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Not only is Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana one of the best US national parks, but it is one of the top places to visit in the entire country. When a park is known as “The Crown of the Continent” you know it should be on your USA bucket list.

While you would need much more time to see it all, 4 days in Glacier National Park will give you a good overview of the variety within the different park sections. As it can take over two hours to drive one way, without stopping, from one section of the park to another, it’s best to avoid backtracking and stay in different accommodations every night. 

This 4 day Glacier National Park itinerary is divided into one day at four different districts of the park. It forms a loop starting and ending in Kalispell. In order to fully follow all four days it’s ideal to have an extra night and extra morning in Kalispell before and after these 4 days in Glacier National Park. 

Within the following 4 day Glacier National Park itinerary you’ll be able to hike the best trails at Glacier National Park and experience the most scenic parts of the park. You’ll also see where to eat and where to stay. Answers to additional Glacier National Park trip planning FAQs are included at the end. 

4 Day Glacier National Park Itinerary

Kalispell

This 4 day Glacier National Park itinerary roughly leads you in a clockwise loop starting and ending in Kalispell. As I mentioned above you’ll want to start your Glacier trip early in the morning. Unless you arrive very early it’s best to spend the first day outside of the park. 

I was hoping to spend a full day in or around the biggest cities near the western entrance to the park, Kalispell and Whitefish. I was only able to get on a late flight and missed out. The following recommendations include places I was planning on visiting and eating at if I would have had more time. 

What to Do In and Around Kalispell & Whitefish

• Northwest Montana History Museum: Local history museum in Kalispell about NW Montana and the Flathead Valley. 
• Conrad Mansion Museum: Tour the 1895 home of a prosperous Montana pioneer in Kalispell. 
• Hockaday Museum of Art: An art museum in Kalispell with rotating exhibitions. 
• Stumptown Historical Society: Located at the Whitefish Depot, the museum is focused on the logging and railroad history of Flathead Valley. 
• Whitefish Performing Arts Center: Venue in Whitefish with a variety of performances from different organizations. 
• Lone Pine State Park: A state park southwest of Kalispell with biking, hiking, and horseback riding trails. A variety of other recreational activities are available throughout the year. 
• Flathead National Forest: A large forest east of Kalispell full of hiking trails. 
• Hungry Horse Dam: Free visitor center with exhibits and guided walking tours about the dam. It’s about 30 – 40 minutes east of Kalispell and Whitefish. 

Where to Eat in Kalispell & Whitefish 

• Desoto Grill: A highly rated BBQ spot in Kalispell. 
• Food for the Soul: A Kalispell cafe serving healthy, homestyle breakfast and lunch. 
• Tupelo Grill: An upscale southern seafood and steakhouse in Whitefish. 
• Loula’s Cafe: A made from scratch breakfast and lunch place in Whitefish that is also known for pie! 
• Abruzzo Italian Kitchen: A modern Italian restaurant in downtown Whitefish. 

Where to Stay in Kalispell & Whitefish

There is a wide selection of places to stay in Kalispell and Whitefish including all of the major chains. Prices are quite high during peak season. I found Kalispell to be slightly cheaper than Whitefish. 

We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn. The hotel is fairly new and has plenty of modern touches including really nice black out curtains. A large, hot breakfast buffet is included. The hotel has an indoor pool and plenty of nice outdoor seating areas. 

Other Highly Rated Places to Stay in Kalispell & Whitefish 

• My Place Hotel – A budget chain hotel that is on the lower price range for Kalispell, but has good reviews. 
• Best Western Plus Kalispell – A mid-range chain hotel with breakfast included and an indoor pool.
• Glacier International Lodge – Higher end hotel located outside of Kalispell next to Glacier Park International Airport.
• The Firebrand – An upscale hotel located directly downtown Whitefish.  
• Kandahar Lodge at Whitefish Mountain Resort – A mountain resort north of Whitefish. The ski-in location is perfect in winter and the surrounding trees are just as scenic in summer. 

