The Ultimate Glacier National Park Itinerary for 1 to 5 Days

The answer to these questions depends on several factors. How much time do you have? Do you want to get out and hike the trails or simply visit a few viewpoints and highlights? What time of year will you be traveling?

The short, easy answer would be to spend as much time as you can in Glacier National Park. With its stunning alpine scenery, scenic drives, thrilling hiking trails, and numerous chances to spot wildlife, you could spend a full week here and never run out of things to do.

Most likely, you don’t have that kind of time. In this post, get an overview on the best things to do in the park, when to visit, and get sample Glacier National Park itineraries, depending on your interests, travel style, and available time.

Whether you have just a day or two, or an entire week (lucky you!), we have some great options to share with you.

Interesting Facts about Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park, also called the “Crown of the Continent,” is one of the most beautiful of the US national parks. Within Glacier National Park are two mountain ranges, more than 700 lakes, numerous glaciers and waterfalls, and a wide variety of plants and animals. This park spans the Continental Divide.

Native Americans inhabited this area before it became a national park. In 1895, the Blackfeet ceded the area to the US government. Glacier officially became a national park on May 11, 1910.

In 1932, Going-to-the-Sun Road was completed, which is one of the most scenic drives in the USA.

Glacier National Park is located in northern Montana on the border with Canada. Just across the US-Canadian border is Waterton Lakes National Park. In 1932, these parks were designated the world’s first international peace park, the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.

Glacier is one of the most visited national parks in the USA. In 2023, 2.9 million people visited the park, putting it 11th on the list of most popular US national parks.

Hiking to Grinnell Glacier in Many Glacier

A Quick Geography Lesson of Glacier National Park

There are several regions of Glacier National Park.

Going-to-the-Sun Road twists and turns through the center of the park and this is the most popular and most crowded section of the park. This is where many  visitors spend their time, since the drive is jaw-dropping and leads to some of the most popular sights, such as Avalanche Lake, Hidden Lake, the Highline Trail, and Logan Pass.

Many Glacier is located on the east side of the park, sitting to the north of Going-to-the-Sun Road. This area is more beautiful than Going-to-the-Sun Road, in my opinion, and the best place to go if you like hiking. The hikes to Grinnell Glacier, Iceberg Lake, and Cracker Lake start here.

Two Medicine and the North Fork are more remote and less crowded areas. If you want to journey into the backcountry, visit Goat Haunt.

If you plan to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road or visit the North Fork area or Many Glacier area, you will need to make a vehicle reservation during the summer months. Learn more here or keep reading for more information on Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Glacier National Park Map. The pink line is Going-to-the-Sun Road and the yellow line is the road to Many Glacier.

Vehicle Reservations: Important Things to Know

Vehicle Reservation

In 2024, there are three areas of the park where you will need a vehicle reservation. These areas include Going-to-the-Sun Road, Many Glacier, and North Fork.

Dates that You Will Need a Vehicle Reservation:

• Going-to-the-Sun Road (West Entrance): May 24 to September 8, 6 am to 3 pm
• North Fork: May 24 to September 8, 6 am to 3 pm
• Many Glacier: July 1 to September 8, 6 am to 3 pm

You will be able to enter Going-to-the-Sun Road from the East Entrance and Two Medicine without a reservation.

Vehicle reservations have a processing fee of $2 and are valid for one day. A portion are released 120 days in advance starting January 25, 2024 at 8 am MST and the remainder are released at 7 pm MDT the day before the effective date. These reservations are limited so make yours in advance!

The vehicle reservation is an additional fee. You also have to pay the park entry fee. If you have an America the Beautiful Pass, you still need a vehicle reservation.

Make your vehicle reservation on Recreation.gov.

There are checkpoints on each of these roads where you will show your reservation permit. You cannot purchase them at the entrance station…you must reserve the permit in advance.

You do not need a vehicle reservation if you are staying in lodging inside of the park (this includes campsites) or if you will be taking a commercial tour.

For a full list of exemptions, visit the National Park Service website.

