Called the “crown of the continent,” Glacier National Park certainly is one of the highlights of the National Park System. With rugged peaks and ridge lines carved from ice, the scenery here rivals any mountain scene in the country, and if you’re hoping to see rivers of ice carving their way through the very mountains themselves, you can do that too by planning a trip to Glacier National Park!
Glacier is a very remote national park (they’re all kinda in the middle of nowhere, but Glacier really is!). On the Canadian border in northern Montana, Glacier takes an excursion to get to. With no major airports close by, you’ll most likely be driving, and that’s what makes this magical place a fantastic road trip destination!
We felt that while Yellowstone gets all of the attention, Glacier is a phenomenal road trip destination too! You can read our road trip guide to Yellowstone here, and while a road trip to Yellowstone really is a classic experience (we call it the Great American Road Trip), a trip to Glacier can be just as enjoyable!
This itinerary will take you across the inhospitable northern Great Plains to the soaring peaks of Glacier’s Rocky Mountains. You can use it as is, and we do think that we included the highlights, or you can merely use our guide as inspiration and plan your own adventures! Whatever you do, a road trip to Glacier National Park is sure to exceed your expectations!
We wrote this guide as if the reader will be departing from somewhere in the midwest. Everything in this guide would work just fine for anyone, but for those living beyond the midwest, it would become more reasonable to fly as opposed to driving. If you live west of Glacier as opposed to east, you can either ignore the Great Plains portions of this guide, or head there after seeing Glacier!
Consider purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass if you’re visiting any national parks!
Length:
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This guide as written uses a two week timeline. You certainly could stretch it out. Glacier on its own could easily fill an entire summer. However, we know that most people are not really able to take more than 2 weeks off at a time.
If you have less than two weeks, this guide can still be of use. You could fly into some of the small local airports and cut out all of the driving days. In that case, you’d just be spending a week in and around Glacier National Park, something no one would complain about!
When To Go:
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!
The best time to go on this trip is summer. Ideally, mid to late summer. With Theodore Roosevelt and Glacier both being located in the northern reaches of the United States, they experience brutally cold winters and surprisingly hot summers. To me, that rules out any time of year where snow is a possibility!
There are two things that you need to consider: when Glacier is snow free and when Theodore Roosevelt is super hot. Glacier has snow that sticks around all year, but I really wouldn’t recommend visiting before June, and ideally, I wouldn’t go until July.
Theodore Roosevelt gets very hot in mid summer. Early summer or early fall would be ideal times to visit Theodore Roosevelt. When combined with the fact that Glacier still has a fair amount of snow in early summer, I think that the best time to take this trip is in early fall in september. You won’t have to deal with snow, the weather won’t be extremely hot, and you may even get some nice fall colors in the mountains!
The Itinerary:
Day 1: To Theodore Roosevelt
Since this is a road trip, it’s going to take a bit of driving to get to the end destination, Glacier. Coming from the east, including the midwest, you will be forced to cross the Great Plains. Having personally driven across the plains a handful of times myself, I can assure you that it is not exactly a fun drive, and the best way to do it is to break the drive up with a stop in the middle.
The best stop on the plains heading to Glacier is Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Located just off I-94 in North Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt is a hidden gem of the National Park System. Less famous than Badlands National Park in South Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt in North Dakota provides much of the same scenery, and significantly better hiking, in a more remote and less visited locale.
The focus of day 1 is simply to get to Theodore Roosevelt. If you are coming from Minnesota, that will mean a relatively pain free day of driving. If you are coming from somewhere more distant, it could require a long day of driving, or a flight. Either way, day one will be a success if you get to the park and get to bed without delay!
Where To Stay:
Your choice of lodging essentially comes down to whether or not you want to sleep in a building or not in a building. I personally enjoy camping on trips like this, but I certainly understand the allure of sleeping indoors!
For a full discussion of lodging in and around Theodore Roosevelt National Park, read our full guide to the park here!
Camping Options:
RV Campground | North Park Campground
Indoor Options:
Day 2: Hiking In Theodore Roosevelt:
Check out our full guide to Theodore Roosevelt National Park!
On day two, you should get out and explore and stretch the legs a little! I would recommend doing some hiking on your first full day in Theodore Roosevelt.
If it was me, I would do a bit of a longer day hike this day. My recommendation is the Petrified Forest Trail. This trail is a 10 mile loop that has very moderate elevation gain and loss. Other than one steep section, its quite flat, and you’ll get to see the remnants of a petrified forest, and have awesome opportunities for wildlife viewing.
If 10 miles feels too long, a shorter option is the Lower Paddock Creek Trail. The full hike is a bit over 7 miles, but it’s an out and back so you can turn around whenever you want. If you only want to hike two miles, then turn around after one!