Day 1: Lake McDonald 

Your 4 days in Glacier National Park begins on the west side of the park. West Glacier is the closest town right outside the western park entrance. Spend your first day in Lake McDonald where the 50 mile Going-to-the-Sun road starts. 

What to Do 

Apgar Visitor Center & Park Ranger Programs

My first stop at any national park is the visitor center. Apgar, just inside the west entrance to the park, is one of three visitor centers at Glacier. This one is fairly small with some informational panels outdoors and a gift shop. Rangers are on hand to answer any questions. 

Rangers also lead (mostly) free talks and activities. Lake McDonald ranger-led programs include winter snowshoe walks, guided hikes, wildlife encounter talks, campfire talks, night sky tours, Lake McDonald lodge walking tours, and artist in residence presentations. 

Native America Speaks is a program at Glacier where Blackfeet Nation and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes share their culture and history. The presentations, performances, and activities typically take place June – September at park visitor centers, ranger stations, campgrounds, and/or lodges. Some events take place in Blackfeet Nation, which borders the eastern side of the park. 

Lake McDonald Hikes

Hiking is not only one of the best things to do in Lake McDonald, but in the entire park. My hiking guide includes the best hikes in Glacier National Park by each park district included in this 4 day Glacier National Park itinerary. If hiking is at the top of your list you can easily spend all 4 days in Glacier National Park out on the trails. 

Lake McDonald

As the largest lake in Glacier NP, there are plenty of water activities. Glacier Park Boat Company is located behind Lake McDonald Lodge on the northeastern side of the lake. Narrated boat tours are a leisurely way to enjoy the lake while learning a little bit about the park. The one hour tours are aboard historic vessels! Paddle boards, kayaks, rowboats, and motor boats are also available to rent. The company also has rentals available on the southern end of the lake in Apgar. 

Glacier Outfitters in Apgar also rents kayaks and SUPs. 

The water is chilly, but swimming is allowed in the lake! Of all the Glacier lakes it’s the warmest. Apgar Beach is one of the best spots to access the water. 

Whitewater Rafting 

Glacier Park is land full of water. A rafting trip on the Middle Fork or North Fork of the Flathead River is a fun way to take in the wonders of Glacier’s water-filled wilderness. 

Whether you want a scenic rafting trip or an adrenaline pumping class II to III whitewater rafting trip, there’s a rafting trip for you! Combining both is another option on a full day rafting trip.

Bus Tours

Sun Tours is owned and run by local Blackfeet Tribal members. A half day tour runs from Apgar Visitor Center to Logan Pass with multiple short stops at scenic points. It’s a nice option if you want to enjoy the scenery without keeping your eyes on the twisting road. Plus you’ll learn information about the park and Blackfeet history that you wouldn’t know from exploring on your own. 

Another way to enjoy the spectacular scenery of Glacier without driving is on a Red Bus tour. These bus tours take place in vintage 1930s buses with roll back ceilings for perfect viewings of the surrounding landscapes. Tours start from different locations on the west side including Apgar Visitor Center, Lake McDonald Lodge, Village Inn at Apgar, and West Glacier KOA. The tour routes and details depend on the time of year. 

Other Adventures

Explore Glacier on horseback just as the earliest visitors to the park did. Swan Mountain Outfitters leads guided horseback riding trips from two locations within Lake McDonald. Some tours begin from Agar Village and others from Lake McDonald Lodge. Tours range from one hour to all day. 

Biking is most popular before Going-to-the-Sun opens to vehicle traffic. While the road is open to bikers in the peak summer season, it’s best to bike in the spring hiker-biker season before cars are allowed on the road. Bikes are allowed on all roads within the park. There aren’t a lot of multi-use paths, but you can bike a few miles in LakeMcDonald on Fish Creek Bike Path, the Apgar Bike Path, and the old flathead Ranger Station Trail. 

Fishing is allowed in some areas of Glacier, but has strict seasons and regulations. 

Where to Eat

Lake McDonald

Eddie’s Cafe is in Apgar and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also have an ice cream shop. 

