Last updated: October 2026
Glacier National Park has two very different halves, and most trip decisions start with that. The west side has Lake McDonald, Apgar and the west end of Going-to-the-Sun Road, and it’s an easy drive from Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) and the Flathead Valley towns. The east side has Many Glacier, Two Medicine and St. Mary Lake. Driving between the two takes about two hours either way: 50 miles over Logan Pass, or 90 miles around the south end of the park on US-2.
This page collects our Glacier guides. Each one cites the National Park Service and the other official sources it relies on, and we update them when the rules change.
Start with the 2027 question
As of October 21, 2026, the park hadn’t said whether it will require vehicle reservations or ticketed shuttles in summer 2027. In 2026 it required no vehicle reservations anywhere in the park, Instead it used a 3-hour parking limit at Logan Pass and a ticketed express shuttle to Logan Pass. Our Glacier trip planner lays out exactly how 2026 worked, so you can see what 2027 is likely to look like, and we’ll update it when the park announces its plan.
When Going-to-the-Sun Road opens
There’s no fixed date. Plowing starts in early April, and over the ten years the planner covers, the full road opened between June 13 and July 13, by June 25 in seven of them. If driving over Logan Pass is the main reason for your trip, the second half of July or August is the safer bet. Vehicles longer than 21 feet (bumpers included) or wider than 8 feet (mirrors included) can’t drive the road between Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun.
Where to stay
Pick your base by the part of the park you want to see. Inside the park there are seven lodges you can drive to, plus two hike-in chalets. Xanterra, which runs several of the lodges, opens bookings 13 months ahead, and its lodges run only from about May to September. Outside the park, the choice is between West Glacier, the Flathead Valley towns (Columbia Falls, Whitefish and Kalispell), the east-side towns and the North Fork. Where to Stay Near Glacier compares them, with drive times to the entrances. Montana’s 8% lodging tax applies to hotel stays, and Whitefish and Columbia Falls add a 3% resort tax; our Montana tax guide explains both.
Thinking about staying longer?
If a trip to Glacier has you wondering about living nearby, start with the cost of living in Kalispell and the Flathead Valley and our Whitefish town guide.