in the 2-day itinerary for more details.
Accommodation. Stay in West Glacier or at Lake McDonald Lodge.
Day 2: East Glacier
Start out early in the day so you can make it up to Logan Pass and still find parking. You should try to start your day by 7 am.
Hike to Hidden Lake Overlook. Alternatively, if you want more challenge, you can hike all the way down to Hidden Lake (5.5 miles round trip).
Head east to Rising Sun and take a boat ride out on Saint Mary Lake. The boat will dock at the end of the lake so you can quickly hike up to St Mary’s Falls and Baring Falls, and/or Virginia Falls.
Accommodation. Stay 2 nights at the east side of Glacier NP. Keep in mind, that accommodation options at this side of the park are very limited. St. Mary Lodge has the best location, if you can get a room. Alternatively, you can also try East Glacier.
Day 3: Many Glacier
Many Glacier is also located at the east side of Glacier NP, but getting there will take some time. Count about 45 minutes driving time from St. Mary or 1,5 hrs from East Glacier. Once you turn off the highway towards Many Glacier, the road is often very bad with lots of ruts and potholes. 4×4 hasn’t been necessary when we traveled there, but you’ll have to drive really slow here.
From Many Glacier, the two best hikes you can choose from are Iceberg Lake (9.7 miles RT) and Grinnell Glacier (7.6 miles RT).
Iceberg is the more strenuous of the two hikes. The hike to Grinnell Glacier can be significantly shortened by taking the ferry across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine. The Hike to Grinnell Glacier is alongside water most of the time, so make sure to take bug spray as the mosquitoes can get really bad.
Once you get back, head in the general store at the Many Glacier base area and grab some Huckleberry soft serve ice cream.
Below you can see the map, indicating things to do in Glacier National Park in three days.
4 Days in Glacier National Park
If you have 4 days to spend in Glacier National Park, you can see so many of the different parts of the park and understand what makes this park so amazing. Since Glacier is so spread out, 4 days is really the minimum that you need in order to see all four major areas.
3 days of this itinerary are the same as the three-day Glacier NP itinerary described above, but I suggest a bit different order. Find out!
Here’s how your four days Glacier National Park itinerary could look like:
Day 1: West Glacier
John’s Lake Loop, Trail of the Cedars and Avalanche Lake. Lake McDonald. See the second day in the 2-day itinerary for more details.
Accommodation. Stay in West Glacier or at Lake McDonald Lodge.
Day 2: East Glacier
Logan Pass, Hike Hidden Lake Overlook or all the way down to Hidden Lake for more of a challenge. St Mary’s Falls by either hiking or taking the boat from Rising Sun. Baring Falls. See the second day in the 3-day itinerary above for more info.
Accommodation. Stay in St. Mary or East Glacier for 3 nights. There are campgrounds available on this side of the park as well.
Day 3: Two Medicine Lake
Hike to Aster Falls for a simple easy hike to see the waterfalls (3 miles roundtrip).
Rent a boat at Two Medicine Lake and paddle around. Canoes, rowboats, and small motorboats are all available to rent.
End your day at Two Medicine with huckleberry ice cream at the general store.
Day 4: Many Glacier
At Many Glacier, consider hiking up to Iceberg Lake or to Grinnell Glacier and Grinnell Lake. Both of these hikes will take a good portion of your day.
If you have extra time or are looking for a break from hiking, rent boats at Swiftcurrent Lake and paddle around. Canoes, kayaks, and rowboats are all available to rent.
Below you can find a map indicating what to see and do in Glacier in four days.
5 Days in Glacier National Park
If you have five days in Glacier National Park, you can see all the major areas mentioned above. In addition, you also have time to tackle one of the most spectacular hikes in the park – the Highline trail.
Now, I’ll be honest – this trail is not for the faint of heart. It’s narrow and is carved into the edge of a cliff for the first half mile or so. If you have a fear of heights like I do, it will feel like ten miles. I found it quite scary, but my kids and husband have all declared it one of the coolest hikes that they’ve ever done.