There are three places to eat in or around Lake McDonald Lodge. Jammer Joe’s and Lucke’s Lounge are both open for lunch and dinner. Russell’s Fireside dining is also open all day, but is more expensive. 

Sperry Chalet is open to non-guests for lunch only. The backcountry chalet serves soups, sandwiches, and snacks. Dinner, for overnight guests only, is a full meal with multiple courses. 

Coram & West Glacier

As we stayed in Coram, we ate just down the road from our cabin at Glacier Taphouse and Pizza. The culinary options in and around Glacier aren’t too diverse. Pizza is a popular option and I ordered it three times in Montana. This place definitely had the best! 

Huckleberries are one food that Montana is known for! Huckleberry Patch, south of Coram, is a bakery full of baked goods and sweets, including their famous huckleberry pie! 

Belton Chalet Grill in West Glacier is the place to go for local game and locally grown produce. The upscale restaurant has a taphouse with local brews and often has live music. 

Where to Stay

Lake McDonald

Lake McDonald Lodge and Village Inn are right in the Lake McDonald district. Lake McDonald Lodge is a historic Swiss style chalet located along the lake. There have been renovations since the hotel was built in 1913, but some modern amenities such as TVs, AC, and elevators were not part of the updates. The lodge still maintains a rustic feel. 

Motel Lake McDonald has motel rooms with private bathrooms. Only modest amenities are included.  

Sperry Chalet is a rustic backcountry hotel that can only be reached on foot. The chalet has private rooms with bedding. Meals are also included. 

Village Inn at Apgar has one and two bedroom units. They all have basic amenities, with many of them having full kitchens. The rooms have great views of the southern end of Lake McDonald. Apgar Village Lodge and Cabins also have rustic amenities with handy access to the lake.

The four front country national park campgrounds in this area include Apgar, Avalanche, Fish Creek, and Sprague Creek. 

Coram & West Glacier

These two cities are the closest to the Lake McDonald entrance. 

Over a hundred years ago, Belton Chalet in West Glacier, was one of the first chalets to open in the area. The historic railway hotel has been restored and now is the perfect mix of historic touches alongside modern comfort. 

We loved our stand alone cabin right off of the main road through Coram at Sky Eco Lodge. It’s easy to find with parking right in front of your cabin. The cabin itself had a small, but full kitchen and cozy decor. While it was woodsy themed, everything seemed updated and clean.  

Other highly rated accommodations include West Glacier KOA Resort, Paddle Ridge, Glacier Homestead, and Beargrass Lodging & RV Resort. 

Kalispell/Whitefish

You can return back to Kalispell or Whitefish for the night if you want more options for accommodations. It adds on about 50 minutes one way to drive back though. See the above suggestions. 

Day 2: Logan Pass & St Mary

Today you will drive the first part of Going-to-the-Sun Road through Lake McDonald again. Continue driving into Logan Pass, the most scenic part of the road. Finish the day in St Mary. When following this itinerary for Glacier National Park you’ll only drive this last section, the majority of Going-to-the-Sun Road, in one direction. To avoid backtracking make sure to stop at every viewpoint, trailhead, and visitor center you want to visit in order from west to east. 

What To Do

Logan Pass Visitor Center, St Mary Visitor Center, and Ranger-Led Programs

As several of the best Logan Pass hikes begin from the Logan Pass Visitor Center you’ll probably end up here. It’s located at the highest elevation of the park reachable by car. Even if you’re not heading out from one of the trailheads, the visitor center is still worth a stop to check out the nature exhibits. There’s a small gift shop and rangers will happily give recommendations. 

On the eastern entrance to the park is St Mary Visitor Center with exhibits on American Indian tribes, a park film, rangers ready to answer questions, and a gift shop. 

Ranger-led programs take place at both visitor centers and throughout the Logan Pass and St Mary districts. Activities are typically free and include bird watching, campfire talks, guided hikes, and dark sky telescope stargazing. Native America Speaks, described under Apgar Visitor Center, also has events in the area. 

Logan Pass & St Mary Hikes

A lot of the most popular Glacier National Park hikes are within Logan Pass and St Mary. Click on my linked post and check out the best hikes within this district. 