Opening and Closing Dates

Going-to-the-Sun Road is only open in the summer months…the remainder of the year it is snow covered.

Usually, the road is open by mid to late-June but this varies from year to year. In 2023, Going-to-the-Sun Road opened June 13, the earliest opening since 2005. In 2022, Going-to-the-Sun Road opened on July 13, which is unusually late. In 2021, it opened June 25 and in 2020, the opening date was July 13, but the delay was due to COVID, not snow. In years prior, it was open by the end of June (2019: June 22; 2018: June 22; 2017: June 28; 2016: June 16; 2015: June 19).

Going-to-the-Sun Road closes by late September or early October. Here are the closing dates for the past few years: 2023: October 15; 2022: October 16; 2021: October 13; 2020: October 9; 2019: September 25; 2018: September 29; 2017: September 3 but this early closure was due to a wildfire.

If you want to drive the full length of Going-to-the-Sun Road, plan your visit between early to mid-July and the end of September.

Vehicle Regulations

Due to the narrow, winding nature of Going-to-the-Sun Road, there are regulations for vehicle length and width.

Vehicles (and vehicle combinations) longer than 21 feet or wider than 8 feet (mirrors included) are prohibited between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun.

Vehicles over 10 feet high could have difficulty driving west from Logan Pass to the Loop because of rock overhangs.

Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park

Since Going-to-the-Sun Road is only open from the end of June through mid-October, this is the best time to visit the park. This is also when the weather is the warmest.

WINTER: During the months of December, January, and February, areas of the park average 30 inches of snowfall per month. Most businesses in and around the park are closed from early October through late May. But if you are self-sufficient, you can go skiing or snowshoeing in the park.

SPRING: Snowfall diminishes as the weather gets warmer, but snow chances still linger into early May. By May, daytime high temperatures get up into the 60’s, but many businesses are still closed during the spring months, so again, you need to be self-sufficient to visit the park.

SUMMER: This is the best time to visit Glacier National Park. Summer highs are in the low 80’s but on rare days it can get close to 100°F. Rainfall chances are also at their lowest in the summer. Expect big crowds in the park.

FALL: In the fall, the snow returns and many businesses close, as does Going-to-the-Sun Road. Early to mid-October is a nice time to visit the park if you want to have lower crowds. Just keep your fingers crossed that Going-to-the-Sun Road doesn’t close early.

The itineraries I list below are for the months of mid-July through mid-October, when everything is open in Glacier National Park.

Glacier National Park appears in our Best US National Parks Month-By-Month series as a great park to visit in July, August, and September, since all the park roads are open during this time.

Best Things to do in Glacier National Park

Here is a list of the top things to do in Glacier National Park. For more information, and many more photos, check out our post about the best things to do in Glacier National Park.

1. Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road. This is a 50-mile road that cuts through the center of Glacier National Park. If it is your first visit to Glacier NP, this should be on the top of your to-do list. If you will be visiting the park in the late spring and summer months, you will need a timed entry ticket to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road. Learn more here.

2. Visit Logan Pass. This is the highest point on Going-to-the-Sun Road. From here you can hike the Highline Trail and hike to Hidden Lake.

3. Go Hiking. This is the best way to experience Glacier National Park. With short, easy trails to all-day adventures, there is something here for everyone. Full the full list, check out our Glacier National Park Hiking Guide.

Highline Trail | Glacier National Park Itinerary

Hidden Lake Overlook | Glacier National Park Itinerary

4. Visit Many Glacier. This is a gorgeous area of the park. Numerous trails start here and this is one of the best places to see wildlife in Glacier National Park.

5. Visit Two Medicine. Two Medicine is less crowded than Many Glacier and Going-to-the-Sun Road. It’s also filled with wonderful day hikes.

6. Visit Lake McDonald Valley. Lake McDonald is the largest lake in the park. Visit the historic lodge, take a boat tour of the lake, or go hiking.

