Where to Stay in Glacier National Park, Montana

West Glacier sits at the western park boundary where US Highway 2 meets Going-to-the-Sun Road. Apgar Village, two miles inside the gate, puts you steps from Lake McDonald's turquoise shoreline. The Village Inn at Apgar sits directly on the water. Eddie's Cafe in Apgar Village handles breakfast and camp supplies. West Glacier Restaurant and Bar on US-2 covers dinner. Apgar Visitor Center is a five-minute walk from most lodges. Crowds build fast after 8am, so if you want trail access before the parking lots fill, this is your base. Book six months out minimum for July and August.

Best for

First-time visitors who want maximum park access without a long commute

Walk times

Lake McDonald shoreline 2 min
Apgar Visitor Center 5 min
Fish Creek Road trailheads 12 min

Skip if: You need reliable dining variety or a town feel after dark

Local tip: Park your car at Apgar and ride the free Going-to-the-Sun Road shuttle all the way to Logan Pass. Parking lots at Logan Pass fill by 8am in July. The shuttle runs from late June through Labor Day.

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$146per night

Whitefish

The best amenities base, 25 miles from the west entrance

Mid-range $120-$320/night

Whitefish is a genuine resort town with a real downtown along Central Avenue: coffee shops, breweries, steak houses, and an Amtrak depot on the Empire Builder line. Grouse Mountain Lodge and The Pine Lodge sit near Whitefish Lake, a short bike ride from Central Avenue. The tradeoff is 25 miles from the West Glacier gate, about 35 minutes on US-2, longer in summer traffic. Whitefish Mountain Resort rises directly above town if you want hiking separate from park crowds. Prices are higher than Columbia Falls but you get far more to do evenings and rest days.

Best for

Families and couples who want a real town to return to after the park

Walk times

Central Avenue restaurants 4 min
Whitefish Lake State Park beach 8 min
Whitefish Amtrak Station 5 min

Skip if: You want to be at a trailhead at dawn without a long drive

Local tip: Great Northern Bar on Central Avenue is the local hangout. Dinner at Tupelo Grille fills fast in summer. Book two days ahead or plan to eat at the bar, which usually has open seats until 7pm.

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$134per night

East Glacier Park

Historic lodge, quieter east side, Amtrak access

Mid-range $90-$250/night

East Glacier Park village sits on US Highway 2 at the southern edge of the park's east side, 11 miles from the Two Medicine entrance. Glacier Park Lodge, built by the Great Northern Railway in 1913, anchors the town with its massive Douglas fir columns in the lobby. The Amtrak Empire Builder stops at East Glacier Park Station, steps from the lodge entrance. A handful of cafes and outfitters line the short main strip. This side of the park draws far fewer visitors than the west. Two Medicine Lake sees only a fraction of the Logan Pass crowds and offers equally dramatic views of peaks and glacial cirques.

Best for

Visitors arriving by trainhistory buffsand anyone avoiding west-side crowds

Walk times

Glacier Park Lodge lobby 3 min
Amtrak East Glacier Park Station 5 min
Two Medicine Road junction on US-2 10 min

Skip if: You want direct access to Logan Pass or the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor

Local tip: Two Medicine Lake trail to Dawson Pass is one of the best day hikes in the park and sees almost no traffic compared to Highline Trail. Start by 7am and you will often have the trailhead to yourself.

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$101per night

St. Mary

Eastern park entrance, straight shot to Logan Pass

Mid-range $100-$260/night

St. Mary sits at the eastern terminus of Going-to-the-Sun Road, right at the park boundary on US Highway 89. Johnson's of St. Mary and the Rising Sun Motor Inn, six miles west on Going-to-the-Sun Road, are the two closest lodging options to the eastern gate. St. Mary Visitor Center is one of the largest in the national park system and a short walk from the main cluster of lodges. St. Mary has one gas station, one small grocery, and limited dining, so do not arrive expecting Whitefish amenities. Many Glacier Valley is 12 miles north via Babb and holds the best wildlife viewing in the park.

Best for

East-side access to Logan Passwildlife viewers heading to Many Glacier

Walk times

St. Mary park entrance gate 3 min
St. Mary Visitor Center 5 min
St. Mary Lake shoreline overlook 8 min

Skip if: You need more than basic amenities or plan to spend most time on the west side

Local tip: Many Glacier Hotel, 12 miles north, sells out a full year in advance. Check Xanterra's site in January for the following summer, or watch the cancellation calendar in April and May for last-minute openings.

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$112per night