St Mary Lake

Round-trip boat tours of St Mary Lake leave from Rising Sun. Most tours are 1.5 hours and include a stop near Baring Falls. You can disembark and go on a short walk to see the falls before returning to the boat. Throughout the trip you’ll enjoy epic 360 degree views of the towering peaks surrounding the lake.

Going-to-the-Sun Scenic Drive

Whether you explore by boat, horse, bike, or with your own two feet, the best way to really experience the beauty of Glacier is from outside of a vehicle. If you are short on time or don’t have the interest or ability, Glacier is still a wonderful place to drive through.

While you can drive through every section of the park, Going-to-the-Sun Road from Lake McDonald to St Mary definitely has the best views. There are many pull-out viewpoints around Logan Pass. Don’t miss the Jackson Glacier overlook. 

Bus Tours

The Blackfeet owned and led Sun Tours company also runs bus tours starting from the east side of the park. Half day tours start at St Mary Visitor Center and travel to Logan Pass with several short stops. Full day tours from Glacier Park Lodge and Glacier Peaks hotel are also available and include time on Blackfeet Nation. 

There are red bus tours originating from the East Side of the park. Tours begin at hotels around St Mary, Many Glacier, and Two Medicine. Different routes lead to various spots in the park. 

Where to Eat

Logan Pass to St Mary

Two Dog Flats Grill at Rising Sun Motor Inn is the only official park restaurant from after Lake McDonald until St Mary Village. The American restaurant is open for dinner. 

A few restaurants are located in St Mary. Snowgoose Grille at St Mary Lodge has breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dinner entrees are on the pricier side. Johnson’s Cafe also serves all three meals. Family style suppers are available in the evening. Curly Bear Cafe is a casual sandwich and salad shop. They have ice cream too. Rising Sun Pizza and Kip’s Beer Garden are both open for dinner. 

Where to Stay

St Mary

St Mary Village is at the eastern entrance to the park. A variety of lodging from basic hotel rooms, to upscale lodge rooms, to historic private cabins, to modern tiny homes, are available at different price points.

Rising Sun Motor Inn & Cabins are 6 miles west of St Mary Village. Accommodations are basic, but all motel rooms and cabins have private bathrooms. There are no kitchens or cooking allowed in either. 

Rising Sun and St Mary both have campgrounds. 

Granite Park Chalet is located off the Granite Park Trail and the Highline Trail. You’ll need your own two feet to reach the backcountry chalet. Private rooms only include bedding for an additional cost. Only packaged foods are available for purchase. Use the onsite kitchen for cooking your meals. 

Babb, Browning, East Glacier Park

There is a limited number of other campsites, cabins, and basic motels near St Mary. For more accommodation options head to the closest towns. Babb, about 10 minutes north of St Mary Village, is described below under Many Glacier. Browning and East Glacier are listed under Two Medicine and are about 30 – 45 minutes south of St Mary Village. 

Day 3: Many Glacier

Day three in Glacier is in another spectacular part of the park, Many Glacier. 

What To Do

Ranger-Led Programs

There is no visitor center in Many Glacier, but some ranger-led programs and Native America Speaks (detailed above under Apgar Visitor Center) take place in the region. Discovery walks, Many Glacier hotel walking tours, guided hikes, campfire talks, and Glacier geology talks are among the ranger-led programs. 

Many Glacier Hikes 

The scenery from a hiker’s vantage point is incredible with sparkling lakes, glistening glaciers, and towering mountain peaks. Discover the best hikes in Many Glacier on day 3 of this hiking guide.

Swiftcurrent Lake & Lake Josephine

Narrated boat tours begin behind Many Glacier Hotel and travel across Swiftcurrent Lake. All passengers are required to disembark and walk .2 miles to Lake Josephine for the remainder of the cruise across both lakes. 

An optional disembarkation at Lake Josephine is available if you would like to hike and return on a later boat. The boat trip is 1.5 hours, not including the optional hiking to Grinnell Glacier. One way return only trips are also available, but they are first come, first serve. Of course you could pay for the round-trip boat trip, but only take the outbound boats. 