7. Take a Red Bus Tour. Ride a vintage 1930’s bus for a tour of the park. Take a scenic ride along Going-to-the-Sun Road, visit Many Glacier, or Two Medicine. Tours can last up to 9.5 hours, depending on which one you choose, and prices go up to roughly $50 per person.

8. See Wild Goose Island. Wild Goose Island is a tiny island located on Saint Mary Lake and it is one of Glacier’s most photographed spots (it was used in the opening scenes of the movie The Shining). Wild Goose Island is the cover photo for this post.

9. Take a Boat Tour on One of the Lakes. In Many Glacier, you can sit back and take a boat tour of Swiftcurrent or Josephine Lakes. You can also rent kayaks at the Many Glacier Hotel and kayak on Swiftcurrent Lake. Lake McDonald, Two Medicine Lake, and Saint Mary Lake are also popular places to go on a guided boat tour or to rent kayaks.

10. Visit Waterton Lakes National Park. Waterton Lakes is located in Canada and it feels like a quieter, mellower version of Glacier National Park. You can visit it on a day trip from Glacier National Park or spend a night or two here. For more information, visit our Guide to Waterton Lakes National Park.

Waterton Lakes National Park | Glacier National Park Itinerary

How to Get Around Glacier National Park

The best way to get around the park is by car. This allows you to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road at your own pace, stopping for photos along the way.

If you will be visiting the park between the end of May 27 and  mid-September, you will need a timed entry ticket to visit Glacier National Park. Learn more here.

There are parking areas at many of the trailheads and in the visitor center and lodges.

During the summer months, these parking lots fill up early. To make sure you get a spot, it’s best to start your day early. During our visit to Glacier National Park in August, the Logan Pass parking lot was full by 8 am.

There is a free shuttle service that runs along Going-to-the-Sun Road, between Apgar (in West Glacier) and St. Mary (in East Glacier). This is a great way to get around during the busy summer months because you can avoid the hassle of parking. In 2021, you will need to reserve a time slot to use the shuttle.

Click here to learn more about the shuttle service. 

View of Logan Pass and Going-to-the-Sun Road from the Highline Trail

How Many Days Do You Need in Glacier National Park?

Ideally, plan on spending at least two to three days in Glacier National Park. This gives you enough time to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, hike one or two trails, and visit the Many Glacier or Two Medicine areas.

If you have just one day, and it is your first visit to Glacier National Park, drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, visit Logan Pass, and hike one or two short hikes (Hidden Lake and Avalanche Lake are great options).

With two days in Glacier National Park, either add on a big day hike (the Highline Trail is amazing and starts at Logan Pass) or day trip to Many Glacier. In Many Glacier, you can either hike one of the spectacular trails (most hikes in Many Glacier average 10 miles round-trip) or go for a boat ride on Swiftcurrent and Josephine Lakes, if hiking is not your thing.

Beyond this quick two-day itinerary, every day you add to Glacier National Park gives you more time for hiking, to explore more regions of the park, or day trip to Waterton Lakes National Park.

Trail of the Cedars | Glacier National Park Itinerary

Glacier National Park Itinerary

Here are sample Glacier National Park itineraries, starting with a one-day itinerary.

One Day Glacier National Park Itinerary

With one day in Glacier National Park, you will spend your time on Going-to-the-Sun Road. I recommend staying in West Glacier. West Glacier has several restaurants and hotels to choose from and it is just a short drive into the park. We stayed at Great Northern Resort and had a great experience.

You can also stay in St. Mary, which is on the east side of Glacier National Park. If you stay here, do this itinerary in the reverse order.

6:30 to 7 am: Drive to Logan Pass. I know this is very early, but if you only have one day in Glacier National Park, getting an early start gives you plenty of time to visit all of the sights along Going-to-the-Sun Road. Also, parking at Logan Pass can be a nightmare in July and August. Even if you have a timed entry ticket, the parking lot at Logan Pass can fill before 7 am, so consider getting an even earlier start that 6:30 am.

