Three days is the right amount of time for a first trip to Glacier, as long as you don’t try to see the whole park from one hotel. This Glacier National Park itinerary covers the west side and Lake McDonald on day one, Going-to-the-Sun Road and Logan Pass on day two, and Many Glacier on day three, with a change of base in the middle so you aren’t driving three hours each way to reach the best trails. It also incorporates my favorite places in the park. These are places i go back to often and it never gets old.
In 2026, Glacier dropped vehicle reservations but added a three-hour parking limit at Logan Pass and a ticketed shuttle, so plan ahead. This itinerary needs Going-to-the-Sun Road fully open, which usually happens from late June or early July until mid-October. Opening day doesn’t mean the high country is ready. Snow can keep trails like the Highline and Hidden Lake closed for weeks afterward, so July through mid-September is the safest window for doing everything on this list.
The Plan at a Glance
| Day | Focus | Main hike | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Lake McDonald and the west side | Avalanche Lake (2.3 miles each way) | West Glacier, Apgar, or Lake McDonald |
| Day 2 | Going-to-the-Sun Road and Logan Pass | Hidden Lake Overlook or the Highline Trail | St. Mary or Many Glacier |
| Day 3 | Many Glacier | Grinnell Glacier or Iceberg Lake | Many Glacier, St. Mary, or head home |
Book your two bases first, because in-park lodging and the east side fill early. Our guide to where to stay near Glacier National Park compares every option on both sides.
Getting There
Glacier Park International Airport, between Kalispell and Whitefish, is the closest airport, about 30 miles from the West Entrance. Amtrak’s Empire Builder stops at Whitefish, West Glacier, and, from spring through fall, East Glacier Park. If you’re driving in from elsewhere in Montana, our 7-day Montana road trip starts here and ends in Yellowstone.
Drive Times Inside the Park
| Route | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| West Glacier to St. Mary on Going-to-the-Sun Road | 50 miles | 2 hours without stops |
| St. Mary to Many Glacier | 20 miles | 40 minutes |
| St. Mary to Two Medicine | 34 miles | 1 hour |
| West Glacier to St. Mary around the park on US-2 | 90 miles | 2 hours |
To see how the three days fit together, from Lake McDonald over Logan Pass to Many Glacier, turn the park in our 3D Glacier National Park map, or watch our six-minute video tour of Glacier.
Before Day One
- Park pass: $35 per vehicle, good for seven days. No vehicle reservation is needed in 2026. Visitors from outside the U.S. pay an extra $100 per person, age 16 and up, unless they have an annual pass.
- Shuttle tickets: if you want to hike the Highline Trail on day two, book a Logan Pass shuttle ticket ($1) on Recreation.gov. Most release 60 days ahead at 8 a.m. Mountain time, with the rest the night before at 7 p.m.
- Boat tickets: on day three, the boats across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine cut the Grinnell Glacier hike by more than a mile each way. Reserve with the Glacier Park Boat Company.
- Gear: bear spray, layers, rain jacket, and water. There’s no gas inside the park, so fill up before you enter.
Day 1: Lake McDonald and the West Side
Start at Apgar, at the foot of Lake McDonald, near the West Entrance. Walk down to the shore for the view up the lake and the colored stones in the shallows. One of my personal traditions is to jump off the dock and take a brisk swim there. The water is cold, even in summer, but it is so refreshing. You’ll not regret it! After a plunge, then drive about 16 miles up Going-to-the-Sun Road to the Avalanche area, early enough to find a parking spot, since the shuttle doesn’t stop here in 2026.
Morning hike: walk the flat Trail of the Cedars loop, then take the trail to Avalanche Lake, 2.3 miles each way with about 500 feet of climbing. The lake sits in a bowl under cliffs streaked with waterfalls. It’s popular for good reason, which is why you want to be on the trail by 8 a.m if at all possible.
Afternoon: drive back down to Lake McDonald Lodge, walk through the lobby, and spend the afternoon on the water or along the shore. Boat tours run on Lake McDonald in summer. If you’d rather rest, this is the time; tomorrow starts early.
Evening: watch the sunset from Apgar, looking up the lake. Sleep in Apgar, at Lake McDonald, or in West Glacier.
Day 2: Going-to-the-Sun Road and Logan Pass
This is the big day. Check out, pack the car, and be driving east by 6:30 or 7 a.m. The goal is to reach Logan Pass before the parking lot fills, usually by 8 a.m. in midsummer. On the way up, the road climbs past The Loop, Bird Woman Falls, and the Weeping Wall. Our Going-to-the-Sun Road guide lists every stop in order.
At Logan Pass, pick one hike.
- Hidden Lake Overlook: 2.6 miles round trip with about 600 feet of climbing, on a boardwalk and trail through alpine meadows. Mountain goats often wander right onto the path. It fits inside the three-hour parking limit (July 1 to September 7).
- Highline Trail: 7.6 miles from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet with about 800 feet of gain, then down to The Loop. It’s a full day and doesn’t fit the parking limit, so it works best with a second night on the west side: park at Apgar, ride the shuttle up, hike out to The Loop, and catch the afternoon shuttle pickup there back to your car. Then cross the pass on day three. The trail opens late in snowy years, so check its status first.