Kayak, canoe, and rowboat rentals are also available behind Many Glacier hotel for Swiftcurrent Lake. Reservations can only be made for the earliest time slot of the day. The rest of the day is first come, first serve. 

Other Adventures

Horseback riding from Swan Mountain Outfitters is also available in Many Glacier. A mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced rides are offered. 

Where to Eat

Places to eat around Many Glacier are very limited in peak season and even more so in the shoulder seasons. 

Many Glacier

Many Glacier Hotel is home to three places to eat. Ptarmigan Dining Room with great views of Swiftcurrent Lake serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Swiss Lodge is more casual with lunch and dinner offerings. Heidi’s Snack Shop and Espresso bar is the most casual and is open all day.

Nell’s at Swiftcurrent Motor Inn is a casual counter service restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Babb

Babb, 15 minutes away, is the closest town. Don’t blink or you will miss it. Driving through the town when it’s dark, you would never know it is a town. Glacier’s Edge Cafe, right in town, is open for breakfast and lunch. 

It was a bad sign when we pulled into an empty parking lot at Two Sisters Cafe. It was already closed for the season. I was disappointed to not be able to try their famed huckleberry selections. 

We ended up at Cattle Baron Supper Club with everyone else as it was the only place open for dinner! We wanted to avoid the 20 minute round trip drive back to St Mary, but it would have been much faster than waiting for a table here. After waiting over an hour for a table, it was another long wait to order and an even longer wait for food. It helps that I had been hiking for miles and miles and waiting for my big meal of the day forever, but the food was worth the wait. The steaks are pricier than I would have liked, but mine was very flavorful. I enjoyed the live music too! 

Where to Stay

Places to stay around Many Glacier are even more limited than the food options! 

Many Glacier

Many Glacier Campground is the only front country campground in the region. 

Many Glacier Hotel is one of two hotels in Many Glacier. It is perfectly located along Swiftcurrent Lake. Rooms are rustic with only the basic amenities. I would have no problem with the lack of TVs, but at almost $300 a night you are pretty much just paying for location! 

Swiftcurrent Motor Inn & Cabins has even more basic rooms and cabins. For hiking in Many Glacier the location can’t be beat. 

Babb

Thronson’s is the only accommodation directly in Babb, but there are a few more places surrounding the town. Duck Lake Lodge is tribally owned with 10 guest rooms, cabin rentals, RV sites, and tent sites. 

We stayed at Hooks Hideaway. It was a basic hotel, but served the purpose of a clean and quiet place to sleep at night. Everything was good after we made it there. There were doubts if we were actually going to find it. Off of highway 89 there is a turn onto a dark, gravel road. If we missed the turn we would have been in Canada in 4 miles! Once on the gravel road it is about 3 miles to a road on the left. There is a sign, but unless you have x-ray vision you probably won’t see it until it’s light out the next morning! The hotel itself isn’t very lit up and is far back off of the road. I should also mention you most likely won’t have service so don’t rely on Google! Take it slow and watch the mileage on your vehicle, or better yet arrive before dark! 

St Mary

St Mary, about 30 minutes away, is the next best option. Accommodation recommendations are under day two for St Mary. 

Day 4: Two Medicine 

To finish off your 4 day Glacier National Park itinerary, spend a day in Two Medicine. This region isn’t as popular as the rest of the park, but that says more about how amazing Glacier is and not that Two Medicine isn’t full of spectacular scenery. 

What To Do 

Ranger-Led Programs

There are Native America speaks (described under Apgar Visitor Center) and ranger-led programs in Two Medicine, but no visitor center. Rangers often lead guided hikes or give campfire talks in Two Medicine Valley. 

Two Medicine Hiking

If you want to hike away from the crowds, the Two Medicine trails are just what you are looking for! 

Two Medicine Lake

Two Medicine Lake has guided boat trips to enjoy the scenery of Two Medicine Valley and learn about the Blackfeet tribal history. The boat tour can be completed round-trip without getting off the boat, or you can disembark and take a later return trip back. Both guided and self-guided hiking is available if you choose to leave the boat. The easy guided hikes go to Twin Falls. 