It takes just over an hour to drive to Logan Pass from West Glacier. Enjoy the views along the drive, and it will be tempting to stop for photos, I know. But I recommend driving directly to Logan Pass to ensure that you get a parking space. You will repeat this drive later in the day and have plenty of time for photos.

7 to 8 am: Logan Pass. Enjoy the views and hike to Hidden Lake Overlook (2.8 miles, 1.5 hours). If you only have energy for one hike today, this is the one I recommend. It’s a beautiful walk and not only do you get to see a beautiful lake but there is also a very good chance that you will see mountain goats along the way.

9 to 10 am: Drive to St. Mary. Continue the scenic drive along Going-to-the-Sun Road until you get to St. Mary. Along the way, enjoy the view of Wild Goose Island and you have the option to hike to St. Mary falls.

St. Mary Falls | Glacier National Park Itinerary

11:30 am: Lunch. In St. Mary, have lunch at one of the restaurants or have a picnic lunch, if you packed one.

12:30 pm: Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road. Drive towards West Glacier on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Now you have plenty of time to stop at the overlooks, enjoy the spectacular views, and take hundreds of photos. It takes 2 hours to drive the entire length of Going-to-the Sun Road (St. Mary to West Glacier), longer with stops for photos.

4:00 pm: Hike to Avalanche Lake via Trail of the Cedars. This hike is 4.6 miles round trip and takes 2 to 3 hours. It ends at a very pretty lake. If you are not up for a hike this long, you can simply walk the flat, easy, 0.7-mile Trail of the Cedars.

6:00 to 7:00 pm: At Lake McDonald, have dinner and enjoy sunset views over the lake.

Two Day Glacier National Park Itinerary

With two days, you can split your time between East and West Glacier, basically splitting the above itinerary into two days, so you travel at a more leisurely pace. On day 1, hike Avalanche Lake and go for a boat ride on Lake McDonald. On day 2, explore the east side of the park and visit Logan Pass, hike to Hidden Lake, see Wild Goose Island, and hike to St. Mary Falls.

Another option is to do our one day itinerary on day 1 and take your pick between these options for day 2:

Hike the Highline Trail. This is a spectacular hike that starts at Logan Pass. It is a point-to-point trail and you will hike high above Going-to-the-Sun Road for some of the best views in the park. Get the full details in our Highline Trail Hiking Guide.

Day Trip to Many Glacier. Spend the day in Many Glacier. Many Glacier sits to the north of Going-to-the-Sun Road and you can only enter Many Glacier from the east side of the park. If you do this, it is best to stay in St. Mary or Many Glacier. If you stay in West Glacier, you will spend about 4 hours driving back and forth along Going-to-the-Sun Road. While in Many Glacier, go hiking or take a boat tour of Swiftcurrent Lake and/or Josephine Lake.

Three Day Glacier National Park Itinerary

Day 1: Follow our one day in Glacier National Park itinerary (above). Stay in West Glacier or St. Mary.

Day 2: Hike the Highline Trail. Stay in St. Mary or Many Glacier. If you do not want to hike the Highline Trail, split your time between East and West Glacier on the first two days of this itinerary.

Day 3: Day trip to Many Glacier. Hike one of the trails or take a boat tour of the lakes.

Hiking to Avalanche Lake | Glacier National Park Itinerary

Four Day Glacier National Park Itinerary

Day 1: Follow our one day in Glacier National Park itinerary (above). Stay in West Glacier or St. Mary.

Day 2: Hike the Highline Trail. Stay in St. Mary or Many Glacier. If you do not want to hike the Highline Trail, split your time between East and West Glacier on the first two days of this itinerary.

Day 3: Many Glacier. Hike one of the trails or take a boat tour of the lakes. Sleep in Many Glacier.

Day 4: Many Glacier. Hike one of the trails or take a boat tour of the lakes. This is a gorgeous area of the park and it’s well worth your time to spend several days here, especially if you like to go hiking. There are several spectacular full day hikes to choose from in this area of the park so if you are big into hiking, you could easily spend four to five days in Many Glacier. Sleep in Many Glacier.