After hiking, take a nice shower and go get something nice to eat! If you’re feeling good and have the time, you may also want to drive the loop road in the main section of the park. It will be close to your hike, so it’s not a big detour. It should be a good start to your trip!
Day 3: Exploring Theodore Roosevelt
Always follow basic trail etiquette when on trail!
The second full day in Theodore Roosevelt should be spent exploring some of the more far flung reaches of the park. Theodore Roosevelt is actually split into three separate units, so to really get a complete sense of the place, you’ll need to drive to the other spots.
The first stop on your day of exploring should be the historic location of Teddy Roosevelt’s cabin. Roosevelt moved out to Dakota at a low point in his life, and he discovered his love of the outdoors and some deeper truths about himself while out in the Dakotas. Eventually, Roosevelt built a cabin in the place where he found his love of the outdoors, and today it is a part of the national park, and is a nice stop when in the area!
After seeing Roosevelt’s cabin, you should continue on to the north unit of the park for some more scenic driving, and if you are up for it, a bit of hiking. The north unit of the park has one scenic drive that bisects the region, and there are a series of viewpoints and short hikes you can do. If you want, there are some longer hikes in the north unit as well, a good option is the 4.4 mile Caprock Coulee Loop. It starts and ends on the north unit scenic drive!
After exploring the north unit of the park, head back to wherever you are staying for the night. This is your last night in North Dakota, so if you saw anything that caught your eye, do it tonight, because tomorrow you’re heading to Glacier!
Day 4: Drive to Glacier
Our road trip playlist is a must have on a long trip like this!
Get up early because you’ve got a not short drive across nearly all of Montana to get to Glacier! As far as the plains go, Montana is one of the more interesting places to drive, but thats not saying much when places like Nebraska and Kansas are being compared!
The drive is most of a day, and you’ll probably spend most of it on 2 lane roads. While there are interstates that cross Montana, Glacier is in the remote northern reaches of the state, where no interstates go!
There really isn’t too much to say about this day other than you’ll have a long drive ahead of you. I find a unique beauty in the rough plains of Montana, and you’ll have occasional views of isolated mountain ranges as you head west, until the Rockies emerge on the horizon.
If you’ve never driven west, I honestly can’t explain the feeling of finally seeing the big mountains come up over the horizon. After hours and hours of driving through the flat farmlands of the plains, it’s honestly exhilarating to see the horizon rise up to meet the sky ahead of you. It makes me feel like a kid again knowing I’m back in the mountains!
Lodging in Glacier:
The one thing on the agenda for today is to get to your lodging in one piece and have dinner! Glacier is a big park, and there’s a lot of choice in where you want to stay in Glacier. We wrote a full guide to Glacier National Park earlier, and the section on lodging has all the information you need. But we can quickly sum it up here.
Glacier has 4 main regions:
Many Glacier: In the northeast corner of the park with a long drive to West Glacier.
East Glacier/Two Medicine: In the southeast corner of the park with a long drive to West Glacier.
West Glacier: On the main road through the park, but on the other side of the mountains from the other three locales.
St Mary: On the main road through the park on the east side with the easiest access to all other regions of the park.
When I visit Glacier, I have always stayed in the St Mary area, and that is what I am doing on my next visit in 2021. It has a number of lodging options including camping and hotels/lodges, and it has a variety of restaurants. The real draw for me is that you are able to get to any of the other regions of the park without a painfully long drive. West Glacier to Many Glacier for instance can be over 2 hours!
Lodging in St Mary:
Camping:
Camping – Glacier National Park (US National Park Service)
St. Mary / East Glacier KOA Holiday
Indoor Lodging:
St Mary Lodge & Resort: Gateway to Glacier National Park, MT
Read our full guide to Glacier National Park for additional details on lodging.
Day 5: Exploring Glacier
Glacier is grizzly country, be sure to be bear safe!
Your first full day in the mountains! Glacier is one of the absolute best national parks in the country, and the natural beauty truly is outstanding! The best way to experience it is to get out and stretch the legs with a bit of hiking!
Now, Glacier is at elevation. The mountains in Montana aren’t quite as high as a place like Colorado, but if you live at or near sea level, it will still be an adjustment to hike there. So, I recommend taking your first day to do some of the shorter hikes in the park.
On this first day, you will be driving Going To The Sun Road. If the name sounds dramatic, thats because the road itself is dramatic! The main artery flowing across Glacier, Going To The Sun Road is legitimately one of the best drives in America.
Now you might be thinking, “I just drove across the plains, why on earth would I drive more the next day??” I understand what you may be thinking, but honestly this road is like nothing you’ve encountered so far this trip.
Sweeping vistas over glacial lakes, viewpoints perched on cliffs thousands of feet high, and amazing hiking from the side of the road, convinced yet?