One way return trips can also be booked. To take a one way departure trip you would need to book and pay for the full out and back tour. Round trip is about 45 minutes without any optional hiking. 

Glacier Boat Company at Two Medicine rents kayaks, canoes, rowboats, and motorboats. First rentals of the day can be reserved. Any remaining rentals are first come, first serve. 

Museum of the Plains Indians

This museum is located outside of the park in Browning. Art and artifacts of the Northern Tribal Plains people fill the museum. Long before Glacier was a park, the land was home to Indigenous people. This museum provides an important reminder of the early history of this beautiful part of the country. 

Where to Eat

Two Medicine

There are no cafes or restaurants within Two Medicine. The Two Medicine camp store within a historic chalet has a few packaged food items for sale. 

East Glacier Park

About 15 minutes from the Two Medicine entrance, East Glacier Park is a small town with a few places to eat. 

We chose Serranos, a Mexican place, for dinner. The ground bison burger was the perfect mix of Mexican and the local, meaty cuisine. The big burrito was just what I needed after a long day of hiking. I’m not ashamed to say I ate every bite of mine! 

Two Medicine Grill is a breakfast and lunch diner. The Peak Restaurant is a casual burger and pizza spot for lunch or dinner. 

Browning

Browning, about 30 minutes away, also has some restaurants. If I had to choose one place to eat in Browning for lunch it would be at Big Dan the FryBread Man. The food stand serves a Native American food staple, fry bread, on an American classic, a cheeseburger! 

Head to Nation’s Burger Station for a more traditional American burger! Billie Jo’s Home of the Bigfoot also has burgers along with pizza. 

Where to Stay

Two Medicine

Two Medicine Campground is the only accommodation within this section of the park.

East Glacier Park

Our stay at Whistling Swan was decent. I’m spoiled by chain hotels as I missed having extra pillows, towels, and shampoo. Considering I had to sit on the toilet diagonally it’s fair to say the bathroom is quite small. It was clean and there were no major issues. For the short time in the room at night to sleep it wasn’t worth it to pay for a pricier place. Located right on the main street in East Glacier it is walking distance to pretty much everything in town. 

Dancing Bears Inn and Circle R are also located off of US route 2 in East Glacier Park. Both are basic motels like Whistling Swan, but are rated lower. 

The historic Glacier Park Lodge looks fancier, but it is on par with Whistling Swan’s amenities. It is also about double the price!

For something higher end, a private cabin, like this luxury cabin will be your best bet. 

Browning

There are two hotels in Browning. Glacier Peaks Hotel, a former Holiday Inn, has the amenities you would expect from a chain hotel. The hotel also has a casino and dining.

Going-to-the-Sun Inn and Suites is your basic motel. The reviews are pretty rough for this one. 

Back to Kalispell

From Two Medicine you can drive two hours all the way back to Kalispell. You can also start in Kalispell and end in Helena (or anywhere else in Montana). We headed to Great Falls and Helena after spending 4 days in Glacier National Park. I spent 10 days total in Montana going from Kalispell to Helena. 

Glacier National Park FAQs

How do I get to Glacier National Park?

By Air 

The closest airport to the park is Glacier Park International Airport (FCA). Six airlines serve the airport with yearly flights from Salt Lake City, Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, and Las Vegas. Additional destinations are available some days of the year. FCA is about 20 minutes outside of Kalispell and Whitefish. It is about 35 minutes to the western side of Glacier NP. 

The next closest airports are Missoula Airport, Great Falls Airport, and Helena airport. 

By Train 

Amtrak’s Empire Builder runs from Chicago to Seattle or Portland and travels through Montana. The stops in and around the park include Whitefish, West Glacier, Essex, East Glacier, and Browning.

There is a paid shuttle from the West Glacier Amtrak station to Lake McDonald Lodge and Village Inn during peak season. The other stations you’ll need to rent a car or use a private car service. Whitefish will have the most options for car rentals. 