Since most of these places have already been described above, here is just a short itinerary on how you could spend five days in Glacier National Park.
Here’s how your five days Glacier National Park itinerary could look like:
Day 1: Many Glacier
Iceberg Lake or Grinnell Glacier/Grinnell Lake.
Accommodation. Stay in the East Glacier area for 3 nights. Try St. Mary or East Glacier. There are several campgrounds available on this side of the park as well.
Day 2: Two Medicine
Hike to Aster Falls or up to No Name Lake. Paddle around Two Medicine Lake on a rented boat or take a guided boat tour across the lake.
Day 3: East Glacier
Head up the Going To The Sun Road to Logan Pass (leave early or plan on taking the shuttle) and hike to Hidden Lake or the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail. Hike to St Mary’s Falls and Virginia Falls. See 2-day itinerary for more information.
Day 4: The Highline Trail
Pack up early from East Glacier and head towards Logan Pass by 7 am. Park at Logan Pass or continue down the west side to the parking area for The Loop. Take the free shuttle back up to the pass and hike the Highline Trail.
The hike ends at the Loop, so it’s easy if your car is already there. Otherwise, you’ll have to take the shuttle back to Logan Pass.
As I mentioned above, this trail is not for the faint of heart, as the cliffside trail drops off over 100 feet. However, despite the crazy path, this trail will undoubtedly give you some of the best views in all of Glacier National Park. The trail is highly traveled and is over 13 miles long, ending down at The Loop pullout in West Glacier.
After a long day of hiking, spend the night in West Glacier.
Accommodation. Stay in West Glacier or at Lake McDonald Lodge for 2 nights.
Day 5: West Glacier
Hike the Trail of Cedars to Avalanche Lake and John’s Lake Loop. Head over to Lake McDonald Lodge and rent a paddleboard to paddle around the lake for a couple of hours. Watch the sunset from Lake McDonald Lodge over the lake.
Below you can see the map of this suggested 5-day Glacier National Park itinerary.
Glacier NP itinerary – a final word
So, these are our itinerary suggestions for how to see the best of Glacier National Park in 1 to 5 days. As you can tell, there is really a lot to see and do in Glacier National Park.
Obviously, there is so much more to this park than I have covered in this post. But after several trips to Glacier NP with our family, these are the areas and hikes that we keep being drawn to do over and over again.
If you can stay in Glacier longer, do it! The park is really big and every area has so much to offer. The more time you have, the more you can experience, and you can also take more time to really enjoy each place. Rent a boat, watch a sunset, and enjoy your vacation in Glacier NP!
READ ALSO: Yellowstone & Grand Teton Itinerary
FAQ
How many days do you need in Glacier National Park?
While you can see the main landmarks on Glacier National Park in just one or two days, 3 days is really the minimum in order to explore several of the nicest areas. We recommend staying for 3 to 5 days to really make a Glacier National Park trip worth it.
What is the best time to visit Glacier National Park?
The best time to visit Glacier National Park is in summer, between July and mid-September. That’s when the main road through the park – Going-to-the-Sun Road – is reliably open and you can explore the park to the fullest.
What should you not miss in Glacier National Park?
When visiting Glacier National Park, don’t miss the Going-to-the-Sun Road and Logan Pass. Also Hidden Lake Overlook and Lake McDonald are must-see. Swiftcurrent Lake at Many Glacier is also very nice and easy to visit without having to hike.
More travel inspiration for National Parks (USA):
- Best things to do in Yellowstone
- Grand Teton – Yellowstone itinerary
- Yosemite travel tips
- Best things to do in Death Valley National Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary
- Olympic National Park itinerary
- Acadia National Park itinerary
- Yellowstone National Park itinerary
- Best things to do in Arches National Park
- Best things to do in Canyonlands National Park
- Best hikes in Zion National Park
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Image credits: Jessica from Bring The Kids + Pixabay & Unsplash
Cassie
Saturday 3rd of February 2024
Hi!