But seriously, you won’t just be driving all day. There is a ton to stop at and see along the road, and you will be hitting the highlights!
From the eastern entrance at St Mary, here is where you will be stopping on your first day!
- Baring Falls from Sunrift Gorge: This short hike of less than a mile will take you to a beautiful waterfall above St Mary Lake. At only .7 miles, it is a short stop, but if you want to hike more here, there are lots of connected trails to lengthen your visit!
- St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trail: Just a little ways up the road, this hike of 3 miles will take you to more waterfalls and over bridges on a beautiful trail! This one is a bit longer, and does have about 450 feet of climbing, so you may start feeling the elevation a bit here!
- Hidden Lake Overlook: The highpoint of Going To The Sun Road, Logan Pass, has some amazing trails leading from it. One of the most popular is the hike to the Hidden Lake Overlook. The elevation is greater here, so be prepared for some hard breathing as you climb to your highest point yet!
If it was me, I would stop at Logan Pass and head back home for the day. These three hikes will take a good amount of time, and there’s no reason to rush through everything all at once! But, if you really want to continue all the way to the other side of the park, a good short hike to finish the day up is The Johns Lake Loop.
Head back towards St Mary and get some food! I personally went back to Rising Sun Pizza repeatedly!
Day 6: Hiking in Glacier
After your first full day in Glacier of short hikes, I think it’s time to up the ante a little bit and do something a little longer. Unless you’re coming from somewhere at elevation, a big hike would still feel pretty rough at this point, and thankfully there are some absolutely amazing moderate hikes here!
I personally think you should take this day to hike to Avalanche Lake. It’s one of the most popular hikes in the park, and for good reason! The views at Avalanche Lake are spectacular, and it’s a pretty moderate hike! At about 6 miles round trip, it’s long enough to take a few hours, but with only about 750 feet of climbing, it’s not too much of a challenge!
Day 7: Glacier Rafting
After two days of hiking, I would switch it up a bit and try something different! If you’ve never been white water rafting, it’s something that you should definitely try!
Even if you don’t feel super confident doing something crazy, there are always mild options that will give you a nice adrenaline rush, but won’t leave you floating down a mountain river outside the raft!
The Glacier Raft Company has tons of trips from full day rafting excursions to family friendly options.
Glacier Guides and Montana Raft has everything from overnight trips to scenic family friendly floats!
Wild River Adventures has a number of different options including custom overnight adventures and inflatable kayaks!
Day 8: Hiking in Glacier
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Now that you’ve been in the mountains for a few days, and have done some easier hikes, it’s time to tackle the best hike in Glacier, The Highline Trail.
Starting at Logan Pass on Going To The Sun Road, the trail heads north along what is basically a sheer cliff. How they managed to create a trail on this cliffside I don’t know, but the trail basically is perched on top of cliffs hundreds of feet high, and definitely no guardrails!
Not gonna lie, if you’re afraid of heights, your blood pressure will probably go up a bit, but there really isn’t anything especially dangerous about this hike. The trail is wide and smooth, it’s not overly steep anywhere, and anytime you feel overwhelmed, you can simply turn around and head back to where you started.
If you are looking for a challenge, continue your hike to the top of the ridge you are hiking under to Grinnell Glacier Overlook. This trail ascends nearly vertically up to the ragged top of the ridge, and will give you huge views looking east onto Grinnell Glacier towards Many Glacier.
Some Things To Consider:
- Parking at Logan Pass fills up on busy days. Be sure to get there early for a parking spot. Glacier does have a public transit system, so you can use that if you cannot get a parking spot at Logan Pass.
- The weather can change quickly, so be sure you are prepared for all conditions. This is not a trail you really want to be on in adverse conditions, so check the forecast before you go out. Hit the trail early to avoid the worst of the storms.
Like this view? Read our full guide to Glacier National Park!
Day 9: Horseback Riding In Glacier
After a big day of hiking, take a day to let someone else do the work and give you legs a break! When I say someone else in this case, I am referring to a horse!
While you certainly could hike this day too, and I probably would, I know not everyone likes putting themselves through the pain of hiking on tired legs (there might be something wrong with me)!
Swan Mountain Outfitters offers a number of different riding options. If you only want a short ride, you could do something that’s just a couple of hours, or you could go for a full day ride!
Day 10: Hiking In Glacier
If you like this article, we think you’ll like our Yellowstone road trip itinerary!
Another one of my personal favorite hikes in Glacier, the trail to Iceberg Lake will take you to one of the most stunning alpine lakes I have ever seen.
In the Many Glacier area of the park, this trail clocks in at a bit over 9 miles and just under 1500 feet of climbing. It’s not an easy hike necessarily, but at this point I think most adults with decent health and fitness should be able to tackle it.
Iceberg Lake is one of the highlights of Glacier National Park. Sometimes when people ask me what my favorite color is, I tell them whatever they want to call the water in this lake! It’s somewhere between sky blue, turquoise, and whatever else you want to call it!
Just a tip, if you want to see the water in all its glory, don’t visit too early in the year. The lake is called Iceberg Lake for a reason, and will be iced over until early summer most years!
Day 11: Exploring Beyond Glacier
Glacier National Park is amazing, and you could fill a summer within the parks boundaries, but I think the surrounding areas are incredible as well, and deserve at least a little attention! There are two truly great day trips you could take from Glacier, so you only need to choose which one suits your fancy!
Flathead Lake:
The largest lake west of the Missouri River (random stat but who knew), Flathead Lake is a stunning natural feature. With some of the clearest water anywhere in the country, this lake is stunning to look at!
Located about 30 miles from Glacier, Flathead Lake is easily accessible as a day trip from Glacier. While the water is quite chilly, there are lots of things to do at Flathead Lake! Take a lake cruise in the morning, afternoon, or evening! Go for a float or kayak on Flathead Lake! Rent a boat for the day, or go for a scenic flight around the area!
Waterton Lakes National Park:
If you have never heard of Waterton Lakes National Park, you can be forgiven since it’s actually not in the United States! If you brought your passport, consider heading north of the border into Canada to see this world renown park!
Part of the broader Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Waterton Lakes lies just over the border from Glacier. In fact, you could actually hike between the two as they directly border each other at the international border. Some people actually do that hike as a backpacking trip!
My guess is most people aren’t interested in backpacking in grizzly country, but fortunately, Waterton Lakes National Park is only about an hour drive from St Mary on the east side of Glacier, meaning it is a very doable day trip!
The top trail I have always had my eye on is the Crypt Lake Trail. Requiring a ferry to access the trailhead, this trail has it all! Water, a tunnel, ladders, ledges, and an alpine lake are all to be found on this trail!
There are tons of other hiking trails in this park. You can view the full list here. If you aren’t interested in hiking, you can stop at the end of the drive, or take a boat ride!
Day 12: Hiking In Glacier
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Your final day of hiking in Glacier will take you to one of the park’s namesake features, a real life glacier in the flesh (or I guess ice?). I feel like I keep repeating myself when I say this, but this hike is amazing. I guess that’s just a theme with Glacier!
The hike to Grinnell Glacier is perhaps the best place to see one of the park’s glaciers up close, and it’s one of the larger glaciers in the park!
This hike is also in the Many Glacier area, and begins by hiking through dense woodland. Before long, the trail begins climbing towards the head of the valley and ascends towards the Garden Wall, the ragged ridge line holding the Highline Trail on the opposite side.
After a 2000 foot climb with a little bit of exposure to heights (nothing too crazy), you’ll eventually emerge at the Glacier.
When I did this hike, it was the first time I had ever seen a glacier apart from on the side of the road driving through the park! Even though Grinnell Glacier is dwarfed by the polar glaciers and the icefields of the far north and south, it’s truly astonishing to see a river of ice slowly grating away at the mountain as it flows downhill!
I think it’s fitting to end your trip to Glacier with the best hike to see an actual Glacier. Unfortunately, climate change is taking its toll on the parks glaciers, and it is very likely that they will all be gone or shadows of themselves before too long. Make sure you get to this amazing place and see it’s treasures while you can. They won’t be around forever.
Day 13: Drive Home
The day has finally come to leave the mountains of Glacier behind and start heading for home. You most likely live a long ways away, so if you’re driving you’re most likely going to want to take two days to get home. Having done the drive from Glacier to Wisconsin straight through before, it is definitely not fun, and I highly recommend spending the night to break it up!
Day 14: Get Home
On day 14 since you left home, you’ll hopefully arrive back safe and sound with a good set of pictures and stories, and maybe even in better shape! Either way, you’ll have memories to last a lifetime, and the views that took your breath away will always stay with you! Seeing a glacier for the first time is an incredible experience! Seeing a grizzly up close and personal for the first time is equally unforgettable!
Whatever you end up doing on your trip, visiting Glacier and Theodore Roosevelt would make for an amazing trip. Whether you condense it down into just a week, or stretch it out over a summer, there is seriously so much to do and see that you should never be bored!
Wherever you’re coming from, I can guarantee you’ll see or do something new on this trip! Maybe it’ll be your first bison or wild horse in Theodore Roosevelt. Maybe it’ll be hiking along dramatic dropoffs or your first grizzly sighting in Glacier! Either way, you’ll have new experiences to take home with you!
I cannot emphasize enough how much you need to visit this part of the country. Montana is one of the most underrated places in the country, and North Dakota is downright forgotten! Escape the crowds of Colorado and Yellowstone and do yourself a favor, take a road trip to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Glacier National Park, you won’t regret it!
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