Glacier National Park

Crown of the Continent

Glacier National Park in Montana showcases rugged mountain peaks and crystal clear lakes formed by ancient glaciers. The landscape features winding trails that pass through dense forests and open meadows where wildflowers bloom each summer. Visitors can spot wildlife such as elk, bighorn sheep and grizzly bears along designated paths. The park’s remote location provides quiet spaces for hiking, photography and stargazing away from city lights. Seasonal changes bring shifting views of snow-capped summits and vibrant autumn colors across valleys below the glaciers.

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National Park in United States

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$$	Medium
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$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.8

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	4
Tap water:	9

Read details

5/5

English is the primary language spoken throughout Glacier National Park. All park rangers, staff, and service providers speak fluent English, making communication seamless for English-speaking visitors.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Glacier National Park Summary

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World-class for mountain wilderness and wildlife. Drive the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road, hike alpine trails, kayak glacier lakes and watch for bears and mountain goats.

Place score

8.9

Best at:

Spotless

Natural sites

Hiking

Mountains

Camping

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

♻️ 9

Sustainability

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Glacier National Park, United States

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Mar

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Apr

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Aug

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High season:	July - Aug.
Shoulder season:	June, Sep.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Going-to-the-Sun Road usually fully open only late June or early July to mid-September, depending on snow

Most lodges, campsites, shuttles and boat tours operate only from late May or June to mid-September

Timed vehicle entry reservations are often required for the park's most popular areas in peak summer

Don't miss

🥾 Hike to Grinnell Glacier and stunning turquoise lakes
🚗 Drive the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road for views
🌲 Explore Avalanche Lake’s serene hiking trails
🚤 Take a boat tour on iconic Lake McDonald
🐻 Discover wildlife like bears and mountain goats

You've been here?

Why travel to Glacier National Park?

Glacier captivates visitors with its extraordinary natural beauty and remarkable biodiversity. The park's dramatic landscapes range from turquoise alpine lakes to towering mountain peaks, creating a photographer's paradise and a hiker's dream. What makes Glacier truly special is how accessible wilderness experiences are - whether you're driving the spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road, taking a boat tour on Lake McDonald or hiking to spots like Grinnell Glacier or Avalanche Lake, you'll find yourself immersed in some of America's most pristine natural environments. Beyond the scenery, the park offers incredible wildlife viewing opportunities, with chances to spot black bears, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and numerous other species in their natural habitat. However, it's worth noting that many of the park's most spectacular sights require hiking, some of which can be challenging. The park's popularity also means that vehicle reservations are necessary during peak season and the main road is only fully accessible for a few months each year. Additionally, vehicles exceeding size restrictions (longer than 21 feet, taller than 10 feet or wider than 8 feet) cannot drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Going-to-the-Sun Road
2 Hidden Lake Overlook
3 Logan Pass Visitor Center
4 Lake McDonald Lodge

🎡Places for activities

1 Apgar Village
2 Avalanche Lake Trail
3 Grinnell Glacier Trail
4 Hidden Lake Trail
5 Highline Trail
6 Logan Pass
7 Many Glacier

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Avalanche Lake
2 Logan Pass Continental Divide
3 Grinnell Glacier
4 Grinnell Lake
5 Hidden Lake
6 Iceberg Lake
7 Lake McDonald
8 Saint Mary Lake
9 Upper Two Medicine Lake
10 Upper Virginia Falls

🛍️Shopping

1 Camp Store
2 West Glacier Gifts

🎈Events

Summer Season Opening
Native American Cultural Celebrations
Star Gazing Programs
Ranger-Led Hikes
Wildlife Viewing Tours
Fall Colors Photography Workshops
Winter Recreation Season Opening
Junior Ranger Programs
Artist-in-Residence Programs
Geology Field Trips

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Knowledge before you go

Start early; parking and popular trails fill quickly.
Expect rapidly changing mountain weather; pack layers, rain gear and warm hat even in summer.
Check current entry requirements, road status and trail closures before driving Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Carry bear spray, make noise on trails and follow food-storage rules – grizzlies and black bears are common.

How to travel to Glacier National Park

Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell is the closest major airport, about 30 miles from the west entrance. Alternatively, you can take the scenic Amtrak Empire Builder train, which stops at both West Glacier and East Glacier Park entrances during summer months. This historic train route, built in the early 20th century, offers a unique and environmentally friendly way to access the park. Affordable shuttles also run from nearby communities of Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Kalispell to the park entrances.

Access summary

From Glacier Park International (FCA): Drive to West Glacier, about 30–40 minutes.
From Missoula, Montana: Scenic drive via US-93 and US-2, around 2.5–3 hours.
From Calgary, Canada: Drive via US border to east entrances, roughly 4–5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Glacier National Park

Glacier offers a range of accommodation options, from historic lodges to campgrounds. The park's iconic lodges like Lake McDonald Lodge and Many Glacier Hotel provide rustic charm with modern amenities, though they book up months in advance. For a more economical stay, the park has 13 campgrounds ranging from primitive to those with flush toilets and running water. Nearby towns like Whitefish, Columbia Falls and St. Mary offer additional lodging options. Prices are reasonable by national park standards, with a dinner for a family of four at McDonald Lodge costing around US$100 (£74.76) including wine.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Glacier International Lodge

9.5

Two Medicine Inn and Resort

8.6

Hampton Inn & Suites Whitefish, MT

9.3

My Place Hotel- Kalispell, MT

8.7

Red Lion Hotel Kalispell

8.0

Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge

9.3

Americas Best Value Inn Kalispell

7.4

Homewood Suites by Hilton Kalispell

9.5

Travelodge by Wyndham Kalispell

6.8

Grouse Mountain Lodge

8.2

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Glacier National Park

Glacier is one of the few national parks you can explore without a car. During summer months, a free shuttle system operates along Going-to-the-Sun Road, stopping at popular trailheads and viewpoints. For those who prefer to drive, the iconic 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, offering spectacular views, though vehicle size restrictions apply (no vehicles longer than 21 feet, taller than 10 feet or wider than 8 feet). Alternatively, bike rentals are available at Apgar Village for those wanting to experience the park on two wheels.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-11 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 11% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Lethbridge, Canada - 137 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£59	£141	£359
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£23	£68	£150
🍝 Food per day	£30	£67	£183
🚕 Transportation per day	£7	£7	£26

Notable additional fees: US$35 (£26.29) per vehicle in summer, US$25 (£18.78) in winter, plus a US$100 (£75.11) non-resident fee per person 16+, new since Jan 2026. Going-to-the-Sun reservations are separate. US$250 (£187.78) pass waives both.

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£26
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£15
🍟 Fast food combo	£9.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£3.80

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.60
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£15
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.75

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£10
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£65
🤧 Cold medication	£7
💇 Basic haircut	£16

Safety information overview

General safety

Glacier is generally safe, but wildlife encounters require caution. Bears are present throughout the park, so carry bear spray and make noise while hiking. Weather can change rapidly in the mountains and some trails have steep drop-offs requiring careful footing.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities within the park are limited to basic first aid. The nearest hospitals are in Kalispell and Cut Bank, both some distance from the park. Altitude sickness can affect some visitors and dehydration is common during summer hiking.

Accessibility

Accessibility varies throughout the park. The Going-to-the-Sun Road and visitor centers are accessible, with some trails and viewpoints designed for wheelchair users. However, many of the park's most spectacular areas require hiking on rugged terrain that presents challenges for those with mobility limitations.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink at developed areas within the park. Water stations are available at visitor centers and campgrounds. When hiking, bring sufficient water or a filtration system as natural water sources may contain harmful bacteria.