Grinnell Glacier | Glacier National Park Itinerary

Five Day Glacier National Park Itinerary

Follow days one through four of the four-day itinerary.

On day five, either day trip to Waterton Lakes National Park or to Two Medicine. In Two Medicine, I recommend hiking Pitamakan Pass and Dawson Pass, if you like the idea of another big day hike. In Waterton Lakes, I recommend cycling Red Rock Parkway, having tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel, and taking a boat cruise on Waterton Lake. Sleep in St. Mary, Many Glacier, or Waterton.

Where to Stay

Make your hotel reservations as soon as you know your dates of travel (ideally 6 months before your trip but earlier is even better). There are limited accommodations on the east side of Glacier National Park so you need to make these reservations as early as possible.

Many Glacier

Many Glacier Hotel. This is a grand, historic hotel. It looks amazing on the outside and has an enormous, rustic lobby with stunning views of Swiftcurrent Lake. Kara and I stayed in a standard room. It was a very basic room with a double bed and private bathroom. There is no air conditioning, but it is cool at night so that was not an issue. However, it’s an old hotel. The floors creak and the walls are thin, so if you are a light sleeper, bring ear plugs.

Many Glacier Hotel | Glacier National Park Itinerary

Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. I liked it here. Again, it’s very basic, with no Wi-Fi, cellular service or air conditioning. But we stayed in a building tucked away in the trees and it was very nice. Our room was enormous, the beds were comfy, and it felt more peaceful than staying at the Many Glacier Hotel.

West Glacier

Great Northern Resort. This place is wonderful. It is located in West Glacier, so it is a great place to stay to be near Lake McDonald and Avalanche Lake. We had an enormous room with two beds, air conditioning, and great Wi-Fi. I would stay here again.

St. Mary

Duck Lake Cabin. This two-bedroom cabin can accommodate up to six people. It comes with a kitchen, living room, and a washing machine.

St. Mary Village. This property gets mediocre reviews but it is slim pickings east of Glacier National Park. However, this mountain resort has a great location in St. Mary. Take your pick from standard hotel rooms and small cottages. This is a great pick for families.

Whitefish

Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge. Whitefish is located west of Glacier National Park. If you have a flight home the next day, this is a great place to stay, since you will be near the airport. Unless you are having a hard time finding accommodations inside the park, I wouldn’t recommend staying in Whitefish. It’s a 40-minute drive just to get to the west entrance and can take an hour and a half or longer to get to Logan Pass. However, after your visit, Whitefish is a great place to stay. There’s a lot to do here, with outdoor activities and family-friendly experiences.

Hiking to Grinnell Glacier | Glacier National Park Itinerary

Practical Information

Park Entrance Fee: $35, valid for 7 days

Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.

If you have any questions about this Glacier National Park itinerary or how many days you should spend in Glacier, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information about Glacier National Park & the USA

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK: Check out our Glacier National Park Travel Guide for important travel information, sample itineraries, and how to plan your visit. Don’t miss our article Best Things to Do in Glacier National Park for more great things to do in the park.

HIKING IN GLACIER: Check out our article Best Hikes in Glacier National Park for great hikes to add to your to do list. We also have detailed hiking information about the Highline Trail and Grinnell Glacier.

ROAD TRIP ITINERARY: Learn how to put together Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks into one amazing 10 day road trip.

BEARTOOTH HIGHWAY: Beartooth Highway is one of the most scenic drives in the USA. It is located along the border of Montana and Wyoming and a great addition to your trip if you will be road tripping in this area during the summer months.

YELLOWSTONE: For an overview of Yellowstone National Park and links to all of our Yellowstone articles, take a look at our Yellowstone National Park Travel Guide. To help you plan your trip, we also have articles about the best things to do in Yellowstone, how to visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, where to stay in Yellowstone, and how to plan the ultimate Yellowstone itinerary.

NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries. You can also learn more about the national parks and get a FREE printable checklist in our US National Parks Checklist.

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