By Car

Driving to the park is a great option if you have more time and want to explore more of the state. Instead of looping back to Kalispell, you can drive west to east from Kalispell, through the national park, and end in Helena. There are many cool city things to do in Helena that balance out all the outdoor activities in Glacier. 

Combining a Glacier National Park road trip with Yellowstone NP is another option. 

How do I get around Glacier National Park? 

By Shuttle

The free summer shuttle runs July 1st through Labor Day or as late as mid-September. It makes stops between the Apgar Visitor Center in Lake McDonald and the St Mary Visitor Center. There are several shuttle friendly hikes that begin from these stops. My Glacier hiking post has them marked.

Taking the shuttle helps by freeing you up to enjoy the Going-to-the-Sun road without driving. Parking lots fill quickly. When you take the shuttle you have more choices on where to park. 

There is also a free hiker-biker shuttle that offers service some weekends in May and June.

The paid Many Glacier shuttle runs between Swiftcurrent Motor Inn or Many Glacier Hotel and St Mary Visitor Center. It typically is in service from early July to mid-September.  

With this Glacier National Park 4 day itinerary you can take the summer shuttle on day 1. The next day you could take the shuttle, but you’ll have to backtrack and drive Going-to-the-Sun anyway so I wouldn’t recommend it. On day 3 you could take the Many Glacier shuttle and then return in the evening or the next morning to St Mary. There are no shuttles for day 4 to Two Medicine. 

By Car

Whether you drive to Montana or rent a car after arriving by another mode of transportation, you’ll want a car. Even if you visit when the shuttle is in operation, it will be a lot harder to follow this 4 day Glacier National Park itinerary without a car. 

How much is Glacier National Park? 

A 7 day vehicle pass is $35 ($25 in the winter) for everyone in your vehicle. The best value is from an America the Beautiful pass. The annual pass includes all the US national parks in addition to over 400 other NPS sites. 

If you need them, there are also $2 nonrefundable vehicle reservation fees for different areas (described below).

Do I need a vehicle reservation for Glacier National Park?

Vehicle reservation is needed on Going-to-the-Sun road, North Fork, and Many Glacier usually from late May or early June until early September. Reservations are typically from 6am – 3pm. 

Reservations are available 120 days in advance. Some next day reservations are also available. Each area has a separate reservation. 

If you don’t get a reservation there are several ways you can still visit the park. Visiting in September after the reservations end is always a good choice. You can also enter the park any time before or after the reservation time period each day. Going-to-the-Sun is only reserved from west to east. Reverse this 4 day Glacier National Park itinerary and you can drive east to west. 

You are also able to enter with any national park lodging or activity bookings. Only official park reservations count and not bookings from other retailers. Always verify, but the following lodging and activities typically provide a vehicle reservation with a booking. 

Going-to-the-Sun Road from the West

• Sprague Creek Campground 
• Lake McDonald Lodge
• Motel Lake McDonald
• Sperry Chalet 
• Glacier Park Boat Company Tours & Rentals on Lake McDonald
• Swan Mountain Outfitters Horseback Rides from Lake McDonald Corral 
• Avalanche Creek Campground 
• Granite Park Chalet 
• Wilderness Camping Permits

Many Glacier

• Swiftcurrent Motor Inn 
• Many Glacier Hotel
• Many Glacier Campground 
• Glacier Park Boat Company Tours and Rentals at Swiftcurrent Lake
• Swan Mountain Outfitters Horseback Rides from Many Glacier Corral
• Wilderness Camping Permits 

When is the best time to visit Glacier National Park?

While the park is open year-round, many roads in Glacier are only open seasonally. Thus many areas are inaccessible most of the year. The majority of businesses are also only open in the summer season. 

Glacier’s main season runs from when Going-to-the-Sun opens until it closes. These dates vary by year, but the road usually opens between the end of May and beginning of July. The road typically closes in October. 

Going-to-the-Sun isn’t the only road that is closed most of the year. Many Glacier is usually inaccessible for the same period of time. Always check the current conditions online.