Afternoon: continue east over the pass. Stop at Jackson Glacier Overlook, walk the short trail to St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls, and pull over at Wild Goose Island on St. Mary Lake. Sleep in St. Mary, or drive 40 minutes north to Many Glacier if you got a room there.
Day 3: Many Glacier
Many Glacier is 20 miles north of St. Mary, about 40 minutes. Bears, moose, and bighorn sheep are often seen in this valley, and its trails are some of the best in the park. Get there early: the trailhead lots fill, and the park may close the valley temporarily when it’s full. Guests with lodging, camping, or boat reservations can still get in during those closures.
Pick one big hike:
- Grinnell Glacier Viewpoint: 5.3 miles each way with 1,600 feet of climbing from the trailhead, or 3.6 miles each way if you take the two boats across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine. You end at a glacier above an iceberg-filled lake.
- Iceberg Lake: 4.8 miles each way with 1,200 feet of climbing from the Iceberg-Ptarmigan Trailhead, to a lake that often holds floating ice well into summer.
- Easier option: Redrock Falls, 1.8 miles each way with only about 100 feet of climbing from the Swiftcurrent trailhead.
- Cracker Lake: This one is a personal favorite. 6.4 miles each way with 1,400 feet of climbing from the Cracker Lake Trailhead at the south end of the Many Glacier Hotel parking lot, to a turquoise lake beneath the north face of Mount Siyeh.
Evening: stay in Many Glacier or St. Mary, or start home. If you’re heading back to the west side and Going-to-the-Sun Road is open, it’s the scenic way back. Otherwise, the route around the park on US-2 is about 90 miles and two hours from St. Mary to West Glacier.
If You Only Have One or Two Days
With one day, stay on the west side and spend it on Going-to-the-Sun Road: Lake McDonald early, Logan Pass and Hidden Lake Overlook by mid-morning, then down the east side to Wild Goose Island and back. With two days, use the first two days of this Glacier National Park itinerary and end the trip in St. Mary. Many Glacier needs its own day, so save it for the next trip rather than squeezing it in.
If You Have a Fourth Day
Add Two Medicine, 34 miles south of St. Mary, about an hour. It’s the quietest of the park’s developed valleys, with a boat on Two Medicine Lake, short walks to waterfalls, and far fewer people than Logan Pass. Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier Park is the place to stay. Or take a slower day in Whitefish, with its restaurants and its own lake.
Plan B for Rain, Smoke, or Closures
Glacier weather changes fast, and late summer can bring wildfire smoke. Have a backup for each day:
- Logan Pass socked in: swap days. Do Many Glacier first and cross the pass when it clears. Check the Glacier webcams before you commit.
- Rainy day on the west side: take a boat tour on Lake McDonald, walk Trail of the Cedars, or spend the day in Whitefish or Columbia Falls.
- A valley closed because it’s full: wait it out or switch to a quieter area. Two Medicine and St. Mary Lake trails are good alternatives.
What to Pack
- Bear spray, one can per hiker, on your belt and not in your pack.
- A warm layer and a rain shell, even in July. Logan Pass can be much colder and windier than the valleys.
- Broken-in hiking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
- Lunch and snacks for the trail. Food inside the park is limited and lines get long at midday.
- Printed or downloaded copies of your shuttle, boat, and lodging confirmations.
Glacier Trip Tips
- Start early every day. Traffic peaks from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and popular lots fill by 7 or 8 a.m.
- Carry bear spray and know how to use it. Hike in groups and make noise on blind corners.
- Download maps and tickets. Cell service is spotty or absent in much of the park.
- Read the current rules. Our guide to Glacier’s 2026 entry rules covers the shuttle, parking limits, and temporary closures.
This Glacier National Park itinerary covers the highlights for a first trip. Want more than three days of ideas? Our guide to the best things to do in Glacier goes region by region, and our 7-day Montana road trip from Glacier to Yellowstone picks up where this itinerary ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Glacier National Park?
Yes, for a first visit. Three days covers Lake McDonald, Going-to-the-Sun Road and Logan Pass, and Many Glacier. Add a fourth day for Two Medicine or a rest day.
What is the best month for a Glacier National Park trip?
July through mid-September, when Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully open. Early September usually has fewer crowds; late August can bring wildfire smoke.
Do I need a reservation to visit Glacier in 2026?
No vehicle reservation is needed in 2026. You need a $35 vehicle pass. Shuttle tickets to Logan Pass cost $1 on Recreation.gov, and parking at Logan Pass is limited to three hours from July 1 to September 7.
Where should I stay for a 3-day Glacier trip?
Split your stay. Spend the first night on the west side in Apgar, at Lake McDonald, or in West Glacier, then move to St. Mary or Many Glacier on the east side for the last nights.
What is the best hike in Glacier for a first visit?
Hidden Lake Overlook at Logan Pass for an easy hike, Avalanche Lake for a moderate one, and Grinnell Glacier for a full day, with the boat option to shorten it.
