Where you sleep decides what kind of Glacier trip you get, so deciding where to stay near Glacier National Park comes first. The park has two sides joined by one mountain road, and Many Glacier, the valley a lot of people consider the heart of the park, can’t be reached from the west side without driving all the way over Logan Pass and back up the east side. Pick the wrong base and you’ll spend a big chunk of your vacation in the car.
This guide covers where to stay near Glacier National Park on both sides: the historic lodges inside the park, the gateway towns just outside it, and the bigger Flathead Valley towns 30 to 45 minutes away. It includes accurate drive times from the park’s own numbers and 2026 season dates, so you can match a base to the days you actually want. If you’re still deciding what to see, start with our guide to the best things to do in Glacier.
The Short Answer
- First trip, one base: West Glacier or Apgar, at the west end of Going-to-the-Sun Road.
- Best hiking and wildlife: Many Glacier, on the east side.
- Best food, shops, and nightlife: Whitefish, about 30 minutes from the West Entrance.
- Flying in: Kalispell or Whitefish, near Glacier Park International Airport.
- Three or more days: split your stay, with nights on the west side and nights on the east side.
Why the Side of the Park Matters
Going-to-the-Sun Road runs 50 miles across the park from West Glacier to St. Mary, and the Park Service estimates two hours without stops. With stops, it’s a full day. When the road’s alpine section is closed (roughly mid-October to late June), getting between the two sides means driving around the south edge of the park on US-2, about 90 miles and two hours.
The east side has its own valleys that only connect through St. Mary. Many Glacier is 20 miles and about 40 minutes north of St. Mary, and Two Medicine is 34 miles and about an hour south. From a hotel in Whitefish, Many Glacier is a three-hour drive one way in summer. That’s why the best Glacier trips usually split nights between sides. Our 3D map of Glacier National Park shows how the Continental Divide walls off the two sides.
| Base | Side | Best for | To the nearest entrance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake McDonald and Apgar (in the park) | West | Going-to-the-Sun Road, Lake McDonald | Inside the park |
| West Glacier | West | First trips, easy park access | At the West Entrance |
| Hungry Horse and Columbia Falls | West | Lower prices, more availability | Roughly 10 to 20 minutes |
| Whitefish | West | Restaurants, town life | About 30 minutes |
| Kalispell | West | Airport, chain hotels | About 45 minutes |
| St. Mary | East | East end of the road, Many Glacier access | At the St. Mary Entrance |
| Many Glacier (in the park) | East | Hiking, wildlife | Inside the park |
| East Glacier Park | East | Two Medicine, Amtrak | About 15 minutes to Two Medicine |
Staying Inside the Park
The in-park lodges are part of the reason people come. The oldest, Lake McDonald Lodge and Many Glacier Hotel, are more than a century old, and they put you on the lakes with no drive to the trailhead in the morning. They’re also simple: these are historic buildings, so expect thin walls and basic rooms. Two companies run the lodging. Glacier National Park Lodges operates Lake McDonald Lodge, the Village Inn at Apgar, Rising Sun Motor Inn, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, and Many Glacier Hotel. The Glacier Park Collection runs Apgar Village Lodge, Motel Lake McDonald, and several properties just outside the park.
West Side: Lake McDonald and Apgar
Lake McDonald Lodge sits on the shore of the park’s biggest lake, about 10 miles up Going-to-the-Sun Road, and it’s the classic place to stay on the west side. Apgar, at the foot of the lake near the West Entrance, has the Village Inn at Apgar, Apgar Village Lodge and Cabins (open May 8 to October 11 in 2026), a camp store, and the best sunset view on this side of the park. Motel Lake McDonald runs a shorter season, May 22 to September 27 in 2026.
East Side: Many Glacier and Rising Sun
Many Glacier Hotel, on Swiftcurrent Lake, is the most famous building in the park, and the valley around it has the trails to Grinnell Glacier and Iceberg Lake. Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins, at the end of the road, is the simpler and cheaper option in the same valley. Many Glacier reopened fully in 2026 after construction disruptions the year before. Rising Sun Motor Inn sits on St. Mary Lake, about six miles inside the St. Mary Entrance on Going-to-the-Sun Road.
One honest word on booking: in-park rooms for July and August go first, often many months ahead. If your dates are set, book now. If the lodges are full, the towns below are the backup, and they’re good ones.
West Side Towns
West Glacier
West Glacier is a small cluster of lodging, rafting outfitters, and restaurants right at the West Entrance. You can be on Going-to-the-Sun Road in five minutes, which matters when the parking lots at popular trailheads fill by 7 or 8 a.m. The historic Belton Chalet, built by the Great Northern Railway in 1910, is open May 8 to October 11 in 2026. West Glacier Cabins run May 8 to October 4, and Apgar Lookout Suites are open year-round. Amtrak’s Empire Builder stops here too, across from the Belton Chalet.
Hungry Horse and Columbia Falls
These two towns along US-2 sit between the park and the Flathead Valley. They have motels, cabins, and vacation rentals, often with more availability than West Glacier in peak season, and you’re still close enough to make an early start. You’ll eat at simpler places than in Whitefish, but you’ll save a lot of driving.
Whitefish
Whitefish is the best town to stay in if you want good restaurants, a walkable downtown, and a lake of its own, and it’s about 30 minutes from the West Entrance. Amtrak stops downtown. The trade-off is driving: an hour round trip to the park each day, more if you head over Logan Pass. Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish is open year-round. If you have time, Whitefish also makes a good start for exploring the farms and markets on the Western Montana Food and Farm Trail. Our guide to Whitefish lodging covers downtown, the lake, the mountain, and budget motels.
Kalispell
Kalispell is the biggest town in the valley and has the most chain hotels, which makes it the easiest place to find a room on short notice. Glacier Park International Airport sits between Kalispell and Whitefish, about 30 miles from the West Entrance. Stay here for a late arrival or an early flight, and move closer to the park for the rest of the trip.
East Side Towns
The east side is quieter and windier, with fewer services and more open country. St. Mary, Babb, and East Glacier Park are on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, so you’re a guest on tribal land here as well as at the edge of a national park.
St. Mary
St. Mary sits at the east end of Going-to-the-Sun Road and is the most useful base on this side. Many Glacier is 40 minutes north, Logan Pass is about 18 miles up the road, and the views of St. Mary Lake start right outside town. St. Mary Village, run by the Glacier Park Collection, is open May 29 to October 5 in 2026.
East Glacier Park and Two Medicine
East Glacier Park is the gateway to Two Medicine, the park’s quietest developed valley. Glacier Park Lodge, built by the Great Northern Railway in 1913, is open May 29 to September 27 in 2026, and the Amtrak station sits right across from it (a seasonal stop from spring through fall). It’s a long way from Logan Pass, so it works best as a one- or two-night stop for Two Medicine rather than your only base.
Where to Stay by Trip Style
- Families with young kids: Apgar or West Glacier. The lake is shallow and calm at Apgar, the short trails on the west side are easy, and you’re close to groceries and restaurants.
- Serious hikers: Many Glacier for as many nights as you can get, plus a night or two near Logan Pass on the west side for the Highline Trail.
- Couples who want good dinners: Whitefish, with day trips into the park and one splurge night at Lake McDonald Lodge or Many Glacier Hotel.
- No car: take Amtrak’s Empire Builder to West Glacier or East Glacier Park and stay near the station. The Logan Pass shuttle runs from Apgar and St. Mary.
- On a budget: camp, or stay in Hungry Horse, Columbia Falls, or Kalispell and drive in early.
Across the Border: Waterton and the Prince of Wales Hotel
Glacier’s Canadian neighbor, Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, has the Prince of Wales Hotel on a bluff above Upper Waterton Lake, open May 11 to October 12 in 2026. It’s a great night if you’re already on the east side, but you’ll need a passport, and it adds a border crossing to every trip back into Glacier.
Where to Stay Near Glacier in the Off-Season
From mid-October to late May, nearly all of the in-park lodging is closed and Going-to-the-Sun Road is closed over Logan Pass. Lower parts of the park stay open, and the entrance fee drops to $25 per vehicle from November 1 to April 30. If you’re coming in winter or early spring, stay in Whitefish, Kalispell, or Columbia Falls, which have year-round hotels and restaurants. Apgar Lookout Suites in West Glacier and Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish are both open year-round.
Camping in Glacier
Most of Glacier’s big front-country campgrounds take reservations on Recreation.gov, including Apgar, Avalanche, Fish Creek, Sprague Creek, Many Glacier, St. Mary, and Two Medicine. Sites at the larger campgrounds run about $30 a night, and reservations open on a rolling basis six months ahead. A handful of smaller campgrounds, including Bowman Lake, Kintla Lake, Cut Bank, and Rising Sun, are first-come, first-served. Check the park’s camping page for current details, since rules change from year to year.
Sample Plans by Trip Length
- One or two nights: stay in West Glacier, Apgar, or at Lake McDonald and spend your full day on Going-to-the-Sun Road.
- Three nights: two nights on the west side, then drive over Logan Pass and spend the last night in St. Mary or Many Glacier. Our 3-day Glacier itinerary lays this out day by day.
- Four or more nights: add Two Medicine from East Glacier Park, or a rest day in Whitefish.
- Part of a bigger Montana trip: our 7-day Montana road trip from Glacier to Yellowstone shows how Glacier fits into a week.
Before You Book
Wherever you decide to stay near Glacier National Park, a few rules apply to everyone. Glacier doesn’t require vehicle reservations in 2026, but parking at Logan Pass now has a three-hour limit from July 1 to September 7, and the park can temporarily close crowded areas when they fill. People with lodging, camping, or tour reservations inside the park can still get in during those closures. The details are in our guide to Glacier’s 2026 entry rules, and our Going-to-the-Sun Road guide covers parking, the shuttle, and the vehicle size limits.
There are no gas stations inside the park, so fill up in West Glacier, St. Mary, or town. And check the Glacier webcams before you drive up; Logan Pass can be socked in while Apgar is sunny.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best town to stay in near Glacier National Park?
For a first trip, West Glacier, right at the West Entrance. For restaurants and a real town, Whitefish, about 30 minutes away. For hiking, Many Glacier or St. Mary on the east side.
Is it better to stay on the east or west side of Glacier?
For a short trip, the west side, which has more lodging and the easiest access to Going-to-the-Sun Road. For three days or more, split your nights so you can reach Many Glacier and Two Medicine on the east side without a long drive each way.
Can you stay inside Glacier National Park?
Yes. Lake McDonald Lodge, the Village Inn at Apgar, Apgar Village Lodge, Motel Lake McDonald, Rising Sun Motor Inn, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, and Many Glacier Hotel are all inside the park. They’re seasonal, roughly late spring to early fall, and summer dates book up early.
Is Whitefish too far from Glacier National Park?
Not for the west side. It’s about 30 minutes to the West Entrance. It is too far to use as your only base if you want to hike in Many Glacier, which is about three hours away by car in summer.
Do I need a reservation to enter Glacier in 2026?
No. Vehicle reservations were dropped for 2026. You still need a park pass, which is $35 per vehicle for seven days.