West Glacier is the only area of the park that is open and typically accessible year-round. Unless you are planning multiple visits, visit when all of the park is open! 

July and August are packed! You need a vehicle reservation for several areas. 

Mid-September is the best time of year to hike at Glacier National Park. It’s rare that any of the park sections or roads will be closed for weather, but the crowds are significantly less than in the summer months. You don’t need a vehicle reservation. It can get a little chilly, but overall the weather is very nice and you might catch some pretty fall colors! 

Where Do I Stay in Glacier National Park?

Accommodation options by park section are given in the 4 day Glacier National Park itinerary above. I provided the official park accommodations as well as options in the closest towns. 

Accommodations around Glacier are very pricey and fill up quickly! Even basic motels without breakfast or many amenities are often $150 – $250 a night. The handiest places to stay are in the park, but they come with an even higher price tag. Most of the park accommodations open in May or June and are closed by the end of September. 

Book your accommodations early, especially if you want one of the official park accommodations. As I write this post in December I see that the hotels and inns are almost all fully booked for next summer. 

The front country camping sites are included in the accommodation recommendations above as well. Some are first come, first serve and others are by reservations. More information about camping in Glacier can be found here. 

Where Do I Eat in Glacier National Park?

Restaurant recommendations are also provided by region in the Glacier Park itinerary above. Verify hours as most of the restaurants are seasonal. In general national park food is higher priced and not rated too highly. Each day we packed a basic picnic lunch to enjoy out on the trails and then went for dinner in the town we stayed in each night. 

How many days do I need in Glacier National Park? 

As usual, I never like this question. I never recommend rushing around a destination. While some parks can be visited on a weekend visit, I wouldn’t recommend it for Glacier. Unless your goal is to spend most of your trip sightseeing from the car, you won’t have much time to hike or do activities with only a couple days. It’s best to visit the park when you can explore multiple districts and spend time in each one. 

4 days in Glacier National Park is a good amount of time, with a little extra on each end outside of the park. With 4 days you have one full day in Lake McDonald, Logan Pass & St Mary, Many Glacier, and Two Medicine. 

More time at Glacier is even better! You could easily spend four days in Glacier in just one of the districts! I would happily go back to the park and do this exact same itinerary again, but just choose different hikes and activities within each area. There are also additional areas of the park, not included in this guide, to visit. 

Spending a couple weeks or even months in Glacier would be amazing! Unless you have an RV or tent, that will get pricey very quickly though. Four days is a really good sweet spot of being able to experience a lot and making the journey worth it, without overextending your budget too much. Also without burning out your legs if you plan on full days of hiking! 

Will I see wildlife in Glacier National Park?

Yes! We saw more chipmunks than I would ever like to see in my life. The rest of the wildlife including a marmot, several mountain goats, a moose, and deer, were very welcome. You’re very likely to see wildlife on the hiking trails. I was surprised by how much we saw from busy roads and parking lots too. 

There is a good chance of seeing bears in Glacier. Ironically we never saw one on a backwoods trail, but did see one crossing the street. Always carry bear spray with you and know how to use it! Before making the pricey purchase that you hopefully won’t need to use and won’t be able to take back on the plane with you, ask at your hotel. Most people leave their bear spray behind at their hotel before leaving. Our our hotel in Kalispell said they had a whole shelf full! Another option is renting bear spray from companies like Glacier Outfitters. 

What should I bring to Glacier National Park? 

If you plan on hiking, come prepared with the best hiking attire and a well equipped day pack. Not all of the trail heads have water and it can take awhile to go from one place to another in the park. Make sure you have plenty of water with you out on the trails, but also in your vehicle. 

Have a full tank of gas before heading into the park. There are no gas stations between West Glacier and St Mary. Gas on the outskirts is typically more expensive as well. 

I hope this 4 day Glacier National Park itinerary inspires you to book a trip to the Crown of the Continent! If I helped you plan your Glacier road trip please consider supporting me by Buying Me a Coffee. 

More About Montana

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• The Best Places to Eat in Helena
• Indoor Things to Do in Great Falls

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