Vacation In Glacier National Park

Vacation in Glacier National Park is one of the most spectacular vacations you can possibly take.

Traveling to Glacier National Park is a popular summer activity among Helena residents. The Park is only 30 minutes south of Helena, and offers a multitude of activities.

Glacier National Park is located in the U.S. state of Montana, on the Canada–United States border at the foot of Mount Roosevelt. Although it covers 6 million acres (12,000 square kilometers; 4000 square miles) of land, the park is accessible by a 50 miles (80 km) road along its eastern boundary from the Trans-Canada Highway in British Columbia and Alberta. Waterton Lakes National Park is adjacent to Glacier on the west side while Cypress Provincial Park is adjacent to Glacier on the southwest; all three parks are administered by Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation.

This is about the journey I took to Glacier National Park. I chose Glacier for its wild scenes, but it also has a soothing feel to it. I definitely felt relaxed in the mountains from taking walks, reading a book at the lodge, or just sitting back and enjoying the scenery.

Vacation In Glacier National Park

Finding cheap airline tickets, making your hotel reservations, and buying rental cars can be overwhelming. You save every penny to embark on your much anticipated vacation. Having everything go smoothly is a must or you will be spending the entire trip stressed out.

Epic scenic drives. Wildlife at every turn. Over 700 miles of hiking trails. Do these sound like your ideal adventure?

Then you need to add this 3 day Glacier National Park itinerary to your bucket list.

Glacier National Park is truly my favorite place on the planet. You could come here every Summer for the rest of your life and still not see it all! But you probably don’t have a lifetime to explore Glacier right?

That’s why I’ve created this ultimate 3 day Glacier National Park itinerary. You want to see the best of Glacier in the least amount of time!

This post explores everything you need to know, including the best time to visit, where to stay, and the best things to do in Glacier National Park. Buckle up… this one is a long (and super informative) one!

Important Note
Glacier National Park is requiring all visitors to have a reservation to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road and enter the North Fork region from May 27 to September 11, 2022. Read this guide to the Going-to-the-Sun reservation system for more information.

Looking for more posts to plan your trip to Glacier National Park? You’ll love these guides!

• 7-Day Glacier National Park Itinerary
• 35 Best Places to Stay in Glacier
• 21 Best Things to Do in Glacier

This post may contain affiliate links, where I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read more in this disclosure policy.

Glacier National Park At-A-Glance

Before diving in, here are a few highlights to help you plan your trip:

• Best Time to Visit: Summer is the best (and most popular) time to visit, thanks to warm weather and all park facilities being open. Visit in early to mid-September to avoid peak crowds.
• Where to Stay: If you’re looking to stay in the park, I highly recommend the Many Glacier Hotel. If you’re looking to stay outside the park, look for accommodations in Babb or St. Mary, like St. Mary Village.
• How to Get There: Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) in Kalispell, Montana, is the closest airport. Use Skyscanner to browse flights and find the best price.
• How to Get Around: The best way to get around the park is by having your own car. Use Rentalcars.com to browse deals on rental cars or rent an RV or campervan with Outdoorsy!
• Best Self-Guided Tour: My favorite way to learn more about the park is with GyPSy Guides, a narrated self-guided tour perfect for road trips and scenic drives. The Glacier Going-to-the-Sun Road Guide provides incredible commentary and detail about history and geology.
• Don’t Forget: Be sure to get an America the Beautiful National Park Pass ahead of time. This $80 pass is valid for 12 months and gets you into all 400+ national park sites (including Glacier!).

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How Many Days Should I Spend at Glacier National Park?

You could spend weeks in Glacier National Park, but let’s be real… none of us have that kind of time! So let’s get to the point – how many days do you really need in Glacier National Park?

The answer depends on what you’re interested in doing:

• If you only want to drive through the park and see Going-to-the-Sun Road, you only need 1 day.
• If you want to see the highlights and the most popular hikes, you need at least 3 days (what this itinerary focuses on!)
• If you want to hike Glacier’s more strenuous, super scenic trails, you need at least 5 days.
• If you want the ultimate first-timer experience, you need at least one full week in Glacier National Park.

Where to Stay in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park has tons of in-park lodging options, as well as rental homes and hotels outside the park. Here are my favorite picks for where to stay in and near Glacier for a short, 3-day trip.

In-Park Lodges

The most sought-after accommodation in Glacier National Park is its lodges. Glacier National Park features 5 in-park lodges.

For this 3 day itinerary, any of the in-park lodges offer a great location to all that Glacier National Park has to offer:

• Village Inn at Apgar – A motel-like inn with both standard and full-kitchen rooms near the west entrance
• Lake McDonald Lodge – A swiss-style lodge with amazing lake views and a handful of restaurants
• Rising Sun Motor Inn – A rustic option with a restaurant and a gift shop near St. Mary Lake along Going-to-the-Sun Road
• Many Glacier Hotel – A swiss-style lodge with stunning views and the delicious Ptarmigan Dining Room in Many Glacier
• Swiftcurrent Motor Inn – A rustic option with a camp store and close trailhead access in Many Glacier

To book a stay at one of the in-demand park lodges, book your lodging 13 months in advance when reservations open.

Read More: 35 Best Places to Stay in Glacier National Park

Campgrounds

Camping in Glacier National Park is a great option for budget-conscious travelers. Most of Glacier’s campsites are open from mid-June to early September.

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For this 3 day itinerary, I recommend camping near popular trailheads at:

• Many Glacier Campground – Reservable 6 months in advance
• St. Mary Campground – Reservable 6 months in advance
• Rising Sun Campground – Normally first-come, first-served

Other reservable campgrounds on the western side of the park include Apgar Campground and Fish Creek Campground. Both these sites are also reservable 6 months out.

Staying Outside the Park

For those choosing to stay outside the park, I highly recommend staying on the east side of the park near St. Mary.

Towns on the west side of the park provide more options, but St. Mary is closer to trailheads in Many Glacier and Logan Pass.

I highly recommend staying at the Cottages at Glacier. These cottages are within walking distance of the St. Mary Visitor Center and are perfect for small groups. Most cottages have 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.

The best part of these cottages is the view of St. Mary Lake. Be sure to book well in advance (we booked around 9 months out).