We’re looking at the 5 day itinerary but we are also wanting to go white water rafting & horse back riding - where (in the itinerary) would you suggest we do this? We are also interested in Whitefish and doing the scenic lift, alpine slide, and zip lining. Where do you suggest we fit that in with the 5 day itinerary?
Jurga
Sunday 4th of February 2024
Hi Cassie, most rafting tours start at West Glacier, so you could do it either on day 4 or 5 of this itinerary (depending on which other plans you have and which hikes you actually decide to do). For example, this highly-rated whitewater rafting tour takes about 2,5 hours and has two departures in the high season - in the morning and in the afternoon. You could easily do it on day 5. I'm not sure about horse riding - you'll have to check where you can find it and see how to fit it in. Whitefish could be an additional day at the end of this itinerary, or you would have to take something else out if you only have 5 days in total. Hope this helps.
Tim
Friday 26th of August 2022
Hi, thank you for the very thorough article, its very helpful. We will be spending 5 days in Glacier, staying in Kalispell, but we are going early June so Going to the Sun road will probably be closed. I think that means Logan Pass is out. Do you have suggestions on what to do if the road is closed? I'm assuming a few days on one side, and a few days on the other, but I don't know how easy or how long it takes to get from one side to the other if Going to the Sun road is closed.
Thanks in advance!
Jurga
Tuesday 30th of August 2022
Hi Tim, you can use Google Maps to plan your trip. The info is usually pretty accurate. From what I see, the driving time via Hwy 2 between Kalispell and e.g. East Glacier Park Village is about 1 hour 40 minutes (see the map here). If you want to explore both sides of the park at this time of the year, the best thing to do is to stay at two different accommodations - one on each side of the park - for a few days each. This would limit the driving significantly. As for what to do, pick the places/ hikes/ activities that interest you the most. There's a lot of info in our guide above, but you always have to remain flexible if some road or a hike wouldn't be open yet. I'd make a preliminary plan with some extra options and then decide based on the weather/ what's open.
Jennifer
Saturday 4th of June 2022
Hi Jurga, The research I'm doing says that the shuttles don't start operating until 9am on the west side. So should we still plan to arrive by 7am and park at the parking area for The Loop. Wouldn't we be waiting around for a long time to get the shuttle to the trail head at Logan Pass? Fyi we're coming from Lake McDonald Lodge. Thank you!
Jurga
Monday 6th of June 2022
Hi Jennifer, if you are planning to take a shuttle, you should be able to find all the official info here. If you're going to Logan Pass, there are direct shuttles earlier in the morning already. I see that there's an 'express' shuttle from the west side (Apgar Visitor Center) to Logan Pass at 7am. So if you want to avoid the biggest crowds, I'd start early. You can then visit other places along the shuttle route later in the day.
MaryAnn Iannuccillo
Thursday 28th of April 2022
Hi Jurga,
We will be driving to Glacier NP from Calgary and want to spend 3 days then head to Banff/Jasper. Do you suggest we stay on the East Side of GNP or stay torward the Middle of the park to minimize the driving time when we head to Banff? Thank you!
Jurga
Friday 29th of April 2022
Hi MaryAnn, the shortest route from Glacier NP to Calgary is from the eastern side - from Saint Mary it's just a bit over 3 hours drive. So this would be a good place to stay before you drive up to Canada. For the rest, it depends on your overall plans in Glacier, plus the availability of accommodations for your travel dates. I'd book asap if you are traveling this summer!
Bodie
Sunday 27th of February 2022
Hello Jurga, Back at your wonderful site planning our next trip. One question - what lake is that in the picture at the top of the page? Thanks as always!
Jurga
Monday 7th of March 2022
Hi Bodie, I honestly don't know more than that it's taken on a very remote and hard hike in Glacier NP, so not something you can